Chesed (Kabbalah)

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Category:Sephiroth

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Note: The Hebrew word 'chesed' חסד is also the root word upon which the name Hasidism is based.

Chesed ("Mercy"; חסד) is the fourth Sephirah on the tree of life in the Kabbalah of Judaism. It is given the association of kindness and love, and is the first of the emotive attributes of the Sephirot. It sits below Chockmah, across from Gevurah and above Netzach. It is usually given four paths. To Chockmah, Gevurah, Tiphereth, and Netzach (some Kabbalists place a path from Chesed to Binah as well.)

Chesed is also known as Gedulah (גדולה).

1 In the non-Jewish occult
2 References
- 2.1 Jewish
- 2.2 Non-Jewish
3 External link

[edit] In the non-Jewish occult

Chesed is seen as the first of the creative powers emanating from Binah, the first day of creation in which God says 'let there be light'. Chesed, as Lovingkindness, signifies God's ultimate Lovingkindness in pouring his energy into creation. Chesed is therefore associated with charity and expansion.

It is balanced by Gevurah, Restraint, which is God's other aspect as a punisher, who takes away that which is not needed. For that reason one must love God, and also fear God.

Both these aspects are essential for creation to exist, because Chesed, expansion, without limit, leads to imbalance, simply pure substance. The limiting aspect of Gevurah is also needed in order to take the raw substance of Chesed, break it down, so individual and different forms can exist. These two aspects therefore find balance in Tiphereth, Beauty, which allows creation to exist by balancing these two forces in a correct proportion.

The name of God associated with Chesed is El, the archangel that presides over it is Tzadkiel, the order of angels that resides in it are the Chasmalim ( brilliant ones ) and the mundane chakra associated with it is Jupiter.

Some other common attributes is the pictorial of a king on his throne. Sometimes also depicted as a lawgiver or peace maker. 777 Describes its attributes as The four four's of the Tarot, Amoun, Isis, Friendliness, Indra, Brahma, Wotan, Poseidon, Jupiter, Unicorn, Shamrock, Amethyst, Sapphire, The Wand, Sceptre or Crook, YHVH, Cedar, Opium, Vision of Love, Among many others.

Attempts are made to reconcile the kabbalah with the chakras of Indian mysticism. One attempt is in trying to reconcile both Chesed and Gevurah with the Vishuddha chakra, concerned with creative expression, for which both these forces are necessary, and the ethical rules of yama and niyama, the do's and do-nots of yoga.