Daath & the Abyss
or
The path to enlightenment masked by knowledge
In a previous article I explained the background of the Qabalah, and how
a fair amount of it's symbology had been crystallised into a figure called
the Tree of Life. On this pictogram an eleventh circle, domain or Sephiroth
is usually displayed, as a broken circle. This is known as Daath, and is
the sphere of knowledge. In my opinion, very little has been written about
this extra domain, and it's significance on the Tree of Life. Here, I intend
to rectify this by presenting one aspect which is important in that it concerns
the failure of the microcosm to evolve into the macrocosm.
You will note that on the Tree of Life the three most superior Sephira:
Kether, Binah and Chokmah form a supernal triad, surmounting all, with Kether
the Crown above all. Daath lies below these three, just below an 'imaginary'
line named the Veil of the Abyss. This has distinct significance, as it
purports, amongst others, to the progress of the soul to enlightenment.
Simply, Daath represents knowledge, and in a nutshell is represented here
to signify the false belief that when one has obtained full understanding,
one is truly perfected.
Many adepts reach a certain point in their metaphysical development, and
then fail to progress further. One reason for this is that they have achieved
a high level of congruence with their Magick, and having what they consider
to be Mastery, fail to ascend to the supernal triad. Crossing the Abyss
is a symbolic path which involves the 'Destruction of Self' (to use Crowley's
words). This is not selfp;annihilation as it suggests, but the blending
of the soul with the macrocosm, to the point where one can no longer perceive
oneself as a distinct, isolated part of the multiverse. This concept is
hard to appreciate unless a) you have an understanding of the path you travel
to enlightenment, or b) you have crossed the Abyss. Obviously, this is no
easy task (in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, very few adepts crossed
the Abyss to reach the highest three grades of attainment), and as such
is a barrier to many people who just do not possess the necessary qualities
to achieve their aims.
It is not the object of this article to dictate what is needed to cross
the Abyss, if I even knew. However, I do wish to explain the rôle
of Daath in this matter. Looking again at the Tree of Life, Daath can be
seen to form an apex to an imaginary triangle with Geburah and Chesed at
it's lower vertices. Although these three domains are not joined by 'Paths
of Wisdom', it can at least be inferred that they could suggest the prescence
of a superior triad on the Tree. In effect, they do, but not in congruence
with the rest of the Sephira. Let me explain: The prescence of this inferred
superior triad does not summate with the rest of the schema, but actually
replaces the supernal triad, with Daath taking the place of Kether.
Of course, this seems very theoretical, but with further analysis does bear
fruition. The purpose of the superior triad is, as I have theorised, to
replace the supernal triad. Why? To depict the situation where spiritual
development hads been halted at a point inferior to true enlightenment (represented
by Kether). As I explained earlier in this article, Daath is a substitute
Kether for those adepts who percieve their knowledge to be Mastery. In this
way, the new superior triad produces a system where to obtain (perceived)
mastery, one does not have to cross the Abyss.
To Cross, or Not to Cross, that is the Question (apologies to Shakespeare).
Within the Qabalah, crossing of the Abyss is essential for the elevation
of the soul to the Macrocosm. However, this is only one view, and it may
be that Knowledge is complete in itself, as an end. It may be that the latter
view is correct instead, or even as well as the Qabalistic opinion. Only
the individual can decide which is correct for him/herself.
Matt D.A. Fletcher