KABBALAH
TREE OF LIFE The
Jewish mystical doctrine known as "Kabbalah" (="Tradition")
Diagram
of the Ten Sefirot
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KETER
Keter Elyon
Translation The Supreme Crown
Description Keter is the uppermost aspect of the Sefirot that can be contemplated
by humans.
Even so, this Sefirah is rarely discussed by the Kabbalists. Later traditions
speak of it radiating 620 "pillars of light."
Human Imagery (Primordial Man) Crown The hoary head. The hairs of the beard.
Names of God The point at the tip of the letter "yod" in the Tetragrammaton
(the four-letter name of God). Ehveh (a form of "I shall be").
Colour None.
Other Symbols and Images
Primordial Ether "Nothingness," the negation of all thought.
"He." Arikh Anpin--the Longsuffering (literally: the Long-faced) One.
The Ancient Holy One. Before. Supernal East. The origin of Will, The dew of
Hermon.
BINAH
Translation Understanding, Discernment
Description Binah refers to the analytic, distinguishing aspects of God's thought.
It is the uppermost feminine element in the Godhead,
and is symbolized as the mother of the Shekhinah. Many of the symbols associated
with Binah are therefore identicalto those of the Shekhinah.
Having received the seed from Hokhmah, Binah conceived and gave birth to the
seven lower Sefirot. There are fifty "Gates of Understanding."
Human Imagery (Primordial Man) Forehead.
Biblical Figure The Matriarch Leah. Names of God Elohim. The Hebrew letter "he"
in the four-letter name of God (The "Tetragrammaton").
The Tegtragrammaton when vocalized as the word "Elohim" ("God").
Other Symbols and Images
Supernal Mother, Supernal Shekhinah. Palace. Womb. "Who." Palace,
Building. Repentance ("Return," Teshuvah).
A river branching out into seven streams. Supernal Jubilee. The Hebrew Alphabet.
Supernal Justice.
Beersheba. Lebanon (identified in Jewish tradition with Jerusalem). Redemption.
Vows.
CHOCHMA
Translation Wisdom
Description Hokhmah represents the contemplative, synthetic aspects of God's
thought.
It is the primordial point of creation from which all knowable reality originates.
There are 32 ways of Wisdom.
Human Imagery (Primordial Man) Right brain Biblical Figures King Solomon Names
of God Yah The letter "yod" of the four-letter
name of God (the Tetragrammaton)
Other Symbols and Images
Primordial Point.
"There is" (Yesh), Being, as in "Being out of 'Nothingness'").
Beginning. Eden.
The origin of Thought. Seed. Fountain. Will. Depth. Father.
DIN,
Gevurah
Translation Judgment, Might, Power
Description This Sefirah represents the fearsome powers of divine punishment
and wrath in the world.
This power is needed to maintain control over the universe.
However the destructive forces necessary to keep order and exact punishment
also contain the seeds of demonic Evil:
the "Other Side" (Sitra Ahra). Human Imagery (Primordial Man) Left
arm Biblical Figure Isaac.
Name of God Elohim.
Colour Red.
Other Symbols and Images The Heavenly Court. North. Fear (of Isaac;
see Genesis 31:53). Great fire; consuming fire. The severe attribute of justice.
Gold. Bread, salt, wine, meat. Serpent. Darkness, night, cloud, mist.
The bronze altar.
HESED
Gedullah
Translation Love, Lovingkindness, Compassion, Greatness, Grace
Description Hesed represents the generous, benevolent (masculine) side of God.
There are 72 "bridges"
of Hesed. Human Imagery (Primordial Man) Right arm. Biblical Figure Abraham
Names of God El. Supreme God (El 'Elyon).
Colour White.
Other Symbols and Images Upper waters. Lion.
TIFERET,
Translation Glory, beauty
Description Tiferet represents the ideal balance of Justice and Mercy needed
for proper running of the universe.
This Sefirah unites all the upper nine powers. Tif'eret is the offspring of
Hokhmah and Binah.
Human Imagery (Primordial Man) Spine, torso. Biblical Figures Jacob/Israel.
Moses. Adam.
Names of God The Tetragrammaton (the four-letter name of God: YHVH) The Lord
The letter "Vav" of the Tetragrammaton The Holy One,
Blessed be He (the common epithet for God in Rabbinic literature)
Colours Green Purple
Other Symbols and Images Compassion (Rahamim). Truth. Judgment (Mishpat).
Humility Heaven. The sun, day. Harmony.
King. It is often symbolized as a bridegroom or prince who strives to be united
with the Shekhinah.
Their union produces the human soul. "Thou" ('attah); "'Anokhi"
(a rarer form of "I").
The Tree of Life. The Written Torah, Torah scroll. Ze'ir Anpin--the Impatient
(literally: Short-faced) One.
Milk and honey. The candelabrum (menorah).
The golden altar.
HOD
Translation Majesty
Description Hod represents the lower channel through which God's judgment comes
down to the world.
It is also associated with the power of prophecy. Hod and Nezah are often treated
as a complementary pair.
Human Imagery (Primordial Man) Left leg Biblical Figures Aaron Name of God Elohim
Zeva'ot (God of Hosts)
Other Symbols and Images The left pillar "Boaz" in the Temple (1 Kings
7:21).
NETZACH,
Translation Eternity, Endurance, Victory Description This Sefirah represents
God's active grace in the world.
Human Imagery (Primordial Man) Right leg Biblical Figure Moses
Name of God YHVH Zeva'ot (The Lord of Hosts)
Other Symbols and Images The righ pillar "Jachin" in the Temple (1
Kings
YESOD,
Translation Foundation
Description Yesod is the channel through which Tiferet strives to unite with
the Shekhinah and pass on the creative and benevolent divine forces.
Human Imagery (Primordial Man) This Sefirah is symbolized as the male phallus,
sanctified through the covenant of circumcision.
Biblical Figures Joseph Names of God El Hay or Elohim Hayyim (The Living God),
Eternal Life. El Shaddai (God Almighty). Adon (Master).
The point at the bottom tip of the Vav in the Tetragrammaton
Other Symbols and Images The Tree of Life. The Source of Living Waters. The
Righteous One. Good Peace Covenant, rainbow. Sign.
Statute (Hoq), commandment (mitzvah). Remembrance. The Holy Mountain, the good
mountain, Mount Zion. Redeemer, Redemption "This" (masc.).
Oath. Lower Hesed.
SHEKINAH, Malkhut
Translation God's Presence, Kingdom Description The Shekhinah is a Talmudic
concept representing God's dwelling and immanence in the created world.
It was equated with the "Keneset Yisrael," the personified spirit
of the People of Israel.
According to a Rabbinic tradition, the Shekhinah shares in the exiles of the
Jewish people.
Therefore, the redemption of the people of Israel is inextricably linked to
the remedying of an alienation within God him/herself,
introducing a bold new element into traditional Jewish Messianic eschatology.
It is through the Shekhinah that humans can experience the Divine.
The passivity of the Shekhinah is often emphasized (equated with its femininity),
as the recipient of forces from the higher Sefirot. Human Imagery (Primordial
Man)
Mouth The Shekhinah is often portrayed as a bride or princess whose male lover
is the composite of the nine upper sefirot,
represented by the prince/bridegroom Tiferet.
Biblical Figures King David The Matriarch Rachel Name of God Adonai (Lord) The
last letter "he" in the four-letter name of God ("the Tetragrammaton").
Elohim (when it receives more influences from the Left side).
Colours Blue black Other Symbols and Images Pool, sea, wellspring, gathering
of the waters,
Beersheba (literally: "The Well of the Seven") Earth, dry land (when
deprived of nourishment from Hesed). Bedrock.
The Moon, which is the passive reflector of light from the sun. In a manner
appropriate to the redemption of God and Israel,
the moon renews itself each month. Queen Bride Daughter / Princess The Royal
House of David Matron The erotic and romantic phrases
of the Song of Songs and Prophetic imagery is evoked to represent the longing
of the male and female elements of the Godhead. Temple, Tent of Meeting,
Mount Moriah. The Land of Israel "I" "This" (fem.).
Mirror Rose Throne of Glory Justice Garden of Eden The Tree of Knowledge The
poor one Apple Orchard The Oral Torah Blessing Freedom Sabbath,
Sabbatical year (in some systems), Jubilee The End of Thought All Eagle.
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