It's not a static picture, that's for sure. It's dynamic, alive, and filled with light. More specifically, two kinds of light.
The text Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, a key source in understanding the inner workings of Kabbalah, tells us that the Sefirot – those divine emanations or attributes through which God manifests in the world – shine with both direct and returning light. This isn't just some abstract concept; it means that when prophets have visions, they actually see these two types of light at play.
But what does that look like? Imagine a continuous, cascading flow, almost like a cosmic waterfall, but made of pure light. Now, picture that flow also looping back on itself. That's the essence of the direct and returning light.
The text goes on to describe something truly mind-bending: the cyclical nature of the Sefirot. Think of it as a cosmic dance, a perpetual exchange of energy and essence.
After the Sefirot descend, level by level, from Keter (the Crown, representing divine will) down to Malchut (the Kingdom, representing manifestation), something amazing happens. Malchut, that final emanation, in turn becomes Keter! And the process continues, each Sefirah transforming into the next, creating an unbroken chain.
What's even wilder is how this looks in a prophetic vision. According to Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, it's “like the appearance of lightning," echoing the prophet Ezekiel’s vision (Ezekiel 1:14). A flash erupts from one place, streaks across to another, and then, almost instantaneously, seems to reverse direction. It’s a back-and-forth, a constant pulse.
Just like that lightning flash, all ten Sefirot, wherever they are situated, appear in this way when they are perceived in vision. Keter emerges first from the Eyn Sof (the Infinite, unknowable source), and the levels descend one by one until they reach Malchut. And then, here's the kicker: Malchut itself is seen to be Keter emerging from the Eyn Sof!
It's a reminder that everything is interconnected, that endings are also beginnings, and that the divine presence permeates all of creation, constantly cycling and renewing itself. Maybe the next time you see a flash of lightning, you'll catch a glimpse of this ancient wisdom.