Now, the Sefirot (סְפִירוֹת‎) are often described as emanations or attributes of God, ten in number, that reveal God's will and presence in the world. They’re like the different facets of a single, brilliant diamond, each reflecting the light in its own unique way.

But here's the thing: even though the Sefirot might appear to us in forms we recognize – circles, straight lines, even likenesses of things we see in the world – it’s absolutely crucial to understand that these are not physical forms in the way we usually understand them. We aren't talking about something tangible you could touch or see with your eyes.

Think of it as a vision of the soul. The Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah makes a key distinction here: the vision of the soul is fundamentally different from the vision of the body. Our physical eyes perceive the world through light and shadow, color and shape. But the soul sees differently. It perceives meaning, essence, and the underlying patterns that connect everything.

So, when a prophet, for example, experiences a vision, the things they see don't necessarily appear in the same way as the corresponding physical objects would. It's not a literal, photographic representation. Instead, what the soul perceives is a "shining light" that takes on a form that allows us to understand it. If the concept is "circular," the soul might perceive it as a circle (igul). If it's "straight," then it might be seen as a straight line (yosher).

Does that make sense?

It’s all about understanding. The form is secondary to the underlying truth it's meant to convey. The same principle applies to all the forms and images the soul might perceive. We aren't seeing the actual physical form of anything.

And here’s another layer: even the spiritual form that we perceive isn’t the intrinsic essence of the Sefirot themselves! It’s just the way they appear through Malchut. Malchut (מלכות), meaning "kingdom" or "sovereignty," is the final Sefirah, often seen as the vessel through which the divine energies manifest in the world. So, what we see is, in essence, the divine powers filtered and presented to us in a way that we can (hopefully!) begin to grasp.

It’s like looking at a reflection in a mirror. The reflection gives you an idea of what’s there, but it’s not the thing itself. It’s an image, a representation, a way to make the unseen, seen; the unknowable, known.

So, next time you think about the Divine, about the Sefirot, remember that what we perceive is just a glimpse, a reflection, a shining light that helps us to understand something far beyond our ordinary comprehension. And maybe, just maybe, that glimpse is enough to set us on the path to deeper understanding.