Binah Understanding Overview The “Sanctifying Intelligence ...

The Third Sephira
Binah – Understanding
Overview
The “Sanctifying Intelligence.” The Supernal Mother, the Feminine aspect of the Divine. The Virgin
Mary is a prime symbol of this realm, giving birth but herself remaining above the world. This is
Form creating the container for life Force. Form is the discipline of force, which is why Binah is at
the head of the Pillar of Severity. Holds both Death and Life, the ending and the beginning.

“The root of the flower.” Binah is the root which allows form to flower (materialize) in Malkuth.

Binah in the Four Worlds
Atzilut Archetypal Elohim – This word has a feminine beginning and ends with a male pronoun -

in other words – “the Gods and Goddesses to whom She gives birth”.
Briah Creative Tzaphkiel – “The Watchtower of God.” “Beholder of the Divine.”Angel of

compassion and understanding. The Eye of God.
Yetzirah Formative Erelim – “Thrones” – creating stability and structure from which we can grow
Asiyah Material Saturn

Magical Image: A Mature Woman, Wise One. A Vagina (Yoni)
Spiritual Experience: The Vision of Sorrow – The Sorrow of Life which must be Transcended.
Illusion of the Sphere: Death
Virtue: Silence. Receptivity. Remaining open to receiving new understanding and new learning.
Vice: Avarice. Greed and miserliness. Hoarding wisdom and insight.

Gods: All aspects of the Goddess Body: Right side of head
Planet: Saturn Metal: Lead Stone: Pearl, Star sapphire
Color: Black Plant: Cypress, Lily Poppy
Sacred Geometry: Vesica Piscis Animal: Dove, Raven
Tools: The Outer Robe of Concealment, Chalice, Fragrance: Cypress, Myrrh
Veil, the Yoni

Binah Exists in Complementary Polarity with Chokmah
Briah and Chokmah can’t be understood alone. They represent the Creative polarity of the Divine
masculine and feminine and together they create a complementary whole.

Binah Chokmah
Title: Understanding Title: Wisdom
Yin Yang
Dark Light
Form Force
Divine Mother Divine Father
Receptivity Initiation
Container (Womb) Energy in Motion
Resistance Assertion
Fertility Formless Potential

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Associated Tarot Cards: The Threes
 3 of Wands, Virtue, Sun in Aries, “Lord of Established Strength”
 3 of Cups, Abundance, Mercury in Cancer, “Lord of Abundance”
 3 of Swords, Sorrow, Saturn in Libra, “Lord of Sorrow”
 3 of Discs, Works, Mars in Capricorn, “Lord of Material Works”

Primary Path: 14 – Path of the Illuminating Consciousness” Linking Binah to Chokmah
 Tarot Card: The Empress. “Daughter of the Mighty Ones”
 Meditation on this Path: “To plant seed ideas into the sub-conscious where they will grow
and bear fruit.
 Ruled by: Venus
 Hebrew letter: Daleth, meaning “Door.” This is the doorway that guards the gate to unified
consciousness.

Other Associated Paths
 Path 12: The Magician, joins Kether and Binah
 Path 17: The Lovers, joins Tipareth and Binah
 Path 18: The Chariot, joins Geburah and Binah.

Archangel Tzaphkiel
The Watchtower (Beholder) of God – observes and holds space with love

 Archangel of the Divine Mother
 Aids meditation, contemplation, intuition
 Enables the seeker to connect with the Divine on the inner level
 Helps us understand the mystery of the unity of all things.
 As the “Eye of God,” “The Beholder,” or “Watchtower,” she helps us connect with the

truth of who we are, and understand the patterns and overall unity of our lives and the ways
in which we have participated in our circumstances.
 She is directly connected with our own “inner eye” so that we can transcend limiting
personal perspective and see the bigger picture.
 After a clearing or healing, invite Tzaphkiel to fill you with light. Her radiance is sparkling
luminescence.
 Symbols: In art, Tzaphkiel is often depicted standing on heavenly clouds while looking out
over them, which represents her role watching over people with love and understanding.
Sometimes Tzaphkiel is also shown holding a golden chalice in her hands, which symbolizes
the flowing waters of knowledge.

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Notes on Briah
The “Sanctifying Intelligence.” Sanctifying means that which is holy, and this is so another name
could be “Sacred Consciousness.”

Three Aspects of the Divine Mother in Binah
 Marah, the Great Sea from which all life has its beginnings – (Marah is the root for Mary,
mother of all that is living)
 Aimah, the bright, fertile, Light Mother
 Ama, the crone, or Dark Mother

Notes on Symbols:
 The Kreis – “Circle” – The mother as origin of all – also the receptor of Kether as well as
Chokmah
 The Chalice of the Divine Feminine - the receptacle of wisdom and also the cauldron of
transformation.
 The Veil can be a reference to Briah being the Sephirah that guards the doorway to the The
Abyss.

Suggested Practices for the Month
 Practice observing with the inner eye. Remain present and ask to see the larger truth rather
than what you expect to see.
 Create new habits of thought. When you observe habitual responses of impatience, anger, or
stress, channel the creative spark of Chokmah into new patterns and habits. Observe rather
than react, then make a creative choice from your still center.
 Letting Go. Use the teaching of the Queens in the Four Fold Way to practice releasing
attachment to circumstances.
 Create an altar with symbols of Binah. Include the Three’s of Tarot, or related spreads you
have received. You can also include magical tools such as a chalice and stones such as pearl.
 Learn about Saturn. Where is it located in the sky now? (Saturn is currently in the zodiac sign
of Capricorn, which supports getting to the root of things – determining the ‘bottom line.’)
Where is it located in your astrological birth chart and/or solar return? What are the qualities
of Saturn that you desire to integrate into your own life?
 Learn about Archangel Tzaphkiel. Call on her help to access and increase the qualities of
Binah in your life. She is the archangel of seeing clearing, of love and self acceptance.
 Explore the pearl as a symbol of the Divine Mother. Use this stone (or star sapphire) as an
amulet or talisman to activate your own Binah flow and ward off interfering energies.
 Practice silence.
 Strengthen relationship energy fields (shape of Vesica Piscis) by intentionally practicing
“Thank you” and “you’re Welcome.”
 Mantra: TAny mantra to the Divine Mother, such as Tara.
 Memorize the “Charge of the Star Goddess”

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