Toward Ecosophy

I was preparing to do start on the Sphere of Protection today and in looking at a comment about Jewish phrasing, I ended up stumbling upon "Sefer Yetzirah: The Book of Creation: In Theory and Practice" by Aryeh Kaplan. As I scrolled down to Chapter 1, line 9, I came across a whole commentary on circumcision that comes out of line 3.

The line translates to:
Ten Sefirot of Nothingness
in the number of ten fingers
five opposite five
with a singular covenant
precisely in the middle
in the circumcision of the tongue
and in the circumcision of the membrum

The commentary explains that "the Hebrew word for 'circumcision' is Milah. This same word, however, also means 'word'". So that "... [w]hen one is given the power of proper speech, his tongue is said to be circumcised."

"circumcision of the membrum" is exactly what you think it is.

In order to understand the significance of this circumcision, one must realize why God commanded that it be done on the eighth day. The Torah states, "On the eighth day, the flesh of his foreskin must be circumcised" (Leviticus 12:3). The covenant of circumcision was originally given to Abraham.

The world was created in six days, representing the six primary directions that exist in a three-dimensional universe. The seventh day, the Sabbath. is the perfection of the physical world, and it represents the focal point of these six directions, as discussed below (4:4). The eighth day then represents a step above the physical, into the realm of the transcendental.

Through the covenant of circumcision, God gave Abraham and his desendents power over the transcendental plane. The most obvious case in which this occurs is in conception, where a soul is brought
down into the world. Since the mark of the covenant is on the sexual organ, it gives the individual access to the highest spiritual realms, from which he can draw down the most lofty souls.

By meditating on the fact that the ten toes represent the Ten Sefirot, one is able to concentrate spiritual energy into the sexual organ. Through such methods, one can gain complete control over one's sexual activities, even in the midst of intercourse. By sanctifying oneself in this manner during sexual intercourse, one is able to determine the qualities of the child that will be conceived.

The covenant of circumcision also represents the channeling of sexual energy. The sexual drive is one of the most poweful psychological forces in man, and when it is channeled along spiritual lines, it can help bring one to the highest mystical states. In giving the commandment of circumcision, God indicated that the emotions and desires associated with sex could be used for the mystical quest of the Divine on a transcendental plane.

The juxtaposition between the "circumcision of the tongue" and the "circumcision of the membrum" explains the prophetic position favored by Elijah. The scripture states, "Elijah went up to the top of the Carmel, entranced himself on the ground, and placed his face between his knees" (l Kings 18:42). This position was used for the intense concentration of spiritual energy. According to the Midrash, this position was used because it placed the head in conjunction with the mark of circumcision.

So there's one answer, fit for Magic Monday!

Normally you would NEVER get this sort of thing for me, but given the synchronicity, who am I to deny a fell student :D. After all, my next post will be to ask our host for help with the SOP (: