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INTRODUCTION

In 1981 I circulated a document called "An English Sepher Sephiroth of Liber AL". It is still available via Black Moon Archives (moonweb).

The "English Sepher" is in two parts: an alphabetical listing of the words in Liber AL along with their numerical equivalents (those values based on the gematria system described below), and a listing of most of the numbers in the book along with corresponding words and phrases. It is reference work for (a) those who find gematria an useful tool for verifying the spiritual or praeter-human source of an inspired writing, and (b) those who are interested in finding deeper or hidden meanings and messages concealed within the text of the Book. Only true-to-the-bone Gnostics need apply. The Hatha line forms on the right, the Bhakti on the left.

The numeric attribution for each English letter (and some letter sequences) is based on that letter's similarity in sound to the Hebrew letter. For instance, "t" is always counted as Teth (9) if it is a hard "t" as in "too"; but if there is a "th" in the word spoken as a soft "t" as in "then" or "thorough", the "t" and "h" are counted together as a Tau (400). Similarly for the letter "c": it is counted as Kaph (20) if it is a hard "c" as in "card", but as Samekh (60) if it is a soft "c" as in "century". But if the letter sequence "ch" occurs and is pronounced as in "cheese" then it is counted as Cheth (8). Other English letter sequences that are counted as one Hebrew letter are "ts" or "tz", counted as Tzaddi (90); "sh" counted as Shin (300); and "x" counted as (80), a conjunction of Kaph (20) and Samekh (60).

Liber 346 (AL-by-number) is based on the "English Sepher" system but is presented in a more user-friendly format. The text of Liber AL is displayed, with the numeric value of each word displayed below the word. The intrepid Qabalist takes it from there.

        This is the system I used:

English Letter(s) /Hebrew Letter /Number
        A          Aleph          1
        B          Beth           2
        C (soft)   Samekh        60
        C (hard)   Kaph          20
        CH         Cheth          8
        D          Daleth         4
        E          He             5
        F          Vau            6
        G          Gimel          3
        H          He             5
        I          Yod           10
        J          Yod           10
        K          Kaph          20
        L          Lamed         30
        M          Mem           40
        N          Nun           50
        O          Ayin          70
        P          Pe            80
        Q          Qoph         100
        R          Resh         200
        S          Samekh        60
        SH         Shin         300
        T          Teth           9
        TH         Tau          400
        TS/TZ      Tzaddi        90
        U          Vau            6
        V          Vau            6
        W          Vau            6
        X          Kaph+Samekh   80
        Y          Yod           10
        Z          Zain           7