How do the letters of the Tetragrammaton relate to the Sefirot?
The letters of the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) are intricately connected to the Sefirot in Kabbalistic teachings. Each letter symbolizes different aspects of the Sefirotic spectrum:
- Yod (Y): Represents Keter (Crown) and Chochmah (Wisdom). The Yod is seen as the primordial point, embodying potential and the source of all other Sefirot.
- Hei (H): The first Hei is associated with Binah (Understanding), representing the expansion of ideas from Chochmah. The second Hei is linked to Malkhut (Sovereignty), symbolizing the Divine Presence.
- Vav (V): Corresponds to Tiferet (Beauty), acting as a balancing force between Hesed (Lovingkindness) and Gevurah (Might).
- Final Hei (H): Often associated with Shekhinah, representing the female embodiment of the Divine and closely linked to Malkhut.
These associations illustrate the interconnectedness of divine attributes and human experience, emphasizing the profound nature of the Tetragrammaton within Kabbalistic thought.