The Chashmalim (Hebrew: חֵשׁמֵלִּים, singular Chashmal) are a celestial order of angels whose name translates to "the Brilliant Ones," "Glowing Ones," or "Scintillating Ones." Derived from a mysterious biblical term denoting a glowing metal or electrum, this angelic choir embodies the radiant, expansive, and life-affirming forces of the divine. They are the agents of majestic benevolence, translating the infinite light of the supernal triad into structured, merciful manifestation.

Position on the Tree of Life

In the Kabbalistic cosmos, the Chashmalim reside in the fourth Sephirah, Chesed (Mercy). As the angelic order of this sphere, they operate within the world of Assiah (the material world of action, or the active manifestation of divine forces). Chesed represents the first day of creation below the Abyss, characterized by unlimited expansion, generosity, and the paternal care of the cosmos. The Chashmalim act as the active, dynamic vehicles of this mercy, ensuring that the divine influx flows downward without destroying the vessels of creation.

Astrological and Planetary Correspondence

The Chashmalim are intimately linked with the planet Jupiter (Hebrew: Tzedek, meaning Justice or Righteousness), which governs the Sephirah Chesed. This planetary alignment emphasizes their role as rulers, judges, and dispensers of grace. They govern the expansive, prosperous, and philosophical currents of the cosmos, manifesting as forces of growth, spiritual abundance, and the preservation of cosmic law.

Historical Context

The term chashmal first appears in the Hebrew Bible within the visionary account of the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:4), where he describes a stormy wind, a great cloud, and a fire flashing forth, with something like "glowing metal" (chashmal) at its center. In modern Hebrew, the word has been adopted to mean "electricity," capturing its inherent, dynamic energy. In classical rabbinic literature and medieval angelologies, such as the hierarchy compiled by Maimonides (Rambam) in the Mishneh Torah, the Chashmalim are ranked as the fourth of the ten angelic orders. Kabbalistic texts, including the Zohar, describe them as brilliant, fiery beings who wear garments of light and sing praises to the Creator, acting as intermediaries who temper the harshness of divine judgment with the soothing balm of mercy.

The Chashmalim in Liber 777

Within Aleister Crowley's Liber 777, the Chashmalim are positioned at Key Scale 4, representing the Angels of Assiah for the Sephirah Chesed. In this context, they serve as the specific formula of divine energy that the magician invokes to cultivate qualities of mercy, authority, and spiritual expansion, aligning the practitioner's sphere of sensation with the benevolent forces of the Jupiterian current.