32 bis is a supplementary numerical designation in the Key Scale of Liber 777, representing the Qliphothic or inverted counterpart of the 32nd Path on the Tree of Life. The term 'bis' (Latin for 'twice' or 'again') indicates a secondary or alternative correspondence, often used to denote the unbalanced or evil aspect of a given sephirah or path.

Position on the Tree of Life

In the standard Tree of Life, the 32nd Path (Tau) connects Malkuth (the Kingdom) to Yesod (the Foundation). Its Qliphothic counterpart, 32 bis, occupies the corresponding position on the inverted Tree of the Qliphoth, linking the Qliphothic Malkuth (often associated with the demonic order of the Earth) to the Qliphothic Yesod. This path is considered the shadow or shell of the 32nd Path, embodying the corruptions of materiality and inertia.

Astrological and Planetary Correspondence

The 32nd Path is traditionally assigned to Saturn and the element Earth. In the Qliphothic system, 32 bis retains a similar but inverted association: Saturn’s restrictive and binding qualities become the demonic forces of limitation and decay, while the Earth element is transmuted into the gross materialism of the Qliphoth. This correspondence underscores the dual nature of the path—its light and shadow aspects.

Historical Context

The inclusion of 'bis' numbers in the Key Scale originates with Aleister Crowley’s Liber 777, first published in 1909. Crowley sought to create a comprehensive table of correspondences for the Qabalistic system, including the Qliphoth—the 'shells' or 'husks' of impurity that oppose the Sephiroth. Drawing on earlier Qabalistic sources such as the Zohar and the works of Christian Knorr von Rosenroth (Kabbala Denudata), Crowley assigned the numbers 31 bis and 32 bis to the Qliphothic counterparts of the last two paths. The number 32 bis specifically corresponds to the Qliphothic path associated with the letter Tau, which in the ordinary Tree is the path of Saturn and the gateway between the material world and the astral plane. In Qliphothic lore, this path is ruled by the demonic order of the Earth, often linked to the entity Nahemah or the Qliphoth of Malkuth. Crowley’s systematization allowed practitioners to work with both the balanced and unbalanced forces of the Tree, providing a framework for understanding the dualistic nature of creation.

In the table of Liber 777, the row for 32 bis appears as a distinct entry in the Key Scale column, with its own set of correspondences in the columns for gods, demons, magical images, and other categories. These values reflect the inverted and corrupt nature of the Qliphothic path, serving as a tool for the magician to explore the shadow side of the Qabalistic universe.