Basic Kabbalah

The Tree of Life

The Paths

Path 02 - Beth

Beth

The numerical value of Beth is 2.

Beth means "house"

According to the Sepher Yetzirah, its correspondences are:

Beth represents the archetypal container. As such it is the basis for all manifestation. The expansive oneness of aleph is contained and structured by beth. Without this letter there would be no structure. In this respect it is similar to Chokmah in its relationship to Kether.

Beth is also nurturing in its nature (c.f. Binah). It not only structures energy, but it also allows it to gestate and grow.

As the number 2 beth introduces the concept of duality. All opposites are encapsulated in beth. In the Sepher Yetzirah beth is the first double letter, again emphasising the archetypal duality. From the unity of aleph we have now developed the duality of beth.

The development of beth from aleph also introduces what Mirach calls "The Theory of Containers". The letters of the Hebrew alphabet each represent different spiritual forces. The combination of these letters in to words structures the essential energy of the G-dhead in to the forms we see all around us.

When two or more letters are combined in to a word they form a container that structures and manifests the Divine energy. In the Torah (Gen. 2:19) it says,

"And out of the ground the Lord God formed every every beast of the field and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto the man to see what he would call them; and whatsoever the man would call every living creature, that was to be the name thereof."

Here we have the naming of something being an intrinsic part of its creation. Earlier in the Torah (Gen. 1:20-26) G-d formed the fish, birds and animals, but this was creation at the level of potentiality rather than actuality. This potentiality is then brought in to partial manifestation through their creation "out of the ground" and it is fully realised by the imposition of a structure through the act of naming (i.e. combining the letters).

The quoted verse above also demonstrates the intrinsic partnership that exists between G-d and mankind. The universe we see around us is a product of a joint effort between G-d and mankind.

This ability for mankind to use words as a creative act is the basis of all forms of practical magic. Jewish tradition has it that by combining all 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet in a certain way it is possible to create a golem (a living creature that will perform the wishes of its creator). However the golem is a soulless creature, it is created by man and has not had the breath of life breathed in to it.

In fact, the above verse encapsulates the whole essence of successful practical magic:

• contact the appropriate spiritual force ("..and brought them unto the man..")
• provide a material basis for the action ("..out of the ground the Lord God formed..")
• infuse with spiritual energy ("..and whatsoever the man would call every living creature, that was to be the name thereof.").

Understand this and you will truly be made in the image of G-d.

Beth represents the relationship between G-d and mankind - the primary polarity. The ultimate aim of mankind is to balance this polarity. G-d gives, mankind takes. In this situation there is no balance, it all take on man's part with no give. However, G-d has given us a mechanism whereby the energy flow can be converted into give-take-give back. This mechanism is the 613 precepts and the 7 Universal Laws. performing the mitzvoth and abiding by the 7 Laws establishes the proper harmony between mankind and G-d.

In the Torah it states (Lev. 26:3-6):

"If you walk in My statutes, and keep My commandments, and do them; then I will give your rains in their season, and the land shall yield her produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruits..... And I will give you peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid..."

Thus, abiding by Divine Law engenders balance, harmony and peace.

Contravention of these same Laws ultimately leads to disharmony, imbalance in the natural world and wars. The remainder of Leviticus 26 describes the consequences of not abiding by the Divine Laws.