Qliphoth, kliffothorklippot (Heb. קליפות qelippot, meaning "peas", "shells" or matter,[1] singular: קליפה qelippah) and (sometimes (קליפות the primeval "husks" of impurity) refer to the representation of evil forces in the mystical teachings of Judaism (such as in the Kabbalah.)[2]
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All Judaic interpretations of the qliphoth agree they are the cause of evil and suffering (see theodicy). There are kabbalistic worldviews that seek to explain evil without use of the qliphoth concept, as aspects of the sephiroth (singular: sephirah) Binah, Gevurah and Hod.
The Zohar describes the qliphoth as the result of separation necessary in the act of creation. Between two things, there must be a gap or barrier, and that is a qliphah.
In what may be the most widely-accepted teaching, they are the "[empty] husks" of "[holy] sparks" (nitzotzot) that were cast down after Adam and Eve defied God's command not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden as told in the Book of Genesis.
AHasidic view states that in the process of creation, ten sephiroth were created, each encapsuled by a qliphah. The ten sephiroth are thought to be ten divine "enumerations" or "emanations" of God into the universe. The first set of ten qliphoth proved too weak to hold the emanating force, and the lower seven of them broke. They were replaced, but the broken former set, animated by a residue of the creative power of God, remained and conflicts with those aspects of the world corresponding to the lower seven sephiroth.
A more modern interpretation attributes the creation of the qliphoth to an inherent imbalance towards the Severity aspects of creation, which occurred either in Adam and Eve eating from the Tree of Knowledge but not the Tree of Life, or before that, in creation itself. The latter view is sometimes elaborated to state severity had to lose power to produce a balanced creation, and the excess power formed the qliphoth.
In a similar but less mystical interpretation, qliphoth come into existence whenever the powers of the sephiroth are used wrongly, and may manifest in any form, ranging from hurricanestocar wrecks to demons and other supernatural creatures.
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Writing in The Kabbalah Unveiled, of the founding texts of Hermetic Kabbalah, MacGregor Mathers equals these forces to the Kings of Edom. He also offers the suggestion they are the result of an imbalance towards a merciful aspect of God and have since been destroyed. [1]
In subsequent Hermetic teachings, the Qliphoth have tended, much like the sephiroth, to be interpreted as metaphysical worldsorentities, and merged with ideas derived from demonology.
In addition to this, there are also The Seven Infernal Habitations or seven hells (Tehom, Abaddon, Titahion, Barshacheth, Tzelmoth, Shaarimoth and Gehinnom), twelve Qliphotic orders of demons, three powers before Satan and twenty-two demons which correspond to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
According to Aleister Crowley, the three evil forms (before Samael), are said to be Qemetial, Belial, and Othiel.[3]
According to Israel Regardie, the qlipothic tree consists of 10 spheres in opposition to the sephiroth on the Tree of Life. These are also referred to as the "evil twins". They are also the "Evil Demons of Matter and the Shells of the Dead."[4]
Bill Heidrick gives his own interpretation on the adverse tree, saying that the spellings are "mostly reconstructions with alternatives. Nonetheless, it is believed that the majority of the above are at least suitable if not perfect." He also goes on to say that "These names are sometimes called the 'adverse Sephiroth' instead of the Demonic Orders. A.E. Waite makes this later point in his Holy Kabbalah, page 256. " [5]
The following comes from the Notes on the Demonic Orders (Adverse Sephiroth) in Magical Correspondences by Bill Heidrick.
Thamiel: Duality in God
"Thamiel represents duality whereas Kether represents unity. Thus Thamiel is the division of that which is perfect only in unity. As a demonic order name, the Thamiel were before their 'revolt'. This signifies 'Perfection of God'. These angels sought to become more powerful by adding an Aleph to their name. They then became the 'Duality of God,' an order of the lesser demons. In the lowest state of their 'fall', they become the 'the Polluted of God.' The cortex or outer form of the Thamiel is called Cathariel, 'the Broken' or 'Fearful Light of God'."
Satan : Adversary and King
To Thamiel, "there are two demons that are attributed to stress the view that the demonic opposite of Kether is duality instead of unity and are Satan and Moloch or Malech."
Chaigidel: Confusion of the Power of God
"These are the confusion of that great power which, as Chokmah, goes forth at the beginning to give the vital energy of creation to the processes of Binah. The cortex of the Chaigidel is called Ghogiel, 'Those Who Go Forth into the Place Empty of God'."
Beelzebub: Lord of the Flies and Adam Belial: Wicked Man
To Chaigidel, "both Satan and Beelzebub are attributed as well as Adam Belial. The name Belial is often used separately as a demonic name."
Sathariel: Concealment of God
"Even as Binah is the great revealing one who bestows the structure of the Absolute onto the created, its opposite, the Sathariel, conceal the nature of The Perfect. The cortex or outer form of the Sathariel is called the order of Sheireil, 'The Hairy Ones of God'."
Lucifuge: One Who Flees Light
To Sathariel, Lucifuge "is attributed and is probably a name made up to replace the name Lucifer, 'Light Bearer'."
Gamchicoth: Devourers
"Chesed is the source of bounty both in idea and in substance to the lower forms. Gamchicoth is the order of 'Devourers' who seek to waste the substance and thought of creation. The outer form is the order of Azariel, 'The Binding Ones of God'."
Astaroth: One of the Flock
To Gamchicoth, "Astaroth is attributed. This is the name of the goddess Astarte, the Ishtar of the Babylonians and perhaps also the Isis of the Egyptians."
Golab: Burning Bodies
"Geburah is a going forth in power to rule in strength. The order of Golab is composed of those who burn to do destruction --- even on themselves. The outer form is the Usiel, 'The Ruins of God'."
Asmodeus: The Destroying God
To Golab, Asmodeus is attributed. "This name is half Hebrew and half Latin. Asmodeus is often mentioned in the literature of demonology. The name can also be translated as 'The one adorned with fire'."
Togaririm(n): Those Who Bellow Grief and Tears
"Tiphereth is the place of great beauty and rejoicing. The Togaririm build ugliness and groan about it. The cortex of the Togaririm is called the Zomiel, 'The Revolt of God'."
Belphegor: Lord of the Dead
To Togaririm, "the replacement of Tiphereth, the sphere of the vitalizing Sun, with a place holding Belphegor, the lord of dead bodies, is most striking."
Harab Serapel: Ravens of the Burning of God
"Netzach is the openness of natural love. The Harab Serapel are the Ravens of Death who reject even their own. The outer form is Theumiel, 'The Fouled Substance of God'."
Baal: Lord and Tubal Cain: Maker of Sharp Weapons
To Harab Serapel, "Baal is attributed, and is "a word which means Lord, much as Adonai means Lord. The word Baal or 'Bel' has become restricted in its usage to signify a 'Lord of Darkness'." Also attributed is Tubal Cain.
Samael: The Desolation of God, or The Left Hand
"Hod is the complex working of the will of the Absolute. Samael represents the barren desolation of a fallen and failed creation. The outer form is the Theuniel, 'The filthy Wailing Ones of God'."
Adrammelech: Powerful King
To Samael, Adrammelech is attributed. "This name is found in Fourth Kings: XVII, 29-31: ' And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim."
Gamaliel: Polluted of God
"Yesod is the place of the final forms that become matter in Malkuth. The Gamaliel are the Misshapen and polluted images that produce vile results. The outer form is the order of Ogiel, 'those Who Flee from God'."
Lilith: Night Spector
To Gamaliel, Lilith is attributed and "is the grand lady of all demons. The demons are sometimes considered to be the children of Lilith and is said to be the woman who comes to men in their dreams."
Nehemoth: Whisperers (or Night Spector)
"These are responsible for frightening sounds in strange places. They excite the mind and cause strange desires." This corresponds with Malkuth as well.
Nehema: Groaning
To Nehemoth, Nehema is attributed, "and is traditionally a demon and the sister of Lilith, possibly a remembrance of the Egyptian Nephthys and Isis. It is conceivable that Nehema is the same as Naamah, the sister of Tubal Cain."
