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Steps to Creativity (the Sephirot)
The kabbalistic model of creative process, both Divine and human, is depicted by ten sephirot with twenty-two pathways linking them. It is called a “Tree of Life.” It was crystallized by Rabbi Isaac Luria, known as The Ari, and his circle in the Galilee Mountain town of Tzfat in the sixteenth century.
(Alexenberg, Melvin L. . Through A Bible Lens (p. 49). Elm Hill. Kindle Edition)
In his Through A Bible Lens, and Photographing God, Melvin Alexenberg urges us to fulfill our God given capabilities as creative individuals. In both books, Alexenberg uses his own experience with his Cyberangels as a personal example of the kabbalistic model of the creative process. What follows is an elaboration of his presentation of both the kabbalistic and his own model of the creative process, an elaboration that hopefully points to and guides our own.
An artist, educator, writer working at the interface between art, science, technology and Jewish consciousness, Mel Alexenberg has evolved cyberangels as an expression of that interface. He describes their origin:
“In celebration of Miami’s centennial, I digitized an angel drawn by Rembrandt and sent it flying between the four corners of the USA. The single angel image was deconstructed and routed through cyberspace between Miami and San Diego, along multiple pathways. When the data packets reached San Diego, they were reassembled in the correct sequence, based on the ID numbers that were assigned in Miami.”
(Through A Bible Lens (p. 51). Elm Hill. Kindle Edition.)
As shown in the illustrations above, these cyberangels are depicted on the cover of Through a Bible Lens and in commemoration of other events.
Both the Kabbalistic and Alexenberg models of the creative process are set against the ten sephirot commonly depicted as elements on the tree of life. As shown is the diagram below, each of the ten spheres is labelled and connected to other spheres. There are 22 connections within the tree, each representing a letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
https://throughabiblelens.blogspot.com/
Basic Explanation of the 10 Sefiros
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Melvin Alexenberg leads us through his cyberangel creative process using a path through each of the ten kabbalistic sephirot.
To get an initial sense, you should read Mel Alexenberg’s own words through the ten Sephirot, then come back to the first to delve into each step in the creative process. As you do follow the path described in the diagram of the tree of life.
The Ten Sephirot as Suggested by Mel Alexenberg
Keter
The first stage in the creative process is the sephirah Crown (Keter)—the will to create coupled with faith that one can create, and anticipation that the creative process is pleasurable. Without this intention, self-confidence, and hope for gratification, the creative process has no beginning. (Through A Bible Lens (pp. 77-78). Elm Hill. Kindle Edition.)
Halacha of awareness
Hokhmah
Crown sets the stage for the sephirah of Wisdom (Hokhmah) that requires a selfless state, nullification of the ego that opens gateways to supraconscious and subconscious realms. When active seeking ceases, when consciously preoccupied with unrelated activities, when we least expect it, the germ of the creative idea bursts into our consciousness. This sudden flash of insight is what the kabbalah calls Wisdom. Through A Bible Lens (pp. 77-78). Elm Hill. Kindle Edition.
Binah
Like the sperm that is received by the ovum in the womb, the unformed germ of an idea from the sephirah of Wisdom enters into the sephirah of Understanding (Binah).
Together, Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge form the cognitive realm of thoughts. Knowledge both unites Wisdom and Understanding and is the gateway to the next six sephirot that form the affective realm of emotions. Through A Bible Lens (p. 79). Elm Hill. Kindle Edition.
Hesed
The fourth sephirah of Compassion (Hesed) is openness to all possibilities. I thought of the hundreds of artistic options open to me in creating computer angels and I loved them all.
Through A Bible Lens (p. 79). Elm Hill. Kindle Edition.
Gevurah
Compassion is counterbalanced by the fifth sephirah of Strength (Gevurah), the strength to set limits, to make judgments, to choose between myriad options. Through A Bible Lens (p. 79). Elm Hill. Kindle Edition.
Tiferet
The sixth sephirah of Beauty (Tiferet). This sephirah represents a beautiful balance between the counterforces of Compassion and Strength. It is the feeling of harmony between all my possible options and the choices I had made. Beauty is the aesthetic core of the creative process in which harmonious integration of openness and closure is experienced as deeply felt beauty. Through A Bible Lens (pp. 80-81). Elm Hill. Kindle Edition.
Netzah
The seventh sephirah of Success (Netzah) is the feeling of being victorious in the quest for significance. I felt that I had the power to overcome any obstacles that may stand in the way of realizing my artwork. Netzah can also mean “to conduct” or “orchestrate” as in the word that begins many of the Psalms. I had the confidence that I could orchestrate all the aspects of creating a multimedia symphony of computer angels arising from the bowels of New York City. Through A Bible Lens (pp. 81-82). Elm Hill. Kindle Edition.
Hod
The eight sephirah of Splendor (Hod) is the glorious feeling that the final shaping of the idea is going so smoothly that it seems as effortless as the splendid movements of a graceful dancer. The sephirah of Success is an active self-confidence in contrast with the sephirah of Splendor, which is a passive confidence born of a trust in Divine providence that “all will be good.” It is the power to advance smoothly with the determination and perseverance born of deep inner commitment. It is the wonderful feeling that all is going as it should. CREATIVE INTEGRATION
Through A Bible Lens (pp. 81-82). Elm Hill. Kindle Edition.
Yeshod
The ninth sephirah of Foundation (Yesod) is the sensuous bonding of Success and Splendor in a union that leads to the birth of the fully formed idea. It funnels the integrated forces of intention, thought, and emotions of the previous eight sephirot into the world of physical action. In Chronicles 1:29, this sephirah is called All or Everything (kol). It channels everything that was playing out in my mind into the craft of making the artwork. It transports my private mental world into a public environmental arena in which I can create a product to communicate my ideas to others. Through A Bible Lens (pp. 81-82). Elm Hill. Kindle Edition.
Malkhut
This tenth sephirah of Kingdom (Malkhut) is the noble realization of my concepts and feelings in the kingdom of time and space. It involves all the practical details that go into physically making an artwork. Through A Bible Lens (p. 82). Elm Hill. Kindle Edition.
Step by Step through the 10 Sephirot
Initially the process will be highly structured, but over time it will become “second nature”.
Keter
“The will to create coupled with faith that one can create, and anticipation that the creative process is pleasurable.”
Keter is an openness to be part of the creative process. “I am created bezelem Elohim- In the image of the Creator with the ability to add to the universe.”
I have eyes to see
I have ears to hear
I have a nose to smell
I have a mouth to taste
I have hands to feel
I have legs to move
I have imagination
I have a mind
I can create
I have created
I will create
I will create so that I can create
Hokhmah
“The germ of the creative idea bursts into our consciousness. This sudden flash of insight is what the kabbalah calls Wisdom.”
Please list here ideas you have had that are yet to be realized.
What projects have you entertained, but rejected?
Binah
“Like the sperm that is received by the ovum in the womb, the unformed germ of an idea from the sephirah of Wisdom enters into the sephirah of Understanding (Binah).”
What would you need to accomplish the ideas you have listed?
Cognitive realm: insight / conceptualization / inquiry חכמה / בינה
http://www.melalexenberg.com/paper.php?id=13 As I transformed my unformed insight into words to explain my thoughts to her, I entered into the sephirah of Understanding. All manner of thoughts entered my mind on ways to create computer angels. The shapeless idea that ignited the process began to take form in the sephirah of Understanding. Together, Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge form the cognitive realm of thoughts. Knowledge both unites Wisdom and Understanding and is the gateway to the next six sephirot that form the affective realm of emotions.
Hesed
“The fourth sephirah of Compassion (Hesed) is openness to all possibilities”
Which of the ideas are the most appealing? Don’t worry yet about practical details. “If I had all the time, resources and materials, I would…”
Gevurah
“The fifth sephirah of Strength (Gevurah), the strength to set limits, to make judgments, to choose between myriad options.”
Here is the decision point.
Tiferet
“The sixth sephirah of Beauty (Tiferet). This sephirah represents a beautiful balance between the counterforces of Compassion and Strength. It is the feeling of harmony between all my possible options and the choices I had made.”
Now that I have made a decision(s) I can get to work.
Netzah
“The seventh sephirah of Success (Netzah) is the feeling of being victorious in the quest for significance. I felt that I had the power to overcome any obstacles that may stand in the way of realizing my artwork.”
Here is a listing of the practical steps..
Hod
“The eight sephirah of Splendor (Hod) is the glorious feeling that the final shaping of the idea is going so smoothly that it seems as effortless as the splendid movements of a graceful dancer. It is the power to advance smoothly with the determination and perseverance born of deep inner commitment. It is the wonderful feeling that all is going as it should.”
I am creating the design, taking steps to realize..
Yeshod
“The ninth sephirah of Foundation (Yesod) is the sensuous bonding of Success and Splendor in a union that leads to the birth of the fully formed idea. It funnels the integrated forces of intention, thought, and emotions of the previous eight sephirot into the world of physical action. In Chronicles 1:29, this sephirah is called All or Everything (kol). It channels everything that was playing out in my mind into the craft of making the artwork.”
My project is taking shape, I am learning about the materials, myself..
Malkhut
“This tenth sephirah of Kingdom (Malkhut) is the noble realization of my concepts and feelings in the kingdom of time and space. It involves all the practical details that go into physically making an artwork.”
As I accomplish my project, I am both humbled and proud.