It’s a question that’s haunted mystics for centuries. And one of the key concepts in the Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, to understanding that process, involves something called the sefirot.
Now, the sefirot are often described as emanations, or attributes, of God. Think of them as lenses, if you will, through which the Divine Light shines into the world. But here’s where it gets interesting: these sefirot aren't just abstract ideas. They become… vessels.
These ten sefirot, formed into actual vessels, are called "interior" and "body." What does that mean? In essence, we’re talking about the inner and outer aspects of a partzuf – a divine "face" or configuration. The "interior" is the inner workings, the unseen engine. The "body" is the external manifestation.
And at the heart of this inner realm, we find Malkhut. Malkhut, often translated as "kingdom" or "sovereignty," is the final sefirah, the one closest to our physical reality. But here, in the context of the "interior," it’s something even more specific.
The Malkhut of this "interior" is called the "navel" – tabur in Hebrew. As Ezekiel 38:12 puts it, "the navel of the earth" – the center, the middle. It's the central Malkhut.
Why the navel? What’s so special about that?
Well, it's from this central point, this tabur, that the returning light originates. This returning light then forms the actualized vessels of the "body." In other words, the navel is the point of origin for the external manifestation of the divine configuration. It’s the source!
But there’s even more packed into that word, tabur. The Kabbalists love to play with Hebrew letters, finding hidden meanings and connections. And here, the word tabur can be rearranged to spell tov or – "good light."
What does that imply? The Zohar tells us, and other Kabbalistic texts confirm, that the light is "good" up to that point. It is "good" because it's properly contained, enclothed within vessels that are suitable for receiving it. It's harmonious, balanced.
So, when we talk about the ten sefirot of the "interior," extending to the navel, we’re talking about a process of refinement, of containment. It’s a journey from the infinite to a point of focused potential, ready to manifest in the world. It’s the unseen foundation upon which everything else is built. A pretty powerful image, isn't it? It makes you wonder, what "good light" is waiting to be birthed from your center?