Da'at
Da'at is a conceptual 11th sefirot on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life where all ten sefirot coalesce together as one unified form.
In Daʻat, all sefirot exist in their perfected state of infinite sharing. The three sefirot of the left column that would receive and conceal the Divine light, instead share and reveal it. Since all sefirot radiate infinitely self-giving Divine Light, it is no longer possible to distinguish one sefira from another; thus they are one.
Daʻat is not always depicted in representations of the sefirot; and could be abstractly considered an "empty slot" into which the germ of any other sefirot can be placed. Properly, the Divine Light is always shining, but not all humans can see it.
Etymology
Da'at comes from the original Hebrew form דַּעַת, which is romanized as Daʿaṯ. It literally means "knowledge."
Description
Properly, Daʻat is not a sefirah, but rather is all ten sefirot united as one. Nevertheless, Daʻat is sometimes counted as a sefirah instead of Keter, from the perspective of finite creation, using Daʻat to represent the "reflection of" (the "inner dimension" of) the infinity of Keter. Thus Daʻat appears in the configuration of the sefirot along the middle axis, directly beneath Keter.
It corresponds to the image of God. Alternate countings of the sefirot produce 10 powers ("10 and not 9, 10 and not 11" - Sefer Yetzirah) by either including Keter or Daʻat. In the scheme of Moses ben Jacob Cordovero, Daʻat is omitted, while in the scheme of Isaac Luria, Keter is omitted. Cordovero describes the sefirot as one light in ten vessels. Luria follows this, but lists sefirot beginning with Chokmah (Wisdom) to describe their outer dimensions.
In Kabbalistic practice
Daʻat is the third and hidden more special unconscious power of intellect. Accordingly, Daʻat is associated in the soul with the powers of memory and concentration, powers that rely upon one's recognition of, and sensitivity to, the potential meaningfulness of those ideas generated in consciousness through the powers of Chokmah and Binah.
The revelation or the concealment of the Divine Light shining through Daʻat does not happen only in Daʻat itself. It can appear by a human perspective also within the worldly affairs (Malkuth). The perception of the Divine Light shining can clearly occur also in Malkuth, all the times that humans become self-giving (Altruism). However, humans who remain selfish cannot see it, and for them its benefits seem "hidden."
In historical Kabbalah, Keter ("Crown") is the transcendent Divine Will above conscious internalisation, while Da'at ("Knowledge") is the internalised aspect of the same principle, channeling the creative life force into existence. Consequently, Keter is the Hidden Knowledge, that becomes revealed in Da'at.
Occult correspondences
In occult practice, Da'at is viewed as a passageway across the Abyss.
It also corresponds to:
- the element of Air (element).
- the World tarot card.
- the entire Major Arcana of the tarot.
- the human neck.
- the star Sirius.