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Lesson Three: Energetics
>> The canticle, if the problems stated above were resolved, seems a complete form of magical utterance. The visualizations on their own, contain fine magical symbols and meaning, and hence form a good practice. The link between the canticle, and the visualizations however is a weak one it seems. The meaning of each word we use for each part of the visualization seems not to coincide with the picture itself. Is the canticle simply there to keep up the pace of the visualization? Or does it in some way enhance the picture by some Quabalistic relation that I don't know of? What is the exact relationship between the word, and the picture in each part of the canticle? Does such one to one relationship even exist? <<
Okay. With the utterance of the "Ani", you are raising your awareness to your Kether.
With the utterance of the "Yod" you are drawing the Kethric Light down and over to Chokmah. The "Yod" of IHVH is said to represent Fire and this descent of the Unity/Kether into Chokmah. The image of the Letter itself depicts this descent. This descent corresponds to the realm or World of Atziluth (primordial archetypes).
With the utterance of the first "Heh", you are drawing the Light over to Binah. The first "Heh" of IHVH is said to represent Water and thus establishes the Primal Opposites. This descent into multiplicity corresponds to the realm or World of Briah (creation). This is where the Greater Self or eternal mental body resides.
With the utterance of "Vav", you are drawing the Light down to Tiphareth. The "Vav" of IHVH is said to represent Air, the merging of the Primal Opposites. This is the realm or World of Yetzirah (formation), which on the "composite" Tree of Life is represented by Tiphareth. This is where the Individual Self or temporal mental body resides.
With the utterance of the final "Heh", you are drawing the Light all the way down to Malkuth and the mundane level of self-awareness. The final "Heh" of IHVH is said to represent Earth, the combining of the three primary Elements. This is the realm or World of Assiah (making), represented by Malkuth on the composite Tree. This is where the mundane self which inhabits the physical body, resides.
This descent from "Ani" through the final "Heh", when done fully (Lesson Six), is the unification of these five levels of awareness, within the temporal moment. When this occurs, the Rainbow-hued Adonai Light naturally erupts. Therefore the utterance of "Adonai" celebrates this eruption of the Adonai Light and affirms it.
With the statement "Ribonno Shel Olam", the Adonai Light is sent out into the materia of the Universe over which the IHVH-ADNI is "master".
The utterance of "Amen" closes the ritual just as the Adonai Light, having touched the metaphorical edges of the infinite universe (i.e., received a Divine blessing) has returned to its point of origin and once again surrounds the cantor.
>> In this form of magic we seem to be incorporating some higher force (i.e. a force, besides that of our own individuality is called to action.) what is this force, is it that of the Quabalistic utterance of YHVH?! Is it that of the God of Israel, is it Kether, or the source thereof? (maybe its all of these, but which -thought system/frame of reference- would be better to use in performing this kind of magic along with the canticle?) <<
What we are ultimately calling upon is the force generated when all the levels of Self are consciously unified within the temporal moment of the personal, mundane self. With Lesson Eight, I go into this in minute detail.
More immediately, the energy the beginning practitioner draws upon is that of their own personal conceptualization of Kether. In other words, one is drawing upon levels of Self that one is not directly conscious of.
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>> When drawing down the light, should I visualize the "channels of light" between the spheres so there is a beam of light drawn from top-of-head to left temple to right temple to solar plexus etc ? <<
Yes.
>> In this case I get an asymmetric diagram. For example, there is a "line of light" from right temple to solar plexus bit no line from left temple to solar plexus is this ok ? <<
Yes.
>> What colors should these channels be? Or should I just visualize the spheres and forget the channels ? <<
The Kethric Light is best described as a "white brilliance" and this is how the channels should be visualized. Both the channels filled with the white brilliance of the Kethric Light *and* the spheres must be visualized.
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>> Swirling rainbow light...does "clockwise" mean from to right to back to left to front ? <<
Yes.
>> Something weird I noticed. Because I was unsure of which direction to rotate the light I "let it be" and it swirled in the *opposite direction* !! To make it swirl "clockwise" (front-right-left-back) takes a (very) light touch of will!! I hope I am not imagining things!! <<
Many folks have mentioned this. Nonetheless, the Adonai Light must be made to circulate clockwise.
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>> When the Kethric Light strikes Malkuth and erupts "upward" in a swirling cloud, "upward to where" does it swirl? <<
As you've guessed, it swirls "clockwise 'all around one's entire body' enclosing the body like a cocoon". That, at least, is the proper visualization for Lesson Three.
>> When we stabilize the swirling light, in what way/form are we to stabilize it? By slowing it down, calming it down and steadying it? <<
No, this is primarily about the stability and solidity of *your* visualization of the Light. The idea here is that you take a moment to really be present with your visualization and make sure that it is stable. If *for you* that entails "slowing it down, calming it down and steadying it", then so be it. In other words, if at first it feels like it's spinning too fast, is too excited and not stable, then go ahead and make it slower, calmer and steadier. Just remember that it must still continue to rotate clockwise around you. :)
>> Can you elaborate more on what you mean by "gather up" the entire body of light? As one has already increased the density of the "cloud of Light" with the final extended Yod, in what form would one gather up the "entire body of light" prior to ejecting it outward with the inhale of the breathe after the ADNI? <<
Essentially this means that *with* the inhalation of breath, you also inhale the cloud of light and bring it into yourself. And then with the exhalation/utterance of the "Ribonno shel olam", you forcefully eject the Light along with your breath (i.e., at the same time with your breath).
In the Simple Form (i.e., Lesson Three) of TMO, the breath really guides the visualization process.
>> Is there a difference between the "cloud of Light" versus the "entire body of Light"? <<
No. Just my turn of phrase. :)
>> When you draw the Light back into yourself, you draw it back to the "same place" from where it was released, at least during Lesson 3. Is this correct? <<
Yes. I suggest that you inhale it back into yourself (like after the "Adonai!") and then, with the exhalation/utterance of the "Amen", exhale it so that it once again forms a cocoon of Light which swirls around you. In other words, before sending it out to for the blessing, you draw it into yourself -- then you send it out to the edges of the infinite universe -- then you draw this blessed Light back into yourself -- and then finally you exhale it so that it surrounds your body.
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>> When you inhale the light back "into" the body during the two instances, do you inhale it so that it permeates the inside of the body "entirely from head to toes" rather than one specific part? I am gathering this would be the case since it surrounds the entire body when outside, but want to be certain. <<
It ultimately doesn't matter whether you fill the entire interior of your body or whether you concentrate the Light into a specific spot or area. I suggest that you try first, inhaling it into your whole body (head to toe) and then second, inhale it into the center (i.e., solar plexus just below your sternum) of your body, and see which works best for *you*. Either way, it will be there for only a second or two.
>> Also, the light would "not be" rotating while "inside" the body? <<
That is correct.
>> This brings me to my final question. When you exhale the light to surround the "outside" of your body during the final step of the practice, do you visualize the light "rotating clockwise"? <<
Yes.
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>> In Lesson Three, you assign Chokmah to the left temple and Binah to the right, however this seems to be the opposite of how the hemispheres of the brain are typically described. Except in rare cases, the left hemisphere is associated with the processes involved with logic, judgment, and verbal thought, which would seem to correspond to understanding, while the right hemisphere is associated with the processes involved with holistic/intuitive/nonverbal thinking, which would go along well with the idea of wisdom. Is this switch associated somehow with the way that each hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body, or is it something else? <<
The primary reason for this positioning is to situate you *within* the Tree of Life. But the correlation between the hemispheres of the brain and the Sephirot is relevant.
However, the names "Wisdom" and "Understanding" merely symbolize these two Sephirot and cannot be taken entirely in their mundane sense. The definitions that you assert reflect an intellectual comprehension of the mundane meaning of these two words, but not an experiential comprehension of these two levels of awareness.
"Wisdom", in the Chokmah sense, is the ability to make choices that are in harmony with the Universe. This is about a discernment based upon an infinite degree of insight and the ability/power to decide which is the harmonious choice.
"Understanding", in the Binah sense, is about tapping into an infinite store of experience and drawing forth from that body of experience the most relevant and appropriate bit of information. This is an instantaneous (i.e., non-sequential) process which does not involve logic or thinking, etc.
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