Gha’ag Sheklah

Gha’ag Sheklah ("Smiters") is the fourth qlippoth on the Kabbalistic Tree of Death, below ghogiel, beside golachab, and directly above A’arab Zaraq. It is the shadow opposite sphere of chesed, its opposing sefirot on the Tree of Life.

Etymology

The word Gha’ag Sheklah (גאאג שקלה) can be translated in Hebrew as the "weighing of Gha'ag" but the sphere is usually called "Smiters," "the Breakers in Pieces," or "the Devourers."

In the Zohar, this qlippoth was originally called Mashchith (מַשְׁחִית, romanized: mašḥīṯ) which is translated as "destroyer."

Alternate spellings include: Agshekeloh, Gasheklah, Gamchicoth, Gog Sheklah, and Gha’agsheklah.

Description

Gha’ag Sheklah is the opposite of chesed, which is represents kindness; therefore, it represents cruelty and not caring.

It the divine force which has spread itself so far that it breaks and is no longer valid. This qlippoth represents misguided love which exhausts and ultimately consumes its object with a lack of boundaries. It may be viewed as a perversion of love which has become hate.

On the Tree of Death, Gha’ag Sheklah exists in the Realm of Evil. This region is inhabited by qlippoth which actively seek to harm and even destroy mortals.

Occult correspondences

In astrology, Gha’ag Sheklah corresponds to Jupiter.

Its demon ruler is Astaroth.

In the tarot, Gha’ag Sheklah is represented by the Temperance card.