In Kabbalah, Binah is the third Sphere (sephira) of divine emanation. One of the three 'supernal' or unmanifest sephira. The word Binah is Hebrew, and means understanding. Binah is paired with the sephirah Chokmah, wisdom.

The number of Binah is three, and it's associated shape is the triangle. The triangle is the first polygon, and is associated with the womb, and formation. Binah is the female principle in the universe- where Chokmah is force, Binah is form, limitation, and silence, the archetypal womb of creation.

Binah represents the right brain, the subconcious gestation of ideas, and intuitive understanding. Where Chokmah is associated with intellectual pursuit, Binah is the grasping of ideas.

Binah rules the planet Saturn and is associated with Cronos, the God of time, with the virgin Goddesses, and the primeval waters. Binah is the "Face of the Deep."

Emblems of Binah include the four threes of the Tarot, the throne of Isis, the angelic order of Aralim.

Binah on the Tree of Life

Pronunciation: Bye-nah • (noun)

Alternate Spellings: Bina

Related Resources:

• An introduction to the study of the Kabala
• The Tree of Life
  The Tree of life is a universal motif, found in every ancient culture- a symbol of the uniting of heaven and earth, spiritual nourishment, and even enlightenment.
• Esoteric Kabbalah
  The Western, or Esoteric Kabbalah was created and utilized by Western magicians and Hermetic students for hundreds of years, and is a spiritual tradition in its own right.