Yetzirah
| The Four Worlds in Kabbalah |
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Yetzirah (also known as Olam Yetsirah, עולם יצירה in Hebrew) is the third of four worlds in the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, following Atziluth and Briah and preceding Assiah. It is known as the "World of Formation".
"Yetsirah" as in "making" is as opposed to "Beriah" as in "Creating": actually taking whatever matter that was created in "Beriah" and shaping it into the basic elements.
Correspondences
On the Tree of Life diagram Yetzirah is associated with the sefirot Chesed, Gevurah, Tiferet, Netzach, Hod and Yesod. Together, these six sefirot are known as the Microprosopus (Zeir Anpin) also known as the 'Lesser Countenance' or the 'Small Face.' In this sense, it stands in contrast with the Macroprosopus (Arich Anpin).
The moment of formation, when the fetus' form becomes apparent, is called "the formation of the child" and corresponds to the world of Yetzirah.[1] The consciousness of the world of Yetzirah is that of communing with God, speaking to Him directly in prayer or indirectly through the study of His Torah and taking counsel with a true Torah sage.[2] The perspective of the world of Yetzirah as a state of consciousness is based on general notions. At this level, particular definitions are not apparent. The sense of selfhood that is apparent at this level of consciousness can only be grasped in impersonal language.[3]
Non-permanent angels dwell in the world of Yetzirah, unlike archangels which reside in Briah.
In addition, Yetzirah corresponds to:
- The letter vav ו in the Tetragrammaton.
- The sefirot of Chesed, Gevurah, Tiferet, Netzach, Hod and Yesod and hence the partzuf of Zeir Anpin.
- The element of Air.
- The soul-level of ruach.
- The soul-garment of speech.
- The emotions.[4]
- The arms, torso, legs, and circumcision (Patach Eliyahu).
- In the allegory of the teacher and the student, the penultimate stage where the teacher gives a lesson, a compressed outline of the full concept to the student. Through this, the student gains an initial, external understanding of the concept.
- The Pesukei Dezimra in the Shacharit prayer service.
- Within the Western mystery tradition, the suit of swords in the occult tarot.
- The fixed, air, sign of Aquarius (astrology).
References and further reading
- Dion Fortune, The Mystical Qabalah, Samuel Weiser publisher, 1984, p. 64
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- ^ Ginsburgh, Rabbi Yitzchak (1999). The mystery of marriage : how to find true love and happiness in married life (1st ed. ed.). Jerusalem: Gal Einai. p. 327. ISBN 965-7146-00-3.
{{cite book}}:|edition=has extra text (help) - ^ Ginsburgh, Rabbi Yitzchak (2003). Living in Divine Space. Linda Pinsky Publications, a division of the Gal-Einai Institute.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Ginsburgh, Rabbi Yitzchak (2006). What you need to know about Kabbalah (1st ed. ed.). Jerusalem: Gal Einai. p. 134. ISBN 965-7146-119.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help);|edition=has extra text (help) - ^ Ginsburgh, Rabbi Yitzchak (1999). The mystery of marriage : how to find true love and happiness in married life (1st ed. ed.). Jerusalem: Gal Einai. p. 289. ISBN 965-7146-00-3.
{{cite book}}:|edition=has extra text (help)