Q


Qabalah (Quabalah, Kabbalah, Cabala) (HEB) Traditon. Sometimes translated as “collected teachings.” The word is spelled “cabala” in the Merriam-Wbster dictionary. Waite and Mathers used “kabbalah.” Crowley used “quabalah,” the correct transliteration of the Hebrew. Alternate spellings abound. While rooted in Jewish mysticism, the qabalah has absorbed elements of Gnosticism, Neo-Platonism, and various oriental philosophies. It has many interpretations and has been put to philosophical, theurgical, and thaumaturgical uses. The Zohar (probably the central book of the qabalah) was written by Moses de Leon in the 13th century. Qabalah is usually divided into four sections:

1.	Practical qabalah	Techniques of talismanic and ceremonial magick.
2.	Literal qabalah	Techniques of the altering of words, consisting of gematria, notariqon, and temurah.
3.	The unwritten qabalah	Knowledge which is transmitted orally and never committed to writing.
4.	Dogmatic qabalah	The published doctrines and treaties of the qabalah.

Four important texts constitute the bilk of the dogmatic qabalah. These are the Sepher ha-Zohar (Book of spendor), the Sepher Sephiroth (Book of emanations), the Sepher Yetzirah (Book of formations), and the Esh Mezareph (Purifying fire). Qabalah stems from the Hebrew root qab, meaning “to measure.” See Sephiroth

Qlippoth (HEB) Literally “shells.” Usually described as a plane or planes containing demons, negative or disintegrating spirits, elementals, and the degenerating shells of the dead. These shells are considered to be soulless automata consisting of only the lower parts of the subtle-body (which contains the habits, verbal patterns, desires, obsessions, and memories of the dead person, if only in fragmentary form). The Qlippoth can be viewed as a negative reflection or counterbalance to the Sephiroth (the Tree of Life). Just as the Sephiroth depict progressive evolution and eventual reunion with God, the Qlippoth symbolize progressive degeneration, entropy, and disintegration. Some occultists say that the Qlippoth are, in effect, God’s garbage disposal. In any case, the arrangement of the Qlippoth parallels that of the Sephiroth:

Planet	Path or Sphere	Qlippothic Order	English of Qlippoth
	Ain	Qemetiel	The Crowd of Gods
	Ain Soph	Belial	Without God
	Ain Soph Aur	Athiel	Uncertainty
	Kether	Thaumiel	Twins of God
	Chokmah	Ogiel	The Hinderers
Saturn	Binah	Satariel	The Concealers
Jupiter	Chesed	Gasheklah	The Smiters
Mars	Geburah	Golachab	The Arsonists
The Sun	Tiphareth	Tageriron	The Hagglers
Venus	Netzach	Oreb Zaraq	The Raven of Dispersion
Mercury	Hod	Samael	Poison of God
The Moon	Yesod	Gamaliel	The Obscene Ones
	Malkuth	Lilith	Queen of the Night
	Aries	Beiriron	The Herd
	Taurus	Adimiron	The Bloody Ones
	Gemini	Tzelilimiron	The Clangers
	Cancer	Shichiriron	The Black Ones
	Leo	Shalhebiron	The Flaming Ones
	Virgo	Tzaphiriron	The Scratchers
	Libra	Abiriron	The Clayish Ones
	Scorpio	Necheshthiron	The Brazen Ones
	Sagittarius	Nachashiron	The snaky Ones
	Capricorn	Dagdagiron	The Fishy Ones
	Aquarius	Bahimiron	The Bestial Ones
	Pisces	Nashimiron	Malignant Woman

The above table is derived from material in Godwin’s Cabalistic Encylopedia by David Godwin. See Demon; Ghost: Shell.

Quarter Days Old Celtic festivals of Samhain, Bride, Beltaine, and Lughnassad. These days are especially important for charms, spells, and divination. Needfires are lit for the protection and cleansing of the people and animals, visits to holy wells are made, and dedications of bannocks are carried out. These days are also lucky for journeys, love, and new ventures. See Wheel of the Year page.

Quarters The north, east, south, and west parts of the circle, often representative of the four watchtowers.

Queen Sometimes used in alchemy to refer to Mercurial Water of the Philosophers, so called because they have used the word “King” to designate their Sulfur, which must be married to the Mercurial Water. See Alchemical Marriage; Pater et Mater Regis.

Quinance A five-degree division of the Zodiac, each Zodiacal sign ruling six quinances. A quinance is half a decanate. See Decanate

Quintessence or Quita Essentia The fifth element of Pythagorean mysticism which gives life and vitality to the universe. The Pure Essence. The Astral Light. It is also called Nature, Potency, Virtue, Tincture, and Life. Quintessence is the quality of substances separated by Art from the Body. If removed from its special form, it reverts to its general form, and progresses higher, until it rests in the center. It is associated with the Philosopher’s Stone. See Akasa; Philosopher’s Stone; Spitirt (Ether).



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