Ophanim

The term "Ophanim" (or Auphanim) derives from the Hebrew word "ophanim" (אוֹפַנִּים), meaning "wheels." It appears in the biblical visions of Ezekiel and Revelation. In Kabbalistic literature, it denotes a specific order of angels associated with divine motion and the second Sephirah, Chokmah (Wisdom).

]\lore con-ectly written Auphanim. The "wheels" .seen \)\ Kzfkiel and by John in the Revelation — world-spheres (Secret Doctrine 1.. 92). Tlie symbol of the Cherubs or Karoubs (the AssATian Sphinxes). As these beings are represented in the Zodiac by Taurus. Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, or the Bull, the Lion, the Eagle and ]\Ian. the occult meaning of these creatures being placed in company of the four Evangelists becomes evident. In the Kabbalah they are a group of beings allotted to the Sephira Chakmah, Wisdom.

The vision of the Ophanim, those "wheels" seen by Ezekiel and later by John in the Revelation, offers a potent, almost kinetic, metaphor for the divine. Blavatsky’s connection to the Cherubim and the zodiacal signs hints at a deeper astrological and cosmological significance, suggesting these celestial beings are not merely static entities but active forces governing the spheres. Mircea Eliade, in his studies of shamanism and archaic religions, often highlighted the importance of cosmic journeys and the celestial hierarchy as perceived by ancient peoples. The Ophanim, with their imagery of wheels, speak to a universe understood as a grand, interconnected mechanism, a celestial chariot propelled by divine will. Carl Jung’s exploration of archetypes and the collective unconscious resonates here, as these visions can be seen as symbolic representations of profound psychological and cosmic realities that transcend individual experience. The idea of "wheels within wheels" evokes a sense of infinite regress and interconnectedness, a universe where each part reflects the whole, a concept echoed in the holistic philosophies of many mystical traditions. These visions are not simply fanciful descriptions but attempts to articulate the ineffable nature of the divine and its active participation in the ongoing creation and maintenance of the cosmos, a dynamic interplay that continues to challenge and inspire modern seekers. The Ophanim invite us to perceive the divine not as an inert observer, but as the very engine of existence.