The Creation (and I submit it is referring to the spiritual creation) – The Pattern.
The Universe (physical creation) – being a Macrocosm.
The Year (the seasons of earth) – another Macrocosm.
Man – (his body) – Being a Microcosm.
What this great book is teaching us is that the creation was done in a certain way, and an illustration, or example of that pattern can be seen in the universe.
We read regarding the physical creation how dimension was added, and the elements were inserted and divided:
“These are the ten spheres of existence out of nothing. From the spirit of the living God emanated air, from the air, water, from the water, fire or ether, from the ether, the height and the depth, the East and West, the North and South.” [1]
This is the creation of the “Universe” or the “macrocosm.” Created first as air, the air divided-off water (mud), which created fire. Fire and mud, with air mediating between them. Just like the seasons, hot and cold with medium between them.
In the Microcosm:
“…in the Soul are fire, water, and breath. The head is created from fire, the belly is created from water, and the chest, created from breath, decides between them.” [2]
These three regions of the body can be thought of as corresponding to the three degrees of glory. People live their lives from the belly, their hearts, or their minds.
“We have learned that when the blessed Holy One created the world, He formed the lower world on the pattern of the upper world, corresponding entirely to one another, and this is His glory above and below.”[3]
Don’t our very lives correspond to water, air, or fire? Or, a Telestial law, a Terrestrial law, or a Celestial law?
[1] Kalisch, Chapter 1:9
[2] Scholem, Chapter 3:5
[3] The Zohar, Daniel C. Matt, Standford University Press, Vol. III, Pg. 261.
4 comments:
true or false
right or wrong
good or bad
correct or incorrect
on coarse or off coarse
direction or mis-direction[cofusion]
is all of this mysticism a rant of the un quiet mind? a trance of circle thought. Are there not enough real sciences and sorces than to read questionable scripts that been drug thru the dark ages of time and distance, dirtied by those of unlightened minds and lost in translation?
David,
Wow! These are interesting concepts...(BTW are you sick of me yet? Lol) I have been pondering WATER intensely lately...So you think water is simply Telestial? I know we must pass through three veils of water in this life time, so it makes sense. I have also pondered fire, but must admit air has not been one I have thought about. Still trying to recall “penalties” from older ceremony, so your hints are great! Thanks...I’ll keep reading.
In The Dog House asked: "are you sick of me yet?"
David Answers: No Way! It brings me a lot of joy that you find interest in these topics. Even where you may disagree.
I don't know that I would designate all water to a telestial state, but only in the illustration of the creation as given in the "The Sefer Yetzirah" (Book of Creation).
You can find my commentary on the "The Sefer Yetzirah" at the end of my book "Mormon Mysticism" which you can download for free (or read as html on-line). The links are available on the right, almost at the top of the home page.
You might also check out this link: Sefer Yetzirah
-David
Actually, the commentary portion is much better read in PDF because the notes are visible on the page to which they apply.
-David
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