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Most modern western magical systems are based upon the Tree of Life, Otz Chieem). The Sefirotic Tree is a diagram of the universe made up of the ten SEPHIROTH (primal numbers or orders of creation) drawn as circles upon the Tree in a descending pattern from the highest aspect of God at the top to the most physical aspect of our world at the bottom. As can be seen in the
accompanying diagram, the sephiroth are connected together with
numbered lines, called paths.
Above the Tree is the infinite void -- the unknowable,
unmanifest God as Divine Light -- the three veils of negative
existence: Ain, Ain Sof, and Ain Sof Aur. The Divine Light (Ain
Sof Aur) is made manifest by the first sephira where it is
transformed into positive existence. Emanations of energy
(magical current) flow from the first sephira (Source) along the
paths into other sephiroth which transform and emanate to lower and
lower sephiroth.
In Adam Kadman (primal or ideal man) the sephiroth
fit upon the physical body; note the similarity to the chakras.
The process of creation is one of emanation from the spiritual at
the top of the Tree to the physical world (Sink) at the bottom.
All current which is sourced into the tree must also be Sinked
(earthed). That is, magical energy set in motion by ritual shoud
be used up in the physical world whether or not the ritual was a
success.
Sephiroth 1, 2, and 3 on the tree form the Supernal Triangle
which is beyond normal human experience in the world of Atziluth.
The first sephira, KETHER, is the supreme *crown* of God; it
signifies pure Being, and is the Source. Kether is androgynous.
Immediately arising from Kether are two further emanations. The
second sephira is CHOKMAH, the *wisdom* of God and the masculine
force of the universe. Third is BINAH, the *understanding* or
intelligence of God; this is the supernal mother.
Between the Supernals and the other seven sephiroth is the Abyss
-- a great gulf which forever separates ideal from actual. Within
the Abyss an 11th sephira, DAATH, the *knowledge* of God is
sometimes placed.
The second triangle, comprised of the 4th, 5th, and 6th sephiroth
in the world of Briah, is sometimes called the Mental Triangle.
Sephira 4, HESED, the *love* or mercy of God, is male and positive. The 5th sephira, GEVURAH, the power or *strength* of God complements Hesed as justice. Sixth is TIPARETH, as the compassion or *beauty* of God; the heart of the universe.
The third or Astral Triangle contains sephiroth 7, 8, and 9 in
Yetzirah. Sephira 7, NETSAH, is the lasting endurance or *victory* of God. Complementing Netsah is 8, HOD, the majesty or *splendor* of God. The 9th sephira, YESOD, the *foundation* of the world, is linked with the moon, hence the tides and the libido. Yesod is experienced as dream consciousness, and is very important in magick and astral projection. Finally, at the physical world of Assiah is the 10th sephira, MALKUTH, the *kindgom* of God, and the basis of all material creation. We experience Malkuth as sense consciousness.
The Sefirotic Tree has three vertical columns or *pillars*. As
you face the tree, the pillar on the right, headed by Chokmah and
ending with Netsah, is called the Pillar of Mercy and has
light/masculine (yang) qualities. The pillar on the left, headed
by Binah and ending with Hod, is the Pillar of Severity with
dark/feminine (yin) qualities. The Middle Pillar between them
equilibriates the two opposites, and is the *Shekhinah*, or
feminine counterpart of God. The *klippoth*, or evil demons,
generally in Assiah, represent unbalanced forces or excesses.
All the attributes of the universe fit like pieces of a puzzle
upon the Sephirotic Tree. Each numbered part is a numeric key to
the various correspondence tables, such as Crowley's '777'. The
sephirotic tree has its parts variously colored and each sephira has a color; in fact the paths which run between the sephiroth have their own colors too. The 22 paths connect the sefiroth together. These paths correspond with the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, as based upon the SEPHIR YETZIRAH.
From the magical point of view, the Tree of Life is a map of
consciousness which is useful for understanding and attaining
various states of consciousness. In cabalistic magick we are
concerned with the linking of higher energy to lower levels on the tree. That very thing takes place naturally as well, in nature and in life. A subject in itself is cabalistic meditation (pathwork, or the way of return), in which we attempt to climb up the tree (ladder of lights) to attain union with divinity.