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The '231 gates' are first mentioned in the Sefer Yetzirah in chapter two, verse four (of the Gra Version) where it is said...
Twenty-two Foundation Letters:These 231 Gates are thought to be the 231 possible pairings of Hebrew letters without repetition, but allowing transposed placements. The 231 pairings are meant to be employed in various meditations and magical operations, and in one tradition are said to facilitate the creation of a 'golem'. The standard definition of 'golem' is 'that which is unwrapped, or unformed, like a fetus', but refers in magical folk-lore to an human-like automaton fabricated by magical means.
He placed them in a circle (GLGL)
like a wall with 231 (RLA) Gates.
The Circle oscillates back and forth.
A sign for this is:
There is nothing in good higher than Delight (ONG)
There is nothing evil lower than Plague (NGO)
The 231 Gates are depicted by our qabalistic forebears as a series of 22 tables of Hebrew letters, with eleven of those being associated with the 'partzuf' or front side of the eleven sefiroth of the Tree of Life (i.e. including Daath), while the remaining eleven are assigned to the rear side of the sefiroth. These tables are included in an Appendix of Aryeh Kaplan's version of the Sefer Yetzirah published by Weiser.
But what I propose is an alternative method for arranging the 22 Hebrew letters - not in a square, but in a circle. I believe that this method may in fact have been the original format that was used by the author of the Sefer Yetzirah because of certain clues that he left us in the text.
The first of these clues is the word GLGL which is used by the Sefer Yetzirah to describe the 231 gates, and that is normally translated as 'circle' by translators of the book. But another common meaning of the word is 'wheel'. I think the 'wheel' referred to in the text has seven spokes and takes the following form.
The numbers from 1 to 21 can be placed upon this wheel in such a way that each of the seven spokes add up to the same number like so:
That 'mystical number' is 33. If you add up the three numbers on each of the seven spokes you will derive this sum for each of them. I have numbered the spokes in red for easy reference during this treatise.
1 + 12 + 20 = 33
2 + 13 + 18 = 33
3 + 14 + 16 = 33
4 + 8 + 21 = 33
5 + 9 + 19 = 33
6 + 10 + 17 = 33
7 + 11 + 15 = 33
The gematria of the word GLGL (Heb. 'wheel') is:
GL + GL = (30 + 3) + (30 + 3) = 33 + 33 = 66
As you can see, the word GLGL seems to be a clue that points to a figure that somehow significantly derives the number 33 (and combinations thereof) - which this figure does. There might also be a connection with the word 'golem' (GLM) because it also contains GL, or 33.
Note: If you would like to now examine the Hebrew version of this 'wheel' which includes further evidence of the appropriateness of this new system please click here.
The arrangement of the sequence of numbers within the Yetzirah 'wheel' mandala follows a very distinctive pattern that consists of a double outward spiral terminated by a heptagram (or seven-pointed star). The following diagram illustrates this...
It is clear that this 'wheel' symbol combines the esoterically important numbers seven and three in the seven radiating 'spokes' and three concentric 'rings' of the wheel. The number three is also emphasised by the 'mystical number' 33 that is connected with the spokes of the wheel. But there is another number - a 'magical' number - that can be derived from the Yetzirah wheel. This is achieved when certain numbers on the spokes exchange their places such that the 'wheel' assumes a truly magical quality (in the mathematical sense of the word). The effect of this magical transposition is to equalise the sum-totals of the three rings to the value 77 so that we end up with...
Seven spokes of 33 = (7 x 33) = 231
Three rings of 77 = (3 x 77) = 231
There appears to be four different methods of transposition that will achieve this result. Here they are:
Variation 1
Inner ring = 20 + 18 + 3 + 4 + 19 + 6 + 7 = 77
Middle ring = 12 + 13 + 14 + 8 + 9 + 10 + 11 = 77
Outer ring = 1 + 2 + 16 + 21 + 5 + 17 + 15 = 77
Variation 2
Inner ring = 1 + 2 + 16 + 21 + 5 + 17 + 15 = 77
Middle ring = 12 + 13 + 14 + 8 + 9 + 10 + 11 = 77
Outer ring = 20 + 18 + 3 + 4 + 19 + 6 + 7 = 77
Variation 3
Inner ring = 20 + 2 + 16 + 21 + 5 + 6 + 7 = 77
Middle ring = 12 + 13 + 14 + 8 + 9 + 10 + 11 = 77
Outer ring = 1 + 18 + 3 + 4 + 19 + 17 + 15 = 77
Variation 4
Inner ring = 1 + 18 + 3 + 4 + 19 + 17 + 15 = 77Notice that the middle ring of numbers doesn't change in any of the four variations, and that variations 1 and 2 are the complements (or opposites) of each other, as are variations 3 and 4.
Middle ring = 12 + 13 + 14 + 8 + 9 + 10 + 11 = 77
Outer ring = 20 + 2 + 16 + 21 + 5 + 6 + 7 = 77
It is tempting to associate these four variations with the four letters of the Tetragrammaton...
What we have here are the theoretical beginnings of a magical system that is based upon the Sefer Yetzirah. The four magical (or elemental) mandalas correspond with the cross of the four 'fixed signs' of the zodiac and the four cherubim. The mystical mandala (of spirit) is in their midst and represents the Sun/Son, or Christ crucified on the cross of the four elements. On this note, it is interesting that the special number of the mystical mandala is 33 which is the number of 'saviour' in Pythagorean numerology and is associated with the messiah and redemptive energy in general.
The twelve rings of the four combined elemental mandalas might refer to the twelve signs of the zodiac. For instance, the unchanging middle ring of each of the four mandalas may correspond with the Fixed signs of Fire, Water, Air and Earth - that is, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius and Taurus.
It would follow then that perhaps the innermost ring of each elemental mandala was associated with the four Cardinal signs - Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn. And the outermost rings would then refer to the four Mutable signs - Sagittarius, Pisces, Gemini, and Virgo.
Fire Mandala (Variation 1)
Inner ring = Aries
Middle ring = Leo
Outer ring = Sagittarius
Water Mandala (Variation 2)
Inner ring = Cancer
Middle ring = Scorpio
Outer ring = Pisces
Air Mandala (Variation 3)
Inner ring = Libra
Middle ring = Aquarius
Outer ring = Gemini
Earth Mandala (Variation 4)
Inner ring = Capricorn
Middle ring = Taurus
Outer ring = Virgo
The three rings of the mandala of ether-spirit might then represent the three 'crosses of the heavens' - the Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable crosses.
Mandala of Ether-Spirit
Inner ring = Cardinal Cross
Middle ring = Fixed Cross
Outer ring = Mutable Cross
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Copyright © 2001. Patrick Mulcahy / AstroQab
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