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Infernal Dialogues - An Introduction To Qliphothic Sorcery
Infernal Dialogues - An Introduction To Qliphothic Sorcery
Infernal Dialogues - An Introduction To Qliphothic Sorcery
There are several accounts of how the Qliphoth originated. Some portray the
Qliphoth as the shells or husks of Gods first aborted attempt at creation. In
this account, the Qliphoth is the realm of dark energies which some consider
to be evil or demonic in nature. In other accounts, the Qliphoth are the
reflection of the Sephiroth upon the waters of the Abyss. Still others consider
the Qliphoth to be the nightime or reverse side of the Tree of Life, opposite
but still connected to the realm of Light by Daath. In most of these accounts
however a common theme is presentthe Qliphoth is essentially the dark
half of the Tree of Life, sometimes referred to as the Tree of Death.
The word Qliphoth, like the word Sephiroth, is plural. In the Hebrew
language, Sephiroth roughly translates as numerations whereas Qliphoth
(Qliphah in the singular) translates as peels or husks. Generally the
Qliphoth is referred to as a single entity, an area of studyhowever the
Qliphoth in the truest sense consists of ten essential husks which mirror the
ten numerations of the Tree of Life.
Within some practices, magicians imply that the Sephiroth are present in all
things and yet are removed from the earthly realm of Man. Because of the
seemingly contradictory nature of Kabbalistic theory, many students are
intimidated and resistant to undertaking the study of the Tree of Life. While it
is visible from the aforementioned example that Kabbalistic theory can be
quite complex, it is again dependent upon the individual interpretations and
convictions of the individual as to what the Sephiroth, and Qliphoth, mean to
that individual.
In revisiting the concept of the Sephiroths presence within the world, while
aspects of the Sephiroth exist within all things, all but one of the numerations
are said to wholly exist beyond the realm of Man. The tenth Sephirah,
Malkuth, is also known as the Shekinahthe fundamental feminine aspect of
God which is alone accessible to and knowable by humanity. Malkuth is
sometimes equated with the tangible world and Universe - many adherents of
modern Goddess-dominated religions have equated the Shekinah with the
great Goddess archetypes such as Diana, Gaia or Isis. But deeper still than the
Shekinah reside the Qliphoth.
As with the diversity found within the accounts of the creation of the
Qliphoth, there is much debate pertaining to other fundamental questions
surrounding Their very nature, limitations and location. Second only to the
question of what the Qliphoth are is the question of where They reside. In
some depictions, the Qliphoth are said to reside behind the Tree of Life,
directly below it or below and behind it. Regardless, many accounts of the
Qliphoth depict Them as residing amongst us, within the world of Assiyah,
the earthly realm itself and, in some ways, within the Shekinah.
Within a polarised perspective, the Qliphoth may then be assumed to
encompass all of the negativity and evildoing of this world. While this may be
a very appealing and simple explanation of the Qliphoth for some, it is not
entirely accurate. The Sephirah of Geburah would in fact better fit such a
description as It, not the Qliphoth, is the unrestrained element of Gods
severity.
What then, one may ask, is the Qliphoth and how would understanding such
forces contribute to magickal practice? Depending upon what ones personal
interpretation of the Qliphoth is, there is great potential in working with
Qliphothic forces within the context of magick. Generally, many practitioners
of Left-Hand Paths consider the Qliphoth to be something comparable to the
Satanists Tree of Life. This is a very inaccurate description of the Qliphoth
as it is not simply a Tree of Life for Satanists, but a container of forces which
encapsulate the potential for destruction on many levels. However,
Qliphothic sorcery - like aspects of any powerful magickal system, path or
practice is not intended for the casual dabbler.
Why would anyone endeavour to work with such destructive forces? Like
anything within the Universe, the Qliphoth not only has the potential to
destroy but also to create. While the emanative process of the Sephiroth does
not function in the same manner, the Qliphoth have been employed by
practitioners of many different magickal systems with favourable results. For
some practitioners who are inclined towards psychological allegory within
magick, the Qliphoth represent the negative states of existence. Some view
the Qliphoth in a similar manner as one would view an astronomical Black
Hole perpetually drawing into Itself the Universe surrounding It.