assigning letters to the paths
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Given the diagram of the 10 sephiroth and the 22 connecting paths, I've been trying to work out an algorithm that correctly assigns Hebrew letters to the paths. I keep coming to the conclusion that Samekh and Ayin are in the wrong places and should be switched around. I'm not trying to argue for a new arrangement of the paths (like Fr. Achad or C.C. Zain). I'm just saying it seems as though the arrangement is systematic, but when I examine the system closely, I find this anomaly.
The short version goes like this. There are two places where a central sephira has three paths downward: 1 leads to 2, 3, and 6; 6 leads to 7, 8, and 9. The path from 1 towards the Pillar of Mercy is assigned first (to Aleph), that leading to Severity next (1-3 = Beth), and that leading straight downward (1-6) last (Gimel). If the paths leading from 6 were assigned in the same geometrical order, then 1-7 would be Nun, 1-8 Samekh, and 1-9 Ayin. But in fact, 1-9 is Samekh and 1-8 is Ayin.
The long version (which, oddly, takes fewer words to explain) goes like this. Whenever a sephira has multiple paths leading to a larger number, assign any horizontal path first, then any oblique paths, and finally any vertical path. If there are two oblique paths, assign the path that leads to the lower number first. Following this algorithm will give you all the traditional assignments except that Samekh and Ayin are swapped.
The algorithm seems complicated when described, but it has an certain elegance. It is literally a cadence, or falling away. It is as though the Light, though forced to go downward, seeks the highest outlet first. Too bad it doesn't quite work.
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93 Gmugmble:
I need some help to define your concept.
The paths that flow down from Kether move in a counter clockwise sequence. While the paths that flow from Tiphareth move in a clockwise directional sequence. I am not sure… am I imagining this correctly
If so, is the question… Why do the paths flow in a different directional pattern below Tiphareth instead of a consistent pattern down the tree?
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I agree that the paths seem to be switched.
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@Ankh said
"93 Gmugmble:
I need some help to define your concept."
I'm looking for patterns. Part of the work of the hermetic qabala is seeking hidden patterns in symbols, and finding one is like a gift from the subconsciousness to the consciousness.
Here's an example I'm fond of. If you look at the attribution of the planets to the days of the week -- sun to Sunday, moon to Monday, Mars to Tuesday, then Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn -- there is no apparent pattern. Why are they in that order and not another? But if you write the symbols of the planets around a circle in order of their apparent speed -- Saturn the slowest, then Jupiter, Mars, sun, Venus, Mercury, moon -- then draw lines connecting then in the order of the days of the week -- a line from sun to moon, then from moon to Mars, etc. -- you will draw a heptagram. A pattern emerges after all.
Sometimes, sadly, there does not seem to be any pattern at all. Here's an example I find very annoying. The first tarot trump (Fool) corresponds to an element. Then the next three cards correspond to planets. Then there are six zodiac cards, one planet card, one zodiac, one element, three zodiac, one planet, two zodiac, one planet, one element, and one planet. The arrangement looks completely arbitrary. (The string 13611131 occurs in the decimal expansion of pi beginning at position 121,827,869, but then the next digit is 6
)The assignment of Hebrew letters to the paths on the Tree of Life looks systematic at first blush. After all, you start at the top and move downward, and there is a general movement from right to left (thinking of the Pillar of Mercy on the right). But when I examine the flow in detail, the pattern is not consistent, or at least I cannot find the consistency.
"If so, is the question… Why do the paths flow in a different directional pattern below Tiphareth instead of a consistent pattern down the tree?"
Sort of. The paths seem to flow consistently all the way down the tree, with the exception of Ayin and Samekh. But maybe there's a better way to look at it that doesn't have this flaw. Or perhaps there is a "doctrine" in the asymmetry; perhaps the prophet of the next aeon will reveal it to the wise. (And maybe by then, even I might be able to count myself among that number.)
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@gmugmble said
"Here's an example I'm fond of. If you look at the attribution of the planets to the days of the week -- sun to Sunday, moon to Monday, Mars to Tuesday, then Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn -- there is no apparent pattern."
Another way to see a pattern (other than the heptagram, which you describe) is to look at the Golden Dawn's attribution of planets to the hexagram (with the Sun at the middle). The days of the week then come "streaming down" like one's Matrix screensaver.
"Sometimes, sadly, there does not seem to be any pattern at all. Here's an example I find very annoying. The first tarot trump (Fool) corresponds to an element. Then the next three cards correspond to planets. Then there are six zodiac cards, one planet card, one zodiac, one element, three zodiac, one planet, two zodiac, one planet, one element, and one planet. The arrangement looks completely arbitrary."
This one's easy, if you remember that the Tarot was only tacked on at a later time (some say). The basic pattern is the Hebrew alphabet, with its 3 mothers, 7 doubles, and 12 singles (see Sefer Yetzirah).
Now, the question of which planet goes with which double letter (and to a lesser extent, which zodiac sign goes with which single letter) can be controversial, since the various medieval manuscripts of the Sefer Yetzirah give different sets of attributions. The Golden Dawn's choice is a useful lingua franca in Hermetic Qabalah, but others have done some interesting things with the other choices.
But, with regards to your original question, I'm not sure why Nun-Samekh-Ayin goes sweeping around from right to left, while Aleph-Beth-Gimel does it differently...
Was Eliphas Levi the originator of this particular letter-to-path set of correspondences?
Steve
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". Here's an example I find very annoying. The first tarot trump (Fool) corresponds to an element. Then the next three cards correspond to planets. Then there are six zodiac cards, one planet card, one zodiac, one element, three zodiac, one planet, two zodiac, one planet, one element, and one planet. The arrangement looks completely arbitrary."
Agreed. Always bothered me, too. Great thread.
In L.V.X.,
chrys333 -
@Chris Hanlon said
"". Here's an example I find very annoying. The first tarot trump (Fool) corresponds to an element. Then the next three cards correspond to planets. Then there are six zodiac cards, one planet card, one zodiac, one element, three zodiac, one planet, two zodiac, one planet, one element, and one planet. The arrangement looks completely arbitrary.""
That's the grammatical structure of the Hebrew alphabet.
Regarding the overall pattern: It is completely, invariably regular except that (as originally pointed out) A'ayin and Samekh appear to be switched. The flow is pretty simple when traced, and the original impression is set by Kether. The whole pattern does seem based (not surprisingly) on the idea that YHVH has quite a lot to do with the formation of the Tree!
To follow this, start with a blank sheet of paper and only add Sephiroth as they are named. Make a circle for Kether to start.
First, then, Kether emanates to the Father, Mother, and Child ideas in the sequence 2, 3, 6. Thereafter, each pattern of emanation goes in numerical order, except that it will always flow to "existing" Sephiroth - those to which a Path has previously flowed - before it will introduce a new character.
So Chokmah flows to 2 and 6 (both of which have already received emanations), and then 4 (which is new to the pattern).
Then Binah flows to 6 before it inaugurates the first flow to 5.
Then Chesed flows to 5 then 6, before introducing 7. Geburah mirrors by flowing to 6, then inaugurating flow to 8.
At this point is the irregularity. We would expect Tiphereth to flow to the "extant" 7 and 8, and then go to 9. It doesn't. It goes 7, 9, 8. That's just the way it goes.
The rest is entirely regular on the established pattern - you can work it out easily enough.
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93 Al,
"Jim: To follow this, start with a blank sheet of paper and only add Sephiroth as they are named. Make a circle for Kether to start.
First, then, Kether emanates to the Father, Mother, and Child ideas in the sequence 2, 3, 6. Thereafter, each pattern of emanation goes in numerical order, except that it will always flow to "existing" Sephiroth - those to which a Path has previously flowed - before it will introduce a new character.
So Chokmah flows to 2 and 6 (both of which have already received emanations), and then 4 (which is new to the pattern).
Then Binah flows to 6 before it inaugurates the first flow to 5.
Then Chesed flows to 5 then 6, before introducing 7. Geburah mirrors by flowing to 6, then inaugurating flow to 8.
At this point is the irregularity. We would expect Tiphereth to flow to the "extant" 7 and 8, and then go to 9. It doesn't. It goes 7, 9, 8. That's just the way it goes."
AHA, I see said the blind man!
"Gmugmble: I keep coming to the conclusion that Samekh and Ayin are in the wrong places and should be switched around. I'm not trying to argue for a new arrangement of the paths (like Fr. Achad or C.C. Zain). I'm just saying it seems as though the arrangement is systematic, but when I examine the system closely, I find this anomaly."
I don’t know if they should be switched Gmugmble.
But…in the Rider Waite style decks, there is a Dark Angel (ATU-15 The Devil, Ayin) and a Bright Angel (ATU-14 ART/Temperance, Samekh.) It appears that we may have two faces for the same thing.