Tree of Life
(Difference between revisions)
Categories: Qabalah | Tree of Life
Revision as of 00:21, 16 Apr 2005 Ash (Talk | contribs) |
Current revision Capella (Talk | contribs) The Pillars |
||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
- | The [[sephiroth]] (singular ''sephira'') are the ten emanations or manifestations of God or the Universe. They begin with the highest aspect, [[Kether]], and as the energy or concepts pass through creation, they reach the physical world, [[Malkuth]]. Connecting many of the sephiroth are pathways, 22 in all. Within the western magical tradition, the Tree is used as a kind of conceptual filing cabinet. Each sephera and path is assigned various ideas, such as gods, cards of the [[Tarot]], astrological planets and signs, elements, etc. Within [[Thelema]], the seminal book which defines all these correspondences is ''777'' by [[Aleister Crowley]], although there have been other influential writers on the topic, including [[Israel Regardie]] and [[Eliphas Levi]]. | + | The '''Tree of Life''' is a tool used to categorize and organize various mystical concepts, and is central to the teachings of [[Aleister Crowley]] and the [[Qabalah]]. At its most simple level, it is composed of ten spheres, or emanations, called sephiroth (sing. "sephira") which are connected by twenty two paths. The sephiroth are represented by the planets and the paths by the characters of the Hebrew alphabet, which are subdivided by the five [[elements]], the seven classical planets, and the twelve signs of the [[Zodiac]]. |
+ | |||
+ | Within the western magical tradition, the Tree is used as a kind of conceptual filing cabinet. Each sephira and path is assigned various ideas, such as gods, cards of the Tarot, astrological planets and signs, elements, etc. Within [[Thelema]], the seminal book which defines all these correspondences is ''Liber 777'' by Aleister Crowley, although there have been other influential writers on the topic, including [[Israel Regardie]] and [[Eliphas Levi]]. | ||
==Parts of the Tree of Life== | ==Parts of the Tree of Life== | ||
Line 22: | Line 24: | ||
*[[Malkuth]], "The Kingdom" | *[[Malkuth]], "The Kingdom" | ||
- | There is also the "false" sephiroth, [[Daath]], or ''Knowledge''. | + | There is also the "false" sephira, [[Daath]], or ''Knowledge''. |
===The Paths=== | ===The Paths=== | ||
Line 61: | Line 63: | ||
The vertical columns of the sephiroth form three "pillars": | The vertical columns of the sephiroth form three "pillars": | ||
*'''[[Tree of Life: Pillars#Boaz|Boaz]]'''—the left Pillar, called ''Severity'' ([[Binah]],[[Geburah]], and [[Hod]]) | *'''[[Tree of Life: Pillars#Boaz|Boaz]]'''—the left Pillar, called ''Severity'' ([[Binah]],[[Geburah]], and [[Hod]]) | ||
- | *'''[[Tree of Life: Pillars#Middle Pillar|Middle Pillar]]'''—the center column, called ''Balance'' ([[Kether]], [[Tiphareth]], [[Yesod]], [[Malkuth]]) | + | *'''[[Tree of Life: Pillars#Middle Pillar|Middle Pillar]]'''—the center column, called ''Beneficence'' ([[Kether]], [[Tiphareth]], [[Yesod]], [[Daath]], [[Malkuth]]) |
*'''[[Tree of Life: Pillars#Jachin|Jachin]]'''—the right Pillar, called ''Mercy'' ([[Chokmah]], [[Chesed]], [[Netzach]]) | *'''[[Tree of Life: Pillars#Jachin|Jachin]]'''—the right Pillar, called ''Mercy'' ([[Chokmah]], [[Chesed]], [[Netzach]]) | ||
+ | |||
+ | - Further Reading: See The Middle Pillar by Israel Regardie chapters 2 & 3 | ||
===The Triplicities=== | ===The Triplicities=== | ||
Line 88: | Line 92: | ||
==The Correspondences== | ==The Correspondences== | ||
- | The defining feature of the Tree of Life as it's used in Thelema is the correspondences. The general idea is that all the concepts found in a sephiroth or path have essential ties with each other. Many of the correspondences are from the Jewish Kabbalistic tradition, although there are many that were added on by members of the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn|Golden Dawn]] and also by Aleister Crowley. The following is a list of conceptual groupings of all the various columns found in the seminal collection of Qabalistic correspondances, Crowley's ''Liber 777.'' | + | The defining feature of the Tree of Life as it's used in Thelema is the correspondences. The general idea is that all the concepts found in a sephira or path have essential ties with each other. Many of the correspondences are from the Jewish Kabbalistic tradition, although there are many that were added on by members of the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn|Golden Dawn]] and also by Aleister Crowley. The following is a list of conceptual groupings of all the various columns found in the seminal collection of Qabalistic correspondences, Crowley's ''Liber 777.'' |
- | <center><div style="padding:6px;margin:10px 0px 15px 0px; border:solid 1px #cccccc;">'''See also—[[Tree of Life:777|The full listing of all columns in ''Liber 777'']].'''</div></center> | + | <center><div style="padding:6px;margin:20px 0px 25px 0px; border:solid 1px #cccccc;">'''See also—[[Tree of Life:777|The full listing of all columns in ''Liber 777'']].'''</div></center> |
*'''[[Key Scale|The Key Scale]]'''—not really a correspondence, but the numerical organizational tool of the Tree. | *'''[[Key Scale|The Key Scale]]'''—not really a correspondence, but the numerical organizational tool of the Tree. | ||
- | <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | + | <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin-top:15px;"> |
<tr> | <tr> | ||
- | <td> | + | <td valign=top style="padding:0px"> |
*'''Major Correspondences:''' | *'''Major Correspondences:''' | ||
**'''[[Tree of Life:Astrology|Astrology]]''' | **'''[[Tree of Life:Astrology|Astrology]]''' | ||
- | **'''[[Tree of Life:Decans|Decans]]''' | ||
- | **'''[[Tree of Life:Astrological Angels|Astrological Angels]]''' | ||
**'''[[Tree of Life:Godforms|Godforms]]''' | **'''[[Tree of Life:Godforms|Godforms]]''' | ||
**'''[[Tree of Life:Tarot|Tarot]]''' | **'''[[Tree of Life:Tarot|Tarot]]''' | ||
**'''[[Tree of Life:Colors|Colors]]''' | **'''[[Tree of Life:Colors|Colors]]''' | ||
**'''[[Tree of Life:Elements|Elements]]''' | **'''[[Tree of Life:Elements|Elements]]''' | ||
+ | **'''[[Tree of Life:Decans|Decans]]''' | ||
+ | **'''[[Tree of Life:Astrological Angels|Astrological Angels]]''' | ||
*'''The Four Worlds''' | *'''The Four Worlds''' | ||
**'''[[Tree of Life:The Four Worlds|The Four Worlds]]''' | **'''[[Tree of Life:The Four Worlds|The Four Worlds]]''' | ||
Line 120: | Line 124: | ||
</td> | </td> | ||
- | <td style="padding-left:20px;"> | + | <td valign=top style="padding:0px 0px 0px 20px;"> |
*'''Magick & Mysticism''': | *'''Magick & Mysticism''': | ||
**'''[[Tree of Life:Magical Weapons|Magical Weapons]]''' | **'''[[Tree of Life:Magical Weapons|Magical Weapons]]''' |
Current revision
The Tree of Life is a tool used to categorize and organize various mystical concepts, and is central to the teachings of Aleister Crowley and the Qabalah. At its most simple level, it is composed of ten spheres, or emanations, called sephiroth (sing. "sephira") which are connected by twenty two paths. The sephiroth are represented by the planets and the paths by the characters of the Hebrew alphabet, which are subdivided by the five elements, the seven classical planets, and the twelve signs of the Zodiac.
Within the western magical tradition, the Tree is used as a kind of conceptual filing cabinet. Each sephira and path is assigned various ideas, such as gods, cards of the Tarot, astrological planets and signs, elements, etc. Within Thelema, the seminal book which defines all these correspondences is Liber 777 by Aleister Crowley, although there have been other influential writers on the topic, including Israel Regardie and Eliphas Levi.
Table of contents |
Parts of the Tree of Life
The Negative Veils
- Ain, "Nothing"
- Ain Soph, "The Boundless"
- Ain Soph Aur, "The Limitless Light"
Sephiroth (Emanations)
- Kether, "Crown"
- Chokmah, "Wisdom"
- Binah, "Understanding"
- Chesed, "Mercy"
- Geburah, "Strength"
- Tiphareth, "Beauty"
- Netzach, "Victory"
- Hod, "Splendour"
- Yesod, "The Foundation"
- Malkuth, "The Kingdom"
There is also the "false" sephira, Daath, or Knowledge.
The Paths
There are 22 paths that connect the ten sephiroth. They are named according to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
- Aleph, "Ox"
- Beth, "House"
- Gimel, "Camel"
- Daleth, "Door"
- Hé, "Window"
- Vau, "Nail"
- Zain, "Sword"
- Cheth, "Fence"
- Teth, "Serpent"
- Yod, "Hand"
- Kaph, "Palm"
- Lamed, "Ox Goad"
- Mem, "Water"
- Nun, "Fish"
- Samekh, "Prop"
- Ayin, "Eye"
- Pé, "Mouth"
- Tzaddi, "Fish-Hook"
- Qoph, "Back of Head"
- Resh, "Head"
- Shin, "Tooth"
- Tau, "Cross"
- 32-bis
- 31-bis
The Veils
The Pillars
The vertical columns of the sephiroth form three "pillars":
- Boaz—the left Pillar, called Severity (Binah,Geburah, and Hod)
- Middle Pillar—the center column, called Beneficence (Kether, Tiphareth, Yesod, Daath, Malkuth)
- Jachin—the right Pillar, called Mercy (Chokmah, Chesed, Netzach)
- Further Reading: See The Middle Pillar by Israel Regardie chapters 2 & 3
The Triplicities
Above the physical world of Malkuth, there are three sets of three sephiroth:
The Four Worlds
- Briah (The Creative World)
- Atziluth (The Archetypical World)
- Yetzirah (The Formative World)
- Assiah (The Material World)
The Parts of the Soul
- Yechidah (The Self)
- Chiah (The Life Force)
- Neshama (The Intuition)
- Ruach (The Intellect)
- Nephesh (The Animal Soul)
The Correspondences
The defining feature of the Tree of Life as it's used in Thelema is the correspondences. The general idea is that all the concepts found in a sephira or path have essential ties with each other. Many of the correspondences are from the Jewish Kabbalistic tradition, although there are many that were added on by members of the Golden Dawn and also by Aleister Crowley. The following is a list of conceptual groupings of all the various columns found in the seminal collection of Qabalistic correspondences, Crowley's Liber 777.
- The Key Scale—not really a correspondence, but the numerical organizational tool of the Tree.
|
|
See also