Sefer Yetzirah - Breath from Breath - Der Nister Meditation Circle

Sefer Yetzirah 1:10, Early Version
(י) שתים רוח מרוח
חקק וחצב בה ארבע רוחות אחת השמים:
Two: Breath from breath. He engraved and carved within Her the four winds of heaven.
-Rabbi Jill Hammer

This is Malkhut (Kingship), the lowest of the Ten Sefirot. It is counted right after Keter, following the...dictum, "imbued in their beginning." Keter is Cause, while Malkhut is Effect, and Cause cannot exist without Effect.

In the language of the later Kabbalists, the first Breath from Keter is called Direct Light (Or Yashar). The second "Breath from Breath," associated with Malkhut is called Reflected Light (Or Chozer). Using the analogy of the glassbower...this is the breath that bounces off the walls of the vessel being formed....

The Kabbalists often speak of Lights and Vessels. "Light" denotes the concept of giving while Vessels indicate accepting and receiving....

The Sefer Yetzirah speaks of "Breath" and "Breath from Breath." The first Breath denotes the simple breath that emanates from the lungs and throat. "Breath from Breath" is that which is reflected by the various parts of the mouth to produce the sounds of speech. It is through the interaction of direct adn reflected breath that sounds are produced....

The Sefer Yetzirah therefore says that the 22 letters were created through this second Sefirah.

’Tis you that are the music, not your song.
The song is but a door which, opening wide,
Lets forth the pent-up melody inside,
Your spirit’s harmony, which clear and strong
Sing but of you. Throughout your whole life long
Your songs, your thoughts, your doings, each divide
This perfect beauty; waves within a tide,
Or single notes amid a glorious throng.
The song of earth has many different chords;
Ocean has many moods and many tones
Yet always ocean. In the damp Spring woods
The painted trillium smiles, while crisp pine cones
Autumn alone can ripen. So is this
One music with a thousand cadences.