“Harmony recognizes harmony, and when the human soul regains its true estate it will not only hear the celestial choir but also join with it in an everlasting anthem of praise to that Eternal Good controlling the infinite number of parts and conditions of Being.”
- Manly P. Hall
Qabalah is a form of Jewish mysticism aimed at understanding the nature of God and the universe. It offers a framework for comprehending the relationships between the divine, the cosmos, and humanity through a system of ten spheres (Sephiroth) and 22 paths that represent different aspects and levels of consciousness and reality.
The system is visually represented by the Tree of Life, which serves as a map illustrating how the Infinite One, or Ain Sof, interacts with the finite world. Its emanations are called Sephiroth, which are attributes or aspects of the Infinite One. The Tree of Life isn't necessarily traversed linearly; instead, practitioners navigate through various interconnected paths.
Each path serves as a channel through which energy flows between the different Sephiroth. Holistically, the Tree of Life can be viewed as the process through which the Infinite One differentiates itself into physical reality, metaphorically representing the transition from 0 to 1.
The Tree is often depicted “upside down”, with the roots at the “top”. This orientation symbolizes the concept that the roots of the deep mind channel divine ideations “down” into the conscious self. The roots of the self ultimately end with the One Infinite.
The last Sephirah, known as “Malkuth”, is situated at the “bottom” of the Tree, representing the physical world or the realm of matter.
In the book The Mystical Qabalah, the author and mystic Dion Fortune writes this about Malkuth,
“It is the formative, concreting function of Malkuth which finally renders tangible and definite what was, upon the higher planes, intangible and indefinite, and this is its great service to manifestation and its characteristic power.”
In Malkuth, things are more literal and less abstract. The form has a definite shape, whereas in the higher realms, the form is more abstract than absolute.
Malkuth is the grounding point of the Divine’s will, where the idea finally becomes manifest.
Dion Fortune also writes this about Malkuth,
“The whole problem of Malkuth is a problem of channels and connecting links. The rest of the work is done by the mind on the subtler planes; the real difficulty lies in the transition from the subtle to the dense, for the subtle is so ill-equipped to work on the dense. This transition is effected by means of the magnetism of living things, whether organic or inorganic.”
The physical, being a dense realm, can be difficult to break through without the appropriate channels and magnetism of beings and objects existing in this realm.
Without the appropriate channels, the higher spiritual realms remain separated. They exist together but with a wide gulf between them. Only through the mediation of Spirit can it be possible to merge the two realms.
Thus, the human being, endowed with Spirit, acts as this mediator between Heaven and Earth.
In Nature, the connection between the two worlds is well established. In man, this is not so.
Mankind has the ability to direct the will to affect the Natural world in ways other species cannot.
Thus, mankind can act as co-Creators to the Logos.
To be a co-Creator is to be one who has maximum free will. As Qu’o said,
“Your own nature is water in that you as mind/body/spirit complexes are easily impressed and moved. Indeed, this is the very fiber and nature of your journey and vigil in this density: to not only be moved but to instruct yourself as to the preferred manner of your movement in mind, body, and spirit.”
In the Hermetic book The Divine Pymander, Hermes encounters the 'Great Dragon', a symbol often associated with the tangible realm of physical reality. During this mystical meeting, the Dragon imparts to Hermes a visionary understanding of life’s purpose.
The Great Dragon elucidates the journey of the soul. Upon a person's death, their soul embarks on a transformative passage through seven distinct spheres. Throughout this ascent, the soul is methodically divested of its negative components and illusions acquired during its earthly existence.
As it traverses each sphere, the soul sheds layers of illusion, gradually standing bare and unencumbered. Once the soul navigates through the seventh sphere, it emerges purified and liberated, standing in its authentic, naked truth, free from the deceptive veils that once shrouded its essence.
“It ascends the seven Rings upon which sit the Seven Governors and returns to each their lower powers in this manner:
Upon the first ring sits the Moon, and to it is returned the ability to increase and diminish.
Upon the second ring sits Mercury, and to it are returned machinations, deceit, and craftiness.
Upon the third ring sits Venus, and to it are returned the lusts and passions.
Upon the fourth ring sits the Sun, and to this Lord are returned ambitions.
Upon the fifth ring sits Mars, and to it are returned rashness and profane boldness.
Upon the sixth ring sits Jupiter, and to it are returned the sense of accumulation and riches.
And upon the seventh ring sits Saturn, at the Gate of Chaos, and to it are returned falsehood and evil plotting”
This story illustrates the concept of “stripping away” that which is not needed in order to be pure enough to walk through the gate. To hold onto the things of this world means you cannot walk through the gate. All that is false must be returned.
When you strip away everything that makes you, “you”, what is left? This is what can pass through the gate of chaos.
Manly P Hall writes in his book The Secret Teaching of all Ages that, “Man becomes master of the seven spheres only when he transmutes the impulses received from them.”
In the Mystical Qabalah, Dion Fortune writes about a man she knew who described God as “pressure”. Life is about pressure. We are shaped, molded, and formed by our experiences, they leave impressions on our souls as we make our way. Catalyst is a form of pressure, which ultimately leads to us becoming co-Creators. Like the pressure exerted onto carbon that eventually creates a diamond. The One Infinite’s energy seeps out of every channel, a force that drives all actions and events in the universe.
Yet, 'pressure' is merely one facet of the Divine. ‘Impulse’ represents another essential aspect.
In physics, impulse considers force applied over time, while pressure considers force applied over an area. Force, in this context, can be seen as synonymous with will.
Astrologically, planets might be envisioned as conveyors of this divine impulse, subtly directing the archetypal energies that influence human behavior and experiences. They act as dynamic transmitters of the Divine Will, or Logos, exerting a guiding influence over the archetypal mind shared by humanity.
Our task lies in the transcendence of this influence, to learn how to move in harmony with the natural and divine order, allowing our true will, the will of the Logos, to move us.