Pillars of the Temple

Honestly, I never considered the relationship between the Tree of Life and the elements, that's a very good quesiton. I guess for the kind of work I do with the elements, I always assumed they fit into the Mahlkoot (Kingdom) Sephira or Ha-oh-lahm Ahssiah (World of Action... physical universe).

How exactly do you find the elements useful for the Pillars of Mercy and Severity? I generally associate maleness and femaleness with those.

- Ilya

do >with the elements, I always assumed they fit into the Mahlkoot (Kingdom)

Hello Ilya,

Maleness and femaleness are helpful to a point, but how does one characterise them? Generally in terms of the elements, maleness is fiery and femaleness is watery. However, maleness can also be airy and femaleness earthy...

If you look at the Otz Chiim, the Middle Pillar (the Pillar of Mildness) is easily attributable to Air, the Fire pillar (called the Pillar of Mercy because of the influence of Chesed, sometimes called Gedulah) is on the right, the postion of the White Pillar in the Temple (looking West to East). The Water Pillar, (called the Pillar of Severity because of the influence of Geburah) is on the left, the position of the Black Pillar in the Temple.

The Fire Pillar is so attributed for several reasons, but one major attribution are those of Chockmah and Netzach to Fire, whilst Binah and Hod are attributed to Water.

Notice that Chesed (attributed to Water) is found on the Fire Pillar, and Geburah (attributed to Fire) is on the Water Pillar. A similar arrangement of opposites is found in oriental systems.

So far as the Golden Dawn initiate is concerned, Hod refers to Water and Netzach to Fire in the Elemental Grades, which is also an important point but from a different perspective. The Pillars of the Temple are conceived to have their cubical bases in Hod and Netzach, and again there is some important symbolism here.

Others will doubtless lend their own insights to these.

Hope this helps.

]

] ] >Honestly, I never considered the relationship between the Tree of Life and ] >the elements, that's a very good quesiton. I guess for the kind of work I ] do >with the elements, I always assumed they fit into the Mahlkoot (Kingdom) ] >Sephira or Ha-oh-lahm Ahssiah (World of Action... physical universe). ] > ] >How exactly do you find the elements useful for the Pillars of Mercy and ] >Severity? I generally associate maleness and femaleness with those. ] > ] >- Ilya ] > ] ] ] Hello Ilya, ] ] Maleness and femaleness are helpful to a point, but how does one characterise ] them? Generally in terms of the elements, maleness is fiery and femaleness is ] watery. However, maleness can also be airy and femaleness earthy... ] ] If you look at the Otz Chiim, the Middle Pillar (the Pillar of Mildness) is ] easily attributable to Air, the Fire pillar (called the Pillar of Mercy ] because of the influence of Chesed, sometimes called Gedulah) is on the ] right, the postion of the White Pillar in the Temple (looking West to East). ] The Water Pillar, (called the Pillar of Severity because of the influence of ] Geburah) is on the left, the position of the Black Pillar in the Temple. ] ] The Fire Pillar is so attributed for several reasons, but one major ] attribution are those of Chockmah and Netzach to Fire, whilst Binah and Hod ] are attributed to Water. ] ] Notice that Chesed (attributed to Water) is found on the Fire Pillar, and ] Geburah (attributed to Fire) is on the Water Pillar. A similar arrangement of ] opposites is found in oriental systems. ] ] So far as the Golden Dawn initiate is concerned, Hod refers to Water and ] Netzach to Fire in the Elemental Grades, which is also an important point but ] from a different perspective. The Pillars of the Temple are conceived to have ] their cubical bases in Hod and Netzach, and again there is some important ] symbolism here. ] ] Others will doubtless lend their own insights to these. ] ] Hope this helps. ]

Hmmm. A touch optimistic perhaps. No insights yet. How about it out there - let us have your thoughts...