Kabbalah 301.4: Let's study Chesed and receive God's mercy

Chesed (“Mercy”) is the Fourth Sefirah on the Tree of Life. It lies directly below Chokhmah, on the right side of the Array. This is the First Sefirah below the “Veil of the Abyss.” It is often called “Gedulah” (“Greatness”). Chesed is related to the First Day of Creation in Genesis 1:5.

And Elohim called the light day, and the darkness He called night, and it was evening and it was morning, one day.

Chokhmah (“Wisdom”) was boundless, and Binah (“Understanding”) was created to place limits on Chokhmah. Chesed is expansive, like Chokhmah, but on a lower, more controlled Level. The god Name associated with Chesed is “El” (a Word meaning simply “God”), the Archangel is Tzadkiel, and the angels are the Hashmalim. As the Vehicle for God’s Mercy, Chesed is also the Source of Abundance, in every sense of the word. Chesed is the Fourth Path in the Sefer Yetzirah, which reads as follows:

The Fourth Path is named the Cohesive Intelligence (Sekhel Kavua קבוע שכל), and is so called because it contains all the Spiritual Powers, which emanate one from the other by the Power of the Primordial Emanator, The Ancient One, The Highest Crown.

What this means, is that Chesed relays the Energy from the Three Supernals to all that follows. This Concept correlates well with the Planet Jupiter, Named after the King of the Gods. Even though Traditional Kabbalah links this Sefirah with Sunday, the First Day, Jupiter links it also to Thursday (“Thor’s Day”). The referent at the end of the passage is to Keter, the Macroprosopos.

The Four “Fours” in Tarot correlate to Chesed.

The four of Wands represents Chesed in Atsilut. This is a Card of completion and rest, a Time to Celebrate. This is a Time for reflection on Past events. It can also mean initial success of a business venture, a good start at a creative project or the blossoming of a friendship or relationship. Often, the Card depicts a Wedding Canopy. Growth has not stopped; it is simply Time to celebrate it.

The Four of Cups is Chesed in Beriah. When this Card occurs in a reading, it is Time to consider multiple courses of action, and choose which is wisest. One must take sufficient Time to consider all options. Avoid stagnation.

The Four of Swords is Chesed in Yetzirah. This indicates a Time of rest and recovery. It is not a Card of death, but rather recuperation. This is not a Time for action. It can also mean the eye of a hurricane, before activity kicks back in. The preparedness is that of the Intellect.

The Four of Disks is Chesed in Assiah. The indication is traditionally of miserliness, but it goes deeper than that. This means resistance to change. In a Reading, it might mean that it is Time to let go of the Past.

In Nova Thought, we find a link to the Rain Principle, which further connects us with the Number Two, the Runes Uruz, Thurisaz, and Laguz in the Elder Futhark, and the Svaddhisthana, the second or Splenic Chakra. It should not be surprising, that Jupiterian Blue is the main traditional Color for Chesed. The Nova Thought "Character" is the Champion. This is where forgiveness works in, both receiving and giving.

A good Affirmation for Chesed might be:

I am receiving God's Mercy, in order to share that Greatness with others.