Excerpt from Sepher Yetzirah: The Book of Formation and the Thirty Two Paths of Wisdom The Book of Formation, is not in any sense a narra tive of Creation, or a substitute Genesis, but it is a very ancient and instructive philosophical treatise upon one aspect of the origin of the universe and mankind; an aspect at once archaic and essentially Hebrew. The grouping of the processes of origin into an arrangement, at once alphabetic and numeral, is one only to be found in Semitic authors. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

This Is A New Release Of The Original 1922 Edition.

The "Sepher Yetzirah," or "Book of Formation," is perhaps the oldest philosophical treatise which is yet extant in the Hebrew language. The great interest which has been evinced of late years in the Hebrew Kabalah, and the modes of thought and doctrine allied to it, has induced me to translate this volume from the original Hebrew texts, and to collate with them the Latin versions of mediaeval authorities. Three important books of the "Zohar," or "Splendour," which is the great storehouse of Kabalistic teaching, have been for the first time translated into English by that skilful and erudite Kabalist, my fellow student in occult science, MacGregor Mathers, and the "Sepher Yetzirah" in an English translation is almost a necessary companion to these even more abstruse disquisitions: the two books indeed mutually explain each other.

The Sepher Yetzirah is a Hebrew mystical and metaphysical text of unknown authorship. Often ascribed to the patriarch Abraham or Rabbi Akiva, it is the foundational text in the canon of the Kabbalah. This edition was translated from Hebrew sources by the English coroner, ceremonial magician, theosophist and Freemason William Wynn Westcott, and published in 1893.The Sepher Yetzirah or "Book of Formation", is the oldest Rabbinical treatise of kabbalistic philosophy and metaphysics known to be extant, which Westcott sought to translate after a new interest in the subject in the West during the late-Victorian period. During the same period he sought to write an introduction work to the kabbalh in order to help students. During the translation Westcott sought to consult as many extant Hebrew editions as possible, along with mediaeval latin authorities on the kabbalah (Postellus, Pistorius, & Rittangelius). Furthermore he attached the additional texts "The Thirty-Two Paths" and "The Fifty Gates of Intelligence" to the work.

Faithful reissue of the Kabbalistic classic “Sepher Yetzirah” by the famous occultist William Wynn Westcott from 1893. This edition includes: The 32 Paths of Wisdom, The 50 Gates of Understanding, and the original illustrations by Westcott himself. Sepher Yetzirah, The Book of Formation – A Classic of Occultism The Sepher Yetzirah, Book of Formation or Creation, is one of the oldest and most enigmatic texts of Jewish Kabbalah, considered by many to be the cornerstone of occultism and magic. Traditionally attributed to the patriarch Abraham, this text offers a profound reflection on the creation of the universe through divine language, using the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet and the 10 sephirot or principles of existence. The Sepher Yetzirah by William Wynn Westcott William Wynn Westcott's version of the "Sepher Yetzirah" is especially important because it was one of the first English translations offered with a detailed commentary from an esoteric perspective, providing a vision from the realm of occultism, outside of more traditional Judaism. Westcott's translations of the Sepher Yetzirah are of fundamental interest to occultists and those interested in esoteric and magical Kabbalah. Additionally, this edition includes the texts “The 50 Gates of Understanding,” “The 32 Paths of Wisdom,” the “Supplement to Chapters IV and V,” notes, comments, as well as Westcott's illustrations. One of the Most Important Kabbalah Books - The Book of Creation According to historians, the origin of the Sepher Yetzirah is unknown, and its origins are so ancient that they have been lost to antiquity. It is believed to have been created from both the written and oral traditions (Mishnah), leading to the conclusion that the existing ancient versions were compiled around the year 200 CE. The Sepher Yetzirah in English Westcott's work is crucial because it opened the doors of the "Sepher Yetzirah" to a broader audience outside the traditional Jewish sphere, offering an essential guide for those seeking to understand reality, that is: the relationship between the microcosm of the human being and the macrocosm of the universe. Westcott's edition provides a fascinating approach for those interested in esoteric and less religious and closed spiritual pursuits, allowing the complex Kabbalistic concepts to be understood and applied in more mystical and spiritual contexts. The "Sepher Yetzirah" is a fundamental text for those interested in Kabbalah and occultism because it offers an explanation of the divine creative process that reveals the mystical structure of the universe. Through the combination of letters and numbers, this book becomes a key that unlocks the mysteries of creation, time, and space, providing a foundation for deep meditation and spiritual pursuit. Westcott's edition stands out for its clarity and its ability to connect traditional Kabbalistic teachings with the esoteric currents of his time, allowing the "Sepher Yetzirah" to remain a relevant and fascinating text for students of Kabbalah, occultism, and mysticism to this day. The Sepher Yetzirah is a work of great historical and cultural value, standing out as a practical guide for meditation, understanding, and spiritual introspection.

"In thirty-two mysterious paths of wisdom did the Lord write, the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, the Living Elohim, and King of the Universe, the Almighty, Merciful, and Gracious God; He is great and exalted and eternally dwelling in the Height, His name is holy. He is exalted and holy. He created His Universe by the three forms of expression: Numbers, Letters, and Words." So, famously, begins the Sepher Yetzirah. The “Book of Formation” embodies the fundamental part of the secret learning, or Kabala, of the Jews. This tradition (Kabala means “to hand down”) was probably never put into writing until Rabbi Akiba ben Joseph produced the “Book of Formation,” or “Book of Numbers and Letters,” in the second century after Christ. In order to render his work unintelligible for the profane he used a veiled language, and expressed himself in riddles and conundrums.