Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Conclusion 215
"And the voice of the turtle[-dove] is heard in our land": this is the word
of God, which was not in the world till man was created. 'Thus when
man was there, everything was there. When man sinned, the earth was
cursed, and all these good things left it, as it is written, "cursed is the
earth for thy sake" (Gen. III, 17), and again, "when thou tillest the
ground it shall not give its strength to thee" (Ibid. IV, 12), and again,
"thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to thee" (Ibid. III, 18). When
Noah came, he invented spades and hoes, but afterwards he sinned
through drunkenness, and the rest of the world also sinned before God,
and the strength of the earth deserted it. So matters continued until
215This chapter also serves as an introduction to the practical section of this book (i.e. that is soon to
be added.)
197
June 21, 2010 FORMATION OF THE TREE OF LIFE
Abraham came. Then once more "the blossoms appeared in the earth",
and all the powers of the earth were restored and displayed themselves.
"The time of pruning (zamir) came", i.e. God told Abraham to
circumcise himself. When at length the covenant existed in Abraham
through the circumcision, then all this verse was fulfilled in him, the
world was firmly established, and the word of the Lord came to him
openly: hence it is written, AND THE LORD APPEARED UNTO
HIM.‖ 216
First Premise: Every individual human soul is carried to term within the
spiritual womb of the Great Mother, and therefore bears a unique
‘umbilical’ relationship with Her.
This statement appears simple and perhaps trite on the surface, but its
implications are tremendous. The metaphor is of a mother pregnant with child.
The child within the womb is intimately attached to the mother via an umbilical
cord. The umbilical cord provides sustenance to the embryo as it grows and is
carried to term. Similarly, each human soul (Ruach, )רוחis attached to the
198
FORMATION OF THE TREE OF LIFE June 21, 2010
Celestial Mother (the Higher Shekinah, Binah) by a spiritual umbilical cord. This
connection is unique to each soul because each soul requires its own special
kind of creative sustenance and nurture.
The soul‘s outer expression is the human personality (or ego, Nefesh, )נפש. The
incarnate human personality is encased within the womb of the physical world
(i.e. Mother Earth)—a lower reflection of the condition of the human soul
enclosed within the belly of the Celestial Mother. Just as there is an umbilical
cord connecting the human soul to the Celestial Mother (Higher Shekinah) so
too there is a invisible umbilical cord connecting the human personality to
Mother Earth (i.e. the Lower Shekinah). Thus, the third premise is…
Third Premise: The outer umbilical cord joining the human personality
to Mother Earth is a lower reflection of the inner umbilical cord that joins
the human soul to the Celestial Mother.
The implications of the third premise are also great. The two umbilical cords
represent narrow channels of creative sustenance and nurture that flow from
two directions towards each human-being—i.e. from the Celestial Mother to
the human soul, and from the Earth Mother to the human personality. Both the
Celestial Mother and the Earth Mother are interconnected and inter-
coordinated expressions of the one Great Mother principle.
199
June 21, 2010 FORMATION OF THE TREE OF LIFE
200
FORMATION OF THE TREE OF LIFE June 21, 2010
being now ripe to offer up praises to the Almighty, which it could not do
before man was created.‖217
The biblical Adam in the Genesis narrative personifies the human soul. The
Earth was created by God as a material resource packed full of a very specific
potential, and it was provided as an environment for Adam to indwell and
cultivate. Adam (i.e. the human soul) is the only entity that can unlock and bring
forth the Earth‘s special potential (i.e. a potential that has been divinely ‗pre-
programmed‘ within the Earth‘s substance by the Creator). In other words, only
the human soul has the power to summon forth the ‗royal treasures‘ that God
has concealed (i.e. in latency) deep within the Earth (i.e. His Kingdom—
Malkut). Adam is able to draw forth this potential as a result of the passage of
Water (Maym, מ, symbolized by ‗rain‘ in the quote above) that flows to the
human soul from the Creator (i.e. it falls upon the head of Adam). Then it
further descends to soak into the denser lower levels of the Earth (i.e. אדמה,
Adamah, the ‗ground‘).
The concept of the Earth having a secret divine potential hidden within it
awaiting emergence when the right conditions arise, can be understood in terms
of human DNA.
―On the genetic level, it is interesting to note that human DNA is 173
centimetres long. Only 3 centimetres carry active genetic information.
Modern biochemistry is puzzled at this seeming wastefulness of nature
and calls the inactive parts of the DNA introns, useless waste material.
This is a very questionable assumption, as nature does not produce waste
anywhere. The introns are in my opinion (again I deviate from official
science) equal to the latent spiritual potential of the human being.‖ 218
218Enlightenment & the Brain: A Scientific Commentary on the Teachings of Sri Bhagavan. Christian Opitz.
From: DNA Monthly. May 2006 (Vol. 2, No. 5).
201
June 21, 2010 FORMATION OF THE TREE OF LIFE
It is thought (in some circles) that the inactive DNA within the human
organism represents latent abilities that are destined to become active at some
future stage of human evolution. For the activation process to occur the right
conditions must be present to stimulate the inactive DNA material to come to
life.
In like manner, the Earth has its own DNA, some strands of which have
already been activated by the actions of humanity, but other portions of which
remain dormant. These dormant components are destined to become active
when collective humankind reaches a certain level of evolution. The right
conditions for Earth DNA activation will occur as humanity individually and
collectively steps forward on the ‗Path of Righteousness‘, 219 and in so doing
triggers each stage of the divine Creation to unfold.
Prior to the ‗Fall‘ (i.e. Adam and Eve‘s expulsion from the Garden of Eden) the
human soul and its personality vehicle were in perfect harmony with each other,
and with the Shekinah (i.e. the Great Mother principle).
202
FORMATION OF THE TREE OF LIFE June 21, 2010
In the diagram above, the small yellow circle represents human consciousness in
the midst of the body of the Great Mother (i.e. the large blue circle). The upper
half of the blue circle symbolizes the Celestial Mother (or Higher Shekinah)
while the lower half represents Mother Earth (or the Lower Shekinah). They
signify two expressions of one divine feminine principle. 221 The green line (in
the diagram) abstractly represents the esoteric ‗umbilical cord‘—i.e. the
primordial perfect relationship that was established between human
221These two manifestations of the Great Mother are also symbolized by the two Hebrew letter Hehs
(H) in the Holy Name YHVH. In this case, the Hebrew letter Vav (V) represents the human
consciousness principle that separates and unites them.
203
June 21, 2010 FORMATION OF THE TREE OF LIFE
consciousness and the Shekinah in the Garden of Eden (i.e. before the ‗Fall‘).
At that time the human personality (i.e. Nefesh, or Eve) was in harmonious
accord with the soul (i.e. Ruach, or Adam) and both were in mutual harmonious
alignment with the Higher and Lower Shekinah.
Because every human soul is unique, the green line (as per the diagram above)
should be imagined as being uniquely angled for each and every individual
soul.222 This reflects the ancient concept that the feminine principle of Form is
an ‗eternal virgin‘—i.e. her relationship with each human soul/personality is
original, uniquely intimate, and singularly focused. In all cases, this ideal
relationship (i.e. between human consciousness and the Shekinah) is
represented by a straight line diameter passing through the centre of the circle.
Genesis, 2:16-17. ―And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‗Of
every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that
thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die‘.‖
In the Genesis story, Eve‘s interaction with the Serpent (Samael) in the Garden
of Eden symbolizes an interaction between human consciousness and the
lowest physical dimensions of Earth.
The seduction of Eve by the Serpent, and Eve‘s consequent interaction with
Adam (wherein she effectively usurps God‘s divine authority) symbolizes the
human personality‘s proclivity to stray from the Path of God‘s Will (i.e. His
Path of intended Creation), and to selfishly indulge itself in its own superficial
activities within the realm of matter.
222Note that there are an infinite number of these uniquely angled axes (i.e. diameter lines) present in
the geometry of a circle.
204
FORMATION OF THE TREE OF LIFE June 21, 2010
The outer umbilical cord is a very narrow channel connecting the human
personality to Mother Earth. Its purpose is for the provision of material
resources that are required during the process of divine Creation. These
resources are specifically tailored to facilitate the realization of the divine
creative Purpose of each individual soul/personality. They emerge into
manifestation (and thus are made available) as the personality takes steps in the
right direction—i.e. towards the realization of its soul‘s creative Purpose. The
soul/personality‘s progress on this narrow Path is termed walking the ‗Path of
Righteousness‘ (or ‗Faithfulness‘), and a person who walks that Path is termed a
Tzadik223 ()צדיק. On that special Path (which is unique for every
soul/personality) there is no consciousness of good and/or evil (i.e. no
‗Judgment‘), there is only the Path.
The ‗tree of the knowledge of good and evil‘ is the ‗Tree of Judgment‘ (i.e. between
Good and Evil). Eating of the fruit of this tree symbolizes a diversion from the
Path of Unity (or ‗Faithfulness to YHVH‘). It represents a stepping off the Path
of Righteousness, and a misuse of the human ego‘s physical energy (or ‗life
force‘). To put it simply, it includes the human tendency to judge earthly
phenomena (including other people) according to our own personally (and
collectively) formulated opinions. But how can we reasonably do that when
every human soul/personality is unique?
There are many and varied earthly activities in which the human personality can
involve itself on planet Earth. There is however, only one activity (or direction
of focus) that, in any given moment of time, represents a step forward on an
individual‘s Path of Righteousness. Each step forward on this Path leads to an
abundant influx of divine ‗blood‘224 (DM, דם, of ADaM, )אדםthrough the
earthly umbilical cord (i.e. from the Shekinah to the personality).
Eating of the ‗tree of the knowledge of good and evil‘ symbolizes the ‗path of
materialism‘ (i.e. for its own superficial sake) and leads to the experience of
Judgment—i.e. the need for the ego to choose between many greater and lesser
evils, and between many greater and lesser goods. This is the path of illusion
205
June 21, 2010 FORMATION OF THE TREE OF LIFE
In the diagram above, the two brown lines represent examples of the human
personality misdirecting the use of its physical energy in wayward material
206
FORMATION OF THE TREE OF LIFE June 21, 2010
Genesis, 3:17-18. ―And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened
unto the voice of thy wife [i.e. personality], and hast eaten of the tree, of
which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the
ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee...‖
As long as the human personality does not heed the Will of God and instead
follows its own little will (and desire for personal gratification) then its
experience on Earth is characterized to a large extent by harsh judgment (i.e.
‗negative‘ experiences). This, for the simple reason that the substance of the
Earth has been pre-programmed by the Creator to react in certain ways that are
dependent on whether or not the human personality is following its individual
Path of Righteousness as it moves forward within the body of the Great
Mother.
Experience on the path of judgment (that is, when the personality and soul are
out of alignment) is characterized by the Earth‘s own inner elemental force—i.e.
Fire (Shin, )ש.225 This encounter with the purging Fire of Shin produces great
discomfort, but ultimately has a positive transformative (i.e. evolutionary) effect
on the human personality.226
When on the other hand, the human personality is aligned with the soul and
moves forward on its individual Path of Righteousness, then it receives
elemental Water (Maym, )מflowing to it from the soul, which it uses to mitigate
and creatively complement the latent inner Fire of the Shekinah.
226This Fire is associated with the concept of ‗Fire by Friction‘ that is described in the books of Alice
Bailey. See: A Treatise on Cosmic Fire.
207
June 21, 2010 FORMATION OF THE TREE OF LIFE
It is only on the Path of Righteousness that the personality gains access to the
elemental Water of Maym. On the path of judgment the Water does not flow
down from the soul, and only the Earth‘s inner purging heat of elemental Fire is
experienced.
When the elemental Water of Maym is combined with the elemental Fire of
Shin (i.e. on the Path of Righteousness) an aspect of the divine Creation
emerges into manifestation upon the Earth. ―The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of song is come, and the voice of the turtle[-dove] is heard in our
land.‖227
228 This is technically termed the ‗World to Come‘ in the symbolism of the Zohar, etc.
208
FORMATION OF THE TREE OF LIFE June 21, 2010
The diagram above illustrates an encounter with the Fire of Shin ( )שthat occurs
on the Path of Righteousness, and also, on the many paths of judgment. The
Water of Maym ( )מis made available to the human personality (Nefesh) to
mitigate the Fire of Shin ( )שwhen it is traversing the Path of Righteousness.
The full unmitigated heat of the purging Fire of Shin however, is experienced
on every path of judgment. A joyful creative experience is had on the Path of
209
June 21, 2010 FORMATION OF THE TREE OF LIFE
Righteousness as the Water of Maym flows into and combines creatively with
the Fire of Shin.229
―And the voice of the turtle[dove] is heard in our land": this is the word
of God, which was not in the world till man was created. 'Thus when
man was there, everything was there. When man sinned, the earth was
cursed, and all these good things left it, as it is written, "cursed is the
earth for thy sake" (Gen. III, 17), and again, "when thou tillest the
ground it shall not give its strength to thee" (Ibid. IV, 12), and again,
"thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to thee" (Ibid. III, 18). When
Noah came, he invented spades and hoes, but afterwards he sinned
through drunkenness, and the rest of the world also sinned before God,
and the strength of the earth deserted it. So matters continued until
Abraham came. Then once more "the blossoms appeared in the earth",
and all the powers of the earth were restored and displayed themselves.
"The time of pruning (zamir) came", i.e. God told Abraham to
circumcise himself. When at length the covenant existed in Abraham
through the circumcision, then all this verse was fulfilled in him, the
world was firmly established, and the word of the Lord came to him
openly: hence it is written, AND THE LORD APPEARED UNTO
HIM.‖230
The Holy Covenant that the Lord (YHVH) established with Abraham
represents the divinely prescribed means by which humankind is able to resolve
the dilemma of Adam‘s ‗Fall‘. This biblical episode adds a new layer of
symbolism to the fundamental leitmotif that we are investigating.
During this important event, the biblical character Abram undergoes a name-
change that results in him being called Abraham.231 Similarly, the name of
229In the diagram, elemental Air (i.e. Alef, )אis represented by the yellow circle of human
consciousness.
Abram‘s wife is changed from Sarai to Sarah. 232 In both instances, the Hebrew
letter Heh ( )הis added to the spelling of their names. Like Adam before him,
Abraham represents the human consciousness principle, while Sarah symbolizes
the object of his desire.
Kabbalistically, the letter Heh symbolizes the Shekinah (or Great Mother
principle)233 and its inclusion here indicates that a special relationship has been
established between Abraham, Sarah, and the Shekinah. That special
relationship forms the basis of the Path of Righteousness upon which Abraham
had (by that time) become firmly focused.
The deeper meaning involves the removal of all impurities within the human
psycho-physical organism that prevent a human-being from joining with the
Shekinah in a destined ‗sacred marriage‘ (or ‗consummation‘)—a consummation
that leads ultimately to the birth (or materialization) of a small facet of the
divinely preordained Creation.
233That is, in terms of the Tetragrammaton (YHVH) the two Hehs signify the higher and lower
Shekinah.
211
June 21, 2010 FORMATION OF THE TREE OF LIFE
On the kabbalistic Tree of Life, the sefirah Yesod (Tav, ת, Moon) represents
the male sex organ because it is through the interface of Yesod that human
212
FORMATION OF THE TREE OF LIFE June 21, 2010
The deeper meaning of the circumcision applies to both men and women
because every man and every woman has the same psycho-spiritual faculties (as
symbolized by the sefirot of the kabbalistic Tree of Life). The male/female
gender distinction does not apply except within the lowest material realm of
existence.
In parallel to Yesod, the sefirah Da‘at symbolizes the higher ‗sex organ‘ that is
located in the head of Adam.235 Just as Yesod provides the faculty for
communion with the Lower Shekinah (i.e. Malkut), so it is through the interface
of Da‘at that human consciousness is able to maintain its creative union with
the Higher Shekinah (or Binah, the Celestial Mother).
―Because medieval kabbalists believed all liturgical and ritual acts affect
both the terrestrial and heavenly realms, halakhically sanctioned physical
intercourse between a male mystic and his wife on earth could foster
213
June 21, 2010 FORMATION OF THE TREE OF LIFE
both divine and mystical union, for the act enables both Tiferet and the
male mystic to unite with the Shekhinah. Wives thus became a conduit
through which their husbands could attain divine union. Drawing from
Talmudic tradition, medieval kabbalists deemed Friday night to be the
most auspicious time to engage in sexual intercourse.‖ 236
This symbolism is reflected in our Tree of Life diagram. 237 (See below.)
You will note (in the diagram below) that the sefirah Da‘at (ב, Bayt) is
connected to Binah (ש, Shin) via the pathway of Tav (ת, Moon). This
combination of Hebrew letters spells ShaBaTh (—)שבתthe Shabbat, the ‗day‘
when Israel unites with the Shekinah, and the day when the coupling of a Jewish
husband and his wife is blessed by the Shekinah. The pathway of Tav ()ת
represents the Ruach‘s (i.e. soul‘s) unique relationship with the Higher Shekinah
()ש. The sefirah of Tav (i.e. Yesod) is its projected lower correspondence and
represents the relationship that is established between the Nefesh (i.e.
personality) and the Lower Shekinah (Malkut).238 Ideally, the lower sefirotic
expression of Tav should embody/reflect the nature and quality of the higher
pathway expression of Tav.
See my book: Formation of the Tree of Life. The sefirah Tifaret connects with the Higher Shekinah via
237
238The sefirah Malkut is not shown in this diagram. Malkut, representing the ‗World of Assiah‘ (or
‗Action‘), is located immediately below Yesod and directly adjoined to it.
214
FORMATION OF THE TREE OF LIFE June 21, 2010
It is important that you familiarize yourself with the structure and meaning of
the Tree of Life diagram (as illustrated above) because it forms the foundation
of the system of practical kabbalah that will be outlined in Part Two of this
book. In the present chapter, however, we are mainly concerned with some
background concepts that are needed for a full appreciation of the practical
system.
The esoteric symbolism of the Shekinah principle is also woven into the ancient
prophesy of the coming of the Jewish messiah at the ‗end times‘.
―And at the time when the Holy One will raise the dead to life He will
cause dew to descend upon them from His head. By means of that dew
all will rise from the dust, as it says, "for thy dew is as the dew of lights"
(Is. XXVI, 19), these being the supernal lights through which the
Almighty will in future pour forth life upon the world. For the tree of life
215
June 21, 2010 FORMATION OF THE TREE OF LIFE
exudes life unceasingly into the universe. Life in the present dispensation
is cut short through the influence of the evil serpent, whose dominion is
symbolized by the darkened moon. Under the same influence the
celestial waters, as it were, fail, and life is not dispensed in the world in
proper measure. At that time, however, the evil tempter, who is none
other than the evil serpent, will be removed from the world by the
Almighty and disappear, as it is written, "and I will cause the unclean
spirit to pass out of the earth" (Zech. XIII, 2). After he disappears the
moon will no more be obscured, and the waters of the celestial river will
flow on perennially. Then will be fulfilled the prophecy, "Moreover the
light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun
shall be sevenfold, as the light of the seven days, etc." (Is. XXX, 26).‖239
The Moon, in the writings of the Zohar (etc), symbolizes the Shekinah. Her
exile from Israel is represented by the ‗darkened Moon‘ that is unable to reflect
the light of the Sun. The ‗evil serpent‘ signifies the lure of ‗materialism‘ that
causes the human personality to sow its seed in barren fields, or in ground that
puts forth naught but ‗weeds‘.
The ‗dew of lights‘ that descends from the ‗Head of the Almighty‘ during the
‗end times‘ symbolizes the Water of Maym flowing from the divine Father
(Hockmah, )מto the Son (Tifaret/Ruach) and then to the faithfully aligned
human personality (Yesod/Nefesh). This divine Water then flows from the
human personality to the Lower Shekinah (Malkut) combining creatively with
Her innate Fire of Shin. Thus it is written: ―the light of the moon shall be as the
light of the sun‖.
216
FORMATION OF THE TREE OF LIFE June 21, 2010
Jeremiah, 4:3-4. ―For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and
Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your
heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come
forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of
your doings.‖240
Here Jeremiah alludes to the intense heat of the Fire of Shin being felt (without
the relief of the Water of Maym) as a repercussion of not removing the
‗foreskin of the heart‘. The purification of the astral body is implied in this ritual
of the ‗circumcision of the heart‘.
―He placed him in His bosom, and kissed him on his head, and He called
him, "Abraham my beloved" (Isaiah 41:8). He made a covenant with him
and with his children after him forever, as it is written, "And he believed
240 The ‗Circumcision of the Heart‘ is also mentioned in Deuteronomy, 10:16 and 30:6.
217
June 21, 2010 FORMATION OF THE TREE OF LIFE
The ‗circumcision of the tongue‘ is code for the purification and control of the
mental body, and its consecration to fulfilling the sacred Purpose of the human
soul. The means to achieve this third initiation of circumcision is given in the
text of the Sefer Yetzirah, but it‘s cloaked in extremely opaque symbolism. One
of the purposes of this book is to shine a light into the darkness of the Sefer
Yetzirah and consequently, to provide a framework for understanding (and
completing) the ‗circumcision of the tongue‘.
As mentioned briefly above, the story (in the Tanach) of the exile of Israel and
the Shekinah adds yet another layer of symbolism to this important esoteric
teaching.
Like Adam, and Abraham, and many other male characters from the Tanach, the
third patriarch Jacob also personifies the human soul. His name was changed to
Israel after ―wrestling with a man (AYSh, )איש243 until the breaking of the
day‖,244 or in others words, after he underwent a major initiation.245
243The ‗man‘ mentioned in the verse is generally interpreted as being an angel—usually the angelic
representative of Esau, Jacob‘s twin brother.
218
FORMATION OF THE TREE OF LIFE June 21, 2010
In the mundane world, the name Israel has come to collectively represent the
Jewish race. Tradition has it that after the destruction of the two Temples of
YHVH in the first millennium BCE, the people of Israel became alienated from
the Shekinah, and were cursed to wander the Earth in exile from their God.
This is a motif that is buried deeply within the religious psyche of the Jewish
people, and in its most concrete and literal form is represented by the
philosophy of Zionism.
The Temple of Solomon (and, its later replacement) symbolized a sacred house
wherein dwelled the Shekinah (i.e. the divine Presence of YHVH). The Temple
was thus able to provide a means through which the ancient Jewish priesthood
could receive the blessing of YHVH for the people of Israel. In other words,
the Temple provided a locus through which the sacred marriage between Israel
and the Shekinah could be consummated. This was (and is) a very literal
interpretation of a very esoteric doctrine that was received by the ancient
Hebrews through their beloved prophets and patriarchs.
In the Temple of Solomon the Shekinah was said to rest upon the Ark of the
Covenant within the Holy of Holies—the most sacred room in the Temple. On
the Tree of Life diagram, the Ark of the Covenant is represented by Da‘at, and
the ‗Most Holy Place‘ by the sefirah Geburah. 246 The Shekinah is of course,
symbolized by the sefirah Binah as it alights (via the Tav/Moon pathway) upon
Da‘at ‗between the two wings of the Cherubim‘.
All these religious terms, images, and expressions are actually symbols for inner
psycho-spiritual faculties and processes that are made manifest within the
conscious mind as the inner Temple is constructed.
246 This will be more clearly explained in Part Two of this book (entitled Holy Temple of Magic).
219
June 21, 2010 FORMATION OF THE TREE OF LIFE
Like all the great temples of history, the architecture and construction of the
historical Temple of Solomon was based on sacred geometry and the
metaphysical symbolism of numbers. The most sacred numbers employed
traditionally in temple construction are the numbers three, seven, and twelve.
For example, with regard to the number seven...247
―I should like to draw attention to two texts that connect the creation of
the world and the construction of the Temple which have not been
remarked before. 1 Kings 6:38b tells us that it took Solomon seven years
to build his Temple. According to 1 Kings 8, he dedicated it during the
Feast of Booths (Sukkot), which occurs in the seventh month (verse 2)
and which, in Deuteronomic tradition, is a festival of seven days duration
(Deut. 16:13-15). Moreover, the speech in which Solomon dedicates his
shrine, just completed, is structured around seven petitions (1 Kings
8:31-55). Can the significance of the number seven in this Temple
dedication be coincidence? In light of the argument on other grounds
that Temple building and creation were thought to be congeneric, this is
improbable. It is more likely that the construction of the Temple is
presented here as a parallel to the construction of the world in seven days
(Gen. 1:1-2:4).‖248
The Holy Temple that we will construct later during our course of practical
kabbalah is also based in large part on the number seven, and like its physical
counterpart—the Temple of Solomon—it will provide a holy sanctuary for the
Higher Shekinah to indwell.
The Holy Temple that we build within the human psyche will enable each
individual to establish conscious communion with the Higher and Lower
Shekinah. It will provide the means by which to draw down the ‗dew of lights‘
247Among others, the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza was also based on the number
seven. See Appendix II in my book: Esoteric Harmonics.
248The Temple and the World, by Jon D. Levenson. The Journal of Religion, Vol. 64, No. 3 (Jul., 1984),
pp. 275-298. The University of Chicago Press. Pp. 288-289.
220
FORMATION OF THE TREE OF LIFE June 21, 2010
(i.e. the Water of Maym) from the Holy One, so as to blend it creatively with
the Fire of Shin (i.e. of the Lower Shekinah).
221