Satariel is the Qliphothic order that embodies the principle of concealment, the dark mirror of Binah, the third Sephirah. Its name, meaning "Concealment of God" or "Veiling of God," derives from the Hebrew root satar (סתר), signifying a hiding or obscuring. This order represents the passive, formless, and terrifyingly empty aspect of the divine, the ultimate negation of the understanding and form-giving power of Binah. It is the abyss of the Qliphoth, a state of being where all structure dissolves into a primordial, undifferentiated darkness.

Position on the Tree of Life

Satariel occupies the position of Binah on the Qliphothic Tree, the third sphere from the top. This placement is critical, as Binah is the Sephirah of Understanding, the great mother who gives form and structure to the universe. Satariel, in its inversion, represents the absorption and dissolution of all form, a passive, receptive darkness that swallows all light and meaning. It is the womb of the Qliphoth, but one that gives birth only to further concealment and chaos.

Astrological and Planetary Correspondence

In the system of Liber 777, the Qliphoth of Binah is associated with the planet Saturn. This correspondence is deeply fitting, as Saturn in traditional astrology represents limitation, restriction, melancholy, and the passage of time—all forces that obscure and conceal. Satariel, therefore, is the Qliphothic expression of these Saturnine qualities, manifesting as a crushing, oppressive darkness, a state of profound inertia and spiritual blindness.

Historical Context

The concept of Satariel, like many Qliphothic names, emerges from the rich tradition of Jewish mysticism, particularly the Kabbalistic literature of the 13th century and later. The name appears in texts such as the Treatise on the Left Emanation by Rabbi Isaac ben Jacob ha-Kohen, which describes the emanations of the 'Other Side' (Sitra Achra). In this context, Satariel is listed among the ten primary Qliphothic orders, each a dark counterpart to a Sephirah. It is often described as a realm of absolute darkness and silence, a place where the divine presence is utterly hidden. Later occult traditions, particularly those of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and its successors, systematized these correspondences, placing Satariel firmly in the Binah position of the Qliphothic Tree. In these systems, the order is often depicted as a realm of formless, passive evil, a state of being that is not actively malicious but rather a profound and terrifying emptiness.

In the table of Liber 777, Satariel appears as the Qliphothic order corresponding to the third Sephirah, Binah. It is the dark, concealing aspect of the divine understanding, a reminder of the ultimate mystery that lies beyond all form and comprehension.