(6) "And Elohim made the two great luminaries" (Gen. 1:16). "And...made", וַיַּעַשׂ, meaning everything as it should be, in size and correctness. The phrase: "The two great luminaries" indicates that the two were united at first [ i.e. equal, and therefore they did not need each other]. This is the secret of the two names of God (Y-H-V-H - Elohim) taken as one, which although not openly revealed can be surmised. ...

(7) The moon was not at ease with the sun because she felt embarrassed before it. The moon said to the sun: "Tell me, you whom I love so well, where do you feed your flock?" (Shir Hashirim 1:7). The sun said, "Why do you make your flock to rest at noon?" (Shir Hashirim 1:7). This is as if to say: How can a tiny candle shine in the middle of the day? (The moon said,) "Why should I be like one who cloaks themselves?" (Ibid.) That is: how can I remain in shame? Then she lowered herself to be head of the lower beings, as it is written: "If you do not know, O fairest of women, go follow the tracks of the flock and graze your kids by the tents of the shepherds" (Ibid. 8). Thus, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to her, 'Go and diminish yourself.'

(8) From then on, she had no light of her own. She had only the light she received from the sun. At first, they were united as one on the same level, but she later lowered herself from all of its grades. This means that it lost all her grades. Although she is the head of the lower worlds, she is nevertheless considered to have lost all her grades, as in principle a woman has no significance unless she is together with her husband. "The greater luminary" (Gen. 1:16) is called by the name Yud Hei Vav Hei. "The lesser luminary" (Ibid.) is called by the name Elohim. At first, she was inscribed above in the fourth letter of the Holy Name Yud Hei Vav Hei, because the female is the lower Hei. But afterward, she lowered herself to be called by the name Elohim.

(9) In spite of all this, she ascended on all sides and shone in all directions from above.