Now the root of the stern judgments lies above, but it is not clearly discernible there because Kindness holds sway above. However, when it reaches Yesod of Imma, it comes to a level where it can be revealed, producing there the five “mighty powers” (גבורות, gevurot) according to the mystery whereby “stern judgments are stirred up through her (i.e. Imma)” (Zohar, Vayikra 65a). The wording is precise: the stern judgments “are stirred up through her”.
For Imma is not intrinsically an aspect of Judgment, yet the attribute of Judgment derives from Imma. Thus the five mighty powers in Yesod of Imma already enter the category of revealed Judgment, and from there stems the root of Zeir Anpin, which constitutes the governmental order of Justice (משפט, mishpat), as will be discussed below. Its essence is first and foremost strict Judgment, but at certain times the power of mitigation gains strength and holds sway over it.
This is the underlying secret of the saying of the sages that, “Everything came from the earth (עפר, aphar), including even the sphere of the sun” (Zohar, Tzav 34b; Midrash Rabbah Bereishit 12:11). The “sun” is an allusion to Zeir Anpin, while the “earth” refers to the five mighty powers, which had already reached this level (in Yesod of Imma) of being actual powers of severity. Out of this was built Zeir Anpin, whose essence is mighty powers and stern Judgment, over which the power of mitigation holds sway only afterwards.