3 binah (understanding)

Binah is the third stage of the qabalistic process. The stage where cosmic energy is finding its expression in form. Binah is the archetypical womb, a form to serve life as a vehicle, the female potency of the universe. "Form disciplines force with a merciless severity (...) Form cheeks life, thwarts it, and yet enables it to organise (...) Involvement in a form is therefore the beginning of death of life" (Fortune). Therefore Binah, the Great Mother, is heading the Pillar of Severity and is named both Ama, the Dark Sterile Mother, and Aima, the Bright Fertile Mother. Its roots are in Amen, "So be it". This spiritual awareness and love binds together the Ideas of Chokmah and leads to Understanding. The fruitful love between the Supernals produces the Prince of Microprosopos, residing in Tiphareth.

Title(s)	Binah, Understanding (Beth, Yod, Nun, Hé). : Ama, the dark sterile Mother. Aima, the bright fertile Mother. Khorsia, the Trhone. Marah, the Great Sea / Bitter.
Place	At the head of the Pillar of Severity in the Supernal Triangle, opposite to Chokmah. Gives rise to Chesed across the Abyss.
"32 Paths of Wisdom"	"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 four worlds	Atziluth	Briah	Yetzirah	Assiah
Divine names	Godname: Jehovah Elohim ("The Lord God" or "Lord of Gods" ).	Archangel:Tzaphkiel (keeper of the records of evolution, archangel of the archetypical temple).	Angel choir: Aralim ("Strong and mighty") aka Thrones.	Mundane chakra: Shabbathai ("Rest"), Saturn
Colours	Crimson	Black	Dark brown	Grey, flecked pink
Tarot suits	3 of Wands (Virtue): Binah in Atziluth/Spirit. Great strength in individual expression. Egocentricity, pride and arrogance. Consolidated power in equilibrium. Integrity/honesty. Realisation of hope.	3 of Cups (Abundance): Binah in the world of consciousness/Briah. Plenty, hospitality, abundance, passive success. The three graces. Persephone&Demeter. Abundance=Binah in her Ceres aspect.	3 of Swords (Sorrow): Binah in Yetzirah/ astrality-fleeting forms. Sorrow/Saturn as the Great initiator and destroyer. Unhappiness, tears. Faithfullness in promises. The sword-pierced heart of Virgin Mary in Catholic symbolism (sorrow, swords are of Geburah). Rework of old wounds and sorrows.	3 of Disks (Works): Binah in material assiah. Work, business, paid employment. Constructive building. Clear priotities.
Court cards	Queen of Wands: Queen of the Thrones of Flame. Queen of the Salamanders and Salamandrines. Woman w. red/gold hair, blue/brown eyes. Aries, the Seer. Strong and resolute with great power to attract. The leopard=extreme ferocity of fire tamed by the queen who directs it with her wand.	Queen of Cups: Queen of the Thrones of the Waters. Queen of the Nymphs and Undines. Transmission of forces. Woman w. gold-brown hair, blue eyes. Pisces, the feeler. The cards' flow changes according to the influences around it. Extremely tranquil as water of water. Imaginsative, dreaming, not willing to take much trouble for another.	Queen of Swords: Queen of the Thrones of Air. Queen of the Sylphs and Sylphides. Clear, conscious perception of Idea, the liberator of the Mind. Understanding of the ways we are deceived by thought and how to trancend it, intensely perceptive. Dancer, balancer, unreliable. Woman w. grey hair, light brown eyes. Libra, the mask-cutter.	Queen of Disks: Queen of the Thrones of the Earth. Queen of the Gnomes. Woman w. dark hair ,dark eyes. Goat = Capricorn, the succeeder. Rulership over Earth. Charming, melancholic, changeable.
10 Commandments	"Thou shalt not take the name of thy God in vain" (the virtue of silence).
Crowley's "10 Secret Joys of The Master"	"That which thou createst is thine understanding of thy love."
Paul Case's "Pattern on the Threstleboard"	"Filled with Understanding of its perfect law, I am guided moment by moment, along the Path of Liberation".
Virtue / Vice	Silence - Avarice(the vice behind all vices)/Greed.
Spiritual Experience	Vision of Sorrow - vision of wonder and sorrow.
Magical Image	A mature woman. A matron.
Magical symbols	The Yoni (female generative organ/great womb. The Triangle. The Kteis. The Vesica Piscis. The cup or chalice. The Outer Robe of Concealment.
Body	The right side of the face. Right brain (right brain disorders). Anja (pineal) chakra (together with Chokmah on the path of Daleth).
Mythology	Saturn. Chronos (Father Time). Isis pregnant with Horus (as Harpocrates, slient), who is to become king of the Gods (Chesed, manifested), "the egg breaks open, and a golden falcon flies out of it and raises to the sky", now the child Horus (Harpocrates) is sitting on the lap of Isis, making the Sign of Silence/of Horus.
Other symbols	Myrrh. Comfrey. Lily. Alder. Whale. Siren. Saturday.

 

back to * copenhagen qabalah