Alef
 
The Fool Alef
Tau to the Tree Bet

Alef (א)

Alef, the eleventh path, connects Kether and Chokmah. It is the character "A"[1].

Alef is one of the three mother letters, which represent primal elements. They are the axes that create space. Its attributions are:

Elementair
Directionup/down
Numberא‎ = 1
Name אלף[2]
MeaningOx (the fertilizing or creating force; Prana; the active spirit of the Most High)
Tarot trumpFool
ColorBright pale yellow
Yetsiratic Attribution[3] Scintillating Intelligence (glaring consciousness, Sekhel MeTzuchtzach, שכל מצוחצח), because it is the essence of that curtain which is placed close to the order of the disposition. This is a special dignity given to it that it may be able to stand before the Face of the Cause of Causes.

[1]This is not strictly true. Hermetic Qabalists treat it as "A", but in fact Alef has no true sound of its own. Instead it takes the sound of whatever vowel belongs with it in the word in which it appears. Its connection with 'A' is possibly because Α is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, as א is the first letter of the Alef-Bet, so their values by gematria are both 1.
[2]The Book of the Law says, My prophet is a fool with his one, one, one; are not they the Ox, and none by the Book? Liber AL I:48. Notice how Alef signifies an ox; the card associated with Alef is the Fool, key 0; and its name, אלף, is 111. Just in case you wondered, I thought I'd point that out. Really, that entire manuscript does make sense once you recognize the jokes.
[3]From the 32 Paths of Wisdom, often printed as an appendix to Sepher Yetzirah. However, see this article for additional (and contradictory) information on these Paths.
[1]This is not strictly true. Hermetic Qabalists treat it as "A", but in fact Alef has no true sound of its own. Instead it takes the sound of whatever vowel belongs with it in the word in which it appears. Its connection with 'A' is possibly because Α is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, as א is the first letter of the Alef-Bet, so their values by gematria are both 1.
[2]The Book of the Law says, My prophet is a fool with his one, one, one; are not they the Ox, and none by the Book? Liber AL I:48. Notice how Alef signifies an ox; the card associated with Alef is the Fool, key 0; and its name, אלף, is 111. Just in case you wondered, I thought I'd point that out. Really, that entire manuscript does make sense once you recognize the jokes.
[3]From the 32 Paths of Wisdom, often printed as an appendix to Sepher Yetzirah. However, see this article for additional (and contradictory) information on these Paths.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One moment, please.
x
 
x Pages available here:
An Interactive QabalahThe Mother lettersSeven of Swords A Brief Introduction to QabalahNepheshSix of Swords Kether, the CrownNeshamahFive of Swords Chokmah, WisdomThe Veil of ParokethFour of Swords Binah, UnderstandingPermutations of the NameThree of Swords Daath, KnowledgeThe Three PillarsTwo of Swords QliphothThe ProfaneAce of Disks Chesed, MercyReflectionKnight of Disks Geburah, StrengthRuachQueen of Disks Tiphareth, BeautySefer Yetzirah, the Book of FormationPrince of Disks Netzach, VictorySeverityPrincess of Disks Hod, SplendorThe simple lettersTen of Disks Yesod, FoundationWhat is a Soul?Nine of Disks Malkuth, KingdomThe SoulsEight of Disks AlefThe Supernal TriadSeven of Disks BetThe FoolSix of Disks GimelThe MagusFive of Disks DalethThe PriestessFour of Disks HehThe EmpressThree of Disks VauThe EmperorTwo of Disks ZainThe HierophantAdjustment ChethThe LoversAeon TethThe ChariotArt YodAdjustmentThe Chariot KaphThe HermitDeath LamedFortuneDevil MemLustThe Emperor NunThe Hanged ManThe Empress SamekhDeathThe Fool AyinArtFortune PehThe DevilThe Hanged Man TzaddiThe TowerThe Hermit QophThe StarThe Hierophant ReshThe MoonThe Lovers ShinThe SunLust TauThe AeonThe Magus The Qabalistic WorldsThe UniverseThe Moon Atziluth, ArchetypesAce of WandsThe Priestess Briah, the CreativeKnight of WandsThe Star Yetzirah, the FormativeQueen of WandsThe Sun Assiah, the ActivePrince of WandsThe Tower The court cardsPrincess of WandsThe Universe The AcesTen of WandsHebrew alphabet transliterations The KnightsNine of WandsThe Triads The QueensEight of WandsThe Qabalistic Veils The PrincesSeven of WandsThe Name of Names, YHVH The PrincessesSix of WandsAlef The TensFive of WandsAyin The NinesFour of WandsBet The EightsThree of WandsCheth The SevensTwo of WandsDaleth The SixesAce of CupsThe double letters The FivesKnight of CupsGimel The FoursQueen of CupsHeh The ThreesPrince of CupsKaph The TwosPrincess of CupsLamed The 32 Paths of WisdomTen of CupsMem The AbyssNine of CupsThe mother letters Adam Kadmon, the Body of GodEight of CupsNun AlchemySeven of CupsPeh The Alef-Bet in Space and TimeSix of CupsQoph The Ari TreeFive of CupsResh The Astral TriadFour of CupsSamekh BalanceThree of CupsShin The double lettersTwo of CupsThe simple letters The Ethical TriadAce of SwordsTau the Flash of LightKnight of SwordsTeth The Gra TreeQueen of SwordsThe Tree of Life The 72 Hidden Names of GodPrince of SwordsTzaddi The Tree of LifePrincess of SwordsVau The Hebrew alef-bet letter classesTen of SwordsYod MercyNine of SwordsZain The Presence of the Most HighEight of Swords