The Eighth Gate

Behold, we have already explained in the previous gate the matter of the Garmentoriginal: "Malbush"; refers to a spiritual protective layer or interface made from the "Surrounding Lights" of the Father and Motheroriginal: "Abba ve-Imma"; these are the high-level divine configurations representing Wisdom and Understanding. We explained there that this Garment is the aspect of the Amber Gloworiginal: "Chashmal"; a mystical term for a brilliant electrical or amber radiance, famously seen in the vision of the Prophet Ezekiel which surrounds The Lesser Countenanceoriginal: "Zeir Anpin"; the divine persona that governs the emotional and ethical attributes of the universe. You must know that this Garment is the aspect of "Surrounding Lights" for the Lesser Countenance, and they are the aspects of the Kindnesses and the Strengths of the Father and Mother from which this Garment is made. This Garment is the Amber Glow, and it is a very great light that surrounds the Lesser Countenance. Within this Amber Glow, there is the aspect of Brightnessoriginal: "Nogah"; a glowing light that occupies a middle ground between pure holiness and total darkness, which is a very subtle light and is the aspect of the Shell known as "Nogah." This Brightness is the intermediary between the Holiness and the Impure Shells.

This Amber Glow is a light that surrounds the Lesser Countenance from all its sides, and it is the Garment in which the Lesser Countenance is clothed. Within this Amber Glow, there is the aspect of Brightness, which is a very subtle light and is the aspect of the Shell known as "Nogah." This Brightness is the intermediary between the Holiness and the Impure Shells. This Amber Glow is a light that surrounds the Lesser Countenance from all its sides, and it is the Garment in which the Lesser Countenance is clothed.

The Ninth Gate

Behold, we have already explained that the Shellsoriginal: "Klipot"; the forces of evil or impurity that "shell" the divine sparks are the refuse of the lights that emerged during the Shattering of the Vesselsoriginal: "Shevirat Ha-Kelim"; a cosmic crisis where the divine vessels could not contain the light and broke, leading to the creation of the lower worlds. These Shells are absolute evil and contain no spark of holiness at all. These Shells are the aspect of the Three Impure Shells called: "Storm Wind," "Great Cloud," and "Flashing Fire"These names are taken from the vision of Ezekiel 1:4 and represent the core levels of the demonic realm. These Shells are the dwelling of the Extraneous Onesoriginal: "Chitzonim"; the demonic or parasitic forces and the place where the Shells reside.

You must know that these Shells have no vitality of their own at all; rather, all their life-force comes from the Sparks of Holinessoriginal: "Nitzotzot"; fragments of divine light trapped in the physical and impure worlds that fell into them during the Shattering of the Vessels. These Sparks are the vitality of the Shells, and without them, the Shells would have no existence at all. The Work of Refinementoriginal: "Birurim"; the spiritual process of sifting good from evil through prayer and mitzvot is to extract these Sparks from within the Shells and elevate them back to the Holiness.

When the Sparks leave the Shells, the Shells remain without vitality and are completely nullified. This is the secret of the verse: "He will swallow up death forever"original: Isaiah 25:8, for when the Refinement of all the Sparks is completed, the Shells will be completely nullified and there will be no memory of them in the world. The "Nogah" Brightness is the intermediary between Holiness and the Shells, representing good and evil mixed together.