Hebrew Writing in

The Keys of Solomon and Qabalah

From the Head Crafter::

We write Hebrew from your right to your left. The aleph-beyt is a syllabary form of writing. That is, each character bears both a consonant and a vowel sound. The Masorah tried to preserve the sounds with marks, but those are not used within the magical or holy writings. The Masorah or Ta°am refers to everything that they transcribed into the Canon except its consonants. It will include the vowel signs, accent/musical notation, the arrangement of poetry, marginal and endnotes, as well as separate treatise on the copying, transcription, and use of the manuscripts. You will never find such things in the scrolls should you have a chance to retrieve one from a Temple’s Bimah. The Masorah is independent of Halakhah (Pharisee or rabbinic law). The Masorah is also the early medieval masters of biblical text who developed this form of documentation to preserve an otherwise oral tradition are called in the English, the Masorah. Without a properly schooled memory, or these Masorah, two words that we spell exactly the same without them could be confused, and lead to changes in the meaning of the verse. For example, the woman in the garden could have had a discussion with a serpent or an oracle, and they could have been naked or wise in the garden. In each case, the words have the same consonants, just a different pronunciation. So you can see the value of the Masorah.

One additional point: Often in Gnostic writings we employ puns, simile, and synonyms to give depth and suggestion to the meaning of a word. We could have intended ambiguity, and would need some thought, introspection, and epistemology to garner what we are saying. From the Literalist perspective, where every word is as presented, there are no hidden messages to be found; the spirits directly inspire every “t” and the deggesh in every “beyth,” and none may alter or question it because it is without error. This ambiguity could be lost on them in the translation. To the gnostic, for whom this same story might be as presented, and still hold some message or moral that is just a little out of focus — until we actually start looking for it; the words are just words, the ink is just ink; intelligence alone is inspired, and the meaning a person or group garners in it is alone without error. Ambiguity sheds light in new ways with each new step of the adept. The letter means nothing until the spirit gives it life. (The Virginian, Owen Wister.)

An assessment of the Gematria is done with two features in mind. Add the numerical value of a word, and assess it to have similar qualities to other words with the same value. This value may be distilled, so that other features of the word may be induced into the meaning. This is done while remembering the order that the values are rendered. The process is such, that the first character’s essence passes through the essence of the other characters, and the last character is the result of that journey. In other words, each word becomes a never-ending story.

In אלף, the story is a short one. ʔAleph [Tao], went in pursuit of Lamedh [enlightenment], and became phe-sophith [the final corner]. This is a simple story to illustrate the value of just one word. Of course, each character has a name that could be expanded to become a part of the story. Then, אלף adds up to 1+30+800=831 (12, 3). Any other word that adds up to 831 will be considered to have a similar essence to אלף, or at least a relationship to Xer.

It should be noted that, unlike English grammar which follows a subject-verb-object pattern, Hebrew follows a Verb-Subject-object order. Exceptions could occur, so that emphasis is given to the first word in the sentence. There are other features of Hebrew Grammar that might not occur in English, such as the sort of things that make up a compound word. In English, a compound is a set of words that go so well together that they meet and make a whole new word together, such as baseball. In Hebrew, the compound may start with a conjunction, a preposition, or a definite article, or all of these, possibly join a couple of words then end with a gender and number reference, verb tense, or a pronoun, sometimes possessive. Also, the objects that are directly acted upon by the subject get its indication noted in speech, where in English it is assumed by its position in the sentence. Grammatically speaking, a direct translation of the first verse of Bereshith (Genesis) would be, At first, | began | Elohym | (do)the Heavens | and (do)the Earth. So, we run it by a grammar checker and find in English it sounds better as, At first, Elohym began the Heavens and the Earth. (The pipes [ | ] indicate a new word construction in the Hebrew.) I make these distinctions to aid the Magus in forming proper sentences and spells, and for understanding the word of power as noted above.

The Hebrew in the image was made possible from the SIL Hebrew Font System. The interpretations of these letters are mostly myown, after some consideration and research. Proper credit should include a reference to Carlo Suarès’ The Cipher of Genesis, to Joshua R. Jacobson, Chanting the Hebrew Bible, and to sundry Jews from whom I got what I could as far as understanding the Hebrew Language. I welcome any discussion at Culture of Faith, a Discussion Group at Yahoo!Groups.

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	אלף to Learn; thousand; clan; cattle	11 א	♅ Uranus, Air; The Fool
	Sound: ʔ Generally speaking, אלף is unvoiced and unaspirated. This letter takes on the sound of the Vowel that accompanies it. Often, when Hebrizing a spelling, this letter will be used in the place of an “a.” If it is found with no vowel, then it would be a glottal plosive, as if you are trying to separate two words, one that ends and the other that begins with the same letter.
אלף is the Tao or Amen, the irrational, undifferentiated creative power of the Divine Volition. אלף is the life-death-life cycle that, while it is abstract, exists within all things, even things that are not. It is also the object of that creation, because we cannot know Tao without something to reflect it in. אלף is the Power of Daimonic Reality, the stuff that dreams fairy and UFO’s are made of. Yezzirah: He caused Aleph א to reign in the air, and crown it, and combined one with the other, and with these he sealed the Air in the world, the temperate climate of the year, and the chest (the lungs for breathing air) in man; the male with א, מ, ש, the female with ש, מ, א. The Eleventh Path is the Scintillating Intelligence because it is the essence of that curtain which is placed close to the order of the disposition, and this is a special dignity given to it that it may be able to stand before the Face of the Cause of Causes.
	בית house; household; stanza (in music)	12 ב	☿ Mercury; I The Magus
	Sound: b, b (v) The presence of the dagesh hazak obliges the speaker to stop; its absence obliges us to breathe.
בית is the archetypal house, dwelling, or container that supports with devotion all that must be protected until it is strong enough to reach for the light. Sepher Yetzirah: He caused and produced Beth ב, predominant in wisdom, crowned, combined, and formed the Moon in the Universe, the first day of the week, and the right eye, of man. The Twelfth Path is the Intelligence of Transparency, because it is that species of Magnificence, called Chazchazit, which is named the place whence issues the vision of those seeing in apparitions. (That is, the prophecies by seers in a vision.)
	גמל to wean; ripen; to deal with (mature); Camel	13 ג	☪ Luna; II The Witch
	Sound: g, ġ The presence of the dagesh hazak obliges the speaker to stop; its absence obliges us to breathe. The aspirated ġ is not used very much in English.
What אלף has made, Beyth has cared for in Shadow. גמל now moves into the light. Just as Tao cannot be known directly, only through its effects, גמל is the union of Tao and its creative relationships. Sepher Yetzirah: Gimel ג, predominant in health, crowned, combined and formed Mars in the Universe, the second day of the week, and the right ear in man. The Thirteenth Path is named the Uniting Intelligence and is so called because it is itself the essence of Glory. It is the Consummation of the Truth of individual spiritual things.
	דלת Door; page (of a scroll); first half of a verse	14 ד	♀ Venus, IV The Goddess (Empress).
	Sound: d, đ The presence of the dagesh hazak obliges the speaker to stop; its absence obliges us to breathe. The aspirated đ is not used very much in English. It would be like That or father.
Life in a creative relationship with existence. דלת is the manifold gates of nature’s forces organically interacting with life. דלת is both the resistance to death, and its ultimate beneficiary through the evolutionary engines of the cycle of death~life~death. Sepher Yetzirah: Daleth ד, predominant in fertility, crowned, combined, and formed the Sun in the Universe, the third day of the week, and the right nostril in man. The Fourteenth Path is the Illuminating Intelligence, and is so called because it is itself that חשמל which is the founder of the concealed and fundamental ideas of holiness and of their stages of preparation.
	הא Lo!, Behold!; This. Grammatically speaking, ה־ is a prefix that works as a definitive article, the.	15 ה	♈ Aries; V The God (Emperor) King of Rods
	Sound: h
הא is the hand of Evolution played upon the first. It is the interaction between the created clay pot and the potter. It is also the point of mastery, at least enough to start a more formal education. הא is the game of being, maya (illussion of the theater, theory, or paradigm; that is, mistaking the image for the god). It is in הא that we risk the false worship of images. Sepher Yetzirah: The Elohym produced He ה, predominant in Speech, crowned, combined, and formed Aries in the world, Nisan in the year, and the right foot of man. The Fifteenth Path is the Constituting Intelligence, so called because it constitutes the substance of creation in pure darkness, and men have spoken of these contemplations; it is that darkness spoken of in scripture, Job 38. 9, When I clothed it in clouds, Swaddled it in dense clouds.
	וו Hook, peg. Grammatically speaking, ו־ is the conjunctive prefix, either “and,” “but” (if the context is disjunctive), and “or.”	16 ו	♉ Taurus; V The High Priest Queen of Disks
	Sound: w, v Sorry, but you will want to memorize when this letter sounds like a “w” and when it sounds like a “v,” The Masoretic text can help … sometimes. In addition, this letter can be a holam male (like cord), or a Shüruq (like soon). Often, when Hebrizing a spelling, this letter will be used in the place of an “o” or “u.”
Just as a nail or a conjunction unites two different subjects, וו is the union of different people into a new construction. וו is the fertilizing agency of death. Even for those animals that keep living after procreation, we die soon enough. The only real guarantee of immorality is our children, and their children. Some part of a parent or teacher will continue to live on in the children we have had a profound relationship with. Sepher Yetzirah: The Elohym produced Vau ו, predominant in Mind, crowned, combined, and formed Taurus in the world, Yiar in the year, and the right kidney of man. The Sixteenth Path is the Triumphal or Everlasting Intelligence, so called because it is the pleasure of the Glory, beyond which is no other Glory like to it, and it is called also the Paradise prepared for the Righteous.
	זין Weapon, Armor; to equip, arm.	17 ז	♊ Gemini; VI The Lovers Page of Swords
	Sound: z as in Zebra.
זין collapses a field of probability into possibility. זין is the drum when it is struck, the quantum vacuum spitting out a particle (where did that come from?) Sepher Yetzirah: The Elohym produced Zain ז, predominant in movement, crowned, combined, and formed Gemini in the world, Sivan in the year, and the left foot of man. The Seventeenth Path is the Disposing Intelligence, which provides Faith to the Righteous, and they are clothed with the Holy Spirit by it, and it is called the Foundation of Excellence in the state of higher thing.
	חיה To live, to exist; fence. לחיים (to the Living) is the common greating among Jews on any occation.	18 ח	♋ Cancer; VII The Chariot King of Cups
	Sound: h Like Bach. Bring your toungue up to the soft pallet as if you are going to make a “k” sound, but don’t make any pressure, just tounch lightly.
חית is the story of creation, or rather the relationship between the Creator and the created, as told in the progression of the Trigrams in the I Ching. It is also the sphere of stored energy, an unstructured potential bound up in the Quantum Vacuum. Sepher Yetzirah: He produced Heth ח, predominant in Sight, crowned, combined, and formed Cancer in the world, Tammuz in the year, and the right hand of man. The Eighteenth Path is called the House of Influence (by the greatness of whose abundance the influx of good things upon created beings is increased) and from the midst of the investigation the arcana and hidden senses are drawn forth, which dwell in its shade and which cling to it, from the cause of all causes.
	טיה To turn, turn aside; be bent; tend, be inclined; extend; decline (nouns), conjugate (verbs); Witch, Serpent (In the sense that they both turn).	19 ט	♌ Leo VIII Strength VIII Justice Queen of Rods
	Sound: ţ Place your toungue as if you are about to make a “t” sound. Now, make sure that you are only thouching the back of your teeth with the very tip of your toungue. Now, slide your toungue back until the dental slope meets the hard palate at the top of your mounth. Now, make that “t” sound from there. Good, you have this phonem.
	טית is the primal mother. She has drawn the primal life of חית and will build it gradually, patiently, onto the structures that will reflect the awareness of the divine mind, as well as our own. Sepher Yetzirah: The Nineteenth Path is the Intelligence of all the activities of the spiritual beings, and is so called because of the affluence diffused by it from the most high blessing and most exalted sublime glory.
	ידה to give thanks; to praise; to admit, acknowledge; confess. יד hand; share; monument; place; handle; forefoot; power.	20 י	♍ Virgo IX The Traveler (Hermit) Page of Cups
	Sound: y Sometimes this letter is used to extend any number of vowels, in which case the vowel would end in a ~y sound. A simple “a” as in apple will become “ay” as in day. Often, when Hebrizing a spelling, this letter will be used in the place of an “i” or “e.”
	יוד begins a new level of creation. While אלף remains active without being noticed, יוד is the hand of the creator reflected in everything Xe has and is making. יוד is the number one projected into the temporal continuity of existence. This ten completes what one has started, and takes it to a new level of workmanship. Without her playing her game with him, there would be nothing to be aware of. Tao, revealed as a Shadow of its eternity. Magic, as it interpenetrates our world. Sepher Yetzirah: The Twentieth Path is the Intelligence of Will, and is so called because it is the means of preparation of all and each created being, and by this intelligence the existence of the Primordial Wisdom becomes known.
	כף Palm (of hand), sole (of foot); (hollow of) spoon; Hollow rock; cave; vault. כפה to force, compel; to subdue; to invert.	21 כ ך	☉ Sol (♃ Jupiter) X The Wheel
	Sound: K, Kh The presence of the dagesh hazak obliges the speaker to stop; its absence obliges us to breathe.
The Hollow of the hand that is ready to receive all that comes its way. The Grail, chackra, or cauldron that recives and reviels inspiration. A note about this letter: The Khoph in finalls will take on a different shape, as seen here. It also increases in value from “20” to “500”. At this time, it can represent the final hand (of destiny). Sepher Yetzirah: Kaph כ, predominant in life, crowned, combined, and formed Venus in the Universe, the fourth day of the week, and the left eye of man. The Twenty-first Path is the Intelligence of Conciliation, and is so called because it receives the divine influence which flows into it from its benediction upon all and each existence.
	למד to learn, study; to teach.	22 ל	♎ Libra XI Justice XI Strength King of Swords
	Sound: L
	Controlled and deliberate movement or connective agency. The entrepreneur who takes calculated risks. Sepher Yetzirah: The Twenty-second Path is the Faithful Intelligence, and is so called because by it spiritual virtues are increased, and all dwellers on earth are nearly under its shadow.
	מים Water, wash.	23 מ ם	♆ Neptune, Water XII The Initiate (Martyr)
	Sound: M
The water of Life. A note about this letter: The Mem in finalls will take on a different shape, as seen here. It also increases in value from “40” to “600”. At this time, it can represent the final crossing of that last river. Sepher Yetzirah: He caused Mem מ to predominate in Water, and crowned it, and combined it with others, and formed Earth on the world, cold in the year, and the fruit of the womb in mankind, being carried in the belly. The Twenty-third Path is the Stable Intelligence, and it is so called because it has the virtue of consistency among all numerations.
	נונה to waste away, deteriorate.	24 נ ן	♏ Scorpio XIII Death Queen of Cups
	Sound: N
	Concentrated chaos, appearing as ordered life. The need that comes from Sacrifice (See Maslow). There is a time when a person would rather create art, or teach, or discover some unfolded secret of the universe, than eat or sleep. This is the sort of energy נון represents. A note about this letter: The Nun in finalls will take on a different shape, as seen here. It also increases in value from “50” to “700”. At this time, it can represent the need that creates the need for sacrifice. Sepher Yetzirah: The Twenty-fourth Path is the Imaginative Intelligence, and it is so called because it gives a likeness to all the similitudes, which are created in like manner similar to its harmonious elegancies.
	סמך to support, lean; to ordain.	25 ס	♐ Sagittarius XIV The Alchemist (Temperance) Page of Rods
	Sound: X Xamech is best sounded like the phoneme “x”, but without the “K” part, or a very sharp “s” sound.
	The Young maiden, just blosoming into womanhood, and is just ready to concieve. Sepher Yetzirah: The Twenty-fifth Path is the Intelligence of Probation, or is Tentative, and is so called because it is the primary temptation, by which the Creator (blessed be He) tris all righteous persons.
	עין source, spring; eye; ring, hole; sight; to look at (with anger, hate); to ponder, weigh.	26 ע	♑ Capricorn XV The Horned God; Baphomet; The Devil King of Disks
	Sound: ʕ עין is ether unaspirated, or has a sound that is not easy for English speakers to render, depending on dialect. This letter is sometimes Romanized with a “G” sound, as in Gaza, or “H”, as in Hebrew. If you strive to make a “g” sound as if you are trying to swallow it, you might make it work. Often, when Hebrizing a spelling, this letter will be used in the place of an “O.”
	The vision of all possible possibilities. The sublime vision or epiphany that changes everything. Sepher Yetzirah: The Twenty-sixth Path is called the Renovating Intelligence, because the Holy God (blessed be He) renews by it, all the changing things which are renewed by the creation of the world.
	פאה Corner, side, section; curl, lock of hair.	27 פ ף	♂ Mars XVI The Tower
	Sound: P, Ph (f) The presence of the dagesh hazak obliges the speaker to stop; its absence obliges us to breathe.
Energy Expanding from static into kenetic forms. A note about this letter: The Phe in finalls will take on a different shape, as seen here. It also increases in value from “80” to “800”. At this time, it can represent the final expanssion of entropy. Sepher Yetzirah: Pe פ, predominant in power, crowned, combined, and formed Mercury in the Universe, the fifth day of the week, and the left ear in man. The Twenty-seventh Path is the Exciting Intelligence, and it is so called because by it is created the Intellect of all created beings under the highest heaven, and the excitement or motion of them.
	צוד to hunt, shoot;	28 צ ץ	♒ Aquarius XVII The Star Queen of Swords
	Sound: Ş, Zz, Tz, Ts as in fits. If you can say “Pizza” you can say this sound. It is formed of a blending of “t” and “s” in a single sound.
	Evolution Life that finds a way to adapt. צוד is the power of motherhood, either raised to a temporal level where she brings what is possible into what is real, or to a cosmic level where new worlds are born. She has received the power of the male and turned it into her own good work, intermingling it with her own to perfect it into a new being. A note about this letter: צדי in finals will take on a different shape, as seen here. It also increases in value from “90” to “900.” At this time, it can represent the beginning of devolution. Sepher Yetzirah: The Twenty-eighth Path is the Natural Intelligence, and is so called because through it is consummated and perfected the nature of every existent being under the orb of the Sun, in perfection.
	קוף simeon, monkey, ape, human; eye (of needle); hole (for ax handle); to use credit to buy or sell.	29 ק	♓ Pisces XVIII Luna Page of Cups
	Sound: Q
	Reason; Set, God of Chaos, hunter of the night, mother of creation, destroyer of illussions, protector of Re, lord of antinomian philosophy. אלף has been raised to a cosmic or global level of action. אלף has been manifest in יוד and now has set it all on its own in קוף. This destroys the veils of illusions, and becomes cosmically deathless. Sepher Yetzirah: The Twenty-ninth Path is the Corporeal Intelligence, so called because it forms every body which is, formed beneath the whole set of worlds and the increment of them.
	ריש To be impoverished; poverty; first part, head of;	30 ר	♃ Jupiter (☉ Sol) XIV Sol
	Sound: R brought up from the back of the throat. ריש stands out among the doubles in that it is the only one that really does not fit. The other doubles actually do change their sound in the presence of the dagesh hazak obliges the speaker to stop; its absence obliges us to breathe. In the case of ריש this does not happen.
The Brahmin The whole of the Universe, subjective and objective. ריש is the cosmic egg of Ma‘át that contains all being and non-being. Sepher Yetzirah: Resh צ, predominant in peace, crowned, combined, and formed Saturn in the Universe, the sixth day of the week, and the left nostril in man. The Thirtieth Path is the Collecting Intelligence, and is so called because Astrologers deduce from it the judgment of the Stars, and of the celestial signs, and the perfections of their science, according to the rules of their revolutions.
	שן Tooth; ivory; שנה to repeat; to teach; to study; to change, be different.	31, 31bis ש	♇ Pluto, Fire Chiron, Spirit XX The Awakening (Trumpets)
	Sound: S, Sh This phoneme mutates, as do others. In the Masoretic Writing, this phoneme has a hard “s” sound with a dot added to its right (your left), and a sharp “sh” sound with a dot added to its left (your right).
Shiqina the very Mind of the Universe. She is the universal Aloha! or breath of the Eternal One. Sepher Yetzirah: He caused Shin ש to reign in Fire and crowned it, and he combined one with the other, and sealed them, as heaven in the universe, as heat in the year, and as the head of Man and Woman. The Thirty-first Path is the Perpetual Intelligence; and why is it so called? Because it regulates the motions of the Sun and Moon in their proper order, each in an orbit convenient for it.
	תו Mark, sign; musical note; postage stamp. תוו to mark, make marks	32, 32bis ת	♄ Saturn Earth XXI The World
	Sound: T, Þ, S Place your toungue as if you are about to make a “t” sound. Now, make sure that you are only thouching the back of your teeth with the very tip of your toungue. The presence of the dagesh hazak obliges the speaker to stop (Torn); its absence obliges us to breathe (Thorn).
The Mark of the Universe, fully actualized. Existence has been exalted to the cosmic dimension where it has the capacity to resist the life~death~life dance cycle, even if it is only to let it be as it is. Sepher Yetzirah: Tau ת, predominant in beauty, crowned, combined and formed Jupiter in the Universe, the seventh day in the week, and the mouth of man. The Thirty-second Path is the Administrative Intelligence, and it is so called because it directs and associates, in all their operations, the seven planets, even all of them in their own due courses.

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Mathers, S. Liddell Macgregor; Aleister Crowley, Thomas Potter; BronzDragon; ; .
[PS: Only my anotations and comments are copywriten in this place. The rest belongs to S. Liddell Macgregor Mathers and Aleister Crowley.]

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