The Divine Light of the Most Holy One: Selections from the Kabbalistic Zohar, Part 2 of 2

The Zohar introduces the concept of Divine configurations, and in the Book of Concealed Mystery (another volume of the Zohar), the various facial features of Macroprosopus are explained, along with the representation of the Divine qualities.

“In the hollow of the skull is the aerial membrane of the supreme hidden Wisdom, which is nowhere disclosed; and it is not found, and it is not opened. And that membrane enshrouds the brain of the hidden Wisdom, and therefore, is that Wisdom covered. And that brain, which is itself the hidden Wisdom, is silent and remains tranquil in its place.”

“This is the tradition. From the skull of His head hang down a thousand thousand myriads; seven thousand and five hundred curling hairs, white and pure. And in single curls are four hundred and ten locks of hair, according unto the number of the word, Holy. But these hairs, all and singular, radiate into four hundred and ten worlds. But these worlds alone are hidden and concealed, and no man knows them, save Himself.”

“The forehead of His skull is the acceptation of acceptations, like as it is written, Exodus 28:38 ‘And it shall be upon His forehead always for acceptation.’ And that forehead is called Will-power, because it is the ruler of the whole head and of the skull, which is covered by four hundred and twenty worlds. And when it is uncovered, the prayers of the Israelites ascend.”

“Rabbi Schimeon spoke unto Rabbi Eleazar, his son, and said: Blessed be thou, O my son! by the Ancient of Days; for thou has found in that time in which thou has need – the acceptation of His forehead. But when this forehead is uncovered, inclination and acceptation are found in perfect form, and all wrath is quieted and subdued before Him. From that forehead shine forth four hundred habitations of judgments, when it is uncovered during that period of acceptation, all things are at peace before it.”

“This is the tradition: This forehead has been extended into two hundred and seventy thousand lights of the luminaries of the superior Eden. This is the tradition: There exists an Eden which shines in Eden. The superior Eden, which is not uncovered, and is hidden in concealment, and is not distributed into the paths, like as it has been said. But no man has known the superior Eden, nor its paths, except Macroprosopus Himself.”