seven

When the Sefirot are presented in the Tanya (the classic text from the first Lubavitcher Rebbe) they are called 3 Mothers and 7 Doubles.  The 3 Mothers refer to the three higher Sefirot.  The Seven Doubles refer to the seven lower Sefirot.

However, the original source of the terms Three Mothers and Seven Doubles is the Sefer Yetzirah, where the 22 Hebrew Letters are presented as three groups - 3 Mothers, 7 Doubles and 12 Simples.

In this picture I joined both together and placed א in Keter (Crown), מ in Chochmah (Wisdom) and ש in Binah (Understanding) - these… more

In Sefer Yetzirah, the Seven Doubles in Time are the 7 days of the week - based on the Story of Creation in the Book of Genesis. 

The scene in the circle (in the yellow ring) represents the 1st Day of Creation - when God created Light, separated it from the Dark, and “saw that the Light is Good”. 

Moving clockwise to the next circle (in the orange ring) represents the 2nd Day - when God separated the upper and lower Waters to form the Sky and Sea. 

The next scene (in the red ring) represents the 3rd Day - when God… more

"7 Doubles are the Foundation of 3 opposite 3 with the one deciding between them."  (Sefer Yetzirah)

 In terms of colors, ‘3’ are the 3 primary colors - blue, red and yellow.  The ‘opposite 3’ are their complements - orange, green and purple.  Like in the 6-pointed Star of David (Magen David) seen here.  One triangle (pointing down) is made with the primary colors and another triangle (pointing up) is made with the complementary colors - ‘3 opposite 3’.  These 6 colors are also the six rings that are linked around the 6 points of this Magen David - each colored ring opposite its… more

The Verse עץ חיים היא למחזיקים בה framing this fiery scene is from the Book of Proverbs (3:18) and refers to the Torah, "a Tree of Life for those who hold fast to it".  This is especially true of the soul of the Torah - Kabbalah.  Its mystical teachings and meditative practices feed our soul.

Had Adam and Eve eaten from the Tree of Life while still in the Garden of Eden, they would have lived forever (Genesis 3:22). God had told Adam, “Of every Tree in the Garden you may freely eat;  but of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Bad you shall not eat of it; for on the day you… more

This picture is influenced by the amazing art of M. C. Escher.  This design is also reminiscent of Celtic Knots.  It is based on the Sacred Geometry expressed in the order of the 3 groups of the 22 Hebrew Letters - 3 Mothers, 7 Doubles and 12 Simples - found in Sefer Yetzirah.

This picture uses the Flower of Life symbol that is part of Sacred Geometry.   A central circle is surrounded by 6 overlapping circles of the same size.  Each circle has a 6-petaled 'flower' embedded in it, but the white flower in the central circle is dominant.  The same pattern is extended outward in all directions. I also used the Flower of Life motif in my picture 'Psalm 107'.