************************************************************************* *From the Out Basket Here's my "Genesis Code", mentioned last month. I have found my notes on the rest of the Pentateuch code, and will be printing them here in the next month or so. After that, I will be getting back to letters and questions of more recent vintage. See last month's TLC and the explanations for the individual letters for examples of use. The idea is to learn the meanings attached to the letters, in various Qabalistic Worlds, and transmute those meanings into a connected sentence letter-by-letter to analyze a word. This is not a matter of rote memorization, but rather of "getting the feel" for each letter. Remember that the Tarot Trumps in the Waite, Case and Thoth versions act somewhat as visual essays on each letter. Except for switching The Emperor with The Star in the Crowley system, all three approaches to Tarot use the same correspondences to Hebrew. The correspondences are in "Liber 777". Attempting Qabalah without knowing the Hebrew Alphabet is like drinking coffee without caffeine. You can go through the motions, but you just can't get high! Attempting Magick without Qabalah is DABBLING! Brief Meanings of the Hebrew Letters (taken from the MS of "The Road to the Sun", pp. 261 - 266. Copyright (c) by Bill Heidrick, 1974, 1988) A GENESIS CODE: In the examples which follow, several of the correspondences to the Alphabet of Hebrew Letters have been merged into simple ideas. These ideas form a sort of internalized code to the meanings of the Letters. This code is a personal language and will be somewhat different for each individual. There is much to be learned from such a code, even if it is not ones own. The Hebrew Alphabet is divided into four parts, corresponding to the four ancient elements. Three Mother Letters correspond to Fire and the archetypes of all that exists. Seven Double Letters correspond to Water and the basic forms derived from the archetypes. Twelve Single Letters are the detailed states and forces of creation and correspond to Air. Five Final Letters exhibit the ultimate state at the end of the creative process and correspond to Earth. The Three Mother Letters are Aleph, Mem and Shin. Aleph, is Absolute Being, pure existence without any sort of condition. Mem, is Immortal Substance, able to take any form, possessed of no form of its own. Shin, is Pure Force, not restricted to any purpose and able to work any result. The Seven Double Letters are Bet, Gimel, Dalet, Koph, Peh, Resh and Taw. Bet, combines the meanings of Aleph and Shin. Bet is a conduit for directing (Shin) the flow of existence (Aleph). Bet may be described as a way of doing, a path to follow, a container for Being that is open at both ends. The word "Aleph-Shin" in Hebrew means: "fire" and "foundation". Gimel, combines the meanings of Aleph and Mem. Gimel embodies the mysterious connection between existence (Aleph) and substance without form (Mem). Because form is absent, the nature of the combination cannot be understood, only felt. This is the secretiveness and hiddenness of Gimel. In Hebrew,"Aleph-Mem" signifies: "Mother", "whither" & "if". Dalet, combines the meanings of Shin and Mem. Dalet is the quickening or forcing (Shin) of pure substance (Mem) into rapid production of many forms. Because these forms lack the quality of Aleph, they do not persist. Dalet is full of images of anything and everything. In Hebrew, "Shin Mem" means: "name", "where" and "sign". Koph, combines the meanings of Bet and Gimel. Koph is a directing (Bet) of invigorated substance (Gimel) into forms that progress through cycle after cycle of modification toward perfection. This process is analogous to the actions of an artist who sketches, erases and re-sketches until a finished work is produced. In Hebrew: "Bet-Gimel" means "food". Peh, combines the meanings of Bet and Dalet. Peh is an uncovered container (Bet) of many images (Dalet). These images burst forth like the spirits of evil from the opened box of Pandora. Peh is a crying out that my bring pain or blessing in its revelations. In Hebrew: "Bet-Dalet" signifies "separated thing", "linen cloth" and "speech" in the sense of "prattling". Resh, combines the meanings of Gimel and Dalet. Resh is a working out of the hidden and invisible nature of things (Gimel) through many forms and images (Dalet). This is what happens in the human mind when meanings become attached to things seen. In Hebrew: "Gimel-Dalet" means "destiny". Taw, combines all the above letters and their meanings. Taw is the totality of created things. In Hebrew: "Aleph-Mem-Shin" means: "to pass away", "yesterday" and "night". This is the passing of the three purest states into the night of matter. "Bet-Gimel-Dalet" means: "cover" and "conceal". "Koph-Peh-Resh" means: "to cover" and "to be strong". The Twelve Simple Letters are Heh, Vau, Zain, Chet, Tet, Yod, Lamed, Nun, Samekh, Ayin, Tzaddi, and Qof. Heh, combines the meanings of Aleph and Koph. Heh is pure being (Aleph) coming into order (Koph). Heh is alteration of form to fulfill a purpose. Heh is an abstract modifying process. In Hebrew: "Aleph-Koph" signifies: "that", "but" and "only". Vau, combines the meanings of Aleph and Peh. Vau is a revealing (Peh) of the fundamental unity of all that exists (Aleph). Vau joins and declares union. In Hebrew: "Aleph-Peh" signifies: "addition", "breathing", "face" and "also". Zain, combines the meanings of Aleph and Resh. Zain is a rationalizing (Resh) about all that exists (Aleph). Zain is a sword that divides all that can be divided. This is like the process of analysis in the human mind. In Hebrew: "Aleph-Resh" signifies: "burn". Chet, combines the meanings of Aleph and Taw. Chet is the containment (Taw) of existence (Aleph) in a way that conserves and still permits expression. In Hebrew: "Aleph-Taw" signifies: "token", "thou", "plowshare" and "self". It is also a word having no English equivalent and meaning roughly: "this is so!". Tet, combines the meanings of Shin and Koph. Tet is the power (Shin) of cycles of creation and change (Koph). Tet is the power that comes out of nature. In Hebrew: "Shin-Koph" signifies: "thorn", "hedge" and "enclosure". Yod, combines the meanings of Shin and Peh. Yod is the power (Shin) of revelation (Peh). This is the fiery power of the act of creation. In Hebrew: "Shin-Peh" signifies: "to grind", "to rub" and "to polish". Lamed, combines the meanings of Shin and Resh. Lamed is the power (Shin) that relates one thing to another (Resh) and regulates their relationship until perfect balance is attained between their qualities. In Hebrew: "Shin-Resh" signifies: "walls", "tile", "band", "master" and "tumult". Nun, combines the meanings of Shin and Taw. Nun is the power (Shin) that transforms all things (Taw). Nun changes created things from one form into another. In Hebrew: "Shin-Taw" signifies: "column", "noble", "buttocks" and "tumult". Samekh, combines the meanings of Mem and Koph. Samekh is the process that makes the substance of creation (Mem) strong and perfect through matching things against their opposites (Koph). Samekh is like the tempering of metals through heating and hammering. Samekh is testing and trial, like the trial of faith of Job. In Hebrew: "Koph-Mem" signifies: "to become poor" and "lowly". Ayin, combines the meanings of Mem and Peh. Ayin is the substance (Mem) of created things exposed (Peh) to the mind. This provides insight into the form, structure and effect of created things. The perceptions that come through Ayin do not always pass through to the abstract, but are mostly limited to that which is immediately associated with nature and natural activity. In Hebrew, "Peh-Mem" is the name of the Egyptian city of Memphis, "the house of Phtah." Tzaddi, combines the meanings of Mem and Resh. Tzaddi is the process whereby understanding (Resh) of the substance (Mem) of the created is obtained. In the human mind, this takes the form of meditation on a particular object, experience or state of mind. Tzaddi draws wisdom from nature. In Hebrew: "Resh-Mem" signifies: "drop", "bitter", "sad" and "fierce". Qof, combines the meanings of the letters Mem and Taw. Qof is the process that makes a reality of substance (Mem) in the forms of creation (Taw). Qof is a hidden sort of process, more to be experienced by the whole being of a person than to be understood by the mind alone. In Hebrew: "Men-Taw" signifies: "Man" and "death". The Five Final Letters are special forms taken by the letters Koph, Mem, Nun, Peh and Tzaddi when they appear at the ends of words. Koph final, combines the meanings of the letters Heh, Tet and Samekh. Koph final is that which acts to organize, energize and develop created things. Mem final, combines the meanings of the letters Vau, Yod and Ayin. Mem final is matter itself, that which unites all the forces of creation into a single formation. Nun final, combines the meanings of the letters Zain, Lamed and Tzaddi. Nun final is thought in created minds which analyzes, synthesizes and understands. Peh final, combines the meanings of the letters Chet, Nun and Qof. Peh final is the life of creatures, which is contained in bodies, which passes out of them at the transformation called death and which gives purpose to all the rest through evolution of higher forms. Tzaddi final, combines the meanings of the letters Koph final, Mem final, Nun final and Peh final. Tzaddi final is the unending activity in all creation which brings all creatures in contact with each other and which expresses life. ---------------------------- (For a speculative attribution of this material to the Tree of Life, see the printed edition of "The Thelema Lodge Calendar". With appreciation for the work of Carlo Suarez, Paul Foster Case, Aleister Crowley and Frater Fons Numeris for their contributions to this approach. Coming soon, "The Pentateuch Code"! --- TSG