The Kabbalah, Part 4

[Note: Parts 1, 2, and 3 of this Kabbalah series, along with other spiritual articles, are available at this blog. In Part 3 of this informal Kabbalah series, I began to consider the Sephirot, and underscored the point that while the Four Worlds are universal, pertaining to the cosmos as a whole, the Sephirot are unique to our solar system. This is the case because each Sephirah is a correlate of a planet (and of course in Hermeticism and astrology, the Sun and Moon are deemed “planets.”]

I have no allegiance to any current or historical Kabbalistic Tree of Life – and because I find none of them satisfactory, I have taken it upon myself to “grow” (and advance) my own vision of the Tree. With this in mind, I will now continue to consider the ten (or eleven) Sephirot, employing both astrology and Tarot in my brief consideration.

The highest, or most holy, Sephirah on the Tree of Life is Keter, which is commonly described as “Crown.” Keter is often considered to be “above consciousness.” To my mind, Keter is not above consciousness; rather, it represents Consciousness Itself, the “atomic” human Soul, the Atman. Keter is an ideal match for Pluto, the “atomic” planet, which, in its highest expression, represents penetrating consciousness-force, or soul-power. The sage who “cuts through spiritual materialism” (all the “idols” of the bodymind), and unites his soul, or consciousness, with the Holy Spirit, epitomizes pure Plutonic power.

I believe that the Tarot card “the Magician” is the card that best correlates with Keter/Pluto. I see the Magician as “Lord Siva” doing his “Dance.” The worlds (and everything in them) are built on Consciousness, and that is Keter “magically” intersecting creation. An en-Light-ened mystic who has severed the Heart-knot (and is one with Siva) is a “magician,” a Siddha with siddhis who can, via his Plutonic consciousness-power, “magically” Initiate others into Siva-Consciousness.

I do not believe that the Tree of Life can be truly understood without including the so-called “11th Sephirah,” Da’at. And as I will argue, this Sephirah is not really an 11th Sephirah. Rather, it is the inseparable “Shakti” to Keter’s Siva. In other words, Keter-Da’at, just like Siva-Shakti, is a non-dual dyad. Hence Keter-Da’at is really a single Sephirah.

Da’at is sometimes referred to as the “invisible Sephirah.” I believe this is the case because until the mystic, or Kabbalist, is Initiated, and receives Siva as Shakti (the Holy Spirit), he cannot “see” or perceive this Sephirah, which is like an ineffable empty cup that becomes noticeable only after it is filled with Elixir, or Soma, from Siva/Keter. Once the empty cup, or Holy Chalice, is filled, it (or “She”) is revealed as the inseparable Divine Consort of Keter/Siva (or “He”). The popular occult image of the mystic seated in the Holy Chalice (or Grail) reflects this Divine Union, or Holy Marriage.

Just as Pluto is an ideal match for Keter, Neptune is a perfect fit for Da’at. And interestingly enough, Pluto’s and Neptune’s orbits intersect, reflecting their biunial relationship. The highest expression of Neptune is perfect receptivity of, or openness to, the “Ray,” or “Phallis,” of Pluto/Siva/Keter. When Neptune (or Neptunian energy) receives Pluto (or Plutonian energy), then divine Elixir, or Soma, is produced, and this ambrosial Light-Energy en-Light-ens the receptive (or self-nullified) mystic/Kabbalist.

The Tarot card that best correlates with Da’at/Neptune is the High Priestess. In fact, if you check the image of her below, you will see that she wears the glyph for Pluto atop her head. Moreover, everything in the picture bespeaks of utter receptivity to down-poured Divine Power, or Shaktipat.
In Part 5, I will continue my astrological and Tarotic consideration of the Sephirot, and in Part 6 I will conclude it.