Question: How Does Angel Raziel Represent Chokmah (Wisdom) on Kabbalah's Tree of Life?

On the Tree of Life in Kabbalah (also called "Qabala"), Archangel Raziel oversees the sephirot called "Chokmah" which means "wisdom." Here's how Raziel represents the quality of wisdom throughout the universe:

Answer:

Revealing Divine Mysteries

One of the key ways that Raziel represents Chokmah at work in the universe is his work revealing more about God's mysteries to human beings, say believers.

"Ratziel [an alternative spelling for Raziel] reveals Divinity as it emanates Divine energy into everything, and allows human consciousness to expand to the degree that it is able to comprehend the existence of Divinity," writes Karen Harrison in her book The Everyday Psychic: A Practical Guide to Activating Your Psychic Gifts.

In their book The Magical Tarot of the Golden Dawn, Chris and Pat Zalewski write: "The Spiritual Experience or Vision of Chokmah is the Vision of God, Face to Face. This experience is initially in accordance with our belief structure, but as we become more aware of the experience it transcends beliefs and limitations set by man. It is the recognition of consciousness in its purest form with no distortion."

Christopher Penczak writes in his book, The Temple of High Witchcraft: Ceremonies, Spheres and the Witches' Qabalah: "Traditionally, the angel of Chokmah is considered to be Raziel... Raziel is known as the archangel who guides the creative force and is the keeper of mysterious lore.

His name is said to be the 'Secret of God' and he is the author of the mysterious Sefer Raziel, given to Adam and Eve after their expulsion from the Garden. Copies of it were given to Enoch and Noah."

Helping People Turn Knowledge Into Wisdom

Archangel Raziel inspires people to think about the information they know in wise ways so they can best apply that knowledge to their lives and make decisions that reflect God's will, believers say.

On the Tree of Life, Raziel "presides over the action of turning knowledge into practical wisdom," writes Doreen Virtue in her book Archangels 101: How to Connect Closely With Archangels Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Others for Healing, Protection, and Guidance. "Raziel helps us humans ply our knowledge until it becomes spiritualized and second nature to us. In the Chokmah sphere, we learn how to stay focused and avoid tempting distractions. This requires attuning to our higher self, which is the connection to Divine wisdom."

Chris and Pat Zalewski write in The Magical Tarot of the Golden Dawn that Raziel's "function is to give knowledge to mankind in the hope that it would gradually be understood as Wisdom and eventually be called upon for all men and women to live by."

Helping People Reach Their Potential

As Raziel expresses Chokmah energy throughout the universe, he also helps people reach their full potential, say believers.

"Ratziel [an alternative spelling for Raziel] holds a focus of all potentialities and works continually to bring the now-realized conditions of existence into fuller and fuller creation," writes Janet McClure in her book Prelude to Ascension: Tools for Transformation. "He allows the energies of all potentialities to come forth, to burst forth in as full and encompassing a manner as evolution will permit. He seeks always to enlarge creation and its manifestation, focuses his full creative effort, and evolves it as the Creator’s Cosmic Plan requires. He seeks to bring forth the progressiveness and evolvement that have been gained from experiencing during manifestation."

In his book Crystal Balls & Crystal Bowls: Tools for Ancient Scrying & Modern Seership Ted Andrews writes that Raziel "reveals hidden abilities and potentials" to people as well as "insight into [the] proper course of action."