Notes on the Symbolism of the
Qabbalistic "Tree of Life"

AUTHOR'S NOTE, 1/2022: I'm not sure how much value resides in the following - it was written a long time ago, and I'm not sure I realized how limited my knowledge of this subject actually was at the time. The "Geometric Construction..." section remains relevant, rote though it may be at this point, and I have recreated a PDF to illustrate the process of constructing the Tree. I am posting this piece in its entirety for now with the intention of reviewing its contents. It may well be deleted at a future date.

The Geometric Contruction of the Tree of Life:

We begin the construction of the Tree of Life with a circle, symbol of wholeness and the Unifying Principle (CIRCLE A). The circle can be of any size. Draw a line in any direction from the center of the circle, crossing the circumference of the circle and extending for a fair distance past it (LINE x). This line is effectively the "path of growth" for our Tree.

Draw another circle of the exact same size, with its center point falling where the circumference of our first circle crosses the "path of growth" line (CIRCLE B). Note that the circumference of this second circle passes precisely through the center point of the first circle. The oval shape which is generated in the shared space of the two circles is a perfect "Vesica Pisces," symbol of creation and the Formative Principle.

Repeat this process, generating a third circle with a center point where the circumference of the second circle crosses the "path of growth" line (CIRCLE C). Once again the circumference of our third circle passes through the center point of the second circle, generating another "Vesica Pisces."

And repeat twice more - generating a fourth and fifth circle (CIRCLES D and F), and consequently a third and fourth "Vesica Pisces" in the shared space of the circles.

Now we must label ten specific and important points on our diagram of overlapping circles. Our first point (POINT a) is the center point of our the first circle (CIRCLE A). The second and third points (POINTS b and c) are the two points where the circumference of the first circle (CIRCLE A) and the second circle (CIRCLE B) intersect. Note that this does not include the point where the two circles touch one another on the "path of growth" line.

The next two points (POINTS d and e) fall where the second and third circles (CIRCLE B and C) intersect. The sixth point lays at the center point of the third circle (CIRCLE C).

The seventh and eighth points (POINTS g and h) are located where the third and fourth circles (CIRCLES C and D) intersect. The ninth point (POINT i) is the center of the fourth circle (CIRCLE D), and the tenth and final point (POINT j) falls at the center of our fifth circle (CIRCLE E).

Several lines must now be drawn, connecting the ten points which we have just labeled. I will list these lines strictly be the points which determine their paths:

 

ab	ceh	gj	ac
de	hj	bc	dfh
afij	efg	bf	gh
cf	gi	bdg	hi

  
We have now created a figure which contains the following: 

5 circles
4 vesica Pisces
10 points
22 line sections (a "line section" here indicates a line stretching between two points)

The Qabbalistic Interpretation of the Tree of Life:

What follows is my understanding of how the Tree of Life is traditionally interpreted into a body of mystical information which can be used as a guide to the seeker of divine or enlightened consciousness.

The ten points which we labeled in the diagram are referred to as "Sephiroth." There names (in both Hebrew and translated to english) and the numbers which are traditionally ascribed to them are as follows:

   

POINT	NUMBER	HEBREW NAME	TRANSLATION
a	1	KETER	crown
b	2	CHOKMA	wisdom
c	3	BINAH	understanding
d	4	HESED	mercy
e	5	GIBURAH	strength
f	6	TIPHARET	beauty
g	7	NETZACH	victory
h	8	HODE	splendor
i	9	YESODE	foundation
j	10	MALKUTH	kingdom

 

The Sephiroth are believed to represent ten steps in the continual process of creation which is occurring throughout the universe. At the top of the Tree we find Keter - "crown" or godliness, and the last Sephiroth is Malkuth - "kingdom" - which is the world that we experience in our regular every day lives. Keter contains the pure, unadulterated, pre-manifestational energy which is inherent in every substance in every part of the universe.  The Qabbalists believe that as this pure energy moves towards actual manifestation into the material forms that we perceive in the physical world, it steps through ten changes. Perhaps the easiest way to understand this process is to envision a white light which passes through ten different color filters before it is perceived. In this example, the white light is the pure energy and the filters are the ten Sephiroth.

The twenty-two line segments that connect the Sephiroth are called "Paths" by the Qabbalists. The Paths are the conduits which the energy travels through on its journey from Keter to Malkuth. The twenty-two paths each are traditionally corresponded to a number and a card of the major arcana from the western Tarot:

 

LINE	NUMBER	CARD NAME
ab	0	The Fool
ac	1	Magus
af	2	High Priestess
cb	3	Empress
bf	4	Emporer
bd	5	Hierophant
cf	6	Lovers
ce	7	Chariot
ed	8	Strength
df	9	Hermit
dg	10	Fortune
ef	11	Justice
eh	12	Hanged Man
fg	13	Death
fi	14	Temperance
fh	15	Devil
hg	16	Tower
gi	17	Star
gj	18	The Moon
hi	19	The Sun
hj	20	Last Judgement
ij	21	The Universe

 

Both the Sephiroth and the Paths are corresponded to many other systems as well, including several color systems, the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, parts of the body, gods and goddesses in many mythologies, the chakras of yogic discipline, etc. For our purposes, however, we will only deal with a few specific examples of correspondences to help the reader to understand what the Tree of Life as a whole is thought to represent.  For the reader interested in finding out more about correspondences to the Sephiroth and Paths of the Tree, I would suggest the title 777 and Other Cabalistic Writings by Aleister Crowley.

The entire Tree of Life is divided into three columns, or "Pillars," known as the "Pillar of Severity, Pillar of Mildness, and the Pillar of Mercy." The Pillar of Severity contains Binah (Understanding), Giburah  (Strength) and Hode (Splendor); the Pillar of Mildness contains Keter (Crown), Tipharet (Beauty), Yesode (Foundation), and Malkuth (Kingdom); the Pillar of Mercy contains Chokma (Wisdom), Hesed (Mercy), and Netzach (Victory). If the translated names of the Sephiroth are considered, the dualistic logic behind the Pillar names becomes clear. Also note that the Pillar of Severity is traditionally related to the feminine half of duality, and the Pillar of Mercy is attributed to the masculine half - perhaps the opposite of what might be assumed, but true to this tradition none the less.

The Tree is also divided into four rows, each of which is known as a "Realm" or a "World." The four Realms are known as Haohlam Atziloot (The World of Godly Emanations), Haohlam B'riyah (World of Creation), Haohlam Yetzirah (World of Formation), and Haohlam Assiah (World of Action).  The World of Godly Emanations consists of the top three Sephiroth (Crown, Wisdom, and Understanding); the World of Creation consists of the next lower three (Mercy, Strength, and Beauty); the World of Formation consists of the next lower three (Victory, Splendor, and Foundation); and finally, the World of Action consists of Malkuth - Kingdom, the world that we live in every day. Note that the World of Godly Emanations is believed to relate to the Archetypes and the godhead, the World of Creation to the conscious mind and archangels, the World of Formation to the Astral Plane and angels, and the World of Action to the four elements and the physical world which is constructed of them.

From looking at all of the above information, it is fairly clear that the Qabbalists have recorded what they believe is the basic set of forces that all creation experiences from its point of origin (Keter/Crown) to the final manifestation in the material world (Malkuth/Kingdom).  By looking at the system of the Pillars, it is clear that their system of understanding includes polarity/duality, as well as the balanced middle-ground which exists between the opposites. The four Realms breaks the creative process down into four basic levels, starting with the pure emanations of the godhead and working its way through transformations into creative energy, formative energy, and finally formation itself.

A Proposed Purpose of the Tree of Life

It is my understanding that the Tree of life can be used as a tool for several different purposes. I will expound briefly on each of the purposes that I am aware of or have read about. If the reader is interested in pure and in-depth Qabbalistic theory, they will have to turn to another source (several are listed in the bibliography) as I am herein only attempting to give an overview of this particular system to point out the interesting "coincidences" between the symbol of the Tree of Life and the sacred geometry which clearly lies behind its layout.

I have read, but have not personally experienced, the idea that the Tree serves as a map of ten realms which an experienced Qabbalist can travel through by astral projection. The idea is that through practiced meditation one can separate one's consciousness from one's physical body, and by doing so enter the "Astral Plane." The Astral Plane is believed to be a level of reality which overlays the one which we experience on a daily basis, but which can only be entered and perceived with the mental body.

The Qabbalist who has attained the ability to astrally project in this way chooses one of three paths from Malkuth - the Sephiroth that contains the everyday physical world - to the three Sephiroth connected to it by direct paths. The three paths lead to Foundation, Splendor, and Victory - all three a part of the "Realm" known as the World of Formation.  It is interesting to note here that the World of Formation, according to the Qabbalists, is related specifically to the Astral Plane, whereas the other three Realms are not.

The path is chosen by using the Tarot card that corresponds to that path as a meditational tool. The symbolism represented in the traditional Tarot deck's imagery is believed to be directly related to the energies and powers which actually exist within the path the card represents.  The practitioner would meditate on the visual image of the card itself, and then project into that image, using the card as a gateway to the astral plane - and on to the path itself.

As to what is in the paths and Sephiroth, it is hard for me to say.  My understanding is that the Qabbalist experiences various tests and trials, and is required to know various secret names as passwords to enter i to the Sephiroth themselves. According to the teachings, one is not capable of entering into a path/card if one has not mastered the Sephiroth that are attached to it, and in this way one gradually "climbs" one's way up the Tree, eventually reaching the Crown and spiritual enlightenment.  Some claim that it is not so easy as climbing the Tree but once, and instead believe that a total of four trees are linked in succession, all of which must be climbed before one's journey is complete.

As I have said, I have no current means to either verify or deny any of the information regarding the "climbing of the Tree" by astral projection.  I am simply relaying what I have read about in several texts.

Another, perhaps more accessible, means of utilizing the symbolism behind the Tree of Life is to use it to increase one's understanding of some of the how's and why's of the world which is occurring around us, much as I suggest one use Sacred Geometry. The Tree provides us with an excellent "filter of understanding," and affords us the ability to look into how the energies latent in our world and our individuals lives ebb, flow, coalesce, and dissipate. Perhaps one of modern humankind's greatest downfall is the incessant need for hard fact and cold logical compartmentalization of perceived reality. It is tools such as the Tree of Life which grant us the ability to see the greater patterns around and within us - but in order for it to do so we must put the effort in to letting go of our preconceived notions and looking for the relations that the Tree points towards. And once the relations have been seen, then we must have the strength not to try to lock those relations into definitive laws of perception as well.

So let us take apart some of the possible interpretations of geometric symbolism in the Tree of Life in light of the traditional Qabbalistic beliefs regarding it.

Our diagram shows us five circles. If we consider the five traditional Elements of Fire, Air, Water, Earth , and Spirit (which is said to encompass the others), then we can begin to see some form of correspondence.  The most direct correspondence that I see between the two systems is that they both deal with the gradual process of manifestation of pure energy into physical substance. In the Elements, the process can either start or finish with Spirit, depending on one's point of view, and as such the order of creation is either Spirit, Fire, Air, Water, and Earth, or it is Fire, Air, Water, Earth, and Spirit. In the Tree of Life, as already noted, the process begins at Keter and finishes at Malkuth - that is, until the practitioner of the Qabbala rises him- or herself back up through the Tree to Keter once again.

I see two plausable means of attributing the five Elements to the five circles in our diagram: first, by listing them from the top of the Tree to the bottom, starting with Spirit, then Fire, Air, Water, and Earth, and second by once again listing them from top to bottom, although this time starting with Fire (Fire, Air, Water, Earth, and Spirit). When considering the Tree of Life, however, and the fact that Spirit is only regained if the Qabbalist leaves Malkuth (the center of the lowermost circle) and returns to Keter (the center of the top-most circle) I would tend to lean towards corresponding Spirit to the uppermost circle, and for the following excercises that is the method of belief that I shall persue.

If we consider the Three Principles (Sulphur, Mercury, and Salt) and Four Elements (Fire, Air, Water, and Earth) of Alchemy, there would seem to be an undeniable correlation between them and the Qabbalistic Tree of Life. The Qabbalists certainly had knowledge of the Alchemical Principles and Elements, though it is difficult to say which system influenced which, or whether these two mystic cultures made their discoveries independent of one another.

Note that in our original drawing of the Tree of Life, we generated four "Vesica Pisces." If we consider the four Realms as represented by the four Vesicae, it seems like a conspicuous coincidence that each of the four Vesicae touch the Sephiroth which are said to be a part of that realm.