Qlippoth
representation of evil or impure spiritual forces in Jewish mysticism
In Kabbalah, the qlippoth (Hebrew: קְלִיפּוֹת) are the opposites of the Sefirot, and represent evil or impure spiritual forces.
Quotes
edit- The titles of the Qliphoth, generally speaking, suggest the vice characteristic of the Sephira or other idea to which they are attributed. Thus the Thaumiel refer to Kether, because their characteristic is to possess two contending heads, and so to deny the unity of Kether. So also the Golachab are giants like volcanoes, symbolizing energy and fire, and their liability to appear as tyranny and aimless destruction. Similarly, the Qliphoth of Venus are carrion birds, as opposed to the dove, sparrow, etc.
- Aleister Crowley: 777 and Other Qabalistic Writings of Aleister Crowley, book 2, 777 Revised, "Explanations of the Attributions in the More Important Columns of Table", p. 58. Israel Regardie (ed.). Samuel Weiser (1973). ISBN: 0-87728-222-6.
- In a previous chapter we have referred to the Qliphoth, the evil and averse Sephiroth; the time has now come to study them in detail, even though "these are awful forms, dangerous even to think upon." … The Qliphoth are aptly termed the evil and averse Sephiroth, for they are not independent principles or factors in the cosmic scheme, but the unbalanced and destructive aspect of the Holy Stations themselves. There are, in fact, not two Trees, but one Tree, a Qliphah being the reverse of a coin of which the obverse is a Sephirah.
- Dion Fortune: The Mystical Qabalah, ch. 26: "The Qliphoth", pp. 297–298. Samuel Weiser, Inc. (1984). ISBN: 0-87728-596-9.
- וּבְהַהוּא זִמְנָא דְצָרִיךְ בַּר נַשׁ לְיַחֲדָא לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בִּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ, צָרִיךְ לְהַפְשִׁיט מִנֵּיהּ כָּל מַחֲשָׁבִין דְּאִינוּן קְלִיפִין, דְּאִתְּמַר בְּהוֹן (משלי יט כא) רַבּוֹת מַחֲשָׁבוֹת בְּלֶב אִישׁ, וּלְסַלְקָא שְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ לְגַבֵּיהּ בְּמַחֲשַׁבְתָּא חֲדָא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שם) וַעֲצַת יהו"ה הִיא תָקוּם
- Tikkunei Zohar 97b:6
- Translation:
- When a person wishes to unify the Blessed Holy One and His Divine Presence (the male and female aspects of the Divine), he must banish all other thoughts. [Such thoughts] are the Klipot (קְלִיפּות, Husks), regarding which it is written, "There are many thoughts in the heart of man" (Proverbs 19:21). One must then bring the Divine Presence into his mind, as the verse continues, "But the counsel of God will abide."
- Aryeh Kaplan: Meditation and Kabbalah, ch. 2, "Talmudic Mystics", p. 33. Weiser Books (1982). ISBN: 0-87728-616-7.
- When a person wishes to unify the Blessed Holy One and His Divine Presence (the male and female aspects of the Divine), he must banish all other thoughts. [Such thoughts] are the Klipot (קְלִיפּות, Husks), regarding which it is written, "There are many thoughts in the heart of man" (Proverbs 19:21). One must then bring the Divine Presence into his mind, as the verse continues, "But the counsel of God will abide."
