The six grades of the Other Side

424. The source of the point underneath the grades of the Other Side, MALCHUT OF THE OTHER SIDE, BENEATH ALL THE GRADES OF THE OTHER SIDE, ITS BEGINNING (LIT. 'HEAD') is at the head of the grades OF THE OTHER SIDE, outside HOLINESS. It is the head of the male OF THE OTHER SIDE, riding on a camel. THIS IS THE SECRET OF SAMAEL, RIDING ON A CAMEL. It is the head outside HOLINESS, expanding from a mixture of darkness, NAMELY, SMOKE INTERMINGLED WITH DARKNESS AND THEY SPREAD TOGETHER.

425. For when smoke was issued from violent rage, that smoke expands and goes from rage to rage, the one atop the other, riding on and ruling upon the other, appearing like male and female, so as to make all into violent rage.

426. When smoke started to expand, it pressed from within the rage, to expand through the pressure of one point. Then the smoke of rage spread aslant like a certain serpent, sly and dangerous.

427. The head, THE HEAD OF A MALE, which started to spread, is a grade of darkness. It goes up and down, roaming and hovering and resting in its place, FOR IT FINDS NO PLACE IN WHICH TO SETTLE, UNTIL that grade settles, BY CONNECTING with the smoke coming out of the rage. It is then called 'shadow'. It shadows a place called 'death'. When the two are combined, they are called 'the shadow of death.' We already stated that these are two grades joined together.

428. That shadow is the beginning of the lowest point OF THE OTHER SIDE outside, NAMELY, OUT OF ITS FEMALE. THAT SHADOW, darkness, is far away from the holy point standing in the middle. The point does not exist, nor it is seen, nor inscribed with colors, BECAUSE IT IS ONLY A BEGINNING AND NO JUDGMENT IS FELT IN IT. From it, an expansion spread outward and downward, AND THE POINT ITSELF was sunk, not to be seen nor inscribed.

429. THAT POINT expanded downward, left, and right, and spread in their midst inside the darkness, NAMELY, CHESED, GVURAH AND TIFERET OF THE OTHER SIDE, corresponding to a thousand one hundred. Two pillars are engraved on the two sides, CORRESPONDING TO NETZACH AND HOD, and the darkness was spread into a color, which is black yet not black, because no color prevails in it. Inside the expansion of darkness, there are darknesses that were in use in Egypt, as it is written, "they saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days" (Shemot 10:23), and "darkness which may be felt" (Ibid. 21).

430. This said expansion expands in several different ways. HE EXPLAINS: From within that expansion one light comes out, painted gold. This is red gold. This color spreads, and covers the darkness in its head, NAMELY, IT INTERMINGLES WITH IT. THEREFORE it is gold, in which darkness is included.

431. This darkness spreads right and left. From these two sides, a certain silver hue comes out, WHICH IS CHESED, that doesn't shine. This silver hue spreads to cover the darkness, NAMELY, IT MINGLED WITH IT. They were included, DARKNESS AND SILVER, within one another, and it went down.

432. The darkness spread FROM CHESED, NAMELY THE SILVER HUE, and became two darknesses, ON THE RIGHT AND ON THE LEFT, standing on the beginning of blackness, whence another hue of brass comes out, WHICH IS TIFERET OF THE OTHER SIDE.

433. From that place, FROM TIFERET, this darkness spreads downwards, TO MALCHUT where it is established in its existence. Another color comes out, black looking like iron CALLED 'DEATH'. All is in the secret of darkness. FOR THE OTHER SIDE IS NAMLY BUILT ON THE PRINCIPLE OF DARKNESS.

434. From between the two pillars, NETZACH AND HOD OF THE OTHER SIDE, comes out a pillar of darkness in the dark, NAMELY, IT CONTAINS THE TWO KINDS OF DARKNESS OF EGYPT. All the hues, GOLD, SILVER...are seen in it. FOR IT IS THE ASPECT OF YESOD, CONSISTING OF THE FIVE SFIROT CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH AND HOD. This is the foreskin, BECAUSE YESOD OF THE OTHER SIDE IS A FORESKIN, as the male leads the female to mate and to become one.

435. These SEVEN GRADES are within seven certain great grades. The first grade is the grade inside that darkness. That darkness comes out of the hiding place of the smoke of fire, comprising the color of smoke, the color of fire and the black color. These three colors are different in their several manners of bending the crooked of the world, NAMELY, TO PUNISH THEM.

436. HE EXPLAINS: The color of smoke goes down into the world and affects it in several ways. It spreads in the world, instigating the spirits of people, causing them to be angry, and leading them astray so they would become angry. Therefore it is written, "there shall be no strange El among you, nor shall you worship a foreign El" (Tehilim 81:10). "There shall be no strange El among you" refers to the male OF THE OTHER SIDE, and "nor shall you worship a foreign El" refers to the female OF THE OTHER SIDE. THE SMOKE is the anger ruling and gathering strength in the world, walking amongst men and assailing them to cause them harm.

437. The color of fire descends into the world, and in several ways causes harm, killings, bloodshed, and perdition to men. It is therefore written, "If they say, come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us lurk for the innocent without cause" (Mishlei 1:11). For some shed blood and kill without cause, and some shed blood and kill in war. This comes from the male side OF THE OTHER SIDE, and that from the female side OF THE OTHER SIDE. The male side sheds blood without cause, as we said. The side of the female, causes wars, and makes people kill each other. All the wars and killings come from the side of that female.

438. The black color descending into the world, is in charge over the wounded and the dead, catching bodies TO PUT THEM IN JAIL, the hanged and the strangled. It always harms people. These three colors, SMOKE, FIRE, AND BLACK, spread in the world in several ways and spread amongst the inhabitants of the world.

439. The color of smoke descending into the world is the first color to come out of the point sunken in the shadow. It is Samael riding on a camel, as we said. The color of smoke is called 'Katzpiel the great', whence comes the anger of men, who harden their hearts in anger. HE IS THEREFORE CALLED 'KATZPIEL', NAMELY THE ANGER (HEB. KETZEF) OF EL.

440. Under KATZPIEL there are one thousand six hundred battalions OF FIENDS. They are the anger FOUND within the bodies of men. For there is anger ruling over the world to do justice, but this anger is the anger ruling over and entering inside the bodies of men who are angry in this way. This anger is the foundation for all the rest of the HARMFUL colors, built from it to harm, since that smoke comes out of the rage of the supernal blazing fire. This type of rage is the first one of the fire.

441. That rage is divided into four rages. The first rage is called 'rage'. It causes the hearts of people to be enraged. It descends and instigates people, and they become furious in their anger. This draws fiends upon the world.

442. The second rage descends into the world, roaming and expanding into all sides. It is called 'hatred'. This one, once it enters man, is called 'a silent fiend'. It takes part in the place of the female. This is the silent rage, standing aslant. It is the strongest of them all, because it is like the serpent that keeps silent and then kills.

443. The third rage is the inverse of the first one, because it gets stronger, and does not keep silent. It is revealed, and as it is revealed, it is broken. NAMELY, all that is revealed and is not silent, is called 'broken rage'.

444. The fourth rage is at first a strong RAGE, and in the end it is broken. Therefore, it is in opposition to the last one. For that reason it is the most broken aspect of them all. Hence, they all pertain to the first grade.

445. AFTER EXPLAINING THE ASPECT OF THE HEAD OF THE OTHER SIDE, WHICH IS THE FIRST GRADE, HE NOW EXPLAINS THE SECOND GRADE, WHICH IS CHESED OF THE OTHER SIDE. HE SAYS: The second grade is a grade coming out of darkness OF THE HEAD. This grade is dark in color, AND THOUGH IT IS CHESED, AND A GRADE OF THE RIGHT, NEVERTHELESS IT IS ALSO DARK, for all THE SFIROT OF THE OTHER SIDE come from darkness. It is established in certain grades, and expands downward into certain colors.

446. Within this grade there are three hundred aspects separated from one another. IT IS THE RIGHT HAND, WHICH HAS THREE JOINTS, EACH CONSISTING OF A HUNDRED, ALTOGETHER THREE HUNDRED. And though they are different from each other, they strengthen and include one another. For that reason, all the grades of this side are known as harmful.

447. From here, all the fiends come out. They roam about the world and execute Judgment openly, upon secret deeds done in hiding in the dark. They roam in the world, and execute judgment upon them openly. For that reason, all those who hover about the world, who execute Judgment openly are against people, always ready TO TAKE REVENGE for all the hidden sins. And those called 'wrath' and 'fury' join them and execute judgment upon people. This is done in the world by the complainants we mentioned, OF THE SECOND GRADE.

448. This grade is in darkness and fire, which form one secret. From this grade several strong grades are divided, standing under one of the aspects of the firmament called 'black color'. A third grade, GVURAH OF THE OTHER SIDE is a firmament spreading over all the grades that are red as a rose. These TWO GRADES, THE SECOND AND THE THIRD, are called 'the arms of this side', THE SECOND GRADE BEING THE RIGHT ARM, CHESED, AND THE THIRD GRADE BEING THE LEFT ARM, WHICH IS GVURAH.

449. Beneath these TWO ARMS, grades spread until they reach the black firmament; EVEN THOUGH THE GRADES OF THE LEFT ARM ARE RED, THEY ALSO SPREAD INTO THE BLACK FIRMAMENT, for those of the second grade, WHICH IS THE RIGHT ARM, go out of the black firmament and hover about the world. THEREFORE, THEY TAKE WITH THEM THE GRADES OF THE THIRD GRADE, WHICH IS THE LEFT ARM.

450. There are those of the right and those of the left. Those of the right, NAMELY, OF THE SECOND GRADE, are divided into three aspects, the three joints OF THE RIGHT ARM. And those of the left, THE THIRD GRADE, are divided into three aspects, the three other joints OF THE LEFT ARM.

451. The first joint OF THE RIGHT ARM is above, NAMELY, AT THE JOINT CONNECTED TO THE SHOULDER. Smoke darkened with rage is connected to it. This joint has three dark hues, different from each other, intermingled in each other. That joint is crooked, and does not expand, save at certain times. It is called 'wrath'.

452. That joint remains in rage, that does not abate, save when the children of Yisrael offer sacrifices below. For at that time rage abates, and is subdued below, so it cannot have power to strengthen. When it is weakened, the other joint in the middle OF THE ARM cannot travel or conduct.

453. The second joint OF THE RIGHT ARM, is called 'ire'. This joint travels from place to place, leading all the other joints. The rest of the joints are led by it, and strengthened by it. This is the one that brings sorrow into the world, because when it is connected on another level, and embraces the female, all kinds of sorrow, hardship, and trouble descend into the world, for they cannot rule the one without the other, THE MALE WITHOUT THE FEMALE. And all the grades are given to the female OF THE OTHER SIDE so she may rule, and mislead the world. Unless they were riding on each other and connected with each other, they could not have ruled.

454. Come and see: When Adam was in the Garden of Eden and was occupied in worshipping his Master, Samael went down with all the grades in him, and was riding on the evil serpent, HIS FEMALE, to deviate them. As the serpent underneath SAMAEL was subtle, and led astray and seduced people, as it is written, "For the lips of a strange woman drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil" (Mishlei 5:3), SO THE MALE gives power and THE FEMALE practices the art OF SEDUCTION AND INSTIGATION in the world, and they cannot rule the one without the other.

455. That is why when the middle joint OF THE ARM is united with the female, then Judgments and all sorts of hardships descend into the world. But when it is not strengthened, and does not travel, everything is broken and subjugated, and they cannot have sway. Hence, all is broken and subdued by the secret of the offering below, and one ascends, NAMELY MALCHUT OF HOLINESS, to be bedecked above, and be blessed by the highest depth, BINAH, that illuminates upon all faces.

456. The third joint OF THE RIGHT ARM is much stronger THAN THE REST. It is called 'trouble', because from it emerges the power to oppress and give trouble to men. The secret of these three joints is the verse, "wrath, and indignation, and trouble" (Tehilim 78:49). These are the three joints of the right ARM, WHICH IS THE SECOND GRADE.

457. When the three joints of the left ARM, WHICH ARE THE THIRD GRADE, get stronger together, then the left is called, "an embassy of evil messengers" (Ibid.). For from that left all those evil demons are sent below, and draw their strength. They come out of the lower side, as we said. All that COMES out of the second and the third grades, FOR THE SECOND GRADE IS THE RIGHT ARM AND THE THIRD GRADE IS THE LEFT ARM.

458. The fourth grade OF THE OTHER SIDE is within the crookedness of rage, fiery in color. It is called 'middle one', which is the body, TIFERET, that is between the two arms, CHESED AND GVURAH. There is a blazing FIRE here, glowing with a color red like a rose. From here comes out a force, going down to assault and shed blood, since this grade gives permission and ability down below IN THE WORLD to assault and shed blood. This grade is the source OF the female. This needs that, THE FEMALE NEEDS THE MALE, as the body needs a soul. And the soul practice its art only within the body. Therefore, all forces and every might emerge from here, FROM THIS GRADE, WHICH IS THE MALE, to attack and practice the art of inflicting harm, as a female that always receives from the male.

459. In each and every grade, in each joint, there are chieftains, and battalions of fiends led by them. All those led by them are below IN THE WORLD. These are the armies of the female OF THE OTHER SIDE, all of whom have a certain grade above, by which they are led.

460. As there are on the supernal side of holiness certain chambers OF THE FEMALE, facing the supernal grades OF THE MALE, comprising each other, so below, opposite TO HOLINESS, there are in the Other Side grades OF THE MALE facing the chambers of the female, comprising each other.

461. In this grade, the fourth one, there are evil Judgments gone down to be delivered to these FIENDS, who execute evil and stark Judgment UPON THE WICKED. Here they suck their strength to attack and carry out the justice they execute. Therefore, all these grades are included within the lower chambers from the side of the female down below. Happy is the portion of the righteous, who stay away from this way, and follow the fear of the Holy One blessed be He, to be sanctified by the sanctity of their Master. They are happy in this world and in the World to Come.

462. The fifth grade is divided into two grades, right and left. They are called 'thighs', NAMELY, NETZACH AND HOD. They pursue and chase to harm, for here abides the power of pursuing of every illness and evil, which comes after the wicked. When this Judgment approaches, "the couriers went out in haste" (Ester 3:15). These couriers are below, hastening to cause harm. All these are called 'pursuers', as it is written, "Our pursuers were swifter than the vultures in the sky" (Eichah 4:19).

463. This grade is divided into two sides, right and left. There are three joints on the right, and three joints on the left. FOR EACH LEG HAS THREE JOINTS, LIKE THE ARMS. The joints OF THE LEGS AND ARMS all face backward, because all the high and holy joints all face inward, towards the body, as it is written, "and all their hinder parts were inward" (I Melachim 7:25). And those of the Other Side face backward, FROM THE BODY OUT.

464. HE ASKS: What is the difference between them, BETWEEN THE JOINTS OF HOLINESS AND THE JOINTS OF THE OTHER SIDE. HE ANSWERS: The supernal, holy joints are all in the secret of man, and since they are all in the secret of man, "all their hinder parts were inward." But the other joints OF THE OTHER SIDE, are, as we said, the ones in the middle, NAMELY, THE SECOND JOINT OF EACH, are all facing backward, in the secret of the beast. For that reason all their backs turn backward. This secret is as we explained, "Hashem, You preserve man and beast" (Tehilim 36:7). This one is of the side of man and that, of the side of the beast. Thus the offering rises in the aspect of man and beast.

465. The first joint, OF THE FEET OF THE OTHER SIDE, is of a hue dark in the mist. LIKE a cursed plant cannot grow underneath a stone which stands on it, SO IS THIS JOINT ready to harm the meritorious, who has merits but no ancestral merits to protect him. HE RESEMBLES THE PLANT GROWING UNDERNEATH A STONE, AND SO CANNOT GROW, FOR IT GROWS UNDER CURSE.

466. The other joints OF THE FEET OF THE OTHER SIDE chase the wicked who have strayed from the path earlier. They chase these and those recognized by a mark, for an angel, a holy messenger of the side of Gvurah, descends and marks all those worthy of punishment. This mark is seen above by the complainants, and when it is known to them, all those fit for disease are hit by disease, and those fit to be in pain and other blows, RECEIVE THEM. And they see everything in the mark.

467. These joints all face backward, and kick those who kick their Master, and those worthy of being kicked, save the righteous and the pious, who have ancestral merits. These are pursued by diseases, which are not governed BY THE JOINTS. No diseases are come upon them from that side.

468. You may ask, from where do these diseases that come upon them, come from? Come and see: It is written, "But it pleases Hashem to crush him by disease" (Yeshayah 53:10). "It pleases Hashem to crush him," meaning that He desires to strike him and cause him illnesses, to grant him merits in the World to Come. But they do not come from the Other Side. They are called 'sufferings of love'. And they all flows from holiness.

469. The sixth grade, YESOD OF THE OTHER SIDE, is called 'foreskin' (Heb. orlah), because it sucks from this side. It is based on the secret of the piercing serpent, THE MALE, which suckles the slanted serpent, ITS FEMALE. All the other grades, holding to each other are called 'unripe orlah' (lit. 'fruit of a tree not above three years old'). All this pertains to the same principle.

470. Come and see: This is why the spirit of the side of the foreskin hovers above all the trees planted in the land of Yisrael, before they strike roots. It is therefore written, "then you shall reckon their fruit as uncircumcised, three years shall it be as uncircumcised to you, it shall not be eaten" (Vayikra 19:23). For the Holy One, blessed be He always loves Yisrael, and keeps them away from evil ways, and bad and defiling ways, so they may join the side of holiness. Happy are they in this world and in the World to Come.