copenhagen qabalah
spiritual
technology lab
the
thirty-two paths of wisdom
from
the Hebrew Text of Joannes Stephanus Rittangelius (1642)
translation
by William Wynn Westcott (1877)
The First path is called the
Admirable or the Hidden Intelligence (the Highest Crown): for
it is the Light giving the power of comprehension of that First
Principle which has no beginning; and it is the Primal Glory,
for no created being can attain to its essence. *
The Second Path is that of
the Illuminating Intelligence; it is the Crown of Creation, the
Splendour of the Unity, equalling it, and it is exalted above
every head, and named by the Kabalists the Second Glory. *
The Third Path is the Sanctifying
Intelligence, and is the basis of foundation of Primordial Wisdom,
which is called the Former of Faith, and its roots, Amen; and
and it is the parent of Faith, from whose virtues doth Faith
emanate. *
The Fourth Path is named Measuring,
Cohesive or Receptacular; and so because it contains all the
holy powers, and from it emanate all the spiritual virtues with
the most exalted essences: they emanate one from the other by
the power of the primordial emanation. *
The Fifth Path is called the
Radical Intelligence, because it is itself the essence equal
to the Unity, uniting itself to the Binah, or Intelligence which
emanates from the Primordial depths of Wisdom or Chokmah. *
The Sixth Path is called the
Intelligence of the Mediating Influence, because in it are multiplied
the influxes of the emanations, for it causes that influence
to flow into all the reservoirs of the Blessings, with which
these themselves are united. *
The Seventh Path is the Occult
Intelligence, because it is the Refulgent Splendour of all the
Intellectual virtues which are perceived by the eyes of intellect,
and by the contemplation of faith. *
The Eighth Path is called Absolute
or Perfect, because it is the means of the primordial, which
has no root by which it can cleave, nor rest, except in the hidden
places of Gedulah, Magnificence, which emanate from its own proper
essence. *
The Ninth Path is the Pure
Intelligence, so called becuse it purifies the Numerations, it
proves and corrects the designing of their representation, and
disposes their unity with which they are combined without diminution
or division. *
The Tenth Path is the Resplendent
Intelligence, because it is exalted above every head, and sits
on the throne of Binah, (the Intelligence spoken of in the Third
Path). It illuminates the splendour of all the lights, and causes
a supply of influence to emanate from the Prince of countenances.*
The Eleventh Path is the Scintilating
Intelligence, because it is the essence of that curtain which
is placed close to the order of the disposition, and this has
a special dignity given to it that it may be able to stand before
the Face of the Cause of Causes. *
The Twelfth Path is the Intelligence
of Transparency because it is that species of Magnificence called
Chazchazit, which is named the place whence issues the vision
of those seeing in apparitions. (That is the prophecies by seers
in a vision.) *
The Thirteenth Path is named the
Uniting Intelligence, and it is so called because it is itself
the Essence of Glory. It is the Consummation of the Truth of
individual spiritual things. *
The Fourteenth Path is the Illuminating
Intelligence, and is so called because it is that Brilliant One
which is the founder of the concealed and fundamental ideas of
holiness and of their stages of preparation. *
The Fifteenth Path is the Constituting
Intelligence, so called because it constitutes the substance
of creation in pure darkness, and men have spoken of these contemplations;
it is that darkness spoken of in Scripture, Job xxxviii. 9, "and
thick darkness a swaddling band for it." *
The Sixteenth Path is the Triumphal
or Eternal Intelligence, so called because it is the pleasure
of the Glory, beyond which is no other Glory like to it, and
it is called also the Paradise prepared for the Righteous. *
The Seventeenth Path is the Disposing
Intelligence, which provides Faith to the Righteous, and they
are clothed with the Holy Spirit by it, and it is called the
Foundation of Excellence in the state of higher things. *
The Eighteenth Path is called the House
of Influence (by the greatness of whose abundance the influx
of good things upon created beings is increased), and from the
midst of investigation the arcana and hidden senses are drawn
forth, which dwell in its shade and which cling to it, from the
cause of all causes. *
The Nineteenth Path is the Intelligence
of all the activities of the spiritual beings, and is so called
because of the affluence diffused by it from the most high blessing
and most exalted sublime glory. *
The Twentieth Path is the Intelligence
of Will, and is so called because it is the means of preparation
of all and each created being, and by this intelligence the existence
of the Primordial Wisdom becomes known. *
The Twenty-first Path is the Intelligence
of Conciliation, and is so called because it receives the divine
influence which flows into it from its benediction upon all and
each existence. *
The Twenty-second Path is the Faithful
Intelligence and is so called because by it spiritual virtues
are increased, and all dwellers on earth are nearly under its
shadow. *
The Twenty-third Path is the Stable Intelligence,
and it is so called because it has the virtue of consistency
among all numerations. *
The Twenty-fourth Path is the Imaginative
Intelligence, and it is so called because it gives a likeness
to all the similitudes which are created in like manner similar
to its harmonious elegancies. *
The Twenty-fifth Path is the Intelligence
of Probation, or is Tentative, and is so called because it is
the primary temptation, by which the Creator trieth all righteous
persons. *
The Twenty-sixth Path is called the Renovating
Intelligence, because the Holy God renews by it all the changing
things which are renewed by the creation of the world. *
The Twenty-seventh Path is the Active or
Exciting Intelligence, and is so called because through it every
existent being receives its spirit and motion. *
The Twenty-eighth Path is called the Natural
Intelligence, and is so-called because through it is consummated
and perfected the Nature of every existent being under the orb
of the sun, in perfection. *
The Twenty-ninth Path is the Corporeal
Intelligence, so-called because it forms every body which is
formed beneath the whole set of worlds and the increment of them.
*
The Thirtieth Path is the Collecting
Intelligence, and is so-called because Astrologers deduce from
it the judgment of the Stars, and the celestial signs, and the
perfections of their science, according to the rules of their
resolutions. *
The Thirty-first Path is the Perpetual
Intelligence; but why is it so-called? Because it regulates the
motions of the Sun and Moon in their proper order, each in an
orbit convenient for it. *
The Thirty-second Path is the Administrative
Intelligence, and it is so called because it directs and associates
in all their operations the seven planets, even all of them in
their own due course. *
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