Myer's

The term "Myer's" itself does not have a direct etymological root in Hebrew as presented. However, Blavatsky's definition links it to Geburah, the Hebrew word for "strength" or "power" (גְּבוּרָה). This is the fifth Sephirah in the Kabbalistic Tree of Life.

Ibn Gebirol was certainly one of the greatest philosphers and scholars of his age. He wrote much in Arabic and most of his MSS. have been preserved. His greatest work appears to be the Mrgnf Jlaiiji'nn, ij ., the Fountain of Lif< , "one of the earliest exposures of the .secrets of the Speculative Kabbalah", as his biographer informs us. (See " Fous Vita''M. Geburah iHrb.). A Kabhali.stic term; tiie liftli Sephira. a female and passive potency, meaning .sevei-it.N and |»n\ver: from it is named the Pillar of Severity, [w.w.w.] Gedulah illih.). Another name for the Sei)hira (lusid. Gehenna, in Hebrew Hinnom. No hell at all, but a valley near Jerusalem, where Israelites immolated their children to Moloch. In that valley a place named TopJut was situated, where a fire was j)erpetually preserved for sanitary purpo.ses. The prophet Jeremiah informs us that his countrymen, the Jews, used to sacrifice their children on that spot. Gehs (Z(nd). Parsi prayers. Gelukpa (Tib.). "Yellow Caps" literally; the highest and most urthodo.x Buddhist sect in Tibet, the antithesis of the Dugpa ("Red <'aps"). the old "devil wor.siiippers''. Gemara dlcb.). The latter portion of the Jewish Talmud, begun by Rabbi Ashi and completed by Rabbis Mar and ]\Ieremar. about 300 ,\.D. [w.w.w.] LH.. to tinisli. It is a commentary on the ]\Iishna. Gematria illtb.). A division of the practical Kabbalali. It .shows the numerical value of Hebrew words by summing up the values of the letters composing them; and further, it shows by this means, analogies between words and phrases, [w.w.w.] One of the methods (arithmetical) for extracting the hidden meaning from letters words and sentences. GLOSSARV 117 Gems, Thni pncious. In Southern Huddliisni tlit-s4' an- the sacretl books, the Buddhas and the priesthood. In Nortliern Buddhism and its secret schools, the Buddha, liis sacred tmchinprs, and the Xarjols (Buddhas of Compassion).

The term "Myer's," as presented through the lens of Blavatsky's interpretation of Kabbalistic thought, points us toward a profound understanding of divine attributes that transcends simplistic dualities of good and evil, reward and punishment. Identified with Geburah, the fifth Sephirah, it embodies the principle of divine severity, power, and judgment. This is not to be understood as a capricious or vengeful force, but rather as a necessary cosmic function of delimitation and structure. Just as a sculptor must chisel away excess material to reveal the form within, so too does Geburah establish the boundaries that allow for the specific manifestation of reality.

Mircea Eliade, in his studies of comparative religion, often highlighted the universal human need for order and structure, a need that is mirrored in the divine architecture of Kabbalistic cosmology. Geburah provides this structure, acting as the force of restraint and discernment. It is the pillar of severity on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, standing in stark contrast, yet essential balance, with Chesed, the pillar of mercy. Without the tempering influence of Geburah, existence might dissolve into an undifferentiated, boundless expanse.

Blavatsky's allusion to Gehenna, not as a hell but as a valley near Jerusalem, a site of ancient purification rituals, further refines this concept. It suggests a process of refinement, a fiery trial that purges and transforms, rather than a place of eternal damnation. This resonates with the alchemical concept of the "philosophical fire," a transformative agent that purifies the base metals of the psyche into the gold of spiritual realization. The power of Geburah, therefore, is a force that, when understood and integrated, leads not to annihilation but to a more potent and refined state of being.

Modern seekers might find in Myer's an invitation to examine their own internal forces of judgment and limitation. How do we apply boundaries in our lives? Are these boundaries rigid and destructive, or are they discerning and protective, allowing for growth within a defined space? The wisdom of Geburah lies in its capacity to hold power without succumbing to cruelty, to exercise judgment with the ultimate aim of integrity and wholeness. It reminds us that true strength is often found not in unchecked expansion, but in the precise application of limits.

RELATED_TERMS: Geburah, Sephira, Tree of Life, Kabbalah, Divine Judgment, Severity, Power, Chesed