ONE FAMILY PLAN
Four Worlds of the Cabala
"The first world is Atziluth (Hebrew, 'nearness'), the archetypal or divine world; the second is Briah ('creation'), the archangelic world of eternal patterns, equivalent to Plato's world of Ideas; the third is Yetzirah ('formation'), the angelic world of interwoven force and form; and the fourth is Assiah ('action'), the material world of physical matter and energy... In one system there is a different Tree of Life for each world. In the other, different levels of the Tree relate to different worlds." (John Michael Greer, Encyclopedia of the Occult)
Within the most common system, according to Greer... "the first Sephirah, Kether, corresponds to Atziluth; the second and third, Chokmah and Binah, correspond to Briah; the fourth through ninth, Chesed to Yesod, correspond to Yetzirah; and the last, Malkuth, corresponds to Assiah." (John Michael Greer, Encyclopedia of the Occult)
Another system...
"The topmost triangle, composed of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Sephiroht is known as Ha-oh-lam Atziloot, which means the world of archetypes or emanations. It is the Divine world wherein exist the thoughts of God. It is in this World that the aspects of the powers of God, as represented by the Names of God, are said to exist. The middle triangle, composed of the 4th, 5th and 6th Sephiroht, is known as Ha-oh-lahm B'ri-yah, which means the World of Creation. It is not yet real in a physical sense; it is far more of the conscious mind. It is in this world that archangels are said to exist. The bottommost triangle is formed of the 7th, 8th and 9th Sephiroht and is known as Ha-oh-lahm Yetzirah or the World of Formation. It is considered by some to be equal to the Astral Plane, which is the basis for everything that exists in the physical universe. It is in this world that the various "orders" of angels are said to exist. The 10th Sephiroht in this system is known as Ha-oh-lahm Ahssiah, the World of Action. It is the world wherein the four elements, and hence the physical universe, exist and wherein physical action can occur." (Donald Kraig, Modern Magick, Lesson 3, p 91-93)
"Before anything exists on the physical plane it must first exist on the astral plane." (Modern Magick, Lesson Five, question #8)
"Let us assume that God wishes to create a universe. The first thing God would need to do is perceive the need for something. Here God is operating in the world of Atziloot. Next, God would see that a universe composed of Air, Earth, Fire, and Water and living things was necessary. Here God would be operating in the world of B'ri-yah. Next God would begin doing whatever was necessary to create the universe. Here God would be operating in the world of Yetzirah. Finally, God would put life and action into the formed parts of the universe, and would be operating in the world of Ahssiah." (Donald Kraig, Modern Magick, Lesson 3, p 93)
Basically, you see a need [Atziloot], visualize the solution [B'ri-yah], cut the pieces necessary and assemble [Yetzirah], and put it into operation [Assiah].
