
The Book of Formations (Sepher Yetzirah)
Sepher Yetzirah The Books of Formation Publication date: 1970The Book of Formation is the first mystical manual on—and possibly the source text for—the original Hebrew alphabet. Its chapters explain the significance of the twenty-two letters and ascribe various attributions to them. It, along with the Sefer HaShmoth (Book of the Names), is widely considered one of the most prolific sources of distinct forms of the Tree of Life. The first chapter of the book is the earliest known textual source for the six-pointed symbol known as the Star of David. The six-pointed star has come to be seen as a flat, two-dimensional symbol of two interlocking triangles. The Book of Formation, however, presents the star as a three-dimensional, six-pointed form of the Tree of Life, composed of two interfacing pyramids. The Book of Formation (Sefer Yetzirah) has long attracted debate regarding its authorship and date of origin. The version currently available is a relatively obscure edition published in Los