Hod

Hod is the eighth sefirot of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. It is positioned on the left side of the tree beneath Gevurah (discipline) and directly opposite Netzach (victory).

Etymology

Hod in Hebrew is הוֹד Hōḏ, literally meaning "majesty," "splendour," or "glory."

Description

Hod is associated with qualities such as submission, humility, and intellectual rigor. It represents the capacity to comprehend and articulate divine truths, balancing the emotive and instinctual energies of Netzach. This balance is crucial for maintaining the flow of divine energy through the sefirot and manifesting it in the material world.

All the sephirot are likened to different parts of the body and the tree itself to a homunculus. Netzach and Hod are likened to the two feet of a person, the left and right. The feet not only bring a person to their place of intention; integrity here at the base of the pillar is foundational to all that stands above.

Hasidic Judaism's view of Hod is that it is connected with Jewish prayer. Prayer is seen as form of "submission;" Hod is explained as an analogy - that instead of "conquering" an obstacle in one's way, (which is the idea of Netzach), subduing oneself to that "obstacle" is related to the quality of Hod.

Hod is where form is given by language in its widest sense, being the key to the "mystery of form." Our unconscious desires come from Netzach, and are given form in the symbolic realm by Hod, manifesting unconsciously through Yesod to Malkuth.

Hod is described as being a force that breaks down energy into different, distinguishable forms, and it is associated with intellectuality, learning and ritual, as opposed to Netzach, Victory, which is the power of energy to overcome all barriers and limitations, and is associated with emotion and passion, music and dancing. Both these forces find balance in Yesod, foundation, the world of the unconscious, where the different energies created await expression in the lowest world of Malkuth, the Kingdom.

Occult correspondences

In occult practices, Hod is said to be the sphere in which the magician mostly works. In comparison with Eastern systems, both Hod and Netzach are sometimes associated with the Manipura chakra (solar plexus chakra), which is associated with the breaking down and releasing of energy, anabolism and catabolism.

Other correspondences of Hod are:

• the god-name of Elohim Tzabaoth.
• the archangel of this sphere is Archangel Michael
• the Bene Elohim is its angelic order.
• the planet Mercury.
• its tarot card is Strength.

The opposing demonic force of the qlippoth is Samael.

Crowley

In Liber 777, Aleister Crowley associates Hod with:

• the Four Eights of the tarot
• Anubis
• Thoth
• Hanuman
• Loki
• Hermes Trismegistus
• Hermaphrodite
• Opal
• Storax
• quicksilver