Or was it something... else?

The ancient text Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, "Key to the Gates of Wisdom," gives us a fascinating peek behind the curtain of prophetic experience. And it suggests that what prophets perceive isn’t exactly a snapshot of the physical world, but something far more nuanced.

According to this mystical text, the objects of prophetic vision don't necessarily show up the way they would to our everyday eyes. Instead, what the soul perceives is a shining light, an emanation. If the vision is of something "circular," the soul understands it as a circle – an igul. If it’s something “straight,” it’s perceived as a straight line – a yosher. The same goes for all forms and images seen by the soul. It’s not the physical form itself that’s being witnessed. Think of it like this: you might recognize a friend from their silhouette alone; you're not seeing every detail, but you understand the essence.

But here’s where it gets even more interesting.

Even the spiritual form that’s seen isn't the intrinsic essence of the Sefirot themselves. The Sefirot, these divine emanations, are beyond form. The text points out that creation comes in two flavors: physical and spiritual. And both have their own forms. But the Supreme Glory, that ultimate divine presence, doesn’t inherently possess either of these types of forms.

Instead, it appears through these forms. Not in a coarse, physical way, but in a subtle, spiritual manner. Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah uses a beautiful analogy: it "appears" or is "seen" in the same way that thoughts "appear" or are "seen" in the mind. Think about it: you can have a complex idea, full of nuances and emotions, but it exists in your consciousness without taking on a solid, concrete shape. It's there, it's real, but it's beyond the physical.

So, what does this all mean? Maybe prophetic vision isn't about seeing things as they are, but about grasping their underlying essence. It's about the soul translating the divine into a language it can understand, using forms and images as metaphors for something far greater than itself. Maybe Elijah didn't see a literal chariot; maybe he experienced the overwhelming power and divine purpose, which his soul translated into that fiery image. Food for thought, isn't it?