Paths of Wisdom: Cabala in the Golden Dawn Tradition: Third Edition

Acclaimed as an instant classic on its original publication and eagerly sought by students of magic ever since, Paths of Wisdom is a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of the magical Cabala, as practiced in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and most other contemporary Western occult traditions. Engaging and accessible, yet packed with material found in few other books, it illumines the Cabalist underpinnings of today’s Hermetic magic as never before. From the fundamentals of Cabalistic philosophy, through a detailed examination of the Spheres and Paths of the Tree of Life, to the magical disciplines that bring the symbolism to life as a potent toolkit for self-knowledge and esoteric attainment, Paths of Wisdom is your guide to the principles and practices of the magical Cabala. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction: The Hermetic Cabala 1 PART I: PRINCIPLES OF THE HERMETIC CABALA 7 Chapter One The Tree of Life 9 Chapter Two The Paths upon the Tree 20 Chapter Three The Polarities of Being 31 Chapter Four Macrocosm and Microcosm 44 Chapter Five The Way of Creation 61 Chapter Six The Way of Redemption 72 PART II: SYMBOLISM OF THE HERMETIC CABALA 81 Chapter Seven The Tree Below the Veil 83 Malkuth, the Tenth Sphere 83 Path 32, the Path of Tau 91 Yesod, the Ninth Sphere 95 Path 31, the Path of Shin 102 Path 30, the Path of Resh 107 Hod, the Eighth Sphere 112 Path 29, the Path of Qoph 121 Path 28, the Path of Tzaddi 126 Path 27, the Path of Peh 131 Netzach, the Seventh Sphere 135 Chapter Eight The Tree Between the Veil and the Abyss 143 Path 25, the Path of Samech 143 Path 26, the Path of Ayin 149 Path 24, the Path of Nun 155 Tiphareth, the Sixth Sphere 161 Path 23, the Path of Mem 171 Path 22, the Path of Lamed 175 Geburah, the Fifth Sphere 179 Path 21, the Path of Kaph 187 Path 20, the Path of Yod 191 Path 19, the Path of Teth 196 Chesed, the Fourth Sphere 200 Chapter Nine: The Tree Above the Abyss 208 Path 13, the Path of Gimel 208 Daath, the Gate of the Abyss 212 Path 17, the Path of Zayin 220 Path 18, the Path of Cheth 224 Binah, the Third Sphere 229 Path 15, the Path of Heh 234 Path 16, the Path of Vau 238 Path 14, the Path of Daleth 244 Chokmah, the Second Sphere 248 Path 12, the Path of Beth 253 Path 11, the Path of Aleph 258 Kether, the First Sphere 262 PART III: PRACTICE OF THE HERMETIC CABALA 269 Chapter Ten: Foundations of Practice 271 Chapter Eleven: Ritual Magic 280 Chapter Twelve: Meditation 292 Chapter Thirteen: Pathworking 300 Chapter Fourteen: Prayer 311 Chapter Fifteen: The Hermetic Cabala in Daily Life 317 Index 325