The Stages of the Creative Process
from God's Infinite Light to Our Physical World
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Keter D'Atzilut ("The 'Crown' of Emanation") | |||
Introduction: Partzufei Ha'Keter (The "Figures of the Crown") | |||
Atik Yomin | Arich Anpin | Reisha D'lo Ityada | Reisha D'Ayin |
Reisha D'Arich | ![]() | Mocha Stima'ah | Dikna |
Gulgalta
"Skull"
The Gulgalta is the keter of the partzuf Arich Anpin. In Chassidut it is referred to as "the origin of will." It is "the will to will." Within the Gulgalta in "enclothed" the chesed of Atik Yomin. This is the initial "meeting point" and bond of "pleasure" to "will." The union of pleasure and will (two apparent opposites, for "pleasure" is "satisfied," while "will" is not) is referred to as "desire" (chefetz), implying both will towards an objective to be obtained as well as the sense of pleasure and fulfillment in having obtained the objective. The sense of desire is aroused in the soul when one's objective is an "end" in its own right and not merely a "means" to an end other than itself.
In reference to the creation of the world, it is said: "All that God desired He made." This is explained in Kabbalah and Chassidut to that dimension of creation which derives directly from the Gulgalta, the origin of will to create.
At the level of the Gulgalta, "there is no reason for will." Here, the innate desire to create is a purely existential "passion" of the soul, possessing no rational whatsoever.