It all boils down to this idea of a separating force, a kind of cosmic… diaphragm.
What is this "diaphragm," you ask? Well, in Kabbalistic terms, it’s not the muscle that helps you breathe! Think of it more as a boundary, a division that arises from the movement of Malkhut (Kingdom, manifestation) ascending to Bina (Understanding). It’s a repositioning, a cosmic shift that has profound implications. As the author of the Sulam commentary explains, this diaphragm is alluded to in Genesis 1:7 – that verse about the firmament dividing the waters. It's a powerful metaphor.
This repositioning, where Malkhut effectively "partners" with Bina at the level of the chest, causes a separation. Bina, Tiferet (Beauty), and Malkhut become distinct from Keter (Crown) and Ḥokhma (Wisdom). Think of Keter and Ḥokhma as the "waters" above the firmament, and Bina, Tiferet, and Malkhut as the "waters" below. A division is created.
So, because of this diaphragm, the ten sefirot (divine emanations) of the interior are essentially divided into two levels. We have the area from the "mouth" to the "chest," which is considered the ten sefirot of the interior, Atzilut (Emanation), and the first three sefirot of the body. Then, from the "chest" downward to the "navel," we have the ten sefirot of the end, the level of Beria (Creation), described as the six extremities without a head – like the ten sefirot of the end. It's a complex image, isn’t it?
In other words, the new endpoint formed by Malkhut’s ascension to Bina – in the place called the chest – is termed “diaphragm.” It’s based on the mystical meaning of the firmament that separates the upper waters (Keter and Ḥokhma), which remain within the level of the interior, from Bina, Tiferet, and Malkhut, which are ejected from the level of the ten sefirot of the interior, becoming the level of the ten sefirot of the end.
What does all this mean for us? Well, it suggests that within the very structure of reality, there are forces of separation and connection at play. The ascent of Malkhut, the creation of this "diaphragm," isn't just some abstract concept. It's a dynamic process, a constant negotiation between the divine and the manifest. Maybe, by understanding this cosmic architecture, we can gain a deeper understanding of our own inner landscape, and the forces that shape our lives. Worth pondering, don't you think?