Orot | אורות
Orot, although this word translates as lights, its metaphysical essence completely transcends the mundane and everyday idea we usually associate with this word. It's not about the light we see shining from a lamp, the one that filters through a window on a sunny day, nor the one that a flickering candle emits. No, this light is much more abstract, deeper and intricate.
Ohr (Orot in singular) represents divine energy, a continuous stream of vital force that pours incessantly. This light is the reflection and emission of Ein Sof, the primordial origin and essence of everything that exists and from which Ohr manifests, an inexhaustible torrent of divinity that permeates all existence. But even though we refer to light, Ohr, in Qabalah it is not something that is seen. It's not a light that can be perceived by physical eyes, not even by the eye of the mind. Instead, the Ohr is a reality that is felt, experienced, and known through direct living, contemplation, and internal revelation. More than a sensory phenomenon, it's a spiritual reality, a force that drives, sustains, and shapes all existence.
The Ohr is in a way the voice of Ein Sof, the medium through which infinite divinity manifests itself in the finite world. It pours out like a falling waterfall, an overflowing energy that unfolds in a variety of forms and manifestations. But, at the same time, it always remains one with its source, never separate or different from the Ein Sof from which it emanates. Thus, in its deepest essence, the Ohr is both the emanation and the vehicle of the divine presence, a constant link between the Creator and creation.
While physical light illuminates the material world, allowing us to see and navigate our environment, the light, Ohr, illuminates the spiritual world. It allows us to perceive the divinity that underlies everything, it helps us orient ourselves in our search for understanding and meaning, and it gives us a vision of the underlying unity in the diversity of creation. Through understanding and knowledge of the Ohr, we are able to perceive and tune into the presence and activity of the divine in us and in the world around us.
The creation of the Ohr is a crucial topic in the corpus of Qabalistic thought. According to tradition, before the emergence of the universe as we know it, only Ein Sof existed. Ein Sof, in an act of divine self-limitation, decided to contract or withdraw from a region of its own infinity, thus creating an empty space within itself. This empty space, known as tehiru, is a kind of vacuum in the infinity of Ein Sof. It's not emptiness in the sense of absence, but rather a vacuum from the presence of Ein Sof. In this empty space, finite and differentiated existence could take place, a universe with defined boundaries and forms could arise. After the establishment of this Tehiru, Ein Sof took the next step in the creative process: the emission of Ohr, the divine light, into this space. Ein Sof projected a ray of its light, its divine energy, into this empty space, an operation known as Qav. This Qav, or line, represented not only the emission of the divine light into the empty space but also the establishment of a direct and continuous connection between Ein Sof and the void.
This ray of light marked the beginning of creation, the establishment of a defined and differentiated reality. But, in a deeper sense, it also marked the establishment of the fundamental relationship underlying all existence: the relationship between the infinite divine source, and its finite manifestation, the created universe. Through the Ohr, Ein Sof manifests itself and becomes present in the universe, permeating it with its divinity while allowing its independent and autonomous existence.
Therefore, the appearance of the Ohr is more than just the beginning of creation. It represents the establishment of a bridge between the infinite and the finite, between the Creator and creation, a bridge that allows the divine to manifest in the World while at the same time preserving its transcendence. It is, in essence, the story of how the divine becomes present in the World, and how the World can tune into and respond to this divine presence.
- Ohr Yashar, translated as Direct Light, marks the birth of the first light within the frame of creation. This light is a singular and direct manifestation of divine energy, a brilliant beam that springs from divine infinity. In its essential purity, the Ohr Yashar symbolizes a unidirectional act of giving, stemming directly from the Creator. In this act of giving, a depth of purpose is discovered, along with a promise of infinite potential.
The appearance of Ohr Yashar marks a significant moment in the creation process, initiating an extraordinary relationship between the Creator and his creation. This act of emanating light is the initialization of a deep and dynamic bond, a relationship based on emission and reception, which becomes the foundation of the entire creative process.
Ohr Yashar becomes a channel through which Ein Sof expresses itself, pouring its divine essence onto the canvas of creation. This flow of light represents a direct connection between divinity and emerging reality, a line of communication between the transcendent and the immanent.
This initial light is a means of transmitting divine will, a catalyst that initiates the creation process. It's a divine spark that ignites existence, a first step in the extraordinary journey of creation from infinite nothingness to tangible reality.
In its purest essence, Ohr Yashar is the beginning of everything, the first glimmer of light in the Ein Sof darkness, the awakening of possibility and potential. It's the manifestation of divine purpose, the first act in the majestic work of creation, which sets in motion the sequence of events that will culminate in existence as we know it.
- Ohr Hozer, or Reflected Light, emerges as a harmonic response to Ohr Yashar. This type of light, far from being a mere echo or reflection, personifies the active reaction of creation to the generous emanation of light from the Creator. Ohr Hozer is an act of reciprocity, an expression of gratitude and recognition that arises from the depths of creation, embodying the desire to give back, to contribute something in return for the Creator's abundant generosity. Ohr Hozer is an expression of creation's aspiration not to be merely a passive receiver of divine light, but to actively participate in the creation and sustenance of the universe.
This light plays a crucial role in balancing the innate desire to receive, introducing the concept of giving within finitude. In the relationship between the Creator and the creation, Ohr Hozer offers a necessary counterpoint to Ohr Yashar, providing a balance between giving and receiving. This balance is fundamental for the stability and sustainability of existence.
Ohr Hozer completes the cycle of giving and receiving, establishing a flow and ebb of energy and love between the Creator and the creation. In this dynamic interaction, Reflected Light plays a vital role in the cosmic dance of existence, fostering a constant exchange that nourishes and sustains the relationship between Ein Sof and the manifested reality.
Through this play of lights, the cycles of giving and receiving are manifested, the rhythms of existence, the pulses of the universe. These movements, reflected in the interaction of Ohr Yashar and Ohr Hozer, form the warp and weft of the cosmic fabric, the symphony of creation.
- Ohr Pnimi, or Inner Light, emerges at a more advanced stage of the creative process, a stage where creation acquires greater depth and complexity. This type of light not only projects or reflects, but penetrates and permeates the various dimensions of creation, known as Sefirot.
The Inner Light is distinguished by its ability to be absorbed and contained within these dimensions, adding to them substance and vital energy. Each Sefirah has a unique ability to contain and channel this light, and it is this capacity for containment that largely determines the character and function of the Sefirah in question within the global structure of creation.
Ohr Pnimi is, in a sense, the divine spark that resides in the heart of each Sefirah, the inner glow that imparts its unique essence and vitality. The relationship between each Sefirah and the Ohr Pnimi is not merely passive or receptive, but active and dynamic. The Inner Light transforms and modulates as it unfolds through the various Sefirot, giving rise to a variety of divine manifestations and existential realities.
The Inner Light is the activating principle that leads to the creation of the Olamot and multiple realities, and is also the cosmic glue that binds and connects the different parts of creation to each other and to the divine source. Through Ohr Pnimi, the divine light not only shines in creation, but becomes the internal vital force that feeds and sustains existence itself.
- Ohr Makif, also known as Surrounding Light, marks a further stage in the evolutionary sequence of creation. It is a form of light that, due to its intensity and elevation, cannot be contained within the Sefirot. This light transcends the limitations inherent to creation and for this reason, cannot be integrated in the same way as Ohr Pnimi, the Inner Light.
However, Ohr Makif does not dilute or fade into nothingness. Instead, it takes a surrounding position, enveloping the Sefirot like a sort of aura. This light does not withdraw, but remains at a certain distance, like a veil of holiness that surrounds, covers, and protects the Sefirot, while driving them forward. Ohr Makif therefore represents a constant divine influence.
The Surrounding Light performs a series of essential functions. Firstly, it provides a source of aspiration and longing, a goal towards which the Sefirot can strive. It is a constant, a reference point for everything beneath it, a reminder of the divinity and transcendence that exist beyond the boundaries of creation.
In addition, Ohr Makif acts as a force of balance and regulation. Since this light is too intense to be contained, it becomes a kind of controller, maintaining the Sefirot and preventing creation from deviating into chaos and dissolution.
Also, the Surrounding Light serves as a bridge between the finite and the infinite, between creation and Ein Sof, divine infinity. Although this light is too high to be integrated, its constant presence serves as a reminder of the vastness and majesty of Ein Sof. In a sense, Ohr Makif represents the dynamic tension between transcendence and immanence, between the known universe and the unknown, between what is and what could be.