D. Central Column Working Paths
In distinction to magicians, sorcerers, saints, and wizards, a Mystical Qabalist (or “clear magician”) traverses only the gates and Sefiroth of the Central Column of the Tree. A clear magician uses the Name hvhy and other Divine Names only for spiritual awakening, and for cultivating unconditional love, renunciation of the fruits of action, discrimination between the Real and the Illusory, and non-dual realization. Mystical Qabalists use Working Trees called the “Way of hvhy Elohenu,” the “Way of Messiah,” and the “Way of the Treasuries of Elohim.”
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The “Way of hvhy Elohenu” is a rapid and smooth path up
the Central Column that centers upon unconditional love for and
surrendering the fruits of work in the world to one’s Chosen Ideal
(see Diagram).This path is empowered by remembrance
(zakhor) of the Name of one’s Chosen Ideal, usually in the
context of a root mantra. Over time, the shells are purified and
the soul is able to sustain consciousness in the higher centers.
The traveler on this path may stop with the awakening and
sustaining of consciousness in the heart Sefirah Beauty/Last. Or,
by renouncing the consciousness of the Lord as Creator/
Preserver/Destroyer of the Universe, move on to the witness
consciousness of Vast Face in Atziluth (Sefirah Crown/Above)
and into the negatively existent roots of the Tree.
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The “Way of Messiah” (see Diagram) is generally one of
the fastest and easiest of the Working Paths, but requires an
overpowering and unconditional love for a form of Messiah or the Torah (which contains all of them). In Qabalah, Messiah has
four “Celestial Heads” corresponding to the Sefiroth of the Inner
Court of the Tree. Similar to the Way of hvhy Elohenu, the Way
of Messiah is empowered by taking the name of the Chosen
Messiah in meditation while visualizing an appropriate form in
the heart center. When the consciousness of the traveler moves
into Sefirah Beauty/Last, the entire Tree lights up and all the
Sefiroth merge into one large heart Sefirah. Among others, St.
Teresa of Avila is a clear example of this “One-Heart Perfect
Tree.” The Tree of Messiah is unique in having the Gate of the
Dalet d, called the “Gate of Messiah,” between the Sefiroth
Beauty/Last and Wisdom/East.
A third major type of Working Tree that involves the
exclusive use of the Central Column is the “Way of the
Treasuries of the House of Elohim” (see Diagram),
which is associated with King David. The Sefiroth on this Tree are
collectively named “Treasuries.” The House of Elohim is the Temple of the Lord hvhy On High. Hence, by this Tree, King
David intended to build the Temple of the Lord hvhy in the
hearts of all Israel. )
The use of the Central Column alone
eliminates the distractions of the Right and Left Columns, as well
as any interference from their inhabitants. The disappearance of
the side columns results in various changes in the patterning and
names of the Sefiroth. Among all qabalistic Trees, the Tree of the
Treasuries is the one most similar to the single-column Trees of
the Sufi Latifas and the Tantric Chakras.
