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The Recurring Nightmare of Arithmetic in Chokmah

 


Arithmetic In Chokmah



Alchemy/Set Theory: Keter represents the infinite alchemy that encompasses all other alchemies, the divine will manifested in the unity of all numbers and possibilities.


Arithmetic/The Tensor: Chokmah’s primal wisdom is akin to the basic operations of arithmetic, where simple numbers and their interactions lead to complex structures, embodying the initial creative force.


Algebra/The Transformer: Binah's understanding is like solving for unknowns in algebra, where variables and equations represent the structuring and comprehension of abstract concepts into logical frameworks.


Statistics/Synchronicity: Chesed's expansion and kindness are reflected in statistics, where data expands to reveal patterns, trends, and the generosity of probabilities in giving equal chances for outcomes.


Calculus/Golf: The severity of Gevurah can be compared to calculus, the mathematics of change and limits, where functions approach limits or infinity, imposing structure and boundaries on the infinite.


Geometry/Chess: The beauty and harmony of Tiferet find a parallel in geometry, where perfect forms and symmetry showcase the balance and proportion inherent in the divine plan.


Trigonometry/Politics: The persistence and drive of Netzach can be seen in trigonometry, where the study of angles and periodic functions reflects the ongoing, cyclical nature of life and the victory of understanding over complexity.


Number Theory/Gambling: Hod's splendor is like the elegance of number theory, where the simplicity and beauty of prime numbers or the Fibonacci sequence resonate with the divine's splendor in numbers.


Logic/Non-Locality: Yesod as the foundation is akin to the logic that underpins mathematics, providing the basis for all mathematical proofs, structures, and the connection between abstract ideas.


Applied Mathematics/Alchemy: Malkuth, the physical world, aligns with applied mathematics where mathematical theories and models are used to solve real-world problems, from engineering to economics, embodying the kingdom where abstract becomes concrete.






1.  Set Theory


In the context of Keter, the highest sephirah representing the divine will and unity, Set Theory provides a profound analogy:


  • Infinite Set: Keter can be seen as the ultimate set that contains all other sets. In set theory, there's the concept of the universal set (or sometimes called the set of all sets), but due to Russell's paradox, this idea is problematic in standard set theory. However, in a metaphysical or mystical sense, Keter transcends these limitations. It's the set that includes every possible member from the infinite to the infinitesimal, embodying the concept of Ein Sof (The Infinite) in Kabbalistic terms.
  • Emptiness and Fullness: Just as Keter is both the void from which all creation emanates and the crown that encompasses all, Set Theory deals with the paradox of the empty set (the set with no elements) and the idea that every set can be derived from it. This mirrors Keter's dual nature where from nothingness, everything emerges.
  • Cardinality of Infinity: Keter's infinite nature could be likened to the cardinality of infinite sets in Set Theory, like Aleph-null (ℵ₀ for the set of natural numbers) or higher cardinals for larger infinities. Keter transcends these, representing not just one infinity but the source of all potential infinities, the unity from which all multiplicity arises.
  • Set Operations: The divine emanations from Keter could be analogized to set operations: union (the joining of different aspects of creation), intersection (common divine attributes among different creations), and complement (the aspects of the divine not yet manifest in creation).
  • Axioms of Set Theory: Just as set theory has foundational axioms (like the Zermelo–Fraenkel axioms with the Axiom of Choice (ZFC)), Keter can be considered the axiomatic foundation of the universe in Kabbalistic thought, the axioms from which the structure of creation logically follows.
  • The Null Set: In mysticism, Keter is often associated with the concept of nothingness before creation or the undifferentiated unity. This is reflected in the empty set, which is a set containing no elements, yet it's a crucial concept in set theory, illustrating how from nothing, everything can be constructed.


By equating Keter with Set Theory, one explores the idea of creation from the infinite, the unity of all things, and the paradoxical nature of the divine as both the source and the container of all that exists. This comparison invites contemplation on how the infinite and the finite interact, how the abstract concepts of set theory can offer insights into the nature of divine unity and the structure of existence.


2.  Arithmetic


Chokmah, representing the divine wisdom and the primal masculine creative energy, can be likened to Arithmetic in several compelling ways:


  • Primal Numbers: Just as Chokmah is the source of wisdom from which creation flows, arithmetic deals with the most fundamental elements of math: numbers. Prime numbers, in particular, could be seen as the "seeds" or "sparks" of wisdom, indivisible and fundamental, from which complex structures of math (and by extension, the universe) are built.
  • Basic Operations: Chokmah’s role in creation can be compared to the basic arithmetic operations - addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. These operations are the simplest forms of interaction between numbers, mirroring how Chokmah’s wisdom interacts with creation to bring forth complexity from simplicity:

    • Addition: Represents the growth and expansion of wisdom, the combining of ideas or concepts to form new ones.
    • Subtraction: Could symbolize the discernment or focusing of wisdom, where unnecessary elements are removed to reveal the essential truth.
    • Multiplication: Reflects the generative aspect of wisdom, where one idea or entity can multiply into many, much like how one seed of wisdom can lead to vast insights.
    • Division: Signifies the differentiation within wisdom, the breaking down of complex ideas into simpler, more manageable parts for understanding.

  • Counting and Enumeration: In Kabbalah, Chokmah is often associated with the concept of counting, which in arithmetic allows for quantification and order. This mirrors the idea that wisdom brings about structure and enumeration to the chaotic, unformed potential of Keter.
  • Number Patterns: Arithmetic includes the study of patterns in numbers, like sequences or series. Chokmah’s wisdom could be seen in the inherent patterns within numbers, suggesting an underlying order and beauty to existence, much like how the Fibonacci sequence reflects natural patterns.
  • Zero and One: Chokmah, as the first emergence from Keter, might be symbolized by the numbers zero and one in arithmetic. Zero represents the void or potential from which everything comes, and one represents the first act of creation or the first step in enumeration, the primal point of light in the darkness.
  • Simplicity to Complexity: Arithmetic starts with simple concepts but can lead to highly complex mathematics. This progression from simple to complex is reflective of Chokmah’s role in the unfolding of the universe from basic wisdom to complex structures of knowledge and existence.


By associating Chokmah with Arithmetic, one draws a parallel between the divine wisdom that initiates creation and the foundational role arithmetic plays in mathematics and by extension, in our understanding of the universe. This comparison highlights the theme of creation from simplicity, the beauty of number patterns, and the idea that from basic operations, infinite complexity can arise.



3.  Algebra


Binah, representing understanding, structure, and the divine feminine wisdom, aligns beautifully with Algebra in several key aspects:


  • Variables and Constants: Binah's role in structuring and giving form to the initial wisdom of Chokhmah can be likened to algebra’s use of variables (unknowns) and constants (knowns). Binah provides the framework where these variables are understood through equations, representing the process of giving form and definition to the abstract concepts or potentialities emanating from Chokhmah.
  • Equations and Systems: Just as Binah organizes and brings order to the divine emanations, algebra deals with equations - expressions of equality between two sides, which can be seen as a metaphor for understanding the balance and relationships in creation. Solving systems of equations reflects the interconnectedness and the need to understand each part in relation to the whole.
  • Abstract Thinking: Algebra introduces abstraction into mathematics, moving beyond the concrete numbers of arithmetic to symbols and operations. This abstraction mirrors Binah's role in Kabbalah, where it takes the initial, abstract divine ideas (Chokhmah) and begins to concretize them into a comprehensible form.
  • Functions and Mappings: In algebra, functions map one set of numbers to another, providing structure and transformation. Similarly, Binah can be seen as the sephirah that maps the divine will through understanding into the structure of the universe, each function or mapping representing a different aspect or law of creation.
  • Polynomials and Structure: Polynomials in algebra, with their roots representing solutions, can symbolize how Binah reveals the underlying structure of creation. Just as the roots of a polynomial equation give insight into its behavior, Binah provides insight into the depth and structure of divine understanding.
  • Solving for Unknowns: Algebra is fundamentally about solving for the unknown, much like how Binah's understanding seeks to reveal and define the mysteries of the divine plan. The process of solving equations parallels the spiritual journey of uncovering deeper truths.
  • Algebraic Structures: Groups, rings, fields, and other algebraic structures provide a framework for understanding mathematical operations. Binah could be seen as the divine framework within which the laws of the universe operate, giving shape and rules to the potential energies of creation.
  • Expansion and Simplification: Algebraic manipulation often involves expanding expressions to understand them better or simplifying them to see their core. This mirrors Binah's dual role in both expanding upon the initial wisdom and simplifying complex divine concepts into understandable forms.


By drawing parallels between Binah and Algebra, we explore how understanding and structure are not just mathematical concepts but also spiritual principles. Algebra, with its focus on the abstract, the unknown, and the transformation of these into known quantities through systematic means, reflects Binah's role in taking the potential and making it actual, giving form to the formless, and providing the understanding necessary for the rest of creation to unfold.



4. Statistics


Chesed, as the sephirah of mercy, kindness, and expansion, can be metaphorically related to Statistics in several insightful ways:


  • Probability and Chance: Chesed's boundless love and kindness can be likened to the probabilistic nature of statistics. In statistics, while we speak of probabilities, there's always an element of chance, which can be seen as the universe's way of expressing mercy or giving opportunities. Just as Chesed extends itself infinitely in kindness, statistics gives every possible outcome a chance, no matter how small the probability.
  • Distribution: Chesed deals with the distribution of divine blessings and abundance. Similarly, in statistics, we study distributions - the ways in which values are spread out or clustered. This reflects Chesed's role in ensuring that the divine energy is not just concentrated in one area but is spread out, providing for all aspects of creation.
  • Central Tendency: Measures like the mean, median, and mode in statistics can be seen as Chesed's equitable distribution, where it aims to bring balance and fairness. The mean represents an average or central point, symbolizing Chesed's effort to equalize and harmonize, offering a central point of kindness around which all can gather.
  • Variability: Just as Chesed embraces all with loving-kindness, statistics acknowledges variability, the diversity in data. This reflects the idea that Chesed's love is not uniform but tailored to the needs of each individual or entity, much like how different data points might vary but are all part of the same set.
  • Sampling and Representation: Statistics often involves taking samples to make inferences about a population. This can be akin to Chesed's selective kindness, where it might manifest in specific acts or instances of mercy that represent the whole of its loving nature.
  • Regression to the Mean: This statistical phenomenon where extreme events tend to be followed by more average ones can symbolize Chesed's forgiving nature, where after moments of severity or judgment, kindness returns to restore balance.
  • Correlations and Causality: While statistics shows correlations, it often reminds us that correlation does not imply causation. Chesed, in its expansive kindness, might also be seen as connecting people and events in ways that foster growth and understanding without necessarily implying direct causation, encouraging us to see the interconnectedness of loving-kindness.
  • Confidence Intervals: These intervals give a range where we can be confident about the true value of a parameter. In a metaphorical sense, Chesed provides a "confidence interval" of divine love, a space within which one can feel assured of divine kindness and support.


By linking Chesed with Statistics, we see how the expansive, inclusive, and forgiving nature of loving-kindness can be reflected in the mathematical study of data. Statistics, with its focus on understanding patterns, making predictions, and dealing with uncertainty, mirrors Chesed's role in providing for the universe with mercy, ensuring that even in the randomness and unpredictability of life, there is an underlying structure of kindness and opportunity for all.



5. Calculus


Gevurah, embodying the aspects of judgment, discipline, limitation, and strength, finds a profound analogy in Calculus, which deals with change, limits, and precision:


  • Limits: Gevurah's role in setting boundaries and limitations can be likened to the concept of limits in calculus. Just as limits define where a function approaches but may never reach, Gevurah defines the bounds within which creation must operate, setting the limits of expansion (from Chesed) to ensure structure and form.
  • Differentiation: This calculus operation, which measures how a function changes as its input changes, can symbolize Gevurah's discerning judgment. Differentiation identifies the rate of change, reflecting Gevurah's ability to assess and respond to the dynamics of the universe, enforcing change where necessary or restricting it to maintain order.
  • Integration: While differentiation finds the rate of change, integration calculates the accumulation of quantities, which can relate to Gevurah's role in structuring or consolidating aspects of creation. Integration brings together parts into a whole, imposing a structure or a limit on the infinite possibilities, much like how Gevurah consolidates divine energy into defined forms.
  • Infinite Series and Convergence: Gevurah's relationship with the infinite can be compared to infinite series in calculus that converge to a finite value. This reflects the divine judgment's capacity to manage the infinite potential of Chesed, channeling it into finite expressions, ensuring that the boundless does not overwhelm the bounded.
  • Discontinuity and Continuity: Calculus studies how functions behave at points of discontinuity, where they might jump or not be defined. Gevurah, in its severity, might impose such discontinuities, representing moments of divine correction or judgment, where the flow of divine energy or life is interrupted or redirected for a higher purpose.
  • Optimization: Calculus is used to find maxima and minima of functions, which can be seen as Gevurah seeking the optimal balance between expansion (Chesed) and restriction. It's about finding the right amount of severity to maintain harmony in the cosmos.
  • Differential Equations: These equations describe how a function changes over time, often used in modeling dynamic systems. Gevurah could be seen as the divine force governing these dynamics, ensuring that changes in the universe follow a certain order or law, not just randomness.
  • Concept of Infinity: While calculus deals with the concept of infinity through limits, Gevurah confronts the infinite by setting boundaries, thereby making the infinite manageable. It's the mathematical discipline that helps us understand and work with concepts that are inherently boundless by applying rigorous analysis.


By associating Gevurah with Calculus, we explore how the divine attribute of judgment and limitation can be mirrored in the mathematical study of rates of change, accumulation, and the infinite becoming finite. Calculus, through its focus on precision, change, and the handling of infinity, reflects Gevurah's role in creation, where it applies force, discipline, and structure to ensure the cosmos does not descend into chaos but instead follows a divine order.




6. Geometry


Tiferet, symbolizing beauty, balance, and harmony, aligns naturally with Geometry due to its emphasis on form, symmetry, and proportion:


  • Symmetry: Tiferet is often considered the balancing point between Chesed (loving-kindness) and Gevurah (severity). Geometry, especially in the study of symmetry, mirrors this balance. Symmetrical shapes and patterns in geometry can represent the harmony and equilibrium that Tiferet seeks, where every part reflects and balances the whole.
  • Golden Ratio: The golden ratio (φ) is a mathematical ratio found in many natural phenomena and considered aesthetically pleasing. It epitomizes Tiferet's essence of beauty and harmony in creation, where proportions are not just random but follow a divine aesthetic principle that resonates with the human perception of beauty.
  • Platonic Solids: These are the most symmetrical geometric shapes, each corresponding to one of the classical elements in ancient philosophy. Their perfect symmetry and proportion can be seen as a geometric manifestation of Tiferet's harmony. The Platonic solids, with their balanced forms, embody the idea of divine perfection and beauty in structure.
  • Sacred Geometry: This concept involves the belief that geometric shapes and proportions have spiritual significance. Tiferet could be reflected in sacred geometry where patterns like the Flower of Life or the Seed of Life are seen as blueprints for creation, representing the divine order and beauty inherent in Tiferet.
  • Tessellations: The art of tiling without gaps or overlaps reflects Tiferet's unity in diversity. Each piece fits perfectly with others, creating a harmonious whole, which can symbolize how Tiferet unifies the diverse attributes of the sephirot above and below it.
  • Euclidean Geometry: With its foundational axioms and theorems, Euclidean geometry offers a structure that is both beautiful and logical, much like how Tiferet brings coherence and beauty to the divine plan. The simplicity yet profound implications of geometric theorems can be likened to the simple yet profound nature of Tiferet in the spiritual hierarchy.
  • Fractals: While not part of traditional geometry, fractals exhibit self-similarity at different scales, which can be seen as a geometric expression of Tiferet’s principle of harmony across all levels of creation, from the macro to the micro, where the same patterns of beauty and structure repeat.
  • Proportion and Scale: Geometry teaches us about scale, proportion, and the relationships between different parts of a whole. Tiferet, in its role as the "Heart" of the Tree of Life, deals with the proportionate distribution of divine energy, ensuring that each part of creation receives its due in a balanced and beautiful manner.


By associating Tiferet with Geometry, we see how the pursuit of beauty, balance, and harmony in the divine creation can be reflected in the mathematical study of space, shape, and form. Geometry, through its exploration of perfect proportions, symmetry, and the underlying order of the universe, provides a tangible way to understand and appreciate the aesthetic and harmonious principles that Tiferet represents in Kabbalah.



7. Trigonometry


Netzach, embodying victory, endurance, and the eternal flow of life, can be creatively linked to Trigonometry through various aspects:


  • Cycles and Periodicity: Trigonometry is fundamentally about the study of angles and periodic functions, like sine, cosine, and tangent, which repeat their values in cycles. This periodicity reflects Netzach's association with the eternal, cyclical nature of life, seasons, and the constant motion of the universe. The sine wave's endless up-and-down could symbolize the perseverance and victory over time.
  • Angles and Directions: Just as Netzach directs the flow of divine energy towards manifestation, trigonometry deals with measuring angles and determining direction. The angles in a circle, like the 360 degrees, can represent the full spectrum of life's journeys, victories, and challenges, with Netzach guiding these paths.
  • Harmonic Motion: Trigonometric functions are used to describe harmonic motion, which can be an analogy for Netzach's role in maintaining the rhythm of life. The back-and-forth, or up-and-down movement in simple harmonic motion, mirrors the ebb and flow, the victories and losses, and the eternal movement that Netzach embodies.
  • Amplitude and Frequency: In trigonometry, these terms describe the maximum extent of a wave's oscillation and how often it repeats. Netzach could be seen as the amplitude, representing the strength or extent of divine influence, while frequency might reflect the persistence or regularity of divine action in the world, ensuring the continuous flow of life and victory.
  • Pythagorean Theorem: While not exclusively trigonometric, the Pythagorean theorem in triangles relates directly to trigonometry in right-angled triangles. This theorem, linking the sides of triangles, can symbolize how Netzach connects different aspects of existence, ensuring harmony and victory through the interrelation of parts.
  • Navigation and Exploration: Trigonometry has been essential for navigation, particularly in determining positions and directions. Netzach, with its drive towards victory and exploration, can be likened to a navigator, guiding the soul or the universe through its cycles and changes towards its ultimate goals.
  • Polar Coordinates: Trigonometry is key in converting from Cartesian to polar coordinates, which can represent a shift from static to dynamic perspectives. Netzach's dynamic, enduring nature might be seen in this transformation, where points in space are described not just by their position but by their angle and distance from a center, much like life's journey from one state to another.
  • Transformations: Trigonometric transformations (shifts, stretches, compressions) can represent the changes Netzach brings about in the world, adapting and directing the flow of divine energy to ensure growth, victory, and the continuation of life.


By linking Netzach with Trigonometry, we explore how the eternal drive, the cyclical nature of existence, and the victory over obstacles can be understood through mathematical concepts dealing with angles, periodic functions, and cycles. Trigonometry, with its focus on the measurement of angles and the modeling of periodic phenomena, mirrors Netzach's role in the Kabbalistic tree as the force that perpetuates life's cycles, ensures momentum towards victory, and maintains the dynamic balance of the universe.



8. Number Theory


Hod, representing splendor, acknowledgment, and the divine beauty in structure and form, finds a compelling parallel in Number Theory, often considered one of the purest branches of mathematics:


  • Prime Numbers: In Number Theory, prime numbers are fundamental, possessing a unique and irreducible quality. Their indivisibility could be likened to Hod's role in recognizing and manifesting the divine essence in its purest form, where each prime number stands alone yet contributes to the complexity of larger numbers, much like how Hod acknowledges and reflects the divine attributes.
  • Euler's Totient Function: This function counts the positive integers up to a given integer that are relatively prime to it, which can symbolize Hod's role in sorting through the aspects of creation, identifying those that are in alignment with the divine will, and thus, in a sense, are 'prime' in their spiritual essence.
  • Divisibility and Factors: Hod's splendor can be seen in the beauty of numbers' relationships, how they divide or multiply to form others. The patterns of divisibility and factorization in Number Theory reflect Hod's appreciation for order, structure, and the interconnectedness of all things.
  • Perfect Numbers: These numbers are equal to the sum of their proper divisors. The rarity and harmony of perfect numbers could be seen as an expression of Hod's majesty, where balance and perfection in numbers mirror the divine harmony Hod seeks to manifest.
  • Fibonacci Sequence: While not strictly Number Theory, the sequence often intersects with it, and its occurrence in nature exemplifies Hod's aspect of divine beauty and order in creation. The sequence's growth pattern reflects the expansive yet structured nature of divine splendor.
  • Modular Arithmetic: This area of Number Theory deals with congruence, where numbers wrap around after reaching a certain point, much like how Hod might wrap the divine light around the physical world, finding beauty in patterns that repeat and the cycles of acknowledgment.
  • Goldbach's Conjecture: The hypothesis that every even integer greater than 2 can be expressed as the sum of two prime numbers reflects a form of splendor in the simplicity and beauty of the conjecture, much like how Hod might find majesty in the simplicity of divine truths.
  • Diophantine Equations: These equations seek integer solutions, emphasizing the integer's purity and simplicity. Solving them can be analogized to Hod's task of finding the pure expressions of the divine within the complexity of the created world.


By associating Hod with Number Theory, we delve into how the divine splendor, acknowledgment, and the essence of majesty can be reflected in the study of numbers themselves. Number Theory, with its focus on the properties and relationships among numbers, embodies a form of intellectual and aesthetic splendor that resonates with Hod's role in Kabbalah. It's a field where the elegance of numbers, their prime-ness, and their interrelations can be seen as a microcosm of the divine beauty Hod projects into the world.  



9.  Logic


Yesod, representing the foundation, connection, and communication, can be profoundly related to Logic, which deals with the principles of valid reasoning and inference:


  • Axioms and Axiomatic Systems: In Logic, axioms are the foundational statements assumed to be true without proof, from which all other statements in a mathematical theory can be derived. Yesod's role as the foundation of the lower sephirot mirrors this, providing the axiomatic base from which the physical world (Malkuth) is structured, ensuring coherence and connectivity between the divine and the material.
  • Proofs and Deduction: Just as Yesod ensures the flow of divine energy into Malkuth, logical proofs in mathematics ensure the flow of valid conclusions from premises. This process of deduction can be likened to Yesod's function in crystallizing abstract divine concepts into concrete manifestations, where each step in a proof corresponds to a step in creation's unfolding.
  • Consistency and Completeness: Yesod seeks to maintain a balance or consistency within the sephirot, ensuring that divine emanations are stable and complete. Gödel's incompleteness theorems show that in any sufficiently powerful axiomatic system, there are statements that cannot be proven or disproven within the system, reflecting Yesod's challenge to balance the infinite with the finite, or the complete with the consistent.
  • Set Theory Foundations: Logical systems often use set theory as a foundational framework. Yesod, as the foundation, can be seen as the set that contains all the elements necessary for creation, where Logic defines how these elements relate and interact to form the universe.
  • Model Theory: This branch of Logic deals with the relationships between formal languages, structures, and interpretations. Yesod might be considered the "model" through which the divine language (the spiritual concepts from higher sephirot) interprets into the physical world, ensuring that the divine plan is communicated effectively.
  • Formal Systems: Yesod's role in structuring and ordering the divine flow can be likened to the formal systems in Logic, where rules for manipulating symbols are clearly defined, reflecting the ordered, methodical transmission of divine energy into form.
  • Truth Tables and Logical Operations: Truth tables in Logic systematically evaluate expressions to determine their truth value, akin to Yesod's role in ensuring that the divine truths are consistently and accurately conveyed to and within the material realm. Logical operations like AND, OR, NOT could symbolize the ways Yesod processes and communicates divine attributes.
  • Inference Rules: Rules like Modus Ponens in logic illustrate how from a premise, one can infer a conclusion. Yesod acts in a similar way, taking the divine light from Tiferet and Netzach and Hod, inferring or manifesting how this light will express itself in the physical world.


By linking Yesod with Logic, we see how the foundational nature of Yesod in Kabbalah can be mirrored by the foundational principles of logical reasoning in mathematics. Logic provides a framework for understanding how truths are derived, systems are structured, and how consistency and completeness are pursued, all of which resonate with Yesod's function in the Kabbalistic Tree of Life as the bridge between the divine and the manifest, ensuring the logical and orderly transmission of divine intention into the world.



10.  Applied Mathematics


Malkuth, symbolizing the physical world, the culmination of divine emanation, naturally aligns with Applied Mathematics, where theoretical mathematics meets practical application:


  • Real-World Problem Solving: Malkuth is the sphere of tangible reality where divine energies are fully manifest. Applied Mathematics focuses on using mathematical methods to solve real-world problems, mirroring Malkuth's role in actualizing the divine plan into physical existence.
  • Engineering and Physics: These fields heavily rely on applied mathematics to design, analyze, and understand the physical world. Just as Malkuth integrates all the sephirot's influences into the material plane, engineering uses mathematical models to integrate various physical laws and principles to construct the world we live in.
  • Economics and Finance: In Malkuth, everything has a form and a function, including the distribution of resources. Applied mathematics in economics and finance deals with models for resource allocation, market predictions, and financial planning, reflecting how Malkuth manages the 'economy' of divine energy distribution.
  • Computer Science and Algorithms: The digital world, an extension of the physical one, operates on mathematical algorithms. Malkuth, being the kingdom where all is made manifest, can be seen in how algorithms translate abstract logic into concrete, usable applications, from simple programs to complex simulations of life processes.
  • Optimization: This branch of applied mathematics, which seeks the best solution from all feasible solutions, can be likened to Malkuth's role in optimizing the expression of divine energy into the most efficient and effective forms within the physical universe.
  • Operations Research: Focused on decision-making, this area applies mathematical models to manage complex systems, much like Malkuth manages the complexity of physical existence, ensuring that the divine will is enacted through the myriad interactions of physical laws.
  • Environmental Modeling: Applied mathematics is used to model climate, ecosystems, and environmental impacts. Malkuth, as the physical world, is where these models apply, where the divine blueprint is tested, manifested, and interacts with the environment.
  • Medical and Biological Applications: Mathematics applied to biology and medicine helps in understanding life processes, predicting outcomes of treatments, and modeling biological systems. Malkuth, as the sphere of life, is where these applications directly impact the physical health and well-being, aligning with the divine intention for creation.
  • Statistics and Data Analysis: In Malkuth, where everything is observable and measurable, applied statistics help in understanding patterns, making decisions, and interpreting the material world. This mirrors Malkuth's role in providing the ground for divine observation and interaction.
  • Chaos Theory and Complexity: While these might seem counterintuitive, their study in applied mathematics reflects Malkuth's complex nature where simple divine principles can lead to complex behaviors in the physical world, illustrating how order arises from chaos at this level.


By associating Malkuth with Applied Mathematics, we see the sephirah as the arena where divine concepts are not just theoretical but are applied, tested, and realized in the physical reality. Applied Mathematics thus becomes a metaphor for how Malkuth takes the abstract, spiritual, and theoretical aspects of the higher sephirot and translates them into practical, observable phenomena. This connection highlights the divine intention for creation to be not just an abstract idea but a living, breathing, and functioning reality.







20241110

Chapter 23



A.  As above, so below

 

I saw two people smoking outside.  I asked them why they smoked outside in the cold instead of smoking inside where it was warm. They said that smoking was bad for the apartment.

 

?

 

In the center of an irrational universe governed by an irrational mind stands rational man, William Klaus being just one example.  The inbreaking deity that Klaus encountered in 1994 was himself.  However, Klaus seemed happy to believe that he had met God.

 

Klaus, there is no God,’” I said.  Its yourself.  Dont you recognize your own self?  Its you and only you, projecting your unanswered wishes out.  You couldnt fill the vacuum with reality so you filled it with fantasy; it was psychological compensation for a fruitless, wasted, empty, pain-filled life and I dont see why you dont finally fucking give up;  youre like Sync:  youre stupid.  That is the beginning and the end of it.  Okay?

 

Bill, you rob me of hope. 

 

!

 

Sync requires participation with something bigger than self and family, something bigger than city or country or century.  It requires participation with Universe.  But before we go further, I need you to do something.  I need you to go and get some tape, preferably the clear tape used for wrapping presents.  

 

I want you to measure out three pieces of tape, roughly 44centimeters in length, and turn to page XX 

 

I want you to center and stick the upper half of the tape lengthwise on page XX.  Fold it over and stick the bottom half on page XXI want you to take the second piece of tape and do the same thing on the right side of the page.  Do this without looking at pages XX and XX.

 

Now, get a piece of paper and write something (anything)on it.   Or draw.  Or write and draw.  Or scribble down a poem. Whatever pops into your mind, put it down.  When you are finished, I want you to turn back to pagXXwhich is now functioning like a crude envelope or pocket,fold your piece of paper in half, and place it inside.  

 

Seal the top of the page witthe third and final piece of tape.

 


 

 

$

 

I wrote a chapter for something called The Sync Book 2back in 1981.  Iwas a failure.  One popular magazine called the process naïve, The Kubrick Transformer gibberish, and my arts and crafts section the projection of a crude boxOthers just thought I had too much time on my hands.

 

When asked about the chapter, Philip K. Dick said that first, he was going to have to call his lawyer, that second, he had no idea what an “mp3” player was, and third, that the “film” in question was actually “sync film.  When asked to explain what he meant, he said that it was just slang for the unconscious mind, or a Tower.  Dick wouldn’t say if he followed the instructions or not.

 

A!

 

In the fourth week of September in 1998, two similar events were reported in a Chicago newspaper.  One event received quite a bit more attention than the other.

 

In one event, a baseball player made an almost unforgivable mistake:  he dropped a baseball.  This story dominated the newspaper.  It was mentioned on the front page and written about extensively.   People still talk about that event to this day.

 

In the other event, a janitor responded to an emergency situation and caught a child that fell out of a window.  This story was not mentioned on the front page.  It was not written about extensively.

 

I realized after a week or so that no one seemed to have taken much notice of this coincidence and that there would be no follow up to this story.  I couldn’t believe that I was the only one who noticed.

 

Many years later I was up late at night, listening to music and trying to write a movie script about coincidence, thebaseball player, and the anonymous janitor from 1998when a sequence of events on the television caught my attention.  The show “Malcolm in the Middle” was on, and the characters were running around in screwball comedy fashion when, for no apparent reason, someone in a Chicago Cubs jersey caught a baby that seemed torandomly fall out of the sky.  At least that’s how I remember it.  I knew that no one would understand what the moment meant to meor would even believe that itactually happened.  I certainly can’t prove any of it.  But that’s how sync works sometimes.

 

!A

 

“I think that the whole of the twentieth century is informed by this hyper-dimensional understandingand that, you know, Jung tapping into it in the twenties, the Dadaists in 1919 in Zurich, the surrealists, even earlier the Ecole de PataphysiqueLautréamont, Le Soleil Secrète , all of these people…it’s what it’s about.  The twentieth century is this, uh….well…McLuhan’s phrase comes to mind“the Gutenberg Galaxy”, the spectrum of effects created by print: the classes, the conceits, the industries, the products, the attitudes, the garments.  All of the things created by print.  We are living in a terminal civilization.  I mean I don’t want to say dying because civilizations aren’t animals, but we are living in an age of great self-summation, when what we look back at is….Basically, since the fall of Rome there has been an unbroken working-out-of certain themes.  Scholasticism, the Aristotelian and Platonic corpus…Christianity, always presented assomehow a rival to science, is in fact--paves the way for science.  There would have been no science had there not been William of Ockham who was a fourteenth century nominalist theologian.  Really, Western civilization has had a thousand years to work it’s magic, and now there is a summation under way and I don’t certainly presume, at least not this evening, to judge it.  How do you--how do you place a value on an entire civilization? In the same way that when a person dies their entire life passes before them in review, when a civilization dies it, it synchromystically cycles the detritus of centuries and centuries of struggle to understand, and someone like Joyce, I think, just brings that to an excruciating climax because it’s all there, you know.  It’s all there. 

 

23

 

“To Joyce reality was a paradigm, an illustration of a perhaps unstatable rule (when I first tried to read Aleister Crowley’s Book of Lies, I was convinced that certain words were written in a Satanic language.  Those words turned out to be written in Greek.  My Catholic mind was playing tricks on me.  When I first tried to readFinnegans Wake was convinced that nearly every word was gibberish.  They are gibberish.  At least to my one-dimensional mind they are.  What I had to do instead was allow my four-dimensional mind to play tricks on me (a dangerous method indeed) it is not a perception of order or of love; more humble than any of these, it is a perception of coincidence.”                   

 

Samuel Beckett

 

93

 

iAhuasca:  The Kubrick Transformer

 

Materials:   

 

The Stanley Kubrick Collection: 2001: A Space Odyssey,DVD released August 25th, 1998 (MGM)

The Stanley Kubrick Collection: The Shining, DVD released June 29th, 1999 (Warner Home Video)

The Wall by Pink Floyd, CD remaster released September 27th, 2011 (Capitol Records)

 

You must use these specific materials, no substitutions.

 

Instructions:

 

Convert The Wall CD’s to an mp3 player to allow for uninterrupted continuous play.

Arrange a dual screen setup where 2001 will play on a screen above The Shining below. For example, place a laptop computer (or smaller TV) below a television screen.

 

Time Code:  Simultaneously start 2001 at 1:05:54 and The Shining at 1:00:51.

Begin The Wall at track 21 “In The Flesh” and start at 1:06:44 of 2001: A Space Odyssey (1:01:41 of The Shining).  Enable continuous replay so that the final song continues directly into the first.

 

This is how the two screens should align when you push play on The Wall.

 

 

 

 

“If it can be written, or thought, it can be filmed.”

 

Stanley Kubrick

 

 

42

 

The genius of Joyce, and to some degree--although in a more controlled form Proust (and then there were other practitioners, Faulkner certainly), was what they called riverrun , but what it was was an ability to really listen to the associating mind without trimming, pruning, judging, denying.  One of the great puzzles to me is the great antagonism between Jung and Joyce because you would have thought that they would have been comrades in arms.  But Joyce loathed psychoanalysis.  He didn't--he thought that to use all this material to elucidate imagined pathologies was a very uncreative use of it and it should all be fabricated into literature.  It's very hard to surpass, you know.  Thomas Pynchon, William Gaddis, these people….they--everybody genuflects to Joyce but very few people plow in the way he did.  I mean, Thomas Pynchon is considered a difficult, hallucinatory writer and there isn't twenty pages in Gravity's Rainbow as obscure as a randomly chosen page here.  

 

I can understand the impulse to want to get the universe into a book because it hints at something that we've talked about in some of these circles, or whatever they are, which is that the character of life is like a work of literature.  We are told that you're supposed to fit your experience into the model which science gives you, which is probabilistic, statistical, predictable, and yet it's…..The felt datum of experience is much more literary than that.  I mean we fall in love, make and lose fortunes, we inherit houses in Scotland, we lose everything, we get terrible diseases, we're cured of them, or we die of them, but it all has this sturm und drang aspect to it that physics is not supposed to have but which literature always has and I think, I don't know if it's true, but what I think Joyce believed and what I'm willing to entertain at some depth is the idea that salvation is somehow an act of encompassing comprehension.  That salvation is an actual act of apprehension of understanding.  And that this act of apprehension involves everything.  This is why the alchemic--before James Joyce and this kind of literature,the only place you got these kinds of constructs was in alchemy and magic.  The idea that, you know, that through an act of magic the Universe could be condensed to yield a fractal microcosm of itself.” 

 

 

midden

 

Goal:  to have a copy of FW in the top drawer of every nightstand of every hotel,

to see all the happy creatures join FW study groups.  for the kidds.jhon.

venturi effect/totem/anti-m/YR SELF IS STEAM/OWN YR FLOPS, BOY

ifabelwascain/girlofgoldmedalflower/alphabetrainbowshow

Biological creationism taught in schools?  Social creationism taught in schools?   Media creationism taught in schools?   What would Mama Lujo do?  What would dobagerrobagercobagerdo?  TherawchickenortheggNogHammadi?

Father, (taught me about time and spaaaace) everything in this game is allowed; if you can’t recognize those who cheat get smarter—Valisart Mel

MaKeaPlateofwingfoodanddrinkveggiesdnamilkpizzaandcokedingatheBarrreLlleLla

http://www.matrixmasters.net/salon/doesitlookinsanetoewe2

Seers and readers///comprehension.  Swans way?  The Seer: lunacy, your childhood is over.  Read: The Guermantes Way again.  Get: CDT 8/3/03/25:48

Imaginean insect that disguises itself as a leaf and hides among the thousands of leaves that cover a single tree.  The disguise was impossible to detect.  Studied this insect for years, trained yourself to detect the subtle differencebetween insect and leaf, until that dayIn the tree, the insect. Suddenlyshockenantiodromiawe: the insect becomes leaf, and the leaves become incest--A Magnificent Insect Bob.  TY.

Hangover Nation:  Director Todd Phillips first film is about the world of Allin, G.G.  The world of the Hangover is about Allen G.  Both G.G. and G. have baldheads and beards.  Both bring us into a world of shame and shit and blood.  And we’re living here in G.G. Allin Town? 

Remember, God don’t make no junk DNA.  And you have no attention span for a reason.  You’re sense ratios have been hacked.

 

11S2

 

We have had for some time now the concept of the collective unconscious but we need now to think in the terms of the collective consciousness of the race, which is not passive.  It's not just the storage place of old memories and myths and that kind of thing.  It is more like an entelechy, it guides, it opens avenues to certain choices and precludes avenues to other choices.  You know I think it was in Mysterium Coniunctionis that Jung said, " The unconscious has a thousand ways of terminating a life that has become meaningless."  A chilling notion….and what he meant wasyou know, you'll step off a curb and be hit by a bus if you didn't look, but the real analysis is that a decision had been made at a higher control level to just fling you away.  Well, how much more disturbing it is to think that that could be possible on a global level.  So we have to open a dialogue, and no longer--you know….all these words: intuition, artistic vision, trance, memes like synchromysticism ….these are all ways of trying to have a dialogue with the control mechanism.  

 

Terence McKenna, 1984

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q.  What is The Kubrick Transformer?


566

 

 

If you didn’t, write down why

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you did, write down why.

 

 

 

 

 

Erratta

 

.  Text adapted from Philip K. Dick’s novel VALIS

.  Tower refers to an alchemical oven

.  This should say “Jary”, not “Le Soleil Secrète.

.  This should say “hypnogogically” not “synchromystically.

.  Quote by Terence McKenna.

.  The text should say “dream of consciousness” not “riverrun

.  Quote by Terence McKenna

.  The text should say “poetry” not “synchromysticism”.

.  The text should say “stream of consciousness” not “dream of consciousness”.