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Tree of Life:The Four Worlds

From Thelemapedia

Part of the Tree of Life series

T H E   T R E E   O F   L I F E
Image:tree_simple.gif

The Tree of Life includes
The 10 Emanations or Sephiroth
The 22 Paths that connect them
The Correspondences

Columns from Liber 777:
  • LXIII—"The Four Worlds"
  • LXIV—"Secret Names of the Four Worlds"
  • LXV—"Secret Numbers Corresponding"
  • LXVI—"Spelling of Tetragrammaton in the Four Worlds"

Within the western magical tradition, the Tree of Life is used as a kind of conceptual filing cabinet within the larger system of the Qabalah, the use of which was central to the mystical teachings of Aleister Crowley. Each sephera ("Emination") and path is assigned various ideas, such as astrological planets and signs, cards of the Tarot, and the classical elements. Many of these correspondances were gathered together in Crowley's book Liber 777, which is used for these listings.

The attributes of the Tetragrammaton are often explained in anthropomorphic terms, but there are cosmological attributes as well. The most fundamental of these are the Four Worlds of Evolution. The function of the Four Worlds in the evolution of matter is identical to the function of the the four levels of the human soul. They are the delineation of the evolution of matter from the pure, amorphous spiritual Substance, or light, that was the first emanation of the Creator, into the solid tangible matter that makes up the form of physically perceivable universe in which we live.

Table of contents

The Four Worlds with their secret names & numbers

Spelling of Tetragrammaton in the Four Worlds

Explication

Atziluth—The Archetypical World

The first and highest of the Four Worlds, corresponding to Fire of the elements, Chiah of the soul, and Yod of the Tetragrammaton, is called Atzilut. The term Atzilut is usually translated as "Emanation", but literally means "closeness". This is the "World", or primordial Substance which is the first emanation out of God's unique and pure Essence, and is therefore the "World" closest to Divinity. This Substance corresponds to Philosophic Fire, which - as opposed to literal fire - is best described as "living light". The Substance of "living light" is intangible and has no definite, specific Form, but its dynamic qualities of vitality and illumination are distinguishable. Life and light are the two qualities that must be postulated as being prevalent in any Divinely creative act. Since these qualities can be discerned as having existence distinct from Essential Divinity, the emanation of the primal "living light" (Substance) is the preliminary phase of Divine Creation. This phase is what is called Atzilut. As this is the primal spiritual Substance from which all other matter evolves, it corresponds to that which is called Chiah in the evolution of souls.

Briah—The Creative World

The next phase, corresponding to Water of the elements, Neshamah of the soul, and the first Heh of the Tetragrammaton, is called the World of Briah, which translates as "Creation". Like Neshamah, the function of Briah is to define specific Form and function in the amorphous energy of Atzilut. This is the evolutionary stage where matter begins to condense, "solidify", and to acquire specific, distinguishable qualities of it's own. This is because the Divine Unity is indivisible. Specification, which is division from that Unity, cannot be classified as Divine because the condensation of primal Substance into specific Form begins to occur at this stage. Thus, Briah corresponds to Neshamah, the stage where the human soul acquires individual personality and identity.

Yetzirah—The Formative World

It must be understood that Briah is a purely embryonic stage where specification and differentiation are applied only in an abstract sense, identifying the potential function of specific Forms and forces. The actual separation and division of these different qualities occurs in the next phase of evolution, called Yetzirah, which literally translates as "Formation". The world of Yetzirah corresponds to Air of the elements, Ruach of the soul, and Vau of the Tetragrammaton. As Air is generally associated with the intellect, this is the stage where differentiation of qualities (analysis) is applied to matter, and where these qualities are combined (synthesis) and Formed into archetypal conceptual compositions with a view towards various specific applications. This is the function of the human intellect with which an individual theoretically experiments with various courses of action with the intellect and comes to a decision that the individual thinks will best serve the primal motivation or desire. Yetzirah corresponds to Ruach in that this is the stage where a specific compound is identified and given personal existence in the same way that an individual human personality is given identity and necessitates a physical vehicle.

Assiah—The Material World

Here we come naturally to the fourth and final stage of development, called Assiah, which translates as "Action". The World of Assiah corresponds to Earth of the elements, Nefesh of the soul, the human body, and the final Heh of the Tetragrammaton. Assiah is the actual physical universe in which all things live and carry out their functions. This is the final proving ground where all the preceding Worlds and Spheres are actualized. The results are judged according to how well they perform their intended purpose, which is conceived in Briah and gestates and takes Form in Yetzirah. In correspondence, the human body is the proving ground of the soul, where the soul is evaluated according to how well it fulfills it's intended purpose (Thelemically, the Higher, or Pure, Will).

Correspondances in the Tree of Life from Liber 777 Tree of Life | 777 Tables | Qabalah

The Sephera: 1 Kether, 2 Chokmah
3 Binah, 4 Chesed, 5 Geburah
6 Tiphareth, 7 Netzach, 8 Hod
9 Yesod, 10 Malkuth

The Key Scale—the numerical organizational tool of the Tree.

Major Correspondences:

Astrology
Decans
Astrological Angels
Godforms
Tarot
Colors
Elements

The Four Worlds

The Four Worlds
Correspondences of Assiah
Correspondences of Yetzirah
Correspondences of Briah

Material Correspondences:

Animals
Plants
Precious Stones
Perfumes
Drugs
The Human Body
Metals

Magick & Mysticism:

Magical Weapons
Magical Formulae
Magical Powers
Parts of the Soul
The Four Quarters
Tetragrammaton

Alphabets
Eastern Mysticism
The Grades of the A.'.A.'.
Alchemy
Pentagram & Hexagram
Judaica
Genii of the Twelve Hours
Geomantic Intelligences
Lineal Figures & Geomancy
Figures related to Pure Number
Qliphoth & Infernals
The Perfected Man
Sepher Yetzirah
Transcendental Morality
Legendary Orders of Being

The Paths:

11 Aleph
12 Beth
13 Gimel
14 Daleth
15
16 Vau
17 Zain
18 Cheth
19 Teth
20 Yod
21 Kaph

22 Lamed
23 Mem
24 Nun
25 Samekh
26 Ayin
27
28 Tzaddi
29 Qoph
30 Resh
31 Shin
32 Tau
32-bis
31-bis

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This page has been accessed 56095 times. This page was last modified 17:12, 16 Apr 2005. Content is available under GNU Free Documentation License 1.2.


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