Chesed - The Sephiroth

Qabalah: Discover Powerful Tools to Explore Practical Magic and the Tree of Life (Hay House Basics) - David Wells 2017

Chesed
The Sephiroth

Chesed is the balance to Geburah. It’s home to the Lords of Peace, who encourage growth, help you expand your world view and balance severity with mercy — war with peace. It sits above Netzach on the Pillar of Mercy, reminding us that whilst the love found in the realms of Venus and Netzach is passionate, there is also the love of a father for his child, a guiding energy that has been there, done that and wants to share the wisdom.

When you imagine your next big project, see it in your mind’s eye — how it will look, what colours you will use, who will use it or read it, what impact it may have, how it will come into being and beyond — that is Chesed. You’re forming your kingdom, building those images on a higher plane, ready for Geburah and the editing process, ready for it to be balanced in Tiphareth, coloured in in Netzach, given words in Hod and passed to Yesod for the great machinery of the universe to make it so and bring it to birth in Malkuth.

This Sephira is often seen as the gift-giver. Indeed, on my own journey on the Tree of Life we were asked to request a gift as we reached the Temple of Chesed, to ask for whatever we desired. Never one to pass up an opportunity, I asked for a house. Why not? I didn’t want a free one, I was happy to work for it, and the truth is, what I wanted was my own space, somewhere to call home, as I was renting a room at the time.

I was working as a deputy manager in a small hotel and not making much money, but I achieved it. I got my house, along with a 100 per cent mortgage, which at the time was rare, but the mortgage adviser, whom I had never met, trusted me and to date I have never let her down! I’m not sharing this so that Chesed becomes a place for to you ask for stuff, but to show you that the power of the Tree of Life is in the everyday as much as in the extraordinary. Make no mistake, if you visit Chesed to ask for stuff, you will get it, but Chesed will demand payment in some way or other. As for my gift, even though a house seems very personality based, rather than spiritual, the space, peace and tranquillity it brought my soul was the true gift.

As the first Sephira below the upper triangle of Kether, Chokmah and Binah, Chesed will bring form to what you will soon see are increasingly abstract ideas. It holds within it the highest ideals, the concept of royalty at its most noble and magnificent. It’s the king on the throne of a kingdom at peace as opposed to the king in a chariot ready for war, as depicted in Geburah. When you feel frustrated by your emotional responses, annoyed at what he said or she said, worried about what might happen next, think of Chesed. Here you meet that part of yourself that rises above it all.

If you were royalty, you’d surely want to rule with a guiding hand that was merciful and benevolent, perhaps like a parent keeping the family on the straight and narrow. This Sephira reminds us that we have a role to play in the lives of others as well as in our own. It encourages us to be all that we can be. Obedience here is obedience to your soul and your spiritual values.

This is also the home of the Masters, a term that’s used all too loosely these days, with many claiming to be Masters of this, that or the other. In this context, the Masters are disincarnate beings who oversee groups of souls and individuals therein, those who show the potential to reach higher realms of understanding and work with and within those realms. Philosophy, art and education are of interest to these Masters and they often take on large groups of people to help them on their path.

They are from humanity themselves; they are from our ranks. So they know what you’re going through and will encourage you to keep going, trekking up the mountain to reach your goals.

When visiting Chesed, you may see Masters in the garden. Eventually one may speak to you or even take you under their guidance, but know that will not happen until you are truly ready. When it does, it is a compliment indeed.

The ability to control power is important here. That is probably true in all of the Sephiroth, as they are all powers, but in Chesed more so, for here you’re asked to be careful what you manifest and to consider whether it’s for the good of all, or only of yourself.

So much is made of abundance, of attraction, nowadays. In the modern world, it always seems to be about stuff. Stuff is great — but stuff isn’t so great when others around literally have nothing to eat, nowhere to sleep and no country to call their own. Chesed seeks the higher ground; only when all of the kingdom is taken care of will the benevolent ruler rest. That is true abundance and the true use of the law of attraction.

Angels

Tzadkiel is the archangel of Chesed. He is associated with magic and the Masters who populate this Sephira. He is often seen as the angel of good luck too, but luck is earned as far as Tzadkiel is concerned. He reminds us to do the right thing. Sometimes that’s not easy, but it has its rewards.

The angelic host are the Chashmalim, the brilliant or shining ones, the higher aspect of the Elohim in Netzach.

Astrology

Jupiter is the planetary force of Chesed. It’s also the planet of your higher ideals, and as Chesed is about your soul values, you can see how it’s perfectly placed. Jupiter aligns you with your higher self and of course when you are aligned, it seems that everything falls into place. Because it does.

Vices and virtues

The vices of Chesed are bigotry, hypocrisy, gluttony, tyranny. The danger of Chesed is feeling you’re the only who’s right, the only one who’s on the true path, when in fact ’there are many roads to my father’s castle’. Consider the less favourable facets of a religious organization that claims divine sovereignty and that it is doing the work of its chosen Master (for that’s who Christ, Buddha and many others are, Masters), whilst sitting on hoards of money (energy) that could be dispersed to help those less fortunate. It’s shown in spiritual circles, too, in jockeying for position and measuring worth with awards and ’who knows who’ nonsense.

The virtue of Chesed is obedience — obedience to your higher self without assuming everyone wants to be told what to do and you’re the one to do it! It’s mercy given to all, not just those who think the same way as you do.

Tarot cards

The fours are cards that offer rewards. They are good news cards and when you see them, gifts are coming for a job well done. This is about receiving confirmation that you’re on the right track, though, not about assuming that you’ve been good so you’re owed a gift. That won’t work!

· Four of Wands: Lord of Completion. The job may be done and well done, but what’s next?

· Four of Cups: Lord of Luxury. Count your blessings, appreciate those who love you and love them right back!

· Four of Swords: Lord of Truce. Call a halt, take the higher ground and, after what may be some harsh words, find a way through.

· Four of Disks: Lord of Power. When you have achieved success, share it, be that financially or with advice. Keep it moving.

Exercise: Chesed awareness

To understand this Sephira better, try this exercise.

Be alone with your thoughts

Find some time where you can be alone with your thoughts. Look at your biases, the judgements you make in life, including the stuff that’s hiding in the corners!

· Why do you feel the way you do?

· Is there something that’s happened to you that could explain it, something that needs to be released into the fiery cleansing of Geburah?

· How can you move past it, towards a better way of being?

Start practising what you preach

· Treat others as you’d like to be treated yourself.

When you find yourself moaning about someone, ask why and whether it’s worth it. Is it really that important and are they simply doing what they believe in, finding their own way through?

Acknowledge there may be another way and learn from it

You have two ears and one mouth for a reason: you’re designed to listen. But remember that as you’ve reached the realms of Chesed, you’re not only listening with those ears, but alos seeing from a new perspective. Use it.

Volunteer

Give something back. In doing so, you’re working directly from your higher self and learning about other people’s perspective, as well as opening yourself up to work with people who have hearts bigger than their desire for the latest smartphone. Always a good thing.

Visiting Chesed

Correspondences

· Keyword: Mercy

· Number: Four

· Archangel: Tzadkiel

· Order of angels: Chashmalim

· Planet: Jupiter

· Virtue: Obedience

· Vice: Bigotry, gluttony

· Gods/goddesses: Amon-Ra, Brahma, Indra, Jupiter, Thor, Zeus

· Colour: Blue

· Crystals: Amethyst, sapphire

· Incense: Cedar

· Body part: Left arm

· Tarot cards: The fours

Exercise: The Temple of Chesed

Decorate your altar. Cedar is the incense to use here and the rich sapphire blue of this beautiful Sephira will set the tone.

Don’t forget to take a Tarot card before your meditation.

Perform your protection and energy work. Create your sacred and beautiful space according to your own divine creativity.

Ask your guides, Archangel Tzadkiel and the divine beings of Chesed to assist you.

Use your 4-2-4-2 breathing or any technique you’re comfortable with to count yourself down into a meditative state of being.

· Allow the material world to melt away and replace it with the temple forest. See it, feel it, be in it completely. Use all your senses.

· Once you’re in the temple garden, perhaps already in the clearing, see your Tree. This time it will be a sapphire that breaks free from the shifting, sparkling branches of the Tree of Life.

· As it forms a blue sphere in front of you, walk towards it, considering what Chesed means to you. Where do you need to bring peace and love into your life?

· Project the symbol for Jupiter onto the sphere as you walk into it and through into the blue world and garden of Chesed, a garden that appears to be high in the mountains amongst snow and rock.

· Consider the lessons and gifts of Chesed and how you could use them. What’s relevant to you right here, right now?

· Feel yourself expand as you walk through, smell the cedar and imagine yourself a benevolent king or queen, much loved throughout your kingdom.

· In this realm the beings are generous with their knowledge. They know that in sharing it, change is made.

· The Temple of Chesed is sometimes seen as being made from blue sapphire. From the garden, you see its mighty door, inlaid with amethyst and gold. Or do you? How does your Chesed appear? Simpler perhaps? Mine certainly does!

· Tzadkiel, the archangel of Chesed, the mighty archangel of love and peace and good luck, comes towards you.

· Ask him for a vision of love, how it looks to you on your path right now, how it shows itself in your life. Ask with confidence for the opportunity to embrace your grand plans.

· Commune further with Tzadkiel and as he offers you a gift, offer him one in the form of your commitment to pay more attention to how you reward and encourage others and yourself.

· Do you see any Masters in the garden? If so, who?

· When you’re ready, follow the path back through the snow and rock towards your blue sphere of light.

· Say your farewells, pay any further respects and walk into the blue light and back into the temple forest of Malkuth.

· Allow the forest to fade and return to your usual surroundings.

When you have closed your meditation down, take a Tarot card, make notes and remember to eat and drink something. No matter how small, it’s symbolic of grounding your energy here on Earth.

Chesed consolidation

’One act of obedience is better than one hundred sermons.’

DIETRICH BONHOEFFER, THEOLOGIAN

’I have a dream…’

Remind yourself of the dream you stated in Malkuth.

Astrology

Look at Jupiter in your chart, his placement and aspects, and ask where obedience to your higher self shows itself and what you can do to honour it.

Tarot cards

· Going into the temple: Card

· Coming out of the temple: Card

· Consolidating the temple: Card

The route the cards are taking

A short analysis of what the cards tell you.

Analysis of the temple visualization

How you felt, what you saw, what the symbols mean to you.

How it has manifested in your life

How has it presented itself in your life here on Earth? What have you noticed that you missed before? What do you want to change?

’Moving forward, I commit to…’

Make a commitment to making those changes happen.

The soul triangle

The soul isn’t perfect in and of itself — it’s still fed by the spiritual triangle — but it’s a long way up the Tree and is making decisions from higher energy as well as connecting to some highly evolved beings in order to help you.

Remember that everything will manifest eventually in Malkuth, so the purer your intention up the Tree, the purer the result at the bottom of it.

Your soul may have given you information that you’re not so keen on — it could be challenging and perhaps hard work looms. But if you’re coming at it from a point of truth and honesty with yourself, any changes will be matched by opportunities and balance will be restored.

The soul triangle consolidation

’I have a dream…’

What is your dream, your goal?

Looking at each Sephira, how has it been reflected in your life?

· Tiphareth: Balance

· Geburah: What needs cutting away

· Chesed: Opportunities

Astrology

Look at the Sun, Mars and Jupiter in your chart. What information do they give you?

Tarot cards

Put the following cards on a table in their relevant positions:

· Lust/Strength horizontally

· Adjustment/Justice at a 45-degree angle on the left

· The Hermit at a 45-degree angle on the right

The route the cards are taking

Look at the cards, analyse them and think about how they might work with the Sephiroth and in your life.

Lust runs between Geburah and Chesed. It asks you to take hold of the beast, to take control and to ride your dream all the way to manifestation.

What does this tell you about your soul? What goes, what stays, what balancing act are you performing?

Remember that even as you work on that soul level, everything must be earthed. How is the energy coming back to Earth?

’I have learned…’

Ask questions, let your intuition flow. Think, Planets, Sephiroth, cards, images, meditations, experiences, and put it all together to come up with a statement that begins:

From the soul triangle I have learned…

To help you finish this section, here’s a meditation you can do when you’ve finished your consolidation.

Exercise: Vision of the soul triangle

Prepare in the usual way.

Sit down, relax and close your eyes. Begin to breathe 4-2-4-2.

· Allow the material world to melt away and make your way to the forest, the clearing and into the Tree.

· Sandalphon is waiting for you. He guides you to the pillars. Stand in front of them, ebony on your left, ivory on your right.

· As you face the pillars, you see that a curtain, a thin veil, is hanging across the centre of them.

· Sandalphon asks you to look through the veil.

· As you look, the violet light of Yesod gives way to the green of Netzach and then the golden yellow of Tiphareth.

· As the light clears, you see rolling green hills and on one of the hills a cross. In the distance is a white marble cathedral of simple lines bathed in what seems to be a rainbow.

· Archangel Michael stands before it, splendid in his coat of many colours, reminding you that it takes different energies to form a whole being.

· The image fades and you begin to see a ruby red light.

· As it melts away, you see a castle keep. It has iron gates and windows and red walls, walls that seem to be hewn from rubies.

· Through a window, you glimpse a room with a black and white floor. A chair is in the centre of it, with 42 others surrounding it in a horseshoe shape.

· Khamael stands there, fierce and ready for battle, reminding you that sometimes you must stand your ground.

· As his image fades, you see the sapphire blue of Chesed appear and you hear a wind whistling around you.

· As the blue light fades, you see a mountain top with a sapphire blue building at its peak.

· Climbing that mountain is a line of pilgrims, making their way in devotion to the temple. More pilgrims are going down, smiling at the success of their venture.

· In the garden you may see many Masters. Do you recognize any?

· You will also see Tzadkiel, resplendent in his robes. He appears as an old man, wise and ready to share his wisdom.

· When you’re ready, let that image fade and bring yourself back to Malkuth.

· Sandalphon will guide you back to the altar.

· Thank him.

· Make your way out of the temple and into the clearing, then into the forest.

· Now bring yourself back to your usual surroundings.

Get out your journal. Write down what you saw, felt, thought and want to get started on right away! Remember to eat and drink something, as this is symbolic of grounding your energy here on Earth.

Next you’re going to look at the final triangle, of course the one primarily concerned with your spiritual self, but first a stopover at the Sephira that isn’t a Sephira!

Image