The Two Faces of Power

Exploring Geburah and Chesed on the Tree of Life

"It ascends from the Earth up to Heaven, and descends again, newborn, on the Earth, and the Superior and the Inferior are increased in Power." - Hermes, The Emerald Tablet

The Greek myth of Phaeton is a cautionary tale of ambition and the dire consequences that can arise from hubris. Eager to establish his divine lineage and earn the respect of his peers, Phaeton sought confirmation from his mother, Clymene, about his father, the sun god Helios. With her affirmation ringing in his ears, he journeyed to the radiant palace of the sun, where Helios welcomed him as his son and, bound by a promise sworn by the river Styx, agreed to grant Phaeton any wish he desired.

In a burst of youthful pride, Phaeton boldly requested the chance to drive the sun chariot, the fiery vehicle that pulled the sun across the sky each day. Despite Helios's grave warnings about the perilous nature of the task and the wild horses that powered the chariot, Phaeton’s determination led to his father’s reluctant consent.

What followed was nothing short of catastrophic. Unable to control the fiery steeds, Phaeton veered too close to Earth, igniting flames and destruction, only to veer too far away, plunging the world into freezing chaos. As disorder reigned in the sky, Zeus intervened, striking Phaeton with a thunderbolt, which sent him plummeting into the river Eridanus.

This myth serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of the reckless handling of power. For a fleeting moment, Phaeton wielded the power of the Sun, the greatest source of energy in our solar system, only to face the tragic fallout of his overreaching desires.

Intriguingly, Phaeton is also another name for the mythical planet Maldek, a world believed to have faced its own catastrophic fate due to the reckless handling of power. Various sources, including the Ra channelings, suggest that Maldek's untimely destruction occurred when its inhabitants inadvertently caused the planet to blow up due to the mishandling of a power source. The remnants are thought to be what we now know as the asteroid belt.

The Ra channelings recount a similar tale of destruction occurring on Mars and later on Earth, particularly in the well-known legend of Atlantis. While the specifics are often vague, the overarching theme remains consistent throughout these narratives: the peril of advanced civilizations misusing their technological power, leading to catastrophic consequences.

According to Qu'o, many of us on Earth are from these failed civilizations and we have repeated the same pattern of destruction again and again.

“Nevertheless, the entire gamble of Earth in third density was to see if such a polyglot group of entities could mold themselves into a tribe [with] all embracing planet Earth, all becoming aware of their true situation as regards the need to make a choice of service to others or service to self, and all having a great desire to restore or reconstitute the planet Earth where there was a group karma, shall we say, to be balanced, as so many entities had been involved actively in previous planets where, by their own choices, the planet was damaged, as in the case of Mars, or completely destroyed, as in the case of Maldek.

Eventually, those who had previously created disasters on other planetary spheres created the first disaster upon the sphere of Earth, sinking the continent known as Atlantis. And if you will examine your written history, you may see a pattern of empire: its building, its maintenance, and its eventual and inevitable destruction played out again and again.”

Whether these myths of Maldek, Mars, and Atlantis are true is not important. Each of them share a common theme: civilizations mishandling power, leading to their own downfall.

It is interesting to note that UFO sightings reportedly increased after the first atomic bomb test in the 1940s and 50s, possibly indicating that the significant escalation in our technological power—similar to the power Phaeton tried to wield—has drawn the attention of ultra-terrestrial observers. If so, we have to wonder why. Perhaps the answer lies in our history of self-destruction.

(UFOs, Salem, MA, July 1952)

Are we finally at a point where we are capable of managing the power of the Sun without destroying ourselves?

In a metaphysical and spiritual sense, are we finally capable of becoming co-Creators?

Our journey on the Way of the Return has been like walking through a vast, moonlit forest. In the dim glow of the night, we navigated the shifting landscapes of the lower mind and personality, moving through the Astral world encompassed by Yesod, Hod, and Netzach.

Then, as we pressed forward, the first light of dawn broke over the horizon—we arrived at Tiphereth, the sphere of the Higher Self. Here, the golden radiance of the Sun dispelled the mist, illuminating all that was once hidden in shadow. In this light, we see not only ourselves but the path ahead more clearly.

Tiphereth reveals the harmony of divine consciousness, the beauty of balance, and the first true taste of Higher Power.

Yet, true progress demands that we go beyond illumination and learn the nature of power itself.

To move forward, we must pass through the trials of Geburah and Chesed, where Strength and Mercy refine our understanding of power. Only then can we bear the full light of the Sun without being blinded by it.

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“With great power, comes great responsibility.” - Voltaire

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The Sun is indeed a profound paradox. As the central force of our solar system, it is the linchpin of existence here, without which nothing could survive. Its energy drives the climate, dictates the seasons, and fuels all life forms, from the smallest microorganisms to the most complex ecosystems.

Yet, despite its monumental power and fundamental role, the Sun operates largely in the background of our daily lives. It does not boast about its indispensability nor does it seek our acknowledgment or praise. Except on particularly scorching days or when it is conspicuously absent, we seldom pause to consider its presence or the enormity of its influence.

This subtlety is a remarkable aspect of the Sun’s nature. It shines without seeking recognition, providing endlessly without terms or conditions. It embodies a pure form of giving, offering warmth, light, and energy—asking nothing in return, and influencing without interfering.

In this way, the Sun is a model of true power: not as something exerted over others, but as a force that supports and sustains, that enables rather than controls.

How curious it is that we depend so completely on something that does not demand our attention or involvement. It simply gives, saying, "Here is life. Do with it as you will."

While the Sun gives generously, it also can destroy. The heat and light that the Sun produces give life, but it can also take it away. Thus, the tremendous power that the Sun wields is destructive as well as constructive.

In Tipereth, we arrive at the realm of the Higher Self, the “Sun” within ourselves. Thus, we get a glimpse of this power and, for the first time, become capable of being co-Creators. It becomes necessary then to learn how to be responsible stewards of this power. As Qu’o says,

“...the creation of the Father is interrelated by webs of love and service. The power to disrupt this web is within your being.”

What is the power found in Tipereth? The power is the metaphysical power of your will.

Qu’o says,

“The focusing of your will is the magical act that creates a change in consciousness for you.”

To grasp the concept of "will," we can look at an insightful channeling session conducted by Qu’o with the llresarch group in 2009. In this session, Qu’o delineates three distinct aspects of will. The session is summarized below:

In its first aspect, will emerges as undirected energy—raw, chaotic, and unformed. It represents pure potential, a force awaiting focus to bring it into alignment and order.

The second aspect of will is personal and active, expressed through the choices we make that shape our lives. These decisions, often made with limited awareness, can feel reactive rather than deliberate. Who we partner with, where we live, the work we pursue—these choices sometimes feel beyond our grasp, as if dictated by "fate" or some external power. This is a place of shadow, where the path forward is often obscured, and it can be challenging to discern the choice that resonates with our Higher Self.

The third aspect is a higher expression of personal will having to deal with being able to consciously direct force, thus enabling one to have a force behind their will. This enables one to create, manifest, and direct forces directly within the physical. In other words, to become a co-Creator.

On the Service-to-Others (STO) side, this involves aligning your will with that of the One Infinite Creator, becoming akin to a Sun that radiates light outward, energizing and uplifting those around you. On the Service-to-Self (STS) side, the approach is one of control, where an individual harnesses the power of the One Infinite Creator strictly for personal gain, often at the expense of others.

In essence, the Service-to-Others (STO) path radiates energy outward like the Sun, providing nourishment and support to others, while the Service-to-Self (STS) path reflects that solar energy inward, concentrating all power on self-serving interests rather than extending it outward.

Regardless of the path taken, whether STO or STS, the individual gains potency as their will is empowered by a substantial force. This force is described as "intelligent energy" in the Law of One channeling.

Power in this context is completely different from what we typically think of as “power”. One might immediately think of a physically strong individual, or a wealthy person, as someone who possesses "power."

A strong individual can overpower someone weaker, and a rich person can use their wealth to exert influence, yet because these rely purely on the material world, they are misleading indicators of power. To believe that this is true power is like a child believing that they can rearrange the stars by drawing on a foggy window.

Qu’o says,

“An entity who is living in the world does not have power. It is very rare that an undisciplined personality can muster his will and have force behind it.”

True power stems from the One Infinite Creator and an individual's capacity to connect with higher realms. In the Service-to-Others (STO) path, this involves harnessing faith to establish a connection through Tipereth to the higher Sephiroth. This connection acts like a bridge, enabling one to serve as a conduit for these elevated forces, channeling their energy and influence to enact positive change and uplift others.

Without the foundational force provided by the One Infinite Creator, nothing in our material world can truly possess power.

And it is in Geburah where the right use of power is explored.

Geburah

The archetype of the King represents the ideal qualities of leadership, authority, and responsibility. This figure embodies strength, wisdom, and the ability to govern with justice and fairness. The King is a protector of his realm, tasked with maintaining order and ensuring the well-being of his subjects.

As a symbol of authority, the King must balance power with compassion, recognizing that true strength lies not only in enforcing laws but also in nurturing and uplifting those he governs. He is a unifying force, promoting harmony and cooperation among his people. The throne and crown symbolize his divine responsibility, reflecting both the authority of Malkuth and the harmony of Tiphereth—the true center of kingship.

In the Tree of Life, Geburah and Chesed represent two aspects of the King's dual nature: discipline and generosity. Geburah portrays the King in his chariot, prepared for battle, embodying strength and the power of judgment. Chesed represents the King on his throne, ruling with wisdom and mercy. The synthesis of these forces occurs in Tiphereth, where true kingship is realized—balancing justice with compassion, and power with responsibility.

In Geburah, the adept comes to understand the force of divine judgment and restriction, recognizing the profound responsibility required to wield power correctly. Initiates into Geburah are forced to confront the complexities of power and the necessity of discipline, learning that the strength they wield must be matched by wisdom and discernment.

Failure to integrate this lesson carries significant consequences, leading to imbalance—either through excessive severity and destruction or through a loss of control resulting in chaos.

This is one reason Geburah is often seen as a difficult initiation. In truth, the challenges arise not from Geburah itself, but from the adept’s resistance—whether through ego, fear, or the refusal to surrender control. The path of Geburah demands discipline, humility, and the wisdom to wield power responsibly.

Power can be defined as the capacity to effectively exert your will in order to influence outcomes, create change, and manifest your intentions in the world.

Qu’o emphasizes the essential importance of discernment in understanding will as one begins to embrace their personal power.

“As you move beyond the desires of the body and the desires of the mind into that emptiness filled with devotion which comes to you in that inner room, you are preparing yourself to be a powerful person. It is when you have become this powerful person that you must be exceedingly careful with the use of the will.”

Qu’o cautions that one must be careful in the use of will, as an empowered will can lead to more direct and potent manifestations. This is akin to the magician who has the ability to create change or the shaman who can navigate beyond the illusory aspects of the astral realm to channel divine forces from higher dimensions.

A magician who successfully manifests results through their will must also cultivate discernment, understanding the full implications of his actions to prevent unintended consequences. Similarly, a shaman who channels higher archetypes must recognize that the forms they create for these forces to inhabit will manifest as real, influential powers in the world—capable of inspiring reverence or even attracting a following. Without caution, this can lead to unforeseen complications.

This is the wisdom of Geburah—the force of judgment that ensures the right application of will. Without proper restraint and precision, power can become uncontrolled, leading to consequences beyond one’s original intent.

As you can see, considerable discipline is needed to be properly initiated into Geburah. While we can become a powerful person, without the necessary discipline of Geburah, we are liable to become destructive.

Thus, Geburah’s association with war, destruction, and strife, arises when power is applied without wisdom or balance.

Geburah can be likened to a warrior or a knight—not one who seeks battle or boasts of strength, but one who embodies discipline, calmness, and inner power. This strength is held in reserve, deployed only when necessary, ensuring that force is applied with precision and purpose.

This represents the ideal expression of Geburah: measured strength guided by wisdom. One who wields power must exercise careful judgment to ensure it is used correctly. Misapplication of this power leads to destruction, oppression, or unnecessary suffering.

In the realm of Geburah, power is not just a tool; it is a responsibility. The warrior within us must learn to discern when to act and when to hold back, understanding that true strength lies in restraint and wisdom. Each decision made with this power has the potential to create ripples that affect not only the immediate environment but also the broader world around us.

Actions, no matter how inconsequential you believe them to be, can have far-reaching consequences that extend beyond time and far into the future.

This becomes even more important to consider the greater your will becomes.

As the adapt advances, even thoughts, and visualizations have consequences as it becomes possible to use thoughts in a directed manner. The more refined and focused your will, the more significant the impact on your mental and emotional state.

This is where the teachings of Geburah become particularly vital. They remind us that with increased power comes the necessity for discernment and ethical consideration. Every thought, every intention, and every action has weight and should be considered carefully.

From Geburah, we learn a few crucial lessons: the importance of discipline, the need for careful judgment, and the understanding that power must be wielded responsibly to avoid harm.

We can visualize this by understanding Tiphereth as the Sun, radiating light and harmony, while Geburah represents the raw, unyielding power within the Sun. This power, if unbalanced, can become destructive, yet when properly directed, it sustains life. Thus, the great lesson of Geburah is the right application of power. This wisdom is fully realized only when seen through the lens of Chesed, which tempers strength with mercy and compassion.

Chesed

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“Each of you is the truth, yet to be born.” - Qu’o

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One of the most powerful acts of magic is simply being thankful. Thankfulness is fundamentally about recognizing and appreciating the gifts we receive, whether they come from people, nature, or a higher power. This recognition fosters a sense of connection to others and to the world around us, which is central to the concept of Chesed.

The Zohar speaks about "awakening above by awakening below"—meaning, when we express gratitude, we stimulate higher divine Chesed, drawing down blessings into the world. By being thankful, we acknowledge the loving actions and support we receive, reinforcing the positive energies associated with this Sephirah.

This is why many mystical traditions emphasize daily gratitude practices—blessings before meals, morning prayers, and spontaneous expressions of thanks. These acts are not just rituals; they are tools for drawing the divine down into our reality and increasing our ability to receive.

Chesed is the embodiment of the benevolent, expansive quality of the Logos. It is the first fully emotive and outward-directed expression of divine energy. It represents the energy that builds, that takes an idea and expands it into reality,

Chesed is the side of the king associated with benevolent rulership, while Geburah is the side of the king associated with disciplined action and precision. One expands, the other restrains.

A king who only embodies Chesed gives endlessly, without structure, leading to chaos. A king who only embodies Geburah rules with severity and restriction, leading to oppression. The balance between them is Tiphereth.

If Geburah represents the fire of the Sun, then Chesed represents the light. Fire enlivens, and catalyzes, while light reveals. It shows us where the potential is and with the right application of fire, this potential can be released.

Light, by its nature, is expansive—it stretches outward, illuminating the hidden potential contained within the All. This unrestricted flow is the essence of Chesed, where divine energy begins to take form, setting the stage for manifestation.

However, illuminating potential is only part of the equation. For creation to be meaningful, Chesed must be balanced by Geburah, which defines and shapes this expansive force. Together, they release potential and expand the boundaries of existence—Chesed pouring forth opportunity, Geburah refining it into order.

In Magick and Qabalah, Chesed is often invoked in rituals aimed at increasing luck. Why is Chesed associated with luck?

Light spreads freely and without discrimination—it pours out in all directions, illuminating everything in its path. Luck works similarly. It is divine overflow, the unexpected revelation of hidden opportunities. Just as light reveals potential, Chesed opens doors that logic and merit alone would not.

Luck feels like a gift of possibility, a sudden chance we couldn’t have planned for. This is because Chesed operates beyond strict cause and effect—it channels divine abundance without judgment, offering blessings that transcend limitations.

In Chesed, we encounter the first expression of divine expansion—the point where infinite potential begins to flow outward into creation. As the foundation of divine generosity, Chesed serves as the channel through which intelligent energy moves into existence, allowing life and possibility to unfold.

It embodies prosperity, abundance, and expansion—the inherent qualities of the One Infinite. This reminds us that the natural state of the universe is not one of lack or limitation but of continuous growth, overflowing generosity, and limitless potential. Yet, for creation to take true form, this expansion must eventually be tempered and directed—a role fulfilled by the balancing force of Geburah.

Dion Fortune writes in The Mystical Qabalah that Chesed represents

“...the formulation of the archetypal idea, the concretion of the abstract.”

Raw, limitless divine will—which exists in pure potential in the higher sephiroth—finds its first meaningful expression in Chesed, where it takes form as the fundamental patterns of existence.

Robert Wang, author of The Qabalistic Tarot, expands on this, writing:

“The image of a mighty and loving ruler conveys the idea that it is a potency which guides and controls the course of manifestation. It establishes the underlying framework on which matter is built.”

The Zohar states that “the world is built on Chesed”, meaning that Love is the foundation upon which all worlds emerge.

Robert Wang further suggests that Chesed corresponds to the realm of universal forms—the pure, unchanging archetypes that shape physical reality.

He writes,

“It is the realm of the archetypes described by Plato in the ninth book of his Republic, and the various symbols of Chesed make suggestions about the function and purpose of these archetypes.

The first is the Pyramid, a tetrahedron used as a building form by the society which gave us the first monumental stone architecture. It brings together four sides, each of which points upwards. Energy flows down from above and is spread equally through each of the sides. Thus does Chesed contain all the Holy Powers.

It is a renewed manifestation of the Four, encountered first in the Primordial Elements of Kether, and establishes the archetypal pattern for matter fully expressed in the subdivided elements of Malkuth.

Moreover, we recall the Pentagram as the symbol of perfected mankind, having four lower Elemental points and the upper point of Spirit which is a directing force, once the Elements are in balance.

The principle of the Pyramid is the same, and amplifies the text which describes Chesed as ‘measuring and cohesive,’ as well as ‘receptacular,’ meaning that it is a receptacle for the Higher Powers.”

It is believed that pyramidal structures, such as those in Egypt, were used to balance planetary energies and assist in spiritual initiation. Just as sacred architecture can serve as a conduit for higher forces, Chesed acts as a spiritual vessel, drawing Divine Light from the unmanifest and channeling it into creation.

As the first Sephiroth in the process of creation, Chesed marks the beginning of manifestation. Yet, on the path of return, it is also the final gateway before dissolving back into the Infinite, where divine love overcomes all boundaries. Those with awakened vision will perceive Chesed as the hidden light illuminating all things, revealing the unity and love underlying existence.

All things contain the love and light of the One Infinite. To see through the lens of Chesed is to perceive the hidden divine light within all things. This light is the foundation that sustains and connects all of existence—this light is love.

Fire and light go hand in hand. Likewise, Geburah and Chesed go hand in hand. While Chesed is the receptacle for the unmanifest to manifest itself, it is also the initiating channel that allows divine energy to flow into creation. Chesed can be thought of as a primary conduit of divine energy, however, it still needs the balance of other Sephiroth—especially Geburah—to give form and structure to that flow.

Geburah, in turn, acts as the force that defines, restrains, and guides this manifestation, establishing the essential boundaries that shape Chesed’s limitless expansion.

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Power is a force that must be understood, balanced, and directed with wisdom. The initiation into Chesed and Geburah teaches that power, in its highest form, is a harmonious fusion of giving and restraint, expansion and discipline.

To wield power without wisdom is to invite chaos; to restrain power without purpose is to stagnate and oppress.

When these two forces are integrated, true power—the power of Divine Will—can be expressed by the adept.

Tiphereth, Geburah, and Chesed are not the originators of Divine Will, but their expressions in the structured worlds. The true source lies beyond them, in the higher Sephiroth—Keter, Chokhmah, and Binah—the realms of pure potential, where Divine Will emerges before descending into form. To truly wield power is not to command it, but to become a vessel through which it flows.