Kether: the Crown, and The Power of I Am

It is essential to understand that in the Hermetic Qabalah, the God Names associated with each sphere of the Qabalistic Tree are not deities to be worshipped, but formulas to be used. One of the most profound of these is The Power of I Am.

Discovering the Power of I Am

Kether, the Crown, is the First sphere on the Qabalistic Tree. The second and third spheres—Chokmah and Binah—are respectively male and female, the archetypal Father and Mother. While they exist in relation to each other, they both wear a single crown, which is the first sphere. Think of a monarch. The physical crown they wear is merely a symbol; the true crown is the majesty and authority it represents. Sphere number one symbolizes this same principle: the pre-gendered, unified majesty of the Creator.

The holy name associated with the Crown, found at the top of the Tree of Life, is Ehyeh. Pronounced Eh-heh-yeh, this name is a formula spelled Aleph-Heh-Yod-Heh. We know it translates to “I Am,” but let us examine its components to appreciate its magical significance and the true Power of I Am.

Aleph represents an ox head. In the ancient Near Eastern world, the ox was an animal of immense strength and importance. Unlike the Tetragrammaton, which begins with Yod (a hand), Ehyeh begins with the ox, signifying the full weight and power of pure being. Following Aleph are two instances of Heh, which symbolize a window or mirror, separated by Yod, the hand. Thus, the formula of “I Am” can be read as: Ox, Window, Hand, Window.

Consider the biblical chapter where this name is revealed: Exodus. The prophet Moses experiences a vision of a burning bush—a celestial encounter. From this power, he receives a directive. When Moses asks who he should say sent him, the voice replies, “I Am.” This is the first explicit appearance of The Power of I Am in the Western mystical tradition.

The biblical phrase "Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh" is often translated as "I Am That I Am," but its meaning in ancient Hebrew is far more nuanced. The verb "Ehyeh" is in the imperfect tense, which can imply a future tense, such as "I will be." In magic, Ehyeh transcends time. The imperfect tense reflects a continuous, eternal existence—an unbounded "I Am" that is eternal. It signifies a timeless, complete, and infinite state of being.

The Formula of “I Am” and Its Biblical Roots

The name of Kether, the Crown, is "I Am." When Moses asked who sent him, the voice replied, "Tell them I Am sent you." This name and the Tetragrammaton (YHVH, also called Yahweh) are closely related. The Tetragrammaton suggests a meaning such as "that which causes to be," an eternal becoming. But "I Am" is already here. “I Am” is definitive, immediate, and absolute. To address the divine at the Crown of the Tree of Life by its name, you cannot say "You are." That is not the correct name. You must say, "I Am." This is the core of The Power of I Am.

This is a profound instruction. To call upon this power, you must claim it as your own. Magic is not a petition to an external deity, but an invocation of the deity within. The "I" that you are is a continuation of a greater "I"—not two separate entities, but one. You are as a sunbeam to the sun; your individual "I Am" is an extension of the eternal I Am-ness that flows through all time and space.

Some have tried to interpret the Hebrew "Ehyeh" as "I will be," placing it within a linear understanding of time. But infinite intelligence cannot be confined to the future. The closest we can come to timelessness in this world is the present moment. Therefore, the Crown represents a power that exists only in the now, eternal, and infinite.

This is why the top of the tree is like the bottom sphere (Malkuth). Kether is 1, and Malkuth is 10. But in the spiritual calculus of the present moment, 10 becomes 1 again, as 1 plus 0 equals 1. By staying in the now, you resolve the inherent conflict of the material world and return to the unity of the source.

The name "Ehyeh" is a formula. When you use the phrase "I Am," you are invoking this creative power. Think of what you attach to this formula each day: "I Am tired." "I Am angry." "I Am sick of this." Each phrase is a spell you cast upon yourself. This is the magical meaning behind the admonition not to take the Lord's name in vain. It is a warning to be mindful of how you use this power. The Lord is not an external king; the Lord is I Am. That is the name of God. And when you speak it, you are defining your reality. This is the practical application of The Power of I Am.

The Power of “I Am” in Magical Practice

Every time you say the words "I Am" or "I'm," you are calling upon the boundless power of the universe. It is a profound statement of existence, a declaration that connects you to the ultimate creative force. Yet we often use these words carelessly, misusing the word " and " and forgetting that they channel the supreme power. "I Am" is not merely words—it is the name of the divine, the essence of being itself. It is not "he is," "she is," “you are,” or "they are." It is "I Am." The power rests within you.

To declare "I Am not good enough" is to misuse the immense power of your own word, effectively casting a curse upon yourself. To curse something is to bind it with limitations, and to deny your own worth by the phrase "I Am" is equally destructive. The negative consequences that follow are not divine punishments, for there is no such external force. Rather, you are reaping the natural results of misusing your inherent creative power—the very power of existence that resides within you. This is the shadow side of The Power of I Am.

The phrase "I Am" carries a deep formula of power. In ancient symbolism, the ox represents strength—absolute and unshakable. It begins with this strength: you are the power. The window follows, a reflection of your power, a moment to see yourself as the source of creation in your world. Then comes the hand, the act of shaping your power, crafting your reality. Another window reveals the results of your creation, the manifestation of the power you have wielded. This cycle is a profound expression of how your inner force translates into the external world.

This formula mirrors the Tetragrammaton but with an even sharper focus. There is no ambiguity about where the power lies—it resides in you and no one else. "I Am" is the ultimate statement of authority, the spark of creation. It is echoed in the Biblical phrase, "I Am That I Am." This is not a distant truth; it is personal. "I Am that I will to be." The words point back to you, to your ability to define, create, and give meaning.

Look around you. Everything you see is infused with the power of "I Am." The table, the lamp, the wall—they are all reflections of the energy you project. When you say, "I Am that," you acknowledge your role as the giver of meaning. You have ascribed purpose and value to everything in your reality. This is the essence of creation: the recognition that you, through "I Am," have shaped the universe around you. Therein lies the mystery and the mastery of the first principle—you are the source, and "I Am" is your declaration of existence and power. This is the heart of The Power of I Am.

Projection, Perception, and the Role of the Ego

You are responsible for everything in your world. You have projected all meaning onto every object and experience, based on what you have been taught and what you have conceptualized. In this way, you are the god of your world.

However, there is a greater "I Am"—a universal intelligence. When we allow this greater "I Am" to inform us, our projections change. We are no longer operating within a closed mental system. Whether you like it or not, you will always be the god of your universe. What you can change is the nature of that god.

By opening your mind to the greater "I Am," the statements you make about yourself and your world begin to transform. You are no longer bound by your past and its projections. "I Am that sickness" becomes "I Am that health." "I Am that poverty" becomes "I Am that prosperity." "I Am that pain" becomes "I Am that bliss." Infinite intelligence is not bound by an ego, but when the ego seizes your "I Am" power, it projects limitation and separation onto your world.

From a magical point of view, when you face a problem, you can say, "I Am that." This is not an act of accepting blame, but of taking responsibility for your perception and for projecting this reality into your life. It is also a commitment to opening your mind to the greater "I Am" so you can see the situation for what it is, rather than for what it was.

Too often, we take this power in vain by turning our world into an "I was," constantly projecting our past onto the present. We tell ourselves "I Am," but what we really mean is "I was," and in doing so, we lie to ourselves. An "I was" is temporary; "I Am" is permanent. The ego's trick is to convince you that what was happening is what is happening.

Pay attention to how you use the words "I Am." They can tie you to your past, trapping you in a cycle of reliving old experiences. When you invite the greater "I Am" into your experience, you begin to see from a universal, soul-level perspective rather than an egoic one. The things you once projected meaning onto are bathed in a new light. This is the real world happening just beneath the surface—a world of "I Am," not "I was."

Commit to using "I Am" only to tell the truth. "I Am sick" is not the truth; your soul cannot be sick. "My body is sick" is a more accurate statement. "I Am angry" is a declaration of identity, whereas "I Am feeling anger" describes a transient state. One is a lie, the other is true, and the difference is everything. This is the discernment that comes with understanding The Power of I Am.

Transformation, Affirmation, and Next Steps

The phrase "I Am" is more than a simple statement of being; it is a declaration that shapes reality. When we attach "I Am" to something that does not align with our soul's true will, we speak a lie. These untruths create illusion, tethering us to the past. Remember, the divine name, Ehyeh, "I Am," is a statement of eternal, imperfect tense. It is eternal.

Consider what you bind yourself to with this power. To say, "I Am sick," is to claim sickness as an eternal state. Instead, one might simply notice symptoms, for example "My nose is stuffy." This is a description of a temporary state, not a definition of your eternal being. To say "I Am" anything other than your true self is a profound misstep. By understanding this, you can consciously engage with the creative formula of "I Am"—and truly harness The Power of I Am.

When we practice affirmations, it can feel dishonest to say, "I Am prosperous," when our circumstances feel anything but. The subtle but crucial shift is from describing a state to embodying the principle itself. It is not "I Am prosperous," but "I Am prosperity." It is not "I Am joyful," but "I Am joy." This is not a lie; it is an alignment with the reality you wish to express, a reality that already exists for you as a potentiality. By declaring "I Am health," you set in motion the forces of healing.

Pay attention this week to how you use the sacred phrase "I Am" in your daily speech. Do you use it to affirm your desires or to reinforce your limitations? From a magical perspective, to use this power unconsciously is to take it in vain.

While your soul's "I Am" exists as a constant, potent force, you have a choice. You can let it lie dormant, serving the whims of your ego, or you can begin to consciously use your mind to invoke its constructive power. In every moment, you choose how to wield this force.

You might declare, "I Am sick," but you can just as quickly retract that statement and replace it with, "I Am health." This doesn't deny the physical reality of a stomach ache; rather, it reclaims your essential nature from a temporary condition.

Look around you. Everything you see is a reflection of a previous "I Am" declaration. You have given meaning to every object, every circumstance. By becoming aware of this, you can open yourself to a greater interpretation—to see the world not through the ego's limited lens, but through the expansive vision of the soul.

Embrace the Power of I Am

As you move forward, remember that the words "I Am" hold the power to shape your reality. They are more than just words—they are declarations of your creative authority. By aligning your "I Am" statements with your soul's truth, you can transform your experiences and step into a life of limitless potential. This is the true Power of I Am.

Every moment presents an opportunity to choose how you use this sacred force. Will you let it serve the ego’s illusions, or will you harness it to express your highest truth? Begin by observing your language and thoughts. Shift your focus from limitation to possibility, from "I Am stuck" to "I Am free," from "I Am broken" to "I Am whole."

Transformation unfolds with every conscious choice. With practice, you’ll find that the world begins to reflect the light of your new declarations, revealing a reality that aligns with your true essence. You are not bound by what was; you are free to create what is. The power is yours—use it wisely.

"I Am" Statements to Get You Started

Here are some powerful examples of "I Am" statements. Notice the difference in feeling between attaching "I Am" to a noun versus an adjective. Experiment with both to see what resonates most with you as you learn to work with your I Am power and truly experience The Power of I Am.

• I Am Love; I Am Loving

• I Am Health; I Am Healthy

• I Am Success; I Am Successful

• I Am Peace; I Am Peaceful

• I Am Joy; I Am Joyous

• I Am Power; I Am Powerful

• I Am Wisdom; I Am Wise

• I Am Gratitude; I Am Grateful

• I Am Prosperity; I Am Prosperous

• I Am Safety; I Am Safe

• I Am Power; I Am Powerful