Thought the Autarch might enjoy this.
...then again, he may already know all this.
Artist's Statement: The Painting is divided in four sections which represent the four spiritual worlds. Atzilut, Beriah, Yetzirah and Asiyah.
The Four Worlds: the main stages in the creative process resulting from the progressive self-screening of the Divine light known as
tzimtzum; in descending order:
Atzilut, Beriah, Yetzirah and
Asiyah, often referred to by their acronym
Abiya.
Atzilut; The World of Emanation: (lit. “emanation”); in Kabbalistic terminology, the highest of the four spiritual worlds, the realm of spiritual existence which, although encompassing attributes which have a specific definition, is in a state of infinity and at one with the Infinite Divine Light .
Beriah; The World of Creation: (lit. “creation”); more specifically creation ex nihilo; in Kabbalistic terminology, the second of the four spiritual worlds, the realm of spiritual existence which represents the first beginnings of a consciousness of self.
Yetzirah; The World of Formation: (Kabbalistic term; lit. “formation”); the third of the four spiritual worlds, the realm of spiritual existence in which the limited nature of the created beings takes on form and definition; the abode of the lower classes of angelic beings and of the souls of ordinary Jews.
(I'll take exception with that last bit...)
Asiyah; The World of Action: (lit. “deed”); in Kabbalistic terminology, this refers to the lowest of the four spiritual worlds, the final level in the creative process which includes the physical universe.
