Nine lights that glow with the establishment of Atika

32. The most ancient among the ancient, Atika, WHICH IS CALLED THE UNKNOWN HEAD, which is most concealed, was established yet not established. It was established in order to maintain everything, BUT FROM ITS OWN ASPECT it was not established, BECAUSE ITS OWN ESTABLISHMENTS REVEAL NOTHING OF ITS OWN NATURE, and it cannot be found, THAT IS, IT IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE.

33. When it was established it produced nine lights, WHICH ARE THE NINE SFIROT KETER, CHOCHMAH, BINAH, CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD OF ARICH ANPIN, THE GARMENTS OF WHICH ARE ABA AND IMA, MALE AND FEMALE, that glow from it, FROM THE UNKNOWN HEAD from its establishments. These NINE lights shine from it WITH CHASSADIM, glow from it WITH GVUROT, and spread in every direction BOTH TO CHOCHMAH AND TO CHASSADIM like a candle from which lights stream in every direction. When one approaches to observe the spreading lights, only the candle alone can be observed. THAT IS, THE CANDLE AND THE LIGHTS STREAMING FROM THE CANDLE ARE NOT TWO THINGS, SINCE THE LIGHT SPREADING FROM IT HAS NO SELF-EXISTENCE OR POWER, BECAUSE ALL ITS EXISTENCE LIES WITHIN THAT CANDLE. IF YOU TAKE THE CANDLE TO A DIFFERENT PLACE, THE LIGHTS SHALL SPREAD IN A DIFFERENT PLACE AND NOTHING WILL REMAIN OF THEM IN THE FORMER PLACE. Such is Atika Kadisha. It is a lofty, most hidden candle, incomprehensible save for the lights spreading FROM IT, SOME OF WHICH ARE revealed and SOME OF WHICH ARE hidden. They are called the Holy Name. BUT THE LIGHTS SPREADING FROM ATIKA KADISHA HAVE NO SELF-EXISTENCE, HEAVEN FORBID; ALL THEIR EXISTENCE IS WITHIN ATIKA KADISHA, THOUGH THEY ARE COMPREHENSIBLE AND ATIKA KADISHA IS NOT, LIKE LIGHTS STREAMING FROM THE CANDLE. For that reason it is all one.

34. The friends have said in ancient books THAT THE CHANGES SPREADING FROM IT are created grades, THAT IS, THEY COME INTO BEING THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENTS CREATED, and that Atika Kadisha is revealed through each of them, since they are the constructions of Atika Kadisha. THAT IS, THEY ARE TYPES OF COVERS OVER THE ILLUMINATION OF THE BLESSED ENDLESS LIGHT AND THROUGH THESE COVERS THE LOWER BEINGS ARE ABLE TO COMPREHEND IT. ITS CREATION IS IN RELATION TO PEOPLE, BUT IN THE LIGHT ITSELF THERE IS NO CHANGE, HEAVEN FORBID. THIS IS LIKE A MAN WHO PUTS ON CLOTHES TO APPEAR BEFORE HIS NEIGHBORS. THAT MAN IS NOT AFFECTED AT ALL BY THESE COVERS, THOUGH OTHERS ARE. This is not the time for these matters, because I have already spoken of them in the holy Idra. BUT NOW I realize what I have not known that well, which until now was hidden in my heart. Now I alone testify before the Holy King and BEFORE all the truly righteous who came to hear these matters.