Kabbalah 201.2: Beth and the Magician

Bet is the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and is the first of the “Double Consonants”. With a dot known as the “Dagesh” in the middle of it, Bet sounds like English “B”; without the Dagesh, it sounds like “V”. It always has the “hard sound”, however, at the beginning of a Word, in the final position, it is always a "V" sound. Note: often this Letter's Name is Anglicized as "Beth", but the Letter "Tav" has not had the "TH" sound in over 2000 Years! This article is titled "Beth and the Magician" after an Ancient Hebrew Folk Tale.

The actual Word “Bet” is spelled “Bet Yod Tav” , meaning “house”. The pronunciation of the Names of Hebrew Letters, it must be noted, is usually based on Aramaic, perhaps because the “Block Form” used today is based on an Aramaic original. The actual Hebrew word for “house” (“Bayit”) is spelled the same, Bet Yod Tav.

Bet has a numeric value of Two. It can be said to symbolize the beginnings of plurality, that is, duality. The first letter of the Bible is Bet. The scroll of Genesis starts the Word “Bereishit” ('in the beginning'), which means something more like “at first”. “Reishit” means “beginning” and is the same linguistic root as “Reish”, the Twentieth Letter, related to the concept of “head”. Bet is also the first Letter of “Baruch” (“Blessed Be”), the first word of Hebrew Blessings.

The Letter Bet (and the word “Bayit”) not only conveys the Idea of “house” as a building, but also household, tabernacle, orany kind of dwelling, such as a tent or the House of God (“Bet Mikdash”) whether but also the Inner Self, a place of peace, a Sanctuary. Note that "Bet" comes from an ancient pictogram of a building with an open door. The Letter Bet is also a preposition meaning “in” or “within”, and is attached to the following Word.

Bet corresponds to the Pathway between Keter and Binah on the Tree of Life. This is labeled Path Twelve in the Sefer Yetzirah, which reads as follows:

The Twelfth Path is Named the Bright Intelligence (Sekhel Nitzchi נצחי שכל) because it is the essence of the Wheel of Greatness, which is called Vision-Beholder, the place one reaches the vision of those who gaze into a mirror.

On the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, Bet corresponds to the Second Pathway (Numbered Twelve in the "Thirty-Two Paths of Wisdom"), between Keter (“Crown”) and Binah (Understanding”), the first and third Sefirot, on the Tree of Life, which further relates to the Tarot Card of the Magician, which is traditionally Numbered "One". The Planet that corresponds to Bet is Sol, the Earth’s Sun, which is also connected toTifareth (“Beauty”), the Sixth Sefirah. This correlates Bet further to the Light Principle in Nova Thought. The Spiritual Meaning of Bet is very similar to that of the Runes Jera, Sowilo and Dagaz, and thus relates to the Crown Chakra, the Sahasrara. The "Character" in Nova Thought is the "Monarch" which fits very well with the Magician being a Symbol of Control! In many Medieval versions of the Magician, he is wearing a floppy hat resembling a Crown.

The traditional picture of the Magician Card illustrates this best. Traditionally, there is an Infinity Symbol over his head. This indicates that he is very close to Keter. You may remember that the Infinity Symbol is used in Nova Thought for the Road. The Magician is holding up a “Magic Wand” over a Table/Altar containing symbols of the Four Suits of the Minor Arcana, a Wand, a Sword, a Cup and a Disk. These are Tools of the Master Magician. Is he a Wizard, or a Stage Magician? Does it matter, when he can bring the Power into the material World? The Magician represents the Idea that we can shape our own lives and have the ability to create our Future. In a Tarot reading the Magician reminds you that your relationship to the Universe can help you to more creatively manifest your dreams, goals and desires, and become aware of the tools and skills you have been given; you have the skills to overcome any challenge. Pay attention, and get it under control! Learn these Principles, and you will understand Bet.

An Affirmation for Bet might be:

“I understand now what is really happening, and thus, I am ready to make the necessary changes to keep things from spinning out of control; I am also ready to be the change.”