The Kabbalah Unveiled

The text presents "The Book of Concealed Mystery" (Siphra Dtzenioutha), Chapter I. Tradition states the book is that of the equilibrium of balance. Before equilibrium existed, countenance beheld not countenance. The kings of ancient time were dead, their crowns found no more, and the earth was desolate. A head, incomprehensible and proceeding from Ain Soph, appeared and communicated the vestments of honour. This equilibrium hangs in the region negatively existent in the Ancient One; powers were equiponderated though not yet in perceptible existence. In the form of the Ancient One the equilibrium exists, incomprehensible and unseen. Those who are not, who are, and who shall be ascend therein. The incomprehensible head is secret in secret, formed like a cranium filled with crystalline dew, its skin clear and congealed ether, its hair like fine wool. The forehead is benevolence; the eye is ever open and sleeps not; the two nostrils are like galleries whence spirit rushes forth. The text cites Genesis, "In the beginning the Elohim created," reading it as "He created the six," describing Microprosopus's six members. The dignity hangs from the seven conformations, the beard divided into thirteen portions. The second earth came not into the computation, proceeding from what underwent the curse. The passage on the formless void and the Spirit vibrating on the waters is linked to thirteen forms. Six thousand years depend from the six first words; the seventh is the Kingdom. The thirteenth word raises up through mercy. The Tetragrammaton alone shall be exalted. Then excavations of excavations are described, a vast serpent-dragon encompassing holiness, its tail in its head; two dragons, male and female, reduced to one when the female leviathan was slain; its head broken by the waters of the great sea.

The text opens with the verse "And the Elohim said, let there be light, and there was light," referred to Psalm xxxiii. 9. It identifies the Path HVA (Hoa) as the mother of understanding, called ALHIM (Elohim), and notes the word VIHI (Vayehi), "and it was done," stands alone, with Vau first. A commentary on Hoa, Gematria, and Binah follows. Section 32 states the letters are inverted and become one, forming a Tetragrammaton written in retrograde order (referred to judgments) then reordered as I, IH, IHV, IHVI; the final Yod denotes the Schechinah below in Malkuth. Section 33 says the letters are equiponderated in one balance, male and female, Yod and He interchangeable; the living creatures (Ezek. i. 14) rush forth and return. Section 34 cites "the Elohim saw the light was good," relating Yod to the bride and foundation. Section 35 describes Microprosopus at first alone, then all returning to unity, Vau descending, bound as two lovers. Section 36 states six members are produced from the branch of the root of his body, the mother being He. Section 37 says "the tongue speaketh great things" (Dan. vi. 8), the tongue being the foundation. Section 38 places the tongue hidden between Yod and He. Section 39 cites Isaiah xliv. 5 concerning "I am of the Tetragrammaton," Jacob (IOQB), and Israel. Section 40 discusses ANI (Ani) and ADNI (Adonaï), all cohering by the tongue concealed in the mother. Section 41 states the Father resides in the beginning, the mother in the middle, covered on both sides, with "Woe unto him who revealeth their nakedness," referencing the sin of the calf. Section 42 cites "let there be MARTh, lights," the husband ruling the wife. Section 43 says Yod irradiates two and passes into the woman. Sections 44–45 say Yod remains one and alone, ascending upward, the woman again hidden.

The text describes the mother illuminated in the letters IH, denoting influence imbuing understanding from supernal wisdom, opening the fifty gates, with H last and unprotected. Section 47 states the key containing six closeth its gate, V enclosing H in IHV, and the six members of Microprosopus, closing the gate Hod. Section 48 says it applieth to inferiors, the bride of Microprosopus reflecting the mother. Section 49 pronounces woe on whoever opens her gate, noting the sins of inferiors halt influx.