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The Book of Concealed Mystery (Siphra Dtzenioutha) · 7 of 9 · tr. S.L. MacGregor Mathers

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The four wheels are their correlatives under the second Sephira, on their four sides--namely, the four elements of the air, fire, water, and earth, which are the abodes of the spirits of the elements, the sylphs, salamanders, undines, and gnomes, under the presidency of the tenth Sephira.] 33. The serpent (which was made from the rod of Moses--that is, the shell--NVOH, Nogah , or splendour) which rusheth forth with three hundred and seventy leaps (the thirty-two names together with the five letters of ALHIM, Elohim , which make 37, multiplied by the p. 105 decad 370, and the judgments of the bride are denoted, to which that shell directeth his springs, because he is of middle nature betwixt the holy and the profane). "He leapeth upon the mountains, and rusheth swiftly over the hills," like as it is written (Cant. ii. 8. That is, he leapeth high above the rest of the shells). He holdeth his tail in his mouth between his teeth (that is, his extremity, by which he is linked to the shells, turneth towards his other extremity wherewith he looketh towards holiness). He is pierced through on either side (so that he may seek to receive the superior and inferior nature). When the chief ariseth (who is Metatron ) he is changed into three spirits (that is, he assumeth the nature of three inferior shells). ["Nogah" is also the qabalistical title of the sphere of the planet Venus. MTTRVN, Metatron , or Methraton, is the particular intelligence of the first Sephira, and is called the "Prince of Faces;" he is said also to have been the "ruler of Moses." Methraton has the same numeration as ShDI, Shaddai , the Almighty.] 34. (But concerning Metatron) it is written, Gen. v. 22: "And Enoch walked with the Elohim" (because out of Enoch, Metatron is formed). And it is written, Prov. xxii. 6: "Enoch hath been made into a boy, according to his path." (That is, "hath been changed into") the boy (namely, Metatron, who is spoken of under his name NOR, Nour , which meaneth a "boy"). ["Enoch hath been made into a boy," &c. This peculiar rendering of the passage, "Train up a child in the way," &c., arises from reading in the Hebrew text ChNVK, Chanokh , Enoch, instead of ChNK, Chanekh , "train up," or "instruct."] 35. With the Elohim, and not with the Tetragrammaton (because he himself is referred unto the path of the queen, to whom is attributed this name of Rigour). "And he existed not" (longer) under this name (Enoch), because the Elohim took him in order that he might be called by this name. (For this name is communicable unto the angels, p. 106 and in the first instance unto this chief among them, namely, Metatron.) 36. There are three houses of judgment given, which are four (that is, the three letters IHV, referred into the understanding, which yield the four letters of the Tetragrammaton, pointed with the vowel points of the name Elohim. For) there are four superior houses of judgment (the four said Tetragrammatic letters) and four inferior (which are the four letters ADNI, Adonaï , belonging unto the kingdom). For it is written, Lev. xix.
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Themes
Correspondencecosmology

The Hermetic axiom that the structure of the cosmos is reflected at every scale — 'as above, so below; as within, so without' — making each level a legible map of the others.

Links four wheels, elements, and elemental spirits in a correlated cosmic structure reflecting divine levels.

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Cosmic Dualismtheology

Ontological opposition between two primal principles (light/darkness, truth/lie, spirit/matter) as the fundamental structure of reality.

[auto] Explicitly contrasts 'holy and the profane' and 'superior and inferior nature' within the serpent's existence.

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Divine Hiddennesstheology

The supreme God's radical concealment beyond ordinary knowledge or perception; the Hidden Father.

The text is a 'Concealed Mystery' and discusses hidden meanings of scripture.

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Divine Lighttheology

The uncreated luminous quality of the divine, sometimes experienced directly in mystical states; illumination as revelation.

Nogah is defined as splendour, and Metatron is associated with light (Nour).

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Elemental Beingscosmology

Naturally-existing, non-human intelligences native to a single element — earth, air, fire, or water — rather than the fourfold-composite human nature: Paracelsus's gnomes, sylphs, salamanders, and undines; the Deva Kingdom or fairy kingdom of Western occultism, forming their own parallel kingdom capable of incarnating in or forming relationships with humans. Distinct from artificial_elemental (a manufactured thought-entity deliberately created by a single operator, not a naturally-occurring species) and animism (the general doctrine that nature-places host indwelling spirits, of which this is one specific taxonomic system organised around the four elements rather than locality).

The passage explicitly names sylphs, salamanders, undines, and gnomes as the spirits of the four elements dwelling under the tenth Sephira, a direct match to Paracelsian elemental taxonomy.

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Emanation Hierarchycosmology

A chain of divine beings or principles flowing downward from a single transcendent source (the One or the Father), each level less perfect than the one above.

[auto] Describes a hierarchy where elemental spirits reside under the presidency of higher Sephirot.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

Esoteric teachings reserved for those ready to receive them; outer meaning conceals an inner liberating truth.

[auto] The text interprets concealed symbols (serpent, shell, rod) revealing esoteric meanings behind literal descriptions.

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Letter Meditationpraxis

Contemplative practice focused on Hebrew letters as cosmic symbols or gates of divine power.

Focus on the power and structure of Hebrew letters suggests contemplative use.

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Letters Of Creationcosmology

The twenty-two Hebrew letters as the building blocks through which God creates and sustains all existence.

[auto] Identifies Hebrew letters (ALHIM) and names as fundamental components creating numerical and spiritual reality.

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Numerical Mysticismtheology

Numbers, proportions, and mathematical relationships as the underlying structure of divine reality.

[auto] Detailed gematria calculations involving 37, 370, and the combination of names and letters define the serpent's movement.

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Opposites Transcendedanthropology

The dissolution of binary oppositions (male/female, inner/outer, above/below) as a mark of spiritual completion.

[auto] The serpent holds a 'middle nature' and is pierced to receive both superior and inferior natures simultaneously.

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Paradox As Teachingethics

Using apparent contradiction, reversal, or riddle to destabilise ordinary understanding and induce insight.

Uses the image of a serpent holding its tail in its mouth to symbolize linked extremities and cyclical nature.

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Permutation Of Letterspraxis

Combining, transposing, or cycling through letters or names as a meditative or theurgical technique.

Mentions multiplying names and letters (37 by decad) to derive cosmic numbers and judgments.

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Qliphothcosmology

The 'shells' or 'husks' of Kabbalistic doctrine — the obverse, unbalanced counterpart that each Sephira throws off during its own emanation, going off by itself to form its own shadow-sphere in Chaos, the Habitations of Hell, personified as Qlippothic demons (the 'Obscene Ones,' the 'Disputers') mirroring the Archangels of the corresponding Sephira. Distinct from kenoma (the Gnostic void outside the pleroma generally, one undifferentiated realm of deficiency, not this specific one-shadow-per-Sephira structure) and archons (Gnostic planetary rulers governing matter directly, not an unbalanced-emanation byproduct).

The passage centrally discusses 'shells' (Qlippoth) — the serpent is linked to shells, assumes the nature of three inferior shells, and is described as of 'middle nature betwixt the holy and the profane,' pierced to receive both superior and inferior nature.

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Sacred Namestheology

Divine names or formulas that carry ontological power, used in prayer, liturgy, or magical practice.

[auto] Invokes specific divine names like 'Elohim' and 'thirty-two names' with ontological significance.

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Sefirot Treecosmology

The diagrammatic arrangement of the ten Sephirot as a structured 'Tree of Life' mapping divine and cosmic forces.

[auto] Maps elements and spirits to specific positions within the Sephirotic structure ('under the second Sephira').

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Sephirotcosmology

The ten attributes or emanations through which the Ein Sof (Infinite) reveals itself and creates the universe in Kabbalistic theology.

[auto] The passage explicitly references the 'second Sephira' and 'tenth Sephira' as structural loci for elements and spirits.

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Soul Migrationcosmology

The transmigration of the soul across lives.

Enoch is changed into a boy/Metatron, indicating a shift in spiritual state or identity.

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Spiritual Ascentpraxis

A staged journey of the soul upward through heavenly realms or levels of being toward the divine source.

[auto] The serpent leaps high above shells and looks towards holiness, symbolizing upward movement.

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Theosis Deificationsoteriology

The doctrine — central to Eastern Orthodox and Maximian theology — that the human person is progressively transformed into a partaker of the divine nature by grace, not merely justified or united in passing ecstasy.

Describes Enoch's transformation into the angelic being Metatron through divine taking and name change.

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Theurgypraxis

Iamblichean ritual practice that engages the gods directly through consecrated material symbols and actions, on the premise that divine power descends into properly prepared matter — distinct from philosophical contemplation alone.

Use of names and numbers implies ritual or magical engagement with divine powers.

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