Sefer ha-Yetzirah, 231 Gates Options

This book of formation is supposedly how God created / formulate all creations. Altought I'm still clueless on how to use this book, the 231 Gates are mentioned in this book a few times and I am curious what does it refers to?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idontknow.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/mfight.gif) Enlighten me pls (IMG:style_emoticons/default/flame.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piss_old.gif)

BrotherM:

Beli neder (without a vow), I'll be able to adequately answer your questions over the weekend.



bym:

A point, if you will, that refering to SY as not being of Western Theurgy has me puzzled. I was under the impression that the Kabala was Western Theurgy?

The Kabbalah, as it originated (the argument of Kemetic roots is of no consequence here), is an Afro-Asiatic system of philosophy and metaphsyics. Even though we consider Judaism to be a Western religion, it's flavour is still Afro-Asiatic in nature, even among the Franko-German communities. The cosmology of Judaism as a whole is in the same vein as that of Kemet, it's language is in the same family as Sumer, Akkad, Babel, and Axum. Even the little things, such as using one's weak hand to clean ones self show Judaism's Near Eastern roots. As such, any magical or mystical system to grow from Judaism will have the same colouration, in spite of how the Western world has adopted it.

Also, on topic, can the 231 paths described above have any relationship to Bardons (very Western) Key to the True Qabala?

I am unfamiliar with Bardon's work. In general, I've avoided the Western theurgic take on the Kabbalah (with the exception of Israel Regardie's works). In spite of my ignorance, the degree to which the Kabbalah has become an integral part of Western Theurgy leads me to believe that the 231 paths will find themselves within most magus' systems and works.

Also, another 'noob' question, in the older hebraic writings concerning Sefer ha-Yetzirah, there is no mention of Da'ath. Was this brought about by our nineteenth century occultists?

The Sefer Yetzirah is explicit that there are ten and only ten Sefiroth. Da'ath, as it stands, is considered "the Sefirah which isn't." Da'ath's purpose is to be a thing which divides the supernal triad of Kether, Hokhmah, and Binah from the lower seven Sefiroth. The few times in which you find it used as a Sefirah within the Hebraic system are those times in which Kether is not counted, due its proximity to En Sof.

And, to top off my incoherant ramblings, which system of Gematria do either of you favor?

I'm a strict adherent to the numerical values of the alef-beth (Hebrew alphabet) as historically preserved (e.g. alef = 1, yod = 10, etc).