Tree of Life

The Qabalah / Tree of Life – © 2012, Pateo Academia 1

The Qabalah / Tree of Life Jeff Williams

The philosophy of the Qabalah is a spiritual system that depicts evolution of the universe. The

universe, with all its star systems and independent beings existing within, was conceived to be

the product from a primordial essence which some have called God, Source, Spirit, the

Absolute, the Infinite, the All, and so forth. The word "Qabalah" is derived from the Hebrew

root, lbq (QBL), which means "to receive". The philosophy of the Qabalah is fundamentally

esoteric and the way to conquer this esotericism is by continual experimentation and

insightful study. In doing so, you “receive” the wisdom of the universe. So this film is really

just to introduce the topic, and explain my theories and exoteric understanding; hopefully,

encouraging you to pursue the Qabalah further with your own research—developing your

own esoteric, understanding. However, I feel confident in saying this explanation is complete

if you wish to follow my beliefs.

The Qabalah is not limited to the Jewish and Greek traditions.

The Tree of Life had roots of antiquity in Egypt, it is seen

evident in the Chaldean Oracles of Ancient Assyria and it is

speculated that it goes further back to Sumeria, but there is no

culture that can call it theirs, it is a universal system. In May of

1997, Barbury Castle, England, an interesting crop circle

formation was found in an oil rape seed field. It was the Tree of

Life!

Some higher form of consciousness is emphasizing the Tree of Life, showing its importance,

that it is a universal system, and that it cannot be placed under one culture. In fact, the

concepts in The Tree of Life have been used by Hermeticists, Gnostics, Rosicrucians, Sufis,

Theurgists, Alchemists, Pythagoreans, Neo-Platonists, and other Mystery School groups

through the ages. The Tree of Life is even mentioned many times in the Bible, from the

beginning of the Book of Genesis to last part of the Book of Revelation. One who eats from

this Tree, according to the Bible, is given "eternal life." In the Hindu Bhagavad Gita (which is

one of the holiest Scriptures of the Hindu tradition) becoming immortal is simply to become

conscious that life is eternal and then following the spiritual path. That is exactly what the

Bible is referring to by eating from this Tree, understanding the true nature of your higher-

self. For any seeker of light, the Tree of Life is an acceptable source to use when

understanding everything that is. It holds a system more luminous, and simple then those of

Pythagoras or the Chaldean Oracles. And like Einstein said, "When it is simple, God is

answering." However, I will correlate the systems of Pythagoras and the Chaldean Oracles

into this, so that you see how similar they in fact are.

The figure below is the Tree of Life and it explains how the universe has manifest. For

Pythagoreans, ten is considered the holiest number of all. Likewise, there is ten Sephiroth on

the Tree of Life, and these ten are split into three columns, which are called pillars. Now

Sephirah is the Qabalistic word for each level of Concsiousness, each force of nature.


The pillar on the left is feminine and is

titled "Justice" or "Judgment", the pillar on

the right is masculine and is titled "Mercy",

the middle pillar is a balance of both

opposites, and is titled "Mildness" or

"Equilibrium". There is also an additional

grouping, which separates the first nine

Sephiroth into three Triads, of which the

tenth is suspended, and you will learn

about this shortly. In the Tree of Life, you

will also notice what appears to be an

eleventh Sephirah, called Daath. This

really is not a Sephirah, but a location

where all ten Sephirah unite as one. For

this reason Da’th appropriately means

Hidden Knowledge, for once one is able to

unite all Sephirah into their understanding,

true knowledge is obtained. Each

Sephiroth is given a numerical association,

a celestial body (planet), an elemental

association, a choir of higher beings

(angels, archangels, gods, or we can just

consider them forces of nature), a color, a

gender, multiple symbols, as well as other

associations and characteristics. To make

this as comprehensible to the average

reader as possible, I will start with just the

numerical association, its gender and how

the Tree of Life shows the evolution of the

Universe; which, is by far the most important aspect to grasp. Then we will look into the color

correlations, and then briefly move our way into the archetypes of the Tree of Life system.

Numbers symbolize the very rhythm of the universe, they narrate the evolutionary processes

which have shaped nature. This rhythm compensates for the creative, destructive, and

preservative forces, which allow for our very nature to exist. Harmonious systems of numbers

guide and mark the first manifestations of the One Life, into the elements and substances

present in All Life. The differentiations in All Life are symbolized by number, and represent

the development of an explicit, concrete universe from an implicit, subtle essence, the One

Life or the Source.

The universe as all life and every conceivable thing, has its origin in Infinite Space, called

Ain, Nothing or Zero, and is the causeless cause of all manifestation. In Taoism, Buddhism,

and other Eastern traditions, Ain would be called the Void, the non-being. To become aware

of Itself, Ain becomes Ain Soph, or Infinity, and yet further to Ain Soph Aour, where it

becomes Absolute Limitless Light. Ain Soph Aour then concerted itself into an essential

dimensionless position- called Kether, or the Crown, and this is the first Sephirah on the Tree

of Life, it is the number one (see the figure below). Pythagoreans call one, "Spirit" or "God",

that from which all things come; likewise, the crown is the source for the following nine

Sephirah.


Modern physics believes the universe originated out of the vacuum. Many physicists are

unable to agree upon whether this constant energy is zero, or infinity. The Tree of Life

explains both concepts, as Ain, Nothing, Zero, becomes Ain Soph, Infinity. This process

continues to Ain Soph Auor, Absolute Limitless Light, and once again we have a consistency

among modern Physics and the Tree of Life. B. Alan Wallace writes in “Choosing Reality,”

“the zero-point energy of the vacuum appears as a vast omnipresent ocean of infinite energy,

and all other forms of energy—thermal, gravitational, and so on—appear as the thinnest of

films upon the surface of this fathomless sea.” This omnipresent infinite energy is the Ain

Soph Auor that emanated into Kether, the foundation for all other forces and phenomena.


In contemporary Quantum Mechanics we are also now able to show that the Universe cannot

exist without a Conscious mind (see figure above), this means that we are now able to put a

scientific understanding to what Mystics have been teaching for aeons. What the Tree of Life

is teaching you now, listen closely. Kether, the Crown, is one, it is unity; it is the root of all

things, it is the ultimate unit of consciousness. It is the metaphysical centre for spiritual

energy, composed of endless life, activity, and force. It is the first manifestation from the

unknown, the matrix of spirit, the ultimate root of substance that connects us all. For

Pythagoreans one is called the Monad, the source of all numbers.

From Kether issues duality. All the Sephiroth below the Crown, or Kether, are given

masculine and feminine attributions, and the activity between male and female Sephirah

together, creates a "child" so-to-say, which is really a neutral Sephirah to provide Equilibrium

and balance. Like I mentioned, the Tree of Life is split into Three Triads, or Groupings. The

first Triad is the Supernal Triad, and it consists of the first three Sephirah: Kether which

means the Crown, Chokmah, which means Wisdom, and Binah which means Understanding.

If you are aware of what the Ancient Greek definition of Logos is, this is the Supernal Triad.

If you aren't, I'll sum it up real quick, Logos is the divine word of God pervading the

Universe. Kether is the first Logos, Chokmah is the second Logos, and Binah the third. The

Supernal Light is considered the triad of that which is supremely divine, the Superconscious.

In Taoism, there is a proverb that compliments this Supernal Triad quite well, "One begets

Two, Two begets Three and Three begets all things," and you’re about to find out why.

Chokmah, the Father, is two, it is the vigorous vitalizing factor of existence, which is

responsible for all manifestations of consciousness. In Chokmah, the ideal or imaginative

world-plan is formulated by the Logos-- ideas upon which will be based "the world-to-be".

Chokmah is male, energetic, and active. The Pythagoreans called two, Dyad, they said it was

a loss of unity, it was the beginning of duality.

Binah, the Mother of every form, is three, it is the root of things, cosmic root substance. Binah

is the medium of every possible happening, physical or mental, whereas Chokmah is the

essence of consciousness. Binah is often referred to as black, because black absorbs all other

colors, just as in Binah, all material forms return to and return back into her source. Binah is

negative, female, and passive. The Pythagoreans called three, triad.

The Chaldean Oracles also called this trinity the Supernal Triad and their interpretation

appears to be a combination of the Qabalah with Pythagorean terminology. The first was

called Once Beyond, the Monad, the Logos; the Mind of All. The second was called Twice

Beyond, the Dyad, the Mind of Mind, and it was given a masculine attribution, the Father and

was conceived as dual. By Once and Twice “Beyond,” they mean Beyond the threshold of the

pure spiritual state. The third, the Greek translators called Hecate, the triad, the container of

all things sensible. It was given a feminine attribution, as it was called the Mother-Substance.

This is an excerpt from the Chaldean Oracles, “In every cosmos, there shineth a Triad, of

which a Monad is the source.” The Chaldeans were from Ancient Assyria in Mesopatamia,

even though we’re finding many new civilizations that predate this area to be the cradle of

civilization, Ancient Assyria has a lot of documented information about antiquity. As the

Theologian Hippolytus said, “[the Assyrians were among] the first to consider the soul three,

yet one.” Here we have a strong consistency with that of the Qabalah. There is a primordial

essence, the Logos, which emanated duality, a father Logos creating the world to be and a

mother Logos that holds all substance and these three then reflected yet further as it formed

the universe. It is likely that the Chaldean Oracles developed into the Tree of Life, after all,

they were a Semitic civilization.


This concept of a Triad is consistent in Sufism as well. The mystic and philosopher Ibn Al-

Arabi, writes,

“I follow the religion of love. Now I am sometimes called a shepherd of divine wisdom. And

now a Christian monk, and now a Persian sage. My beloved is Three. Three yet only one;

many things appear as three, which are no more than one. Give her no name, as if to limit one

at the sight of whom all limitation is confounded.”

To put this into perspective with Quantum Mechanics. The triadic process of Ain Soph Aur,

centering into Kether, the Unity, the matrix of spirit is the vacuum, the omnipresent infinite

source that connects all things. Chokmah the Father logos is the energetic essence of

consciousness. This is the vibrating energy around us. The pyramidal energy of all conscious

flow. Binah the mother substance that holds all things is said to black as all things return back

into her source, everything in the universe is held together by empty space, this immense

blackness filling 99.99% of your body, is the mother substance.

Let’s move further through the Tree of Life, the Supernal Triad with the Crown and its two

derivatives, the Father and Mother, is in itself separate from the Sepirah that follow. This is

because they are said to beyond the Abyss, which is the barrier between the intangible and the

tangible . . . the above from the below. Below the abyss is projected a second triad, which

includes the Fourth to Sixth Sephiroth, known as the Sephiro habinyon- which means “The

Potencies of Construction,” and they symbolize the dimensions of matter. This triad is

referred to as the triad of consciousness.

The first of this Second Triad, is named Chesed, which means Grace. Chesed is male and

active, it is the fourth Sephirah and four is a number signifying system, order, and love. It is

symbolical of the potentialities of our objective Nature. Pythagoreans called Four, "The

greatest miracle, a God after another manner than the triad." Every culture relates Four in

some manner as a very divine number.

The fifth is Geburah, which means might, severity and strength. The ancients said that five is

a symbol of the creative power. Five is composed of two and three, representing the wisdom

of the Father and the passive energy of the Mother. It expresses a transition of ideality into

actuality. Geburah is feminine, but its nature would appear highly masculine. It has been

suggested that these fourth and fifth Sephiros represent the expansive and contracting energies

between the poles of the dimensions, acting under the will of the Logos.

Six is the Sephirah which is evolved to give harmony and equilibrium to the former forces,

and is named Tiphareth, a Hebrew word meaning "Beauty" and "Harmony." The number is a

symbol of all that is well balanced, harmonious, and of pleasing proportion, as it is the

combination of 1+2+3, which signifies the three Supernals. Since the Supernals represent the

real motivating powers of evolution, the Logos likewise in six, Tiphareth, we find a due and

equable reflection of a lesser Logos. [Figure 6] Six is also the double of three, as it reflects the

ideas presented by those numbers. Since two is the essence of consciousness, and three the

root of all things, six is those essences manifested into human consciousness. The

Pythagorean philosophers said that six was a perfect number, and that it was the symbol of the

soul. In fact, Tiphareth is the human soul, the center of the microcosmic system, and the

luminous intermediary between the Spirit above and the body with instincts below. That is

why in Christianity, Judaism and Sumerian religion they allegorically say man was created on

the sixth day, to represent the nature of 6. Tiphareth is represented by the Seal of Solomon, a


true symbol of equilibrium, which is also a 2-dimensional symbol for the Star Tetrahedron, or

the Mer-ka-ba!

The reflection of each emanation continues to a new triad, as the higher forces reproduce

themselves to yet a lower plane. This triad is essentially completely different from the

previous two, as this triad enters the elemental plane, where the Forces of Nature are manifest.

In the human field, this triad is the unconscious.

The seventh Sephirah, Netzach, means "Triumph" or "Victory". Seven is known to be a

complete number, representing a fulfillment of things, as it finishes the cycle and returns into

itself. So, Netzach starts this new triad, while summing up all the former forces. Netzach is

attributed the element of Fire, it is male and represents the emotional life of human. It's nature

is one of love and the force of attraction; the power of cohesion in the universe, binding one

thing to another thing, and acting as the instinctual intelligence among living creatures. In all

cultures seven is a number of completeness, as it takes seven circles to complete the Seed of

Life, of which the Tree of Life is contained.

Eight is its opposite pole, and this Sephirah is called Hod, which means "Splendor" or

"Glory". Hod is a feminine quality and is attributed to the element of Water. It is ever

flowing, shifting, and in constant flux. It has been termed "change in stability." It represents

the fluidic mind, the thinking and logical capacity in human.

Possessing a very similar nature, is the ninth Sephirah, Yesod, meaning the "Foundation".

Yesod has been termed "stability in change". Nine contains in itself all preceding numbers,

which makes it the foundation which all the higher forces are focused, and constitute the final

model upon which the physical world is built. Yesod is the Astral Plane, or the Soul of the

World, the Anima Mundi. It is attributed to the element of Air, ever flowing, shifting, and in a

constant flux-- yet because of that flux, it is in perpetual stability. Just as the tremendous


speed of the electronic particles ensures the stability of the atom, so too the fleeting forms of

motion of Yesod constitute the permanence and surety of the physical world. It completes the

three triads.

Suspended from these three triads, is the tenth and final Sephirah, Malkuth, which means the

"Kingdom". Its element is the Earth, and it is the kingdom of the physical world, representing

all the qualities of the proceeding planes. In human, it represents the physical body and mind,

the temple of the Holy Spirit, or the body that holds your soul.

So, how do these new number ideologies compare to the Chaldean Oracles? In the Chaldean

Oracles, the Mind of Mind, or the Father caused to swell forth seven firmaments of worlds.

These seven firmaments were not regarded as “planetary orbits.” One of the seven they

assigned to the empyrean which means heavenly world. Three to the etherical which means

spiritual world. And three to the gross-material, which means physicals world. This comes

from Greek translation however, and might have been more specifically related to the Tree of

Life’s interpretations thousands of years ago. The bottom line, is that there is a consistency

among the Chaldean Oracles and the Qabalah. Being, they both carry a Supernal Triad, with a

Monad being the source of the Father Dyad and Mother Triad, which then emanated seven

following forces which make up the evolutionary essences of the universe.

Each Sephiroth is also correlated to a color.

The supernal triad makes up the fundamental

facets of life, Kether is white, Chokmah grey,

and Binah, black. Following this Supernal triad

are the primary colors, where Chesed is blue,

Geburah is red, and Tiphareth is yellow, take

note to the gender correlation of each spectrum.

Following this triad are the colors created out

of the primary colors, where Netzach is green

created from the Blue and Yellow of Chesed

and Tiphareth. Hod is orange created from the

red and yellow of Geburah and Tiphareth.

Yesod is purple created from the blue and red

of Chesed and Geburah. And Malkuth is then a

combination of this last triad, being citrine,

olive green, russet brown, and black as black

holds all colors, and these colors are separated

into parts of the circle, where the first three

each take 1/6 of the circle, and black takes the

bottom ½ of the circle.

Not only through the course of our present

lives, but through the whole development of

our long evolution—through the whole

development of life on Earth—the lights and

influences of the cosmos have been impinging

upon this planet, calling forth development,

reaction, sensory and psychic perceptions. And

of all these influences seven of the celestial

bodies in our Solar System have been among


the most potent. The Sun, Moon, and the five nearest planets Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus,

and Mercury have been known and watched through out the ages. Astronomy tells us of the

orbits and brightnesses of these seven luminaries, of their constituents and atmospheres.

Astrology tells us of the effects upon us and upon our lives of the varying and blending light

reflected visibly and radiating invisibly from their surfaces. But the Tree of Life tells us that

through these luminaries originates, empowers, and acts great creative impulses, the

archetypes of the Mind. This is probably where you wondering about the other planets. Of the

newly discovered planets, it may be called higher octaves of certain of the traditional seven.

In the Tree of Life there are three Sephiroth that are not attributed to a celestial body, Kether

one, Chokmah two, and Malkuth ten. It should not be conceived that the planets are the

Sephiorthic emanations themselves, but rather the energies represented by the planets

correspond to a particular consciousness, or Sephiroth. Binah is associated with Saturn.

Chesed is associated with Jupiter. Geburah is associated with Mars. Tiphareth is associated

with the Sun. NEtzach is associated with Venus. Hod is associated with Mercury, and lastly

Yesod is associated with the moon. Academia, shows that ancient civilizations believed in

many Gods. This is academia’s view, who also claims that these civilizations were primitive;

all polytheistic cultures believed that one particular God, was the source of the following

Gods. So if we look at it this way, their religions are a much more developed form of

monotheism. These Gods also correspond to a particular Sephiroth, but like the planets,

should not be considered the Sephiroth, rather the energies of these Gods, which I like to call

forces of nature, are represented in each Sephiorth’s potency, as an archetype. The energies

emanated from each Sephiroth which was illustrated in Part Three is what is important in the

Tree of Life system, as these can be cultivated by each one of us. These energies are the

fundamental archetypes inherent in us, and were pictorially and allegorically shown in

Ancient times as the Gods. So that Thoth the Egyptian god of wisdom would represent

Chokmah, which is wisdom. Or Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of love, the Goddess of the

planet Venus would represent Netzach the Sephiroth of Victory, Love, and order that

represents Venus.

Tree of Life

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