The Stages of the Creative Process
from God's Infinite Light to Our Physical World
| Introduction Or Ein Sof ("God's Infinite Light") Sod Ha'Tzimtzum ("The Secret of 'Contraction'")  Adam Kadmon ("Primordial Man")Akudim, Nekudim, Brudim ("Binding, Points, Connection") Keter D'Atzilut ("The 'Crown' of Emanation") Olam Ha'Atzilut ("The World of Emanation") ABiYA (The Four Worlds: Atzilut, Beriah, Yetzirah, Asiyah) |
Adam Kadmon ("Primordial Man") | |
| Adam Kadmon | Orot Ozen-Chotem-Peh |
Adam Kadmon
Primordial Man
Adam Kadmon (abbr. as Ak) is the first partzuf to become manifest in the chalal (vacuum) which results from the tzimtzum(contraction) of the God's Infinite Light (Or Ein Sof).
It is emanated by the kav (ray of Divine light) which initially permeates the chalal. Its emanation takes place in two stages, first in the form of ten "concentric circles" (egulim) which radiate from the kav, and then in the form of a "man-like" being (yosher) which "enclothes" the kav.
Adam Kadmon is pure Divine light, possessing no vessels. Its expanse within the chalal is limited both by the power of thereshimu as well as by a limiting power inherent in its light itself (the potential of the light to create vessels).
Adam Kadmon is the manifestation, after the tzimtzum (in contrast to olam hamalbush, before the tzimtzum), of God's specific will and well defined plan to emanate the Divine world of Atzilut and create the three lower worlds of Beriah, Yetzirah and Asiyah.
Thus, in relation to the four worlds Abiyah, which correspond in general to the four letters of God's Name Havayah, the four sefirotof chochmah, binah, tiferet, malchut, or the four lower levels of the soul–chayah, neshama, ruach, nefesh—Ak corresponds to thekotzo shel yud, the sefirah of keter and the yechida of the soul. The Divine will to create inherent in Ak corresponds to the gulgalta("skull") of the keter. The Divine plan for creation inherent in Ak corresponds to the mocha stima'ah ("concealed brain") of theketer.
The two words which form the name Adam Kadmon allude to its paradoxical nature of being, on the one hand a created being–Adam–while on the other hand a manifestation of primordial Divinity–Kadmon.
For this reason, Adam Kadmon is often seen to represent the archetypal soul of Mashiach, the general yechida of all the souls of Israel, the ultimate "crown" of all of God's Creation, the Divine "intermediate" which reveals primordial Infinity to finite created reality.
