Wisdom is the second Sephirah on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, known in Hebrew as Chokmah (חכמה). It represents the first flash of creative force, the dynamic, masculine principle of pure wisdom that emanates from the unity of Kether, the Crown. The word itself derives from the root חכם (chakam), meaning 'to be wise,' and in this context, it is not accumulated knowledge but the primal, intuitive spark of insight that initiates all creation.

Position on the Tree of Life

Wisdom occupies the second position on the Tree of Life, directly below Kether (the Crown) and above Binah (Understanding). It is the first of the three supernal Sephiroth, forming the initial triad of the divine structure. As the active, outgoing force, it is the father principle, while Binah is the receptive mother. Together, they channel the limitless potential of Kether into the structured forms of creation.

Astrological and planetary correspondence

In the system of Liber 777, Chokmah is assigned the astrological correspondence of the entire zodiac, represented by the wheel of the heavens. This reflects its nature as the primordial, all-encompassing force that sets the cycles of time and motion into being. It is also associated with the planet Neptune in later esoteric systems, symbolizing the boundless, visionary quality of pure wisdom.

Historical context

The concept of Chokmah as a divine attribute appears in the earliest Kabbalistic texts, such as the Sefer Yetzirah (Book of Formation), where it is described as one of the 'thirty-two paths of wisdom' and the second Sephirah. In the Zohar, the foundational work of Kabbalah, Chokmah is depicted as the 'beginning' of creation, the point from which all existence unfolds. It is identified with the divine name Yah (יה), a contraction of the Tetragrammaton, emphasizing its active, creative power.

In the Hermetic Qabalah, as synthesized by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and later by Aleister Crowley, Chokmah retains its role as the second Sephirah but is further elaborated with correspondences from various traditions. Crowley's Liber 777 places it at scale step 2, with the English title 'Wisdom,' and associates it with the formula of the Father, the number 2, and the path of the zodiac. The image of the bearded man, the phallus, and the towering pillar are common symbols, all pointing to its generative, thrusting nature.

Closing paragraph

In the table of Liber 777, at scale step 2 (Chokmah), Wisdom appears as the English title of column II, directly corresponding to the second Sephirah. It is the active, masculine principle of pure, intuitive wisdom, the first emanation from the Crown, and the source of all creative force in the universe.