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<imagemap> Image:Ktreewnames.png|192px|The Sefirot in Jewish Kabbalah circle 169 48 34 Keter circle 54 114 34 Binah circle 285 114 34 Chokhmah circle 169 180 34 Da'at circle 54 248 34 Gevurah circle 285 247 34 Chesed circle 169 314 34 Tiferet circle 54 380 34 Hod circle 285 380 34 Netzach circle 170 448 34 Yesod circle 169 581 34 Malkhut desc none </imagemap> <imagemap> Image:Ktree12s.png |
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Category:Sephiroth | |
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Keter ("Crown" in Hebrew; כתר) also known as Kether in the Kabbalah of Judaism, is the topmost of the Sephirot, of the "Tree of life (Kabbalah)." Since its meaning is "crown" so in this sense it is interpreted as both the "topmost" of the Sephirot and the "regal crown" of the Sephirot. It is between Chokmah and Binah (With Chokmah on the right and Binah in the left) and it sits above Tiphereth. It is usually given three paths, to Chokmah, Tifereth, and Binah. Keter is so sublime, it is called in the Zohar "the most hidden of all hidden things", and is completely incomprehensible to man. It is also described as absolute compassion, and Rabbi Moshe Cordovero describes it as the source of the 13 Supernal Attributes of Mercy. Keter, although being the highest Sefirah of its world, receives from the sefirah of Malchut of the "world" above it (see Sephirot). The uppermost Keter sits below no other Sefirah, although it is below Or Ein Sof which is the source of the Sefirot. Da'at and Keter are the same sefirah from two different aspects. From one aspect this sefirah is referred to Keter and from another aspect it is referred to as Da'at. Therefore when Da'at is counted then Keter is not counted and when Keter is counted Da'at is not counted. According to the Bahir: "The first sefirah is called the Crown, since a crown is worn above the head. The Crown therefore refers to things that are above the mind's abilities of comprehension."
13 Supernal Attributes of Mercy
Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, in The Palm Tree of Devorah, discusses ethical behaviour that man should follow, related to the qualities of the Sephirot, in order that man might emulate his creator. Through discussion of a line in the Michah, 13 attributes are associated with the Sephirah Kether "Who is God like you, who pardons iniquity and forgives the transgressions of the remnant of his heritage? He does not maintain His anger forever, for He delights in kindness. He will again show us compassion, He will vanquish our iniquities, and You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Show faithfulness to Ya'akov, kindness to Avraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old." ( Michah 7:18-20 ) Rabbi Azariel ben Menachem, acolyte of Isaac the Blind, wrote a Commentary on the Ten Sephiroth, in which he correlates Keter to Yechidah in his system. Accordingly, the 13 attributes are derived from this and described in great detail.
Non-Jewish practices
Dion Fortune describes Keter as pure consciousness, beyond all categories, timeless, a point that crystallises out of the Ein Sof, and commences the process of emanation that ends in Malkuth. The name of God given to it is Eheieh, the archangel that presides over it is Metatron, the order of angels that resides in it are the Holy Living Creatures, the Chaioth ha Qadesh, and the mundane chakra is said to be the First Swirlings of the cosmos. As pure formless consciousness, it is often compared with the chakra Sahasrara, in Indian Shakta Tantra. In Aleister Crowley's Liber 777, Keter is associated with the Four Aces of the Tarot deck, White Brilliance, Poseidon, Brahma, Wodan, Zeus, The Trinity, Almond in flower, Diamond, Elixir Vitae, Dao, and Death (not a complete list of the 777 associations). It is said to have a negative aspect, the Qliphoth Thaumiel. Keter is also identified with the planet Neptune, the Atma in Theosophy and Raja Yoga, and the Khabs in Egyptian mysticism.
See also
- Keter (in the Hebrew language)
References
Jewish
- Bahir, translated by Aryeh Kaplan (1995). Aronson. (ISBN 1-56821-383-2)
- Lessons in Tanya
- The Palm Tree of Devorah, Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, translated by Rabbi Moshe Miller (1993). Targum Press Inc. (ISBN 1-56871-027-5)
Non-Jewish
- Crowley, Aleister. 777 and other Qabalistic writings of Aleister Crowley. York Beach, ME: Samuel Weiser, 1977. ISBN 0-87728-222-6.
- The Mystical Kabbalah, Dion Fortune (1935). Weiser Books. ISBN 1-57863-150-5
- A Garden Of Pomegrnates, Israel Regardie (1932). Llewellyn. ISBN 1-56718-141-4
External links
- Basics in Kabbalah, The Ten Sefirot: Keter (inner.org)
- An Introduction to the Kabala(about.com)
