Chokmah
Chokmah (also transliterated as chokma, chokhmah, or hokhma) is the Biblical Hebrew word rendered as "wisdom" in English Bible versions. It is the second of the ten sefirot in Kabbalah, and represents the first power of conscious intellect and subtle manifestation, emerging from Keter's pure potentiality. It embodies wisdom coming from nothingness.
In Jewish mystical texts, Chokmah is described as the primordial point of divine wisdom, which shines forth from the will of God. This point remains incomprehensible until differentiated and given form in Binah.
Etymology
Chokmah (חָכְמָה), the Hebrew term for "wisdom," holds a prominent place in both Jewish mysticism and Gnostic traditions. Its etymology traces back to the Hebrew root ח-כ-מ, which conveys the concept of wisdom or insight. In Gnostic cosmology, Chokmah is frequently identified with Sophia (Σοφία in Greek), who embodies divine wisdom. Sophia's narrative is central to many Gnostic texts, where she is also known by the name Achamōth, a Greek derivation from the Hebrew word Chokmah.
The word occurs 149 times in the Masoretic Text of the Hebrew Bible. It is cognate with the Arabic word for "wisdom", ḥikma حكمة (Semitic root ḥ-k-m). Adjectival ḥakham "wise" is used as a honorific, as in Talmid Chakham (lit. "student of a sage") for a Torah scholar.
Chokmah is sometimes referred to as "Fear" (יִרְאָה, Yirah) in Kabbalistic texts because it represents an aspect of wisdom that is beyond measure and comprehension, "because it has no measure of boundary, and therefore the mind does not have the power to grasp it." This aligns with the idea expressed in the Book of Job that the "fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding." This term emphasizes the awe and reverence associated with divine wisdom, reflecting the necessary humility and respect required to truly grasp and embody it.
Description
Chokmah is the first power of conscious intellect within Creation, and the first point of subtle manifestation, since Keter represents emptiness.
In Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan's commentary on the Bahir he says: "Wisdom (Chokmah) is therefore the first thing that the mind can grasp, and is therefore called a 'beginning'."
In the Zohar, Chokmah is the primordial point which shines forth from the will of God, the starting point of Creation. This point is infinitely small, and yet encompasses the whole of being; it remains incomprehensible until all things are differentiated and given shape and form in Binah, where they become intelligible.
In general, the sense of sight relates to Chokmah. The Zohar states that there is an inner, spiritual sense of taste in Chokmah that precedes and arouses the sense of sight. Chokmah appears in the configuration of the sefirot at the top of the right axis, and corresponds to the eyes in the divine image.
Qualities
Chokmah is associated with several colors in Kabbalistic tradition. Grey is often linked to Chokmah as it represents the blending of all colors, symbolizing comprehensive wisdom. Some traditions, especially those influenced by Western esotericism, associate Chokmah with blue, which signifies clarity and expansiveness, reflecting the profound nature of divine wisdom. White is another color associated with Chokmah, symbolizing purity and enlightenment, indicative of the undifferentiated light of wisdom.
Ethical behavior
According to Moses ben Jacob Cordovero in The Palm Tree of Devorah, Chokmah has two faces, one facing Keter above, and the other overseeing the other sefirot. Therefore, to emulate this sefira, one aspect should be in communion with his Creator in order to increase his wisdom, and the other should be to teach others the wisdom that the Holy One has endowed him.
Practical application
In practical Kabbalistic practices, Chokmah is approached through meditation and contemplation to gain wisdom and insight. Practitioners focus on developing a deep sense of selflessness, as Chokmah embodies the "power of selflessness." This involves visualizing the flow of divine wisdom and seeking to align one's thoughts and actions with higher principles.
Occult correspondences
In occult practices, the Tree of Life is viewed as if the practitioner is looking outward from within the diagram. This perspective places Chokmah on the practitioner's left, corresponding to the left hemisphere of the brain, often associated with analytical thinking. Chokmah is also considered the root of Jachin, one of the two pillars symbolizing stability and establishment.
Other correspondences include:
- the name of God associated with Chokmah is Yah.
- the archangel that presides over it is Archangel Raziel, who reveals divine secrets.
- the order of angels that reside in it are the Ophanim ("Wheels"), which represent dynamic divine insight.
- the Heaven of Assiah associated with it is called Mazloth, implying the fulfillment of destiny, and the physical manifestation associated with it is the Zodiac.
- its tarot card is The High Priestess.
Crowley
In Aleister Crowley's Liber 777, Chokmah is associated with:
- the color grey
- the four Twos of the Tarot
- Shiva
- Odin
- Athena
- God the Father
- Amaranth
- Star ruby
- Hashish
- Yang and Khien
- Insanity