The Essential Name & The Witch's Broomstick

י"ט באייר תשס"ז

repost, originally posted 1/10/07 as Mitzvah Of Besom & The First Tzimtzum



It was suggested by Gabbe [1] at Hashkafah forums that the original form of the tetragrammaton may have consisted of the letters yod-ayin-vav-alef (יעוא). He provides a graphic of the Gemara (?) text from his source for this suggestion (see link).

In my mind, it may be that this letter combination also describes the first tzimtzum. Here's why I think this:

First, the shoresh (3-letter root) yod-ayin-hei (יעה) means to "clear away". In other words, it means to create a "vacated space" (chalal). The shoresh also means to "remove". In other words, to "remove" the One's apparent Presence (chalah hapanui) in reality. These meanings fit perfectly with the idea of a tzimtzum, where Ein Sof carved out within the Infinite Light a "place" for creation by removing the Light of Ein Sof (via a mechanism known as the Lamp of Darkness, an Infinite Negative Light called Botzina de Kardenuta).

Second, another possible shoresh involved in creating 4-letter combination is ayin-vav-hei (עוה), meaning "to deviate" and being "crooked". This too, fits perfectly with the first tzimtzum as I remember it among my memories of preincarnate existence as discussed here in A Mystery Of Consciousness and here in Reishit Beit. The journey through the River of Fire (also known as the Sambatyon, the Shabbat River and Nahar Dinur) is indeed a crooked journey. I remember pivoting like a shalshelet through it into a state of congealing conciousness.

Importantly, both of the 3-letter shorashim contributing to the construction of our understanding of the novel 4-letter tetragrammaton יעוא end with a letter hei (ה). The first root's hei symbolizes the Higher Shechinah. The second root's hei symbolizes the Lower Shechinah. In the two shorashim reside the secret of the "split" within the original Divine Feminine. In the new variation of the tetragrammaton resides the secret to rectification, reunification and elevation of the Divine Feminine, alluded to by the dropped letters hei (from the combination of the shorashim) and the added letter alef (א).

Kabbalah teaches regarding the original split within the Divine Feminine resulting from the first tzimtzum:

This is why she abandoned her supernal place and descended to a lower degree, assuming the dimension of light which is the body of the Sephiroth. This also means that her full dimension was split in half; for she became a body consisting of but six Sephiroth without a head. Her condition of being split is connoted in Hebrew חץ "Chetz". This Hebrew word embodies two definitions:

1. Split in half.

2. An arrow that is let loose from a bow in order to kill.

Interestingly, the witch's besom (ritual broomstick) reflects the rectification of the Divine Feminine perfectly, in that it consists of a body of six sefirot (the broomstick) with a head (the bristles of herbs and twigs). Consequently, the besom is the third witch's tool, along with the athame of iron and incense, to align with the idea of restoring the Divine Feminine to Her Full Glory.

More importantly, the witch's besom is a tool whose purpose is to sweep away suffering and to enhance life, not to end it. There is even an organization called The Besom, dedicated to making a difference in the world. The mission statement of The Besom:

The Besom helps people make a difference. It provides a bridge between those who want to give time, money, things or skills and those who are in need. It ensures what is given is used effectively. The service it provides is free.

Poverty, isolation, abuse, ill health, injustice, homelessness. We all see the sharp inequalities of life around us and the devastating impacts they have on people's lives. Many of us want to do something, to get involved but we don't always know how. The Besom, set up in 1987, exists to help you make a difference to the lives of others ­ and to make it easy for you to do so.

Footnote:

[1] Gabbe is apparently now using the screen name It's Supper.

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