BINAH
UNDERSTANDING

Binah, the third Sephirah on the Tree of Life, is known as "Understanding." It represents the power of deep insight, structure, and the capacity to shape ideas into form. In Hermetic Qabalah, Binah is the womb of creation—the place where the formless energy of Chokmah (Wisdom) is given shape, structure, and definition. It is through Binah that the abstract becomes concrete, and potential becomes reality.

Binah is associated with Saturn, symbolizing limitation, discipline, and time. These forces are necessary for turning raw, boundless energy into something meaningful and organized. While this may feel restrictive at times, Binah’s energy is one of nurturing and guidance, ensuring that creation follows the laws of the universe and grows in harmony.

Binah is often seen as the Great Mother, the source of all forms. She provides understanding through reflection, teaching us patience, contemplation, and the value of limits. In this sense, Binah represents the maturity of thought—the ability to take in wisdom and process it into meaningful, practical understanding.

This Sephirah also holds the lessons of sorrow and loss, as it governs the acceptance of endings and the necessity of cycles in life. Through Binah, we learn to understand life’s limitations and embrace them as part of the greater process of creation.