Every order is by three

258. There are three orders divided among the four directions of the universe. Every order in each direction contains three other orders, SO THAT the first order of the eastern wind comprises three orders which are actually nine. In this way, every order contains three other orders. Thus, the three orders of each direction are actually nine orders. Underneath them, there are myriads of angels.

259. These nine orders all follow CERTAIN engraved letters, and each order constantly looks up SO AS TO RECEIVE PLENTY from these engraved letters WHICH PERTAIN TO IT. When these letters soar in the air of the spirit, which is assigned over everything, they travel. One letter below is struck, and it travels up and down, the two letters soaring above it. The letter below elevates the lower order and joins THE TWO SOARING LETTERS to become three letters, similar to the letters Yud-Hei-Vav, which are the three of the shining mirror, ZEIR ANPIN. These letters, YUD-HEI-VAV, divide into three orders - the two letters and the letter that joins them to form a trio.

260. Come and behold, the two supernal letters that ascend in the air, THE RIGHT LETTER AND THE LEFT LETTER, are included within each other, as Mercy is included within Judgment. FOR THE RIGHT LETTER IS THE SECRET OF CHASSADIM AND MERCY, AND THE LEFT LETTER IS CHOCHMAH WITHOUT CHASSADIM AND JUDGMENT. BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM, they are considered two. They are of the supernal world, the secret of the male. The letter that ascends to join them, NAMELY, THE MIDDLE LETTER, is a female and is included within both of them. THIS MEANS THAT THE RIGHT AND LEFT LETTERS ARE UNITED WITH THE MIDDLE LETTER, WHICH TURNS INTO THREE LETTERS OF THE RIGHT, LEFT, AND MIDDLE. As the Nukva in her entirety comprises both the right and left sides - WHICH SHE RECEIVES FROM ZEIR ANPIN IN THE SECRET OF THE VERSE, "HIS LEFT HAND IS UNDER MY HEAD, AND HIS RIGHT HAND EMBRACES ME" (SHIR HASHIRIM 8:3) - and joins them, so does the MIDDLE letter, the Nukva, join the other two letters. And they TURN WITHIN THE MIDDLE LETTER into the RIGHT AND LEFT sides. THE TWO LETTERS IN IT become supernal, and it stands below them. All three letters become one, male and female IN THE SECRET OF THE UNION, LIKE A MALE AND A FEMALE - TWO UPPER ONES ARE MALE AND THE MIDDLE ONE FEMALE. For when the world was created, the two letters from the supernal world issued all the deeds below in their very shape - BUT NOT THE CENTRAL COLUMN. HENCE, THESE TWO LETTERS ARE CONSIDERED MALE. Therefore, whoever conceives them and is careful of them is beloved above and below.

261. Rabbi Shimon said that all the letters, THE 27 LETTERS OF THE ALPHABET, are males and females included within each other as one. THE LETTERS OF THE RIGHT AND LEFT ARE MALES; THOSE OF THE CENTRAL COLUMN ARE FEMALES - in the secret of the supernal and female waters. THE MALE LETTERS POUR SUPERNAL WATERS AND THE FEMALE LETTERS RAISE FEMALE WATERS. All is joined and becomes one. This is the complete union. Therefore, whoever knows of these UNIONS and is careful IN MEDITATION upon them will have a happy lot in this world and the World to Come. For the main part of the properly perfected union contains groups of threes, AS THE LETTERS ARE DIVIDED INTO GROUPS OF THREE, TWO MALES ABOVE AND ONE FEMALE BELOW, on this side and on that side in one unity - WHICH MEANS THAT RIGHT AND LEFT WILL BE PROPERLY UNITED BY THE MIDDLE ONE, the perfection of all. Everything is in the secret of the high order, which is in the likeness of above, IN BINAH, which is arranged by groups of threes in the secret of one.

262. After explaining the nine orders in the first arrangement towards the east, Tiferet, he now explains that the second order is of the southern wind, CHESED. There are three orders in that direction, and each is further divided into three orders. Thus, there are nine orders, as was explained IN RELATION TO THE SOUTHERN WIND. They all emerge from the order of the patriarchs, the three Columns above IN BINAH, CALLED 'ABRAHAM,' 'ISAAC,' AND 'JACOB,' according to the arrangement of the letters Yud-Hei-Vav of the Holy Name, as has been explained. These nine orders follow certain letters, THAT IS, THE THREE GROUPS OF THE THREE LETTERS THAT ARE RIGHT, LEFT, AND MIDDLE. They travel after them, and armies and myriads of angels below IN BRIYAH, YETZIRAH, AND ASIYAH travel and follow that order OF THE SOUTHERN DIRECTION.

263. The third order is of the northern wind, GVURAH. There are three orders of that direction, each of which contains three orders. These nine orders are of the three sides - RIGHT, LEFT AND MIDDLE, as has been explained.

264. The 27 ORDERS are the secret of the 27 letters. Although there are only 22 letters, the entire alphabet, TOGETHER WITH THE FINAL LETTERS MEM, NUN, TZADI, PEI, CAF, comprises 27 LETTERS. So does this order. There are 27 orders DIVIDED into three orders for each wind, THREE TO THE EAST WIND, THREE TO THE SOUTH WIND, AND THREE TO THE NORTH WIND. BECAUSE EACH OF THE THREE IN EACH DIRECTION INCLUDES THE OTHERS, the three of each direction become nine. Altogether, there are 27 LETTERS.

265. The secret is that these 27 are the secret of the nine female letters that are united with the other 18 orders in the secret of the males. All is as it ought to be.

266. Come and behold, resembling the letters in the supernal world, IN BINAH, there are other letters below, IN THE NUKVA. The supernal letters IN BINAH are big, and the lower letters IN THE NUKVA are small. Each resembles the other, and whatever is true for the LETTERS IN BINAH is true for the LETTERS IN THE NUKVA. The secrets within the mystery of male and female within the letters also apply to them, and all is perfected, WHICH MEANS THAT WHATEVER APPLIES TO THE SUPERNAL WORLD ALSO APPLIES TO THE LOWER WORLD.