The Chain of Manifestation

Every “THING” has a chain of manifestation. Every material object went through a process of becoming the “THING” we observe. That process is what I here call the chain of manifestation. If we think about an ice cube, we can easily visualize the chain. As a frozen cube, the subject matter exists as a solid. Before being frozen, the subject matter existed as a fluid - water. Before existing as a fluid, the subject matter existed as gas in a rain cloud. Before existing as gas, the subject matter existed as individual molecules in the unseen world, or world of spirit. The subject matter existed in three states or worlds before making its entry into our fourth world of physicality. In the Kabbalistic tradition, our universe consists of four worlds, represented by the Hebrew letters of the Tetragrammaton - Yod, Heh, Vav, and Heh.

As human beings who participate in all four worlds, we have the ability to create our own chains of manifestation. We can speak, feel, think and act as conduits of those worlds. Understanding the four worlds helps us conceptualize this process.

       Let’s look at them from a Kabbalistic perspective:

The world of Atziluth (divinity) is represented by “Yod” in the Tetragrammaton or simply a point. It has no width, breadth or depth. One point indicates a state of unity and harmony. In our conceptualization, the point indicates inclusiveness - every “thing” that exists and everything that has the possibility to exist. The ideas, thoughts and symbols we invoke have their genesis in the collective divine unity. This world corresponds to the element of Fire because of its transcendent and transformative nature.

The world of Briah (mind) is represented by the first “heh” in the Tetragrammaton and also a line between two points. The first movement in the chain of manifestation necessarily originates in the point (or world) of unity which then proceeds outwardly to a second point of definition. What this creates is a form (line) with width, but no breadth or depth. It is a world of symbols with intrinsic meaning, but without enunciated purpose. This link in the chain for our purposes corresponds to the feeling which precedes the thought (formation) of whatever the manifestation requires. This world corresponds to the element of Air because of its elusive and fleeting nature.

The world of Yetzirah (formation or thought) is represented by the “vav” in the Tetragrammaton and also a 2-dimensional geometric plane. It has width and breadth but no depth. In this stage, manifestation moves in purposeful ways to create the blueprint needed for full manifestation. The events in this world are the third link of the chain and the immediate precursors to the final stage in our world of sense perception.  This is where the actual materials for the manifestation are brought together in form. This world corresponds to the element of Water because of its purposeful but fluid nature.

The world of Assiah (action or will) is represented by the second “heh” in the Tetragrammaton and also a 3-dimensional geometric shape. Our 3-dimensional world is another “heh” because it is a mirror of the second world Briah - the first “heh”. It has width, breadth and depth. As the final link in the chain of manifestation, we see the fruits of our labors as changes that were once only feelings or vague intuitions (gases or fluids) existing as a reality. This world corresponds to the element of Earth because of its solid, dense and actualized  nature.

      To summarize, all possibilities exist in the un-manifested world of spirit. We have a feeling - usually triggered by our environment - which is pulled out of that world of unity, into the world of symbol and into our consciousness. It exists there in a vague gaseous form until further action is taken. Our thinking faculties then take the idea and pull it into the world of formation where an actual plan - fluid in nature - molds it in wisdom. Lastly, when the time and conditions are suitable, the form is solidified according to the nature of the manifestation and placed in action by will to produce the expected result.

      An important aspect of manifestation is that of time. It’s easy to forget that we exist in not only space but also time. We can plan everything right, make all the right decisions and have all the right materials, but the time is simply not right. Time can be a barrier between the world of formation and the world of action. A young man or woman may have made a career plan, went to the right schools, graduated and chosen a profession in the hope of receiving a large salary. However, as an inexperienced individual the time is simply not right for the top wages. Time must be put into the career before the wages can be manifested. A baby may have the feeling, thought and legs to walk, but they have not developed enough to do so. The time is not right until the development allows it.

      Knowledge of manifestation is not only to benefit ourselves in a material sense. It gives us a scientific perspective on how the world works as well as our purpose in it. It’s easy to look around us and feel jealous or angry about the things others have or the lives that others live. The truth is that all of what we observe around us has its own chain of manifestation, but we do not see the chain. We only see the manifestation. We do not see the path others had to travel to get what they have or the sacrifices they made. We do not see the negatives their path created and the ugly side of karmic consequences. Knowledge of the chain of manifestation can help us realize that we are not less than others because of what we have or what our lives look like on the outside. We simply have a different karmic chain, much of which we have little control over. What we do have control over is what we do with the tools given to us and the decisions we make. When we understand the process of manifestation and are able to use it in a purposeful way to better ourselves and by extension our environments, we are Initiates. The initiate does not look at the world simply as it is, but what it has the potential to become and then takes steps to contribute his gifts and skills to the process of becoming. The initiate does not live as a product of his environment, but his environment is a product of the initiate. He is in control of his world, as far as his resources and karmic limitations allow him.