For a very long time I have had the dream of a library completely arranged according to the ten Sephiroth. One could come in and amble along the old bookshelves. And by reading the titles on the spines, shelf by shelf, by pulling books out and flipping through the pages randomly or deliberately one would slowly become aware of the true depth and diversity of the divine force expressed in each Sephira...
In the beginning each Sephira would hardly fill a single shelf. The shelves, however, would be consecrated to the forces of the Sephira, a rite performed before opening to the public and a talisman bound in leather put on top of each shelf. And over the years the library would grow and the shelves would expand. Until they start to fill entire rows and at some points entire rooms or even floors of the building... Like the broad branches of a tree this 'Tree of Life Library' would grow as people donate books to it.
Now I really like this idea; unfortunately it's pretty hard to pull off. So the best thing I could come up with - between keeping this as a dream or going bankrupt over buying estate & books for the Tree of Life Library - is to share book recommendations with you according to this pattern. So every book recommendation I will share going forward will be placed on one of the brand new 'Sephiroth book shelves' in the virtual room of my blog...
I hope this can make nice companion reading material as we wander along the paths on the tree. So in case you like the idea - feel free to follow these posts which I will always mark with the heading 'Tree of Life Library' followed by the number and the title of the book. The recommendations will come in no particular order other than the attribution to a specific Sephira; I guess they will arrive on their own terms and just as the tides deliver them.
Should you have book recommendations for the library as well, please do share in the comments section. Who knows, maybe one day it will still become a place in its own right?
Here is the first book on the bookshelf for Hod...
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This book is dark. And deep. To me it is the perfect representation of the vaults of Hod. It starts with a wonderful story-in-a-story-in-a-story approach and then just blows you away with the innovative use of page layout and style. A story is told on scraps of paper, full of notes and references to unknown sources, scribbled down by a half blind and dying old man and recovered by and pieced together again by a drug addict who slowly falls under the same spell as his predecessor. Yet, the real story which is told through the eyes and voices of these two authors is taking place in remote house and reaches the reader like a fading echo full of terror. Mark Z. Danielewski has worked on this beast of a 700 page book for more than ten years and delivered one of the most stunning debut novels ever. Since its publication in 2000 a broad cult of followers has evolved around the secrets and layered story of the book. If you are up for a reading experience that is like no other - and ready to enter the vaults of Hod with all its hidden rooms and chambers of knowledge, stories and echos - than the House of Leaves has all the right to come first book on your long bookshelf of Hod. I hope you'll enjoy.
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Also for the Hod bookshelf: Hermann Hesse's "Das Glasperlenspiel" (The Glass Bead Game). It nicely describes both the House of Hod and the Path to Netzach.
ReplyDeleteFrater Acher, what do you think would be the best book for a person interested in the Kabbalah? Just starting to dip my toe into the occult and interested in your suggestion...
ReplyDeleteLet me ask you a question and then I'll give you my recommendation (just too many books out there): What makes you interested in Kabbalah and - more importantly - what are you trying to get out of it? Let me know and I'll give you my 2cents of Amazon recommendations. If too personal, email me on acher300@me.com
ReplyDeleteGlasperlenspiel - there you go! A wonderful second book on our Hod bookshelf. Great choice. Actually, one could feel free to also add all novels and stories of Kafka? But maybe we should keep these until we get to Daath...? :-)
ReplyDeleteI am looking for a firmly established system of personal and spiritual development. Kabbalah also seems to be enmeshed in every Western occult system that I look at, and an understanding of Kabbalah would be helpful as I explore systems of magick that interest me.
ReplyDeleteHa, yes, Kafka could wait for Daath ;-) (That brings up an interesting discussion of whether the kind of judgment represented in Kafka corresponds to the judgment of crossing the Abyss...)
ReplyDeleteJorge Luis Borges definitely goes in the Hod shelf, as would "Goedel, Escher, Bach" and ilk. What comes to mind also, though, are books that seem to fit nicely along one of the Paths rather than in exclusively one Sephira. How would you classify those? Do you buy two copies and put one in each shelf? ;-)
Hi Richard, thanks. In this case I can share 2 recommendations: 1) Will Parfitt's "The Complete Guide to the Kabbalah" takes a spiritual-psychological approach mainly but is a key book to connect with the concepts of Kabbalah on a personal level before going any further 2) David Rankine's "Climbing the Tree of Life: A Manual of Practical Magickal Qabalah" is the most comprehensive book I have come across to kick into action and experience these concepts on a magickal level. Hope you'll like your journey.
ReplyDeleteHilbert - you know, looking at your different blogs you seem like a distant relative of Alexander von Humbold? Sure thing someone with an intellect like yours deserves additional bookshelves for all the 22 paths, the qliphoth as well as the hidden paths I guess. But it is people with small minds and limited brain power like me who need to start humble and take baby steps, one book at a time.... :-)
ReplyDelete@Frater Acher It would be an honor to count Baron von Humboldt among my ancestors, but it's unlikely since he is Prussian and my ancestors were Saxons. I'm really just an armchair magician (ideally that chair would be next to the Hod bookshelf ;-) ) who lives vicariously through blogs such as yours, so don't come on _too_ think with the praises ;-)
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