That’s kind of where we’re headed today, as we try to wrap our minds around the mystical concept of the world of Nekudim.
We've been talking about the worlds of Atzilut (Emanation), Beriyah (Creation), Yetzirah (Formation), and Asiyah (Action) as a complete system – a sort of cosmic blueprint. But before all that, there was something else... something that sets the stage for everything that follows. And to understand Nekudim, we need to see it in relation to these other realms.
Now, our source text, Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, lays out a proposition about Nekudim in two parts. First, it states that "The world of Nekudim was like one material…" Think of it as the primordial soup of existence. It wasn't a level in and of itself, not like Atzilut or Beriyah. Instead, it was the raw potential, the undifferentiated "stuff" from which all those worlds would later take shape. Imagine a sculptor staring at a block of marble – the statue is already there, waiting to be revealed, but it’s still just… stone. That's the essence of Nekudim.
To understand its placement, we must understand its relationship to Akudim (Binding), the light emerging from the mouth of Adam Kadmon. According to the text, this light extends to the navel, while Nekudim extends from the navel to the feet of Adam Kadmon.
So, if Nekudim isn't a distinct level, what is it? Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah tells us that it's "a single general law which simply institutes the existence of all that is destined to exist." It’s the cosmic "on" switch, the force that says, "Let there be!" It's the underlying principle that allows for the unfolding of all creation.
But here’s where it gets really interesting, and maybe a little uncomfortable. The text also tells us that this world of Nekudim is "nothing but the particular power in the Likeness of Man that stands to produce evil." Whoa, hold on a second! Evil? What’s that doing here?
Well, the text clarifies that the end goal isn't to produce evil for evil's sake. Instead, it’s that "it should revert to good." Think of it like this: how can we truly appreciate the light without knowing the darkness? How can we choose good if we haven't experienced the alternative? The existence of evil, or at least the potential for evil, is necessary for the ultimate triumph of good. It’s part of the process. The text argues that this reversion to good couldn't happen "unless evil first exists in actuality."
So, Nekudim, in this view, isn’t just a passive substance. It's an active force, a crucible where potential good and potential evil are forged. It's the messy, complicated, and sometimes scary space where creation takes its first breath. It's a reminder that even in the most primordial, formless depths of existence, the seeds of both light and darkness are already present, intertwined, and waiting to be brought into the world.
And maybe, just maybe, that’s a reflection of ourselves, too. We all have the potential for both good and evil within us. The question is, what will we choose to bring into being? What kind of world will we help to create from the raw material of our own lives?