Qliphoth

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Kabbalah

The Qliphoth/Qlippoth/Qlifot or Kelipot (Hebrew: ‫פֹות‬ ְ , the different English spellings are
ּ ‫קל ִי‬
used in the alternative Kabbalistic traditions[1] of Hermetic Qabalah and Jewish Kabbalah
respectively), literally "Peels", "Shells" or "Husks" (from singular: ‫פ ָה‬ ְ qlippah "Husk"),[2] are the
ּ ִ ‫קל‬

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representation of evil or impure spiritual forces in Jewish mysticism, the polar opposites of the
holy Sefirot.[3] The realm of evil is also termed Sitra Achra/Aḥra (Aramaic ‫סטרא אחרא‬, the "Other
Side" opposite holiness) in Kabbalah texts.

In Jewish Kabbalistic cosmology of Isaac Luria, the qlippot are metaphorical "shells" surrounding
holiness. They are spiritual obstacles receiving their existence from God only in an external,
rather than internal manner. Divinity in Judaism connotes revelation of God's true unity, while
the shells conceal holiness, as a peel conceals the fruit within. They are therefore synonymous
with idolatry, the root of impurity through ascribing false dualism in the Divine, and with the
Sitra Achra (‫" סטרא אחרא‬Other Side"), the perceived realm opposite to holiness. They emerge in
the descending seder hishtalshelus (Chain of Being) through Tzimtzum (contraction of the Divine
Ohr), as part of the purpose of Creation. In this they also have beneficial properties, as peel
protects the fruit, restraining the Divine flow from being dissipated. Kabbalah distinguishes
between two realms in qlippot, the completely impure and the intermediate.

Their four "concentric" terms are derived from Ezekiel's vision (1:4), "And I looked and behold, a
whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was
about it..."[4] The "Three Impure Qlippot" (completely Tamei "impure") are read in the first three
terms, the intermediate "Shining Qlippah" (Nogah "brightness") is read in the fourth term,
mediating as the first covering directly surrounding holiness, and capable of sublimation. In
medieval Kabbalah, the Shekhinah is separated in Creation from the Sefirot by man's sin, while
in Lurianic Kabbalah Divinity is exiled in the qlippot from prior initial Catastrophe in Creation.
This causes "Sparks of Holiness" to be exiled in the qlippot, Jewish Observance with physical
objects redeeming mundane Nogah, while the Three Impure Qlippot are elevated indirectly
through Negative prohibitions. Repentance out of love retrospectively turns sin into virtue,
darkness into light. When all the sparks are freed from the qlippot, depriving them of their
vitality, the Messianic era begins. In Hasidic philosophy, the kabbalistic scheme of qlippot is
internalised in psychological experience as self-focus, opposite to holy devekut self-nullification,
underlying its Panentheistic Monistic view of qlippot as the illusionary self-awareness of
Creation.

In some non-Jewish Hermetic Qabalah, contact is sought with the Qliphoth unlike in the
ethical-mystical Jewish prohibition, as part of its process of human self-knowledge. In contrast,
the theurgic Jewish Practical Kabbalah was understood by its practitioners as similar to white
magic, accessing only holiness, while the danger in such venture of mixing impure Magic
ensured it remained a minor and restricted practice in Jewish history.

Christian Knorr von Rosenroth's Latin Kabbala denudata (1684) (translated The Kabbalah Unveiled
by MacGregor Mathers) equates these forces with the Kings of Edom and also offers the
suggestion they are the result of an imbalance towards Gedulah, the Pillar of Mercy or the
[5] 2/6
merciful aspect of God, and have since been destroyed.[5]

In subsequent Hermetic teachings, the Qliphoth have tended, much like the sephirot, to be
interpreted as mystical worlds or entities, and merged with ideas derived from demonology.

In most descriptions, there are seven divisions of Hell (Sheol or Tehom; Abaddon or Tzoah
Rotachat; Be'er Shachat (‫חת‬ ַ ׁ‫ש‬ ֵ ּ ְ‫ב‬, Be'er Shachath — "pit of corruption") or Mashchit; Bor Shaon
ַ ‫אר‬
(‫שׁאֹון‬
ָ ‫" — ב ֹּור‬cistern of sound") or Tit ha-Yaven (‫הי ָו ֵן‬ ִ — "clinging mud"); Dumah or Sha'are
ַ ‫טי ט‬
Mavet (‫מו ֶת‬ ָ ‫ﬠר ֵי‬ ַ , Sha'arei Maveth — "gates of death"); Neshiyyah (‫שׁי ָ ּה‬
ֲ ׁ‫ש‬ ִ ְ ‫" — נ‬oblivion", "Limbo") or
Tzalmavet; and Eretz Tachtit (‫תִית‬ ּ ‫ח‬ ְ ַ‫ת‬ ֶ , Erets Tachtith — "lowest earth") or Gehenna),[6][7][8][9]
ּ ‫אר ֶץ‬
twelve Qliphotic orders of demons, three powers before Satan and twenty-two demons which
correspond to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

According to Aleister Crowley, the three evil forms (before Samael), are said to be Qemetial,
Belial, and Othiel. [10]

According to Israel Regardie, the "qlipothic tree" consists of 10 spheres in opposition to the
sephirot on the Tree of Life. These are also referred to as the “evil twins”. They are also the “Evil
Demons of Matter and the Shells of the Dead”.[11]

Bill Heidrick gives his own interpretation on the adverse tree, saying that the spellings are
“mostly reconstructions with alternatives. Nonetheless, it is believed that the majority of the
above are at least suitable if not perfect”. He also goes on to say that “These names are
sometimes called the 'adverse Sephiroth' instead of the Demonic Orders. A. E. Waite makes this
later point in his Holy Kabbalah, page 256.”[12]

The following comes from the Notes on the Demonic Orders (Adverse Sephiroth) in Magical
Correspondences by Bill Heidrick.

Thamiel: Duality in God

“Thamiel represents duality whereas Kether represents unity. Thus Thamiel is the division of
that which is perfect only in unity. As a demonic order name, the Thamiel were before their
'revolt'. This signifies 'Perfection of God'. These angels sought to become more powerful by
adding an Aleph to their name. They then became the 'Duality of God,' an order of the lesser
demons. In the lowest state of their 'fall', they become 'the Polluted of God.' The cortex or outer
form of the Thamiel is called Cathariel, 'the Broken' or 'Fearful Light of God'.”

Satan: Adversary

To Thamiel, “there are two demons that are attributed to stress the view that the demonic
opposite of Kether is duality instead of unity and are Satan and Moloch or Malech”.

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Chaigidel: Confusion of the Power of God

“These are the confusion of that great power which, as Chokmah, goes forth at the beginning to
give the vital energy of creation to the processes of Binah. The cortex of the Chaigidel is called
Ghogiel, 'Those Who Go Forth into the Place Empty of God'.”

Beelzebub: Lord of the Flies and Adam Belial: Wicker Man

To Chaigidel, “both Satan and Beelzebub are attributed as well as Adam Belial. The name Belial
is often used separately as a demonic name.”

Sathariel: Concealment of God

“Even as Binah is the great revealing one who bestows the structure of the Absolute onto the
created, its opposite, the Sathariel, conceal the nature of The Perfect. The cortex or outer form
of the Sathariel is called the order of Sheireil, 'The Hairy Ones of God'.”

Lucifuge: One Who Flees Light

To Sathariel, Lucifuge “is attributed and is probably a name made up to replace the name
Lucifer, 'Light Bearer'”.Early Texts use the "proper" name Lucifuge Rofacale,

Gamchicoth: Devourers

“Chesed is the source of bounty both in idea and in substance to the lower forms. Gamchicoth is
the order of 'Devourers' who seek to waste the substance and thought of creation. The outer
form is the order of Azariel, 'The Binding Ones of God'.”

Astaroth: from the Flood

To Gamchicoth, “Astaroth is attributed. This is the name of the goddess Astarte, the Ishtar of the
Babylonians and perhaps also the Isis of the Egyptians”.

Golachab: Burning Bodies

“Geburah is a going forth in power to rule in righteousness, in an upright manner. The order of
Golab is composed of those who burn to do destruction, enforce their will upon others through
strength and not righteousness, in a non-upright manner --- even on themselves. The outer
form is Usiel, 'The Ruins of God'.” (See wisdom of Solomon Ch 1, Verse 1, original Greek
Septuagint states: "Love Righteousness, yee that be judges of the earth", which is correct, the
vulgate states: "Love Justice, you that are the judges of the earth", which is incorrect).

Asmodeus: The Destroying God or Samael the Black.

To Golachab, Asmodeus is attributed. “This name is half Hebrew and half Latin. Asmodeus is
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often mentioned in the literature of demonology. The name can also be translated as 'The one
adorned with fire'.” Whom they call also Samael the Black.

Thagirion(n): Those Who Bellow Grief and Tears

“Tiphereth is the place of great beauty and rejoicing. The Thagirion build ugliness and groan
about it. The cortex of the Thagirion is called Zomiel, 'The Revolt of God'.”

Belphegor: Lord of the Dead

To Thagirion, “the replacement of Tiphereth, the sphere of the vitalising Sun, with a place
holding Belphegor, the lord of dead, is most striking”.

Harab Serapel: Ravens of the Burning of God

“Netzach is the openness of natural love. The Harab Serapel are the Ravens of Death who reject
even their own. The outer form is Theumiel, 'The Fouled Substance of God'”.

Baal: Lord and Tubal Cain: Maker of Sharp Weapons

To Harab Serapel, “Baal is attributed, and is "a word which means Lord, much as Adonai means
Lord. The word Baal or 'Bel' has become restricted in its usage to signify a 'Lord of Darkness'.”
Also attributed is Tubal Cain.

Samael: The Desolation of God, or The Left Hand

“Hod is the complex working of the will of the Absolute. Samael represents the barren
desolation of a fallen and failed creation. The outer form is Theuniel, 'The filthy Wailing Ones of
God'.”

Adrammelech: Powerful King

To Samael, Adrammelech is attributed. “This name is found in Fourth Kings: XVII, 29-31: ' And the
men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of
Hamath made Ashima, and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt
their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.”

Gamaliel: Polluted of God

“Yesod is the place of the final forms that become matter in Malkuth. The Gamaliel are the
Misshapen and polluted images that produce vile results. The outer form is the order of Ogiel,
'those Who Flee from God'.”

Lilith: Night Specter

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To Gamaliel, Lilith is attributed and “is the grand lady of all demons. The demons are sometimes
considered to be the children of Lilith and is said to be the woman who comes to men in their
dreams.”

Nehemoth: Whisperers (or Night Specter)

“These are responsible for frightening sounds in strange places. They excite the mind and cause
strange desires.” This corresponds with Malkuth as well.

Naamah: Pleasant

Naamah “is traditionally a demon and the sister of Lilith, possibly a remembrance of the
Egyptian Nephthys and Isis. It is conceivable that Nehema is the same as Naamah, the sister of
Tubal Cain.”

1. ^ KABBALAH? CABALA? QABALAH? Archived March 30, 2013, at the Wayback Machine from
kabbalaonline.org
2. ^ The Kabbalah or, The Religious Philosophy of the Hebrews Adolphe Franck translated by I.
Sossnitz (1926): Relation of The Kabbalah to Christianity page 279
3. ^ The Book of Concealed Mystery translated by Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers
4. ^ Ezekiel 1:4 (King James Version)
5. ^ "The Kabbalah Unveiled: Greater Holy Assembly: Chapter XXVI: Concerning the Edomite Kings" .
Sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
6. ^ (edit.) Boustan, Ra'anan S. Reed, Annette Yoshiko. Heavenly Realms and Earthly Realities in
Late Antique Religions. Cambridge University Press, 2004.
7. ^ Mew, James. Traditional Aspects of Hell: (Ancient and Modern). S. Sonnenschein &
Company Lim., 1903.
8. ^ Lowy, Rev. A. Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology, Volume 10 , "Old Jewish
Legends of Biblical Topics: Legendary Description of Hell". 1888. pg. 339
9. ^ Pusey, Rev. Edward Bouverie. What is of Faith as to Everlasting Punishment: In Reply to Dr.
Farrar's Challenge in His ʻEternal Hope,' 1879. James Parker & Co., 1881; pg. 102
10. ^ Liber 777 by Aleister Crowley
11. ^ The Golden Dawn by Israel Regardie
12. ^ Magical Correspondences by Bill Heidrick

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