eight

The Letter Aleph א (which is hidden in this picture) - the figure 8 - the symbol for Infinity - and the 4 Letters of the Holy Name YHVH are all related to each other.  Traditionally, א Aleph is said to be comprised of 3 smaller Hebrew Letters - 2 Yods and a Vav.  The large yellow section that divides this picture diagonally is the Vav (Gematria 6).  Emerging from the middle of this Vav are the 2 Yods - 1 in red and 1 in blue (Gematria 10 each). 2 x10 plus 6 equals 26, the Gematria of YHVH (10 + 5 + 6 + 5 = 26).  And by adding the 2 and the 6 of 26 together gives you 8.

Waves… 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 geometric picture is based on the number 8.  I play with the shape of 8 in several pictures - see the Infinite 8; and the Infinite Aleph.  8 represents the Infinite One that is beyond Space and Time.  The High Priests in the Tabernacle and Temple would wear 8 vestments - 4 white line and 4 elaborately spun with gold thread.  Numbers in Time is Music.  Many traditional and modern songs are in 4/4 time. I like to play fiddle tunes on my violin, but I especially like playing them on my  mandolin, an instrument that has 8 strings.  It is tuned like a violin which has 4 strings but in… more