Nun (נ ן) is the fourteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, with a final form (ן) used at the end of words. Its name means 'fish,' a symbol of life, fertility, and the hidden activity of the unconscious. The letter's shape—a bent or bowed form—suggests humility and the descent of the soul into material existence.

Position on the Tree of Life

Nun is assigned to Path 24 on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, connecting the sephirah Netzach (Victory) to Tiphareth (Beauty). This path represents the transformative journey of death and rebirth, as the soul descends into the material world and ascends through spiritual trials. The fish, swimming in the depths, symbolizes the soul's immersion in the waters of life and its eventual return to the source.

Astrological and planetary correspondence

In the system of Liber 777, Nun is associated with the planet Mars (Madim). This correspondence underscores the letter's martial, dynamic, and transformative qualities—Mars as the force of conflict, purification, and the breaking of old forms to make way for the new. The fish's swift, darting movement echoes the aggressive, penetrating energy of Mars.

Historical context

The letter Nun appears in the Sefer Yetzirah, an early Kabbalistic text, where it is one of the twelve 'simple letters' corresponding to the twelve zodiacal signs. In later Kabbalistic tradition, Nun is linked to the concept of 'falling' (nefilah) and the descent of the soul, as well as to the 'fiftieth gate of understanding' (Binah), a state of pure spiritual insight. The final form (ן) symbolizes the soul's completion and return to its source after the cycle of life.

In the Hebrew Bible, Nun is the first letter of the word 'Ner' (candle), representing the light of the soul. The letter also appears in the name of Joshua (Yehoshua), who led the Israelites into the Promised Land, symbolizing the transition from wandering to fulfillment.

Closing

In Liber 777, Nun (נ ן) appears at Path 24 as the Hebrew letter corresponding to the Mars energy, the transformative descent of the soul, and the path of death and rebirth on the Tree of Life.