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Chai in Hebrew means living or alive. The image represents the word as written in Hebrew (right to left): Cheth Yod.

In Judaism, the word is used an emblem of charity, longevity, and good fortune. Gematrically, Ch'ai enumerates to eighteen; therefore, the number is associated with the life-force and the immanent presence of God. It is entirtely due to this symbolism that Jewish charitable giving is traditionally ? in multiples of 18.

In Kabbalah, the letter Chet corresponds to the eighteenth 'path' on the Tree of Life, between Binah and Geburah.

In esoteric (Non-Judaic) kabbalah, this path is associated with the 7th card of the tarot, the Chariot, which is itself associated with generative forces, and the Merkabah- the "throne chariot" or divine vehicle of God as described in the visions of the prophet Ezekiel.

Cha'i Amulet

Chariot Tarot card, from Aleister Crowley's Thoth deck

Related Symbols:

Resources:

• Religion resources
  Resources for the study of alternative religion and belief. A gallery of Gods and Goddesses, Calendars of holidays, symbols, sacred texts, prayers, and more.
• 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.
• Ma'aseh Merkabah (Chariot) Literature [offsite]