Aleph and Tav, read right to left

Spiritual chemistry is the science of the elements used by God in creating the world, of which there are twenty-two. The first one, Aleph, has the power to transform, sublimate and enlighten; the last one, Tav, preserves and protects from destruction. Jesus said, ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ meaning, ‘I have within me the two elements of the heavenly chemistry, one enabling me to sublimate everything, and the other permitting me to realize heaven on earth.’

There you have the meaning of Alpha and Omega, Aleph and Tav. You must know how to climb all the way to the heights if you want to obtain the element in the Sephira Kether. Sometimes it comes down here to us, but most of us cannot receive it, we are closed up in ourselves, barricaded behind thick layers of darkness that prevent it from entering.

Yesod is the only Sephira that opens our doors and windows to the element because of its purity. It is not necessary if you go through Yesod to make the tremendous effort (effort is often superfluous) to climb all the way to Kether, it is sufficient to wash oneself clean and transparent and pure so that the divine element can enter.

When I say climb, it is not a question of going up or down, you can stay in place and open the path that leads from Malkuth to Yesod. Between Malkuth where humans are, and Yesod which is the first station on the Tree of Life, the path is dark and mysterious, filled with obstacles, it is a region that must be gone through by the disciple if they want to reach Yesod, but it is fraught with danger for it is where all the deceptions, aberrations and deviations are.

Malkuth is the region where we live, the Earth, the world. The next station is Yesod, the region of the Moon. If he wishes to arrive safely, the disciple must not attempt to go from Malkuth to Yesod without being armed with advice and instruction and light from his Master. He will have to face temptation, suffer and lose his way, he will have setbacks, but if his desire and will to succeed are unshakable, he will arrive.

Yesod, as I have explained, is divided into four regions, as are the other Sephiroth. The lower part is a twilight region one must go through as quickly as possible to attain the higher regions which are filled with pure light. Yesod receives the light and power and riches of all the Sephiroth, it has all the virtues and qualities. The Sephiroth are like reservoirs filled to overflowing and bubbling over impetuously with energy; it is this energy that flows into Yesod.

By drinking the pure waters of Yesod, you absorb the virtues of all the Sephiroth at the same time, you have only to purify yourself to receive them. But unless you open yourself, they will turn round and round outside you and not be able to enter. If a windowpane is dirty you cannot see through it, even if the sun is shining.

In the past when there were only oil lamps, the housekeeper had to clean them every day, otherwise the light of the flame would not shine through. The same thing for man, if he is not pure, his light is obscured and he will not see or feel. As soon as he is pure, he becomes receptive to the cosmic rays which fill him with beauty and riches of all kinds. It says in the Gospels, ‘Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.’

Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov
Sèvres, 16th January, 1972

Complete Works Volume 7. The Mysteries of Yesod – Foundations of the Spiritual Life 
The Mysteries of Yesod – Foundations of the Spiritual Life