Qoph

Q
Color your Qoph red-violet. The surrounding opposite color is yellow-green.

Qoph is the 19th letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Have a look at Qoph. This is the only
letter that consists of two parts that don’t even touch each other. And Qoph is the only
non-final letter (besides Ayin) that extends down below the lower limit of all the rest of
the letters.

The shape of the letter could be considered to look like the back of the head and the
spinal column. Indeed, the letter name Qoph UVQ means “back of the head”. The back
of the head and upper part of the vertebral column house the cerebellum, the visual
centers of the brain, and the medulla oblongata. This “reptilian brain” is the most ancient
part of our brain. This part of the brain never sleeps. It controls heartbeat, respiration,
temperature and other functions to maintain homeostasis. It also is responsible for
growth and the repair the body from the stresses of the day.

The function ascribed to Qoph by the Sepher Yetzirah is sleep. The evolutionarily
ancient Qoph part of our brain is active, especially while we are asleep, in producing the
subtle changes in structure and function of the body that provide for us to be able to
manifest the states of consciousness and powers of the spiritual adept. Using physical
raw materials from the food we eat plus the air we breathe and also the subtle energies
invoked and evoked by our spiritual work (including all our daily thoughts, words and
deeds), the Qoph part of our brain transforms our bodies so that “The Kingdom of spirit
is embodied in my flesh”.

The next letter of the alphabet, Resh R, is the stage in which your spiritual light really
shines. Resh means “head” and “face”. Before the spiritual light burns brightly in your
head and shines out of your face, the transformations mentioned above must occur in

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the back of the head. That which occurs while we sleep provides for our light to shine
while we are awake.

Qoph is the 28th Path of Wisdom. The intelligence ascribed to Qoph is the Corporeal
Intelligence. This is the body consciousness; the combined consciousness of every cell
in your body. The root of the Hebrew word corporeal means “to rain upon”. The energies
gathered in our subtle bodies during spiritual work descend into the physical body like
little drops of rain while we are asleep. The Qoph part of the brain builds them into the
physical structure of the body.

On the Tree of Life, the pathway of Qoph connects the 7th sphere, Netzach, Victory to
the 10th sphere, Malkuth, Kingdom. Netzach is the sphere of Venus, the desire nature.
Malkuth is the physical body. So the powers of Qoph bring the energies of our desire
nature into the physical body. Whatever it is we think about and desire, the Qoph part of
our brain alters the structure of the physical body so as to be better able to realize that
desire.

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Qoph is associated with the 12th zodiacal sign, that of Pisces l, the fish. Pisces is ruled
by both Jupiter H and Neptune K. the planet Venus D is exalted in Pisces. In the body,
Pisces governs the feet and the lymphatic system. It is an old occult pun that Pisces
represent “under-standing”, which is where the feet are. In astrology, Pisces are said to
be the most understanding of the signs. The feet “walk the path” and make trails. Qoph
is directly responsible for the changes that allow us to walk the Path of Return. The feet
are under us, support us, balance our upright posture and allow us to “stand tall”. The
Qoph part of the brain is mostly under the level of conscious awareness. It supports our
efforts to attain our desires.

In mythology, Neptune K is the ruler of the sea and Pisces l is a water sign. Jupiter
H is the planet associated with Kaph K. Kaph is associated with the capacity to
mentally grasp new concepts and to align the personal cycles with the cycles of nature.
The letter name, Kaph UK adds up to 100, the number of the letter Qoph Q, indicating
a close relationship between these two letters. It is the transformations that the Qoph
part of the brain generates that both make us capable of grasping new concepts and
also align our personal cycles with those of nature.

Venus D (Daleth D) is the planetary association of the sphere of Netzach, Victory; the
sphere of our desire nature. The desire nature is exalted, brought to its highest area of
expression in Qoph, which builds the capacity to fulfill our desires into the very structure
of our bodies.

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On the Cube of Space, Qoph is the edge between South and Below. So what Qoph
represents is a combination of the radiant power of Resh R – the Sun A with the

subconscious powers of Gimel G – the Moon B. Indeed, the Great Work is said to be a

work of the Sun and Moon with the aid of Mercury C – Beth B – the conscious mind.

What takes place in the path of Qoph is mostly subconscious (Below) and takes place
during sleep. Up until a certain stage of development, the life power works upon and
evolves its vehicles without their conscious awareness of the process. Through
transformations related to the stage of Qoph, the human so worked upon gradually
becomes aware of the process. Then such a one becomes able to consciously assist
the process (Resh R – South). That’s when the real work and fun begin! Now you
consciously walk the Path of Return.

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The direction of the flow on energy in the Cube of Space pathway of Qoph is from West
to East, from manifestation back to originating source. As a result of the experiences we
have manifesting our desires (West), we build new physical structures into our body and
new images of what we want to manifest next (East).

Now that we have studied all the keys around the four edges of the Southern face, let’s
look at the whole picture. The flow of energy begins at the South-West-Below corner.
This is “kitty-corner”, diagonally opposite from North-East-Above where the first simple
letter Heh H began.

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Flowing into this corner is the energy of the path of Ayin O, from North to South along
the path between the West and Below faces of the cube. Ayin, the eye, represents
superficial interpretation of the report of the senses, which lead the ignorant to imagine
that the life power is some kind of Devil giving them a hard time. The energy of Ayin
divides into two streams, Nun N and Qoph Q. A superficial interpretation might be like
this: When things look like Hell (Ayin), we either try to make ourselves feel better
through the enjoyment of sex (Nun) or go to sleep (Qoph) and forget about it.

The energy of Ayin splits into two streams. Half of the Ayin energy goes up along the
path of Nun N. This is the path of the sign of Scorpio h, the reproductive energy.
Spiritual progress requires that we reverse the natural flow of the Mars G energy (the
ruler of Scorpio) so that instead of energizing the reproductive organs, it flows upward
and energizes the higher energy centers (Chakras). The safest way to reverse the flow
of the Mars in Scorpio energy is meditation, the function of the letter Tzaddi Z.
Meditation takes us back from appearances (West) to causes (East). Tzaddi begins
where Nun leaves off and continues the flow of energy from West back to East along
the South-Above edge of the Cube. When Tzaddi flows, it helps pull Nun up.

The other half of the Ayin O energy flow continues along the path of Qoph Q from West
to East along the bottom edge of the Southern face. This is a subconscious process
(Below) that occurs during sleep. The way we interpret the report of our senses is the
pattern that is built into the very structure of our bodies while we sleep. Thus the
ignorant affirm separation, difficulty, pain and suffering and, because that pattern is built
into them, they get more of it! The wise carefully interpret their sensory impressions and,
as a result, build in patterns that reinforce unity, ease, enjoyment and attainment along
the Path of Return.

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The subconscious patterns built into our bodies (Qoph) of how we interpret the source
(East) of our experiences (West) generate intuitions that arise up into consciousness
through the path of Vav V. However, there is another influence driving our intuitions.

From East-Below, energy flows from North to South along the path of Cheth C. This

meets and blends with the energy of Qoph Q before arising as the intuitions of Vav V.

Cheth blends the subconscious waters of Gimel G – Below with the creative imaging of

Daleth D – East. This gives the arising intuitions more or less concrete imagery.
Otherwise, they might just be hazy fantasies that wouldn’t register strongly enough in
consciousness to be recognized and utilized. And Cheth is a letter of Victory (the name
of the 7th sphere of the Tree of Life assigned to Venus D and thus to Daleth D – East.
Cheth is the consciousness of already being successful, even before you begin. So
Cheth gives our intuitions the feeling that we can make them come true if we so choose.

Kabbalists say that Qoph Q is a combination of a Resh R and a Zain Y. The Resh part
of Qoph hovers above the bottom line of the letters. The Zain is below and to the left of
the Resh and extends below the bottom line of the letters. Thus Qoph reaches to the
Heavens with its Resh and extends even down below the earth in its Zain part. This
paradoxical combination represents the holiness of God. The word HWVDQ, qodoish
means “holy, sacred”. In Hebrew, holiness also means “separate”. The Resh of Qoph is
separate, transcendent. The Zain penetrates through the earth even into the lower
realms where God’s light is most veiled. The Zain part of Qoph is very immanent.

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Kabbalists use this form of Qoph in their special letter name for Tzaddi. In the Zohar we
read, “He is grasped in all the worlds, yet no one grasps Him.” The immanent Zain of
Qoph is grasped in all the worlds. The transcendent Resh of Qoph is grasped by no
one. Recall how the letter name Tzaddi, IDZ means “hunts”. Tzaddi hunts for the
sparks of life that have fallen “below the line” and brings them (to the) light. Well, Qoph
joins up with Tzaddi in this quest in the “rectified” letter name Tzaddik, QIDZ.

Resh and Zain combine to form three words – one for the meaning of each of the three
levels of worlds, souls and divinity. RY, zar means “foreign, strange, evil”. On the level
of worlds, the Zain reaches down even into the underworld where the light is most
hidden. This divine scepter (on of the meanings of the shape of the letter Zain Y)
bestows upon the “residents” of the lowest levels the ability to arise and redeem the
divine sparks hidden there.

Zain and Resh in the same order with different pronunciation spell RY, zeir meaning

“crown”. The Yod I on top of the letter Zain Y looks like a crown. It refers to the spiritual
heritage and consequent guidance that is ever with the soul on its long journey. It is said
that at first, the soul does not want to descend into the material world (and below). God
(Resh) must hover over it and decree its descent. By means of this decree, the soul
“gets it”, understands, and accepts the nature and value of its mission. The soul is to
become totally involved in the world of forms, temporarily lose itself (exile) and then
gradually recall its mission and redeem its portion of the very substance of the world it
has entered. The crown(s) that the soul receives help it to remember what its job
description is and give it the divine power to fulfill its mission. This parallels the story of
the Tzaddik who descends to the depths of the Zain of Resh to locate and redeem the
lost sparks.

Both of these words spelled RY have Zain first and then Resh. Both thus refer to the
soul ascending; returning to the light.

The reverse permutation of these two letters, YR, raz means “mystery”. This refers to
the descending of the light from the Resh into and through the Zain. It is the mystery of
God reaching all the way to us while simultaneously remaining untouched and
transcendent. We discussed before how whenever you nearly touch the divine, it
appears to recede and is perceived as being also somehow high over your head, above
your consciousness. This is the mystery of transcendent divinity. It is us and yet is high
above us.

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Four of the five final letters, JFU*, also extend down below the bottom line of all the
rest of the letters. But the final letters all refer to “the world to come”, the afterlife. Only
Qoph reaches so low in this life.

Three of the non-final letters are different in form than all the rest. These are Qoph Q

with the divine guiding the light down into the lowest realms, Lamed L flying up to

contact and learn of the divine, and Yod I suspended above all others. Yod is like a little
Lamed and is its “form-mate”. Qoph is like two separate letters in one. These three spell
a secret Kabbalistic name of God, IQL.

Jacob, father of the twelve sons who fathered the twelve tribes of Israel, blessed his
sons. As he concludes his prayer by blessing the last son of the twelve to be named,

Dan, he says, HVH I IXIVQ JXOVWIL, “I wait (hope) for Thy salvation, Oh
God.” This is a powerful statement, the only one in which Jacob says the name of God.
Note that the first letter of each of these words spells our secret name of God, IQL.

These three special letters indicate a divine sequence. Lamed runs up to the light and
learns of it. Qoph descends and brings light down to free the sparks locked in the
darkness. Yod is in balance like the transcendent light “way up in the middle of the air”.
Yod touches but does not touch and is touched but is not touched. This is the magical
point of salvation.

Qoph has related spellings/meanings. These include UIQ, “monkey”: HPQH, “to

surround” or “touch”; RQX, “great strength”; APVQ (Aramaic) “eye of the needle”.
Qoph as the “back of the head” surrounds that part of the brain that we share with other
animals. And, a person who is out of touch with the divine is symbolically only a
monkey. Even though ignorant of his divine origins, such a monkey-man is still
surrounded and “touched but not touched” by the omnipotent strength of the divine.

An oft-quoted saying of Jewish Mysticism is, “Open to me as the eye of a needle and I
will open to you as the great entrance to the Temple Hall.” Like the primal contraction of
God to create a space for the formation of the finite universe, the individual must
contract his personal ego to make a space for the divine to enter.

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Correspondences

Qoph Q
English equivalent: Q
Number: 100
Letter Name: UVQ
Letter name meaning: Back of the head
Related words: UIQ monkey, HPQH to surround or touch, RQZ great strength.

APVQ (Aramaic) eye of the needle

Color: Red-violet
Note: B
Tarot Key: Key 18, The Moon
Astrology: Pisces l is ruled by Neptune K. The old ruler is Jupiter H. Venus D is
exalted in Pisces.
32 Paths of Wisdom: Qoph is the 28th path of wisdom.
Intelligence: Qoph is the Corporeal Intelligence.
Path on the Tree of Life: Qoph connects the 7th sphere, Netzach, Victory to the 10th
sphere, Malkuth, Kingdom.
Cube of Space: Qoph is the South-Below edge. The energy direction in this path is from
West to East.
Mythology: The Path of Return
Psychology: Remembering the light even when in darkness. Faith.
Function: Sleep

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