Atik (עתיק) — The Ancient One

Core definition

Atik — literally "the Ancient" — is the inner and higher of the two partzufim of Kesser, the counterpart and root of Arich Anpin. The Zohar's phrase "da Atika," "this is Atika" [31674/maamar_026 :: עב׳ 67], points to a level of such oneness that it is explained as the concept of "an't hu chad v'lo b'chushban" — "You are one, not in count" — illustrated by the Zohar's analogy of the single lamp [31674/maamar_026 :: עב׳ 804]. The name Atik Yomin, "the Ancient of Days" (Daniel 7:9), is expounded etymologically: it "was removed (ne'etak) and distinguished from the aspect of 'yomin,' due to the exceeding exaltedness" — just as one who copies a book "from one script to another script" is called a ma'atik [60800/maamar_039 :: עב׳ 130, עב׳ 145]. The removal is total: "the aspect of Atik, which was removed entirely from the 'yomin' of Atzilus" [60800/maamar_039 :: עב׳ 294].

How the Rebbeim develop it

Atik is located in the architecture of the higher partzufim through the doctrine of the three heads. Quoting the Zoharic passage: "Keter is the supernal head; the second head; the concealed brain (Mocha Stima'ah) is the third head — besides Radla, called Atik" [15962/maamar_010 :: עב׳ 49]. Radla — "the unknowable head" (reisha d'lo isyada) — is Atik itself, and "the aspect of the three first of Atik Yomin is separate and exalted from the aspect of clothing [in Arich]" [15962/maamar_010 :: עב׳ 86]. Correspondingly, "Arich Anpin clothes only the lower seven (zat) of Atik; the upper ones (gar) of Atik do not clothe themselves in Arich Anpin" [31674/maamar_026 :: עב׳ 2533].

In the scheme of yosher (upright structure) and iggulim (circles), "the yosher of Atik" reaches down to "the yosher of the netzach-hod-yesod of Adam Kadmon," while "the circles of Atik and Arich encompass the aspect of the yosher of Atik, Arich, Abba and Imma" [31674/maamar_026 :: עב׳ 2502, עב׳ 2811]. Atik thus stands at the hinge between Adam Kadmon above and Arich Anpin below.

The Rebbeim stress Atik's character of unbounded kindness. Its revelation is "the aspect of the Chesed of Atik" — "the revelation of the aspect of Atik not through gevurah and contraction, as in Mocha Stima'ah" [58845/maamar_003 :: עב׳ 273–274]. The seven tikunim of the skull have "their root… drawn from the Chesed of Atik Yomin" [58845/maamar_003 :: עב׳ 346]. The Zoharic maxim is cited: "Abba ve'Imma depend on the mazalos (the locks of the beard), while Ze'ir Anpin is grasped and dependent in Atik" — Z"A b'Atika achid v'talya [58845/maamar_003 :: עב׳ 344].

Atik's role in avodah is bound to teshuvah: "there is no need for the 'Anochi' of the aspect of Atik except for the mitzvah of teshuvah specifically, for the reason of the removal of the chitzonim (the external forces)" [60800/maamar_039 :: עב׳ 189]. The vision of Daniel — "Atik Yomin sat; His garment was as snow" [15962/maamar_010 :: עב׳ 7] — is likewise read as the setting for this supreme rectification.

Key distinctions

Related concepts

Sources