The 15th Path of the Serpent (15-y put Zmeya) is a specific stage in the Kabbalistic model of divine emanation, representing the fifteenth numbered path on the Tree of Life. The term 'Path of the Serpent' (Netiv ha-Nachash) refers to the zigzag descent of the Lightning Flash—the creative energy that flows from Kether to Malkuth—as it weaves through the sephiroth, each path marking a distinct step in this process. The number 15 indicates its position in the sequence of 32 paths, which are the channels of wisdom connecting the sephiroth.

Position on the Tree of Life

This path corresponds to the 25th step of the scale in Liber 777, linking it to the specific sephiroth and paths that define its nature. It is one of the 22 paths that connect the sephiroth, each associated with a Hebrew letter, astrological sign, or tarot trump. The 15th Path of the Serpent is part of the larger framework where the Lightning Flash (the Sword) and the Serpent (the winding path) are united, symbolizing the dual forces of direct revelation and gradual unfolding.

Astrological and planetary correspondence

In the system of Liber 777, the 15th Path of the Serpent is associated with the astrological and planetary correspondences of the 25th step of the scale. This step is linked to the Hebrew letter Samekh, the tarot card Temperance (Art), and the zodiac sign Sagittarius, representing the archer's arrow of aspiration and the serpentine path of wisdom. The planetary influence is that of Jupiter, emphasizing expansion, wisdom, and the synthesis of opposites.

Historical context

The concept of the 'Path of the Serpent' has deep roots in Jewish mysticism, particularly in the Zohar and later Kabbalistic texts. It is contrasted with the 'Path of the Arrow' (Netiv ha-Chetz), which describes the direct, linear descent of divine energy. The serpentine path is seen as the more complete and nuanced route, reflecting the complexity of creation and the interplay of mercy and severity. In the 16th-century Kabbalistic work Pardes Rimonim by Moses Cordovero, the 32 paths are enumerated and their correspondences detailed. The 15th Path is specifically associated with the sephirah Tiphereth and the path leading to it, embodying the harmony and beauty that arise from the serpent's winding journey. In the Hermetic Qabalah of the Golden Dawn and later in Aleister Crowley's Liber 777, this path is given a fixed position in the table, connecting it to the Sword and the Serpent as symbols of the dynamic balance between destruction and creation.

In Liber 777

In the table of Liber 777, the 15th Path of the Serpent appears as a cell value under the row 'The Sword and the Serpent' at the 25th step of the scale. It is one of a series of 22 such paths, each numbered from 11 to 32, representing the stages of the Lightning Flash. This specific path is the 15th in the sequence, marking the point where the serpentine wisdom continues its descent, weaving through the sephiroth to manifest the divine plan.