Liber Qliphoth
Liber Qliphoth
Liber Qliphoth
Introduction
Herein are given the attributions of the Qlippoth (QLYPWTh: shells,
husks or demons) to each of the sephiroth (SPYRWTh: numbers, spheres
or emanations) and shevilim (ShBYLYM: paths) of the Tree of Life.
These 'shells' or 'husks' are leftovers from the Creation in some
Hebrew cosmologies.
There seem to be many different versions of how these shells came
about and 'where' they are located, metaphorically. Apparently some
have postulated that the Qlippoth were generated by the 'breaking of
the vessels' or 'cutting of the shoots' in which the Primordial Being,
Adam (ADM: man, human), engaged the First Sin of separating Above from
Below; the separation of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
from the Tree of Life.
Alternatively, the great Force and Form of the Creative Light, given
impetus by God's Will, generated all the spheres of the Tree of Life
at once, but with such overwhelming force that these 'vessels' were
broken in the process, spilling the excess Light. This Light became
the putrifying Qlippoth, which is compared both to the evil of the
world and to the Primordial Being's waste system, sewer or large
intestine/colon.
However these shells are described, they tend to typify the
destructive, egotistic, and sometimes feminine elements of Creation.
They are the 'dark side', the Shadow of Destruction which grows
alongside the Creative Light. They are as necessary and important to
the study of Qabalah (QBLH: tradition) as the Tree itself. While some
have associated the shells with the world of 'Assiah' (OShYH: action,
the Material World; the World of Expression), others seem to think
that they are the Tree's roots, perhaps even having given rise to the
Sphere of Malkuth (MLKWTh: realm, kingdom).