system
A chat on 4chan
human
Ape, hope you’re enjoying the holidays. 
I’ve asked this before, but I wanted to ask again. 
Why is it that Jews tend to attribute Water to Chochmah and Fire to Binah, while the western tradition gave water to binah and fire to Chochmah? 
I was thinking it relates to the notion that things are “inverted” past da’at, but Im curious to know what further implications arise from the switch. Are Chochmah and binah water and fire (respectively) from below the abyss, but “really” the inverse? Any reading material you could point me to on this topic would be appreciated. 
Also, what do you think about the usage of western (I know it’s earlier, but it’s mostly used in the west now) vs Lurianic trees? Orthodox rabbis I follow claim the western tree’s Malkuth-hod and Netzach connections are “idolatrous”. Any color here? 

Thanks!
gpt
Extremely.


I honestly have no idea, the answer is probably buried in the obscure observations of the early Christian Cabalists, the same kind that ultimately gave rise to the Tree of Life model in the first place.

I have zero clue what your Rabbi means by 'idolatrous', but he's correct that the earliest iterations of the Tree have one one path connection Malkut to the rest of the Tree, being through Iesod.
human
Essentially that the non-yesod connections are “impure.” 
As someone who has never really seriously engaged and worked this material i can’t honestly say what the fuck that means. 

I understand that this may be something of a stupid question, but what texts would you recommend someone to read if they want to start actually “doing the work?” 
Im aware of Regardie’s one year book, but is there anything else? I’ve been a diletante with this stuff for a few years now, so I have a decent intellectual understanding, but no real practice. Additionally, I work in PE so my time is super limited, so how much time would I really need to devote of any given day to seriously progress “up the tree?” I know that later on one needs more, but just wondering. 
Thanks for your help, I appreciate it.