Zohar 2:229b

Jewish Mysticism
Come and see. The soul does not ascend to appear before the Holy King until it merits to be garbed in supernal garments and to appear there. And thus, in this manner, he does not descend below until he is garbed in the garments of this world. In this manner [also] the holy angels above, of whom it is written, “He makes the winds His messengers, lapping flames His ministers” (Ps. 104-4). When they perform a mission in this world, they do not descend below until they are garbed in the garments of this world, and everything is [garbed] in accordance with the place where it ventures. And in this manner it has been established that the soul does not ascend except in a garment that shines. Come and see. The first adam was garbed in this manner in the Garden of Eden. He was garbed in the garments in the manner of above, and that is a garment of supernal light. Once he was driven out from the Garden of Eden, and he required the aspects of this world, what is written? “And the Lord God made garments of skin (‘or) for Adam and his wife, and clothed them” (Gen. 3-20). At first they were garments of light (or), the light of that supernal light that He communed in [de-shimesh bei] in the Garden of Eden, because the Garden of Eden is supernal light that shines, communing in Him. Because of this, when the Holy One, blessed be He, elevated the first adam into the Garden of Eden, He garbed him in the garment of that light and He ascended him there. Where he not garbed at first in that light, he would not ascend there. Once he was driven out from there, he required another garment, and thus, “and the Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife…” Everything is according to necessity… for the good deeds that a man performs in this world, these are made into skins of light from the supernal radiance, a garment to adorn him in that world and to appear before the Holy One, blessed be He. In that garment that he wears, he is delighted by and sees into the speculum that shines, as it is said, “to gaze at the pleasure of God and to dwell in His courtyards” (Ps. 27-7). In this way, the soul is garbed in two worlds, so that it will be completed in all, in this world below and in the world above, and of this it is written, “righteous men shall praise Your Name, the upright shall dwell in your presence” (Ps. 140-14). “The righteous shall praise Your Name,” in this world, “the upright shall dwell in your presence,” in that world.

Translated by Hartley Lachter