����������The origin of the Tarot remains a mystery. It has been claimed by some that the Tarot has existed since the time of the Egyptians and even earlier, its knowledge dating as far back as Atlantis. Another theory says that the great esoteric minds that witnessed the burning of the library at Alexandria met in secret and decided to save the wisdom of the ages from being lost by hiding it in a game of cards. Still others say that the Tarot came from the Far East or from the Gypsies. As romantic as all these stories may be, they remain to this day unencumbered by facts. To our knowledge, the Tarot was invented in the early 14th century and was used as a tool of instruction for those that did not know how to read. It was also used for gambling. However, by the 1800's the cards were almost entirely used for fortunetelling. The decks of this era were based upon what is known as the Grigonneur deck, which was owned by Charles VI of France. Many of the so-called Medieval decks are variations of this deck.

������������With the mid-1850's came an occult revival in Europe inspired by great esteric thinkers such as Eliphas Levi. With this rebirth came serious study of the Tarot and continued Qabalistic associations to the symbolism contained therein. And although the exact origin of the Tarot remains a mystery, along with the unanswered questions of whether or not its inventors intentionally placed Qabalistic symbolism into the cards, the Tarot itself remains untarnished. The fact remains that the two systems of Qabalah and Tarot are so strikingly similar in theory that they easily compliment and describe one another. If they indeed came from different origins, it would only serve to prove how universal is the divine Truth behind them both. With the nineteenth century came the full blossoming of what is known as the modern Hermetic Tarot based upon the principles of the Qabalah, the mystical wisdom of the ancient Hebrews. This Hermetic Qabalah was the primary focus of the teachings of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Founded in 1888 by a group of Qabalists, Freemasons, Theosophists and Rosicrucian, the Golden Dawn was formed as a magickal initiatory fraternity of men and women whose task was the study, teaching, organization and survival of the Western Mystery Tradition. This unique Order managed to develop a structured curriculum for the study of Western magick, at the same time unifying the various elements of Qabalah, astrology, Tarot, Hermeticism, geomancy, and Enochian magick. Virtually all of the best books on the subject of Western magick and mysticism were written by or, at the very least influenced by members of the Order. S.L. MacGregor Mathers, Dr. W. Wynn Westcott, Dion Fortune, A.E. Waite, Aleister Crowley, Paul Foster Case and Israel Regardie were among the best known of the Order's members whose works are still highly sought after by today's practicing magicians. In fact much of the Order's teachings have been copied or used by authors, persons, or groups without any acknowledgment of there Golden Dawn roots. Israel Regardie, V.H. Frater Ad Majorem Adonai Gloriam is the connected link, between the Order's past and its present. A deeply spiritual and magickal man, V.H.Frater A.M.A.G was committed to the Order's goal of preserving the Western Mystery Tradition. Therefore in 1937, when it was apparent that the last remnants of the Stella Matutina, an off-shoot branch of the original Order was atrophying, and a very real possibility existed that the Tradition would be lost forever, Regardie published the Stella Matutina curriculum. In this manner he fulfilled one of two personal tasks for preserving the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and its knowledge. With this first step he preserved the knowledge. With the second step, he would resurrect the Order itself.

������������V.H.Frater A.M.A.G. waited another four decades after publishing The Golden Dawn to establish a valid initiatory branch of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in the United States. How the lamp of Hidden Knowledge came into American hands is a fascinating example of magick and synchronicity. However, without divulging too much:

������������In 1977 a certain Frater S and his wife established an automous Golden Dawn temple in Columbus, Georgia, since there was no longer a functioning Order of the Golden Dawn. At this time Frater S. began construction of the vault of the Adepti, the powerful ritual chamber required for a valid initiation into the Adeptus Minor grade of 5 = 6. In 1980 Frater S. and his wife began correspondence with Israel Regardie, who was quite interested in their work, and who provided Order papers and his own personal expertise for the project.

����������Meanwhile in California, a person I will call Soror M who had known Regardie from the early 70's, began an extensive program of magickal studies under Regardies's personal guidance. She is the only student who was ever accepted by Israel Regardie for personal magickal training. In the early 1980's she too, established a working temple of the Golden Dawn.

������������And in the state of Georgia, a person I will refer to as Frater E. who was a scholar and ceremonial magician, initiated hinself through all of the grades of the Outer Order of the Golden Dawn. Around the early 1980's he too began corresponding with Isreal Regardie. Thus this stage was set for the resurrection of the Order of the Golden Dawn. The three persons mentioned above, did not know each other, except for correspondance with Isreal Regardie.

����������At the Georgia temple, work on the vault continued for a couple of years since it was, by definition, an ambitous and extensive task. Then in 1982, when constuction of the vault was nearing its completion, arrangements were made for the three corrrispondants with Isreal Regardie to meet. On June 26, 1982 the meetng took place. The Consecration of the Vault of the Adepti Took place. Sonor M was initiated into grade 5 = 6. The next day Frater E was initiated to Adeptus Minor grade. In addition, he also initiated one neophyte.

����������This event marked the re-etablishment of a valid initiating Second Order in the United States. This also marked the only occasion where V.H. Frater A.M.A.G. personally initiated anyone into the Order. Regardie's own wishes were for the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn to remain a relatively small but accessible group of magicians who would keep the original goals and workings of the Order alive. Letters and documents within the Order show that he pesonally detested the idea of schisms or exploitation of the Order's name that would naturally occur if large numbers of people got involved. Since Regardie's death in 1985, it has become vogue for some occultists to claim that they were "personal students of Isreal Regardie" I can assure you that if V.H.Frater A.M.A.G. were still alive, many people would have alot of explaining to do.

����������The branch of the Golden Dawn which Regardie founded in this country has suceeded to an amazing degree in keeping the special magick of the order alive. Not only has the current of energy that the Golden Dawn represents been preserved, and contacts on the inner planes re-established, but in fact there are now a number of Adepts adding their own magickal experence to the Order's body of knowledge.(during the Spring Equinox of 1988, the Centennial Celebration of the Golden Dawn was held at the Los Angeles Temple of Soror M.) There now exsist many temples in several states and in Canada under the guidance of a genuinely established Second Order. These temples do not openly advertise or solicit growth. As the old saying goes, "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear."

����������This brings us back to the Tarot. The original Tarot used by the Golden Dawn was based upon S.L. MacGregor Mather's research ans subsequent drawings of the cards. Second Order members were required to copy all the cards by hand and use them in their magikal work. Many of the most popular Tarot decks of today (including the Rider-Waite deck and the Throth deck by Aleister Crowley) are based upon Mather's originals, although the symbolism in both cases was altered to reflect the personal visions of the respective creators.

����������One cannot make an in-depth study of the Tarot without mentioning that body of Ancient knowledge known as the Qabalah. This mystical tradition is the foundation upon which the modern Hermetic Tarot rests. Indeed, the cards of the Tarot can be used as widows through which one can explore and better understand the Qabalah, the complexity of which might frustrate many students. whether or not the original creators of the Tarot intended to create a pictorial system that would explain the basic principles of the Qabalah is unimportant. It is irrefutably evident that the two systems fit together so completely that one explains the other, and both point to the same Divine Truths.

����������"Qabalah" is a Hebrew word which means "tradition". No one knows where or when this doctrine of ancient knowledge came into being. What is known is that it existed for many years as an oral tradition passed on from mouth to ear, among Hebrew priesthood, long before being written down. There are some elements of Egyptian and Chaldean influence buried in its archaic pages. In fact the Qabalah is a whole system of mystical knowledge which has influenced to some extent the religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. At one point in its history, the Qabalah was condemned by Orthodox Judaism as being heretical, but its teachings were never lost. It regained popularity in the 19th century when Europe experienced an occult revival. In England, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn used the Qabalah as the heart and cornerstone of the Order's magickal foundation. The Qabalah as it exists today is a living and active philosophy of the entire Universe, the mind God, and the spirituality of humankind. It is a precise system that defines Cosmic Laws and shows us how to apply mystic principles to mundane life. This is a universal Qabalah, Which can be studied by anyone of any faith to gain access to magickal techniques and spiritual knowledge through meditation.

����������The Qabalah is usually classified under four heads which overlap each other in some instances.

��������THE DOGMATIC QABALAH is comprised of the study of Qabalistic texts and literature including such famous ancient books as the Zohar, the Torah, and the Sepher Yetzirah.

����������THE PRACTICAL QABALAH deals with the construction of talismans in Ceremonial Magick.

����������THE LITERAL QABALAH deals with Gematria: the relationship between numbers and letters of the Hebrew alphabet,which yield many hidden meanings of Hebrew words and names.

����������THE UNWRITTEN QABALAH refers to correct knowledge of the sacred symbol known as the Tree of Life. Knowledge of the Tree of Life is crucial to proper understanding of the Tarot.

������������The Tree of Life (Etz ha-Chayim) is the most important symbol of the Qabalah. It is a system of perfect mathematics, symmetry, and beauty. It is represented as ten circles known as Sephiroth, which are spheres or emanations of the Divine. Each sephirah is assigned a number from one to ten. The ten Sephiroth and the twenty-two paths which connect them are known together as the Twenty-Two Paths of Wisdom. The Sephiroth were formed from the Divine by means of the Flaming Sword or Lightning Bolt cutting through the veils of negativity, instantly creating the manifest universe in a brilliant flash of light. The twenty-two paths were formed by the ascent of the Serpent of Wisdom, the reflux current aspiring to reach the Devine.The Sephiroth may be described as centers of energy or god-consciousness, while the paths connecting them are conduits or energy channels. The Sephiroth are as follows:

KETHER, is the first Sephirah which the Divine brought forth from the three negative veils that lie beyond human comprehension. Its name means "Crown" and its Divine Hebrew name is "Eheieh," "I am." Kether is the sphere of pure spiritual being...of union with God. Some of Kether's other titles are Ancient of Days, The Most High, the Concealed of the Concealed, the Vast Countenance and the Primordial Point. It is the point of absolute Unity without division; ultimate peace and oneness. Kether is the dwelling place of the Divine White Brilliance, the God-head which is neither male nor female, the Source of All. It is the Highest Divine Essence of which we can conceive. Kether is the Primal Glory whose Magickal Image is that of an ancient bearded king seen in profile. (A Magickal Image is a symbol we can apply to something that cannot truly be symbolized, yet its image aids us to understand it.) It is the Primum Mobile...the First Wirlings or stirrings of manifestation. All comes from Kether and all will ultimately return to Kether To reach the First Sephirah is to attain complete peace and illumination--it is the completion of the Great Work.

����������CHOKMAH, is the Second Sephirah, whose name means "Wisdom." Chokmah is almost an extension of Kether...it is the overflowing of the divine into a second point, a reflection of the first. From the Absolute Unity of the One now comes the Two, the first expression of polarity and the balance of opposites which lies beneath the manifested universe. The energy of Chokmah is dynamic and outpouring; it is the great Stimulator of the Universe. Within Chokmah lies the first male expression as opposed to the androgynous expression of Kether. While Kether is the calm center point of the Universe,Chokmah is complete action and movement. It is the archetypal Postive and the Supernal Father, Abba. Its Divine Hebrew name is "Yah" meaning "Lord" which is also borne out by its Magikal Image...that of a bearded male figure. Other symbols of Chokmah include that of the rod, the straight line, the standing stone and the phallus. That is not to imply that Chokmah is nothing more than a purely sexual symbol, but is instead the root essence of masculine or dynamic Force. the Mundane Chakra or physical manifestation of Chokmah is the Mazloth or zodiac. the vital outpouring energy which fathered the astrological signs. The experience of Chokmah is that of the Vision of God face to face.

������������BINAH, is the Third Sephirah, whose name means "Understanding" is the feminine counterpart of Chokmah. Binah is the Supernal Mother, Aima, the Great Negative or Female Force. By negative, we mean receptive in a purely scientific way, like the positive and negative parts of an atom, not as a value judgement. Positive and negative are as inseparable as Yin and Yang. Receptivity is a feminine function and just as in the case of Chokmah-masculinity, I am referring to sexual funtions in the most basic and unmanifested of concepts. Chokmah, the Sephirah of duality, by necessity overflows into a third sphere in order for natural polarity to occur. Binah, the number three, is a sphere of form (another feminine function). Binah recieves the overflow of the dynamic energy from Chokmah and organizes it for the first time under the concept of form. Force and Form are male and female activities which re-occur throughout the tree of life, but this is where they start. Binah is the mother of discipline, restricting the free-flowing energy in what will ultimately be borne into structured Form. The Divine Hebrew name of Binah is "Yod Hey Vav Hey Elohim" which means "The Lord God" In the name, the completion of the trinity is implied, for the fist three Sephiroth are set apart and above all others on the Tree. Another one of Binah's title's is Marah, the Great Sea, and it's Mundane Chakra is the planet Saturn. The Magickal Image is that of mature woman, and associated symbols are the triangle and the cup.

������������Between Binah and the rest of the Sephiroth is a great chasm known as the Abyss. This marks a distinct separation from the lower part of the Tree; a difference in levels of being. Within this gulf is what is known as the Invisible Sephirah of Daath. This is not a true Sephirah, but can be likened to a passageway across the Abyss.

Well I have covered three of the 10 Sephiroth with this post. I want to add that there are 22 paths between the 10 Sephiroth. Just like there are 22 Major Arcana cards in the Tarot. Each path between Sephiroths is one of the tarot cards. A journey in life If you will. The Tree of knowledge is like a road map. And to quote Led Zepplin's Stairway to heaven, "Yes there are two paths you can go on, but in the long run, there's still time to change the road your on." I like to meditate on a single Tarot card. Astral travel is possible riding the conduit between Sephiroth.

CHESED, the Fourth Sephirah, whose name means "Mercy" is the first sphere below the Abyss. It is therefore the first sphere of our physical universe. In Chesed can be found the structural support of all that is manifested. Chesed receives the current of energy which has been modified and disciplined by Binah and gives it another influx of male (positive) energy. This begins the process of materializing the abstract energies of the Supernals (the Sephiroth above the Abyss). Chesed is the matrix upon which the archetypal ideas will later be built into concrete form.

����������The patterns of the tree of life repeat themselves as the Path of the Flaming Sword descends, therefore Chesed is the same energy as Chokmah, but on a lower (more manifested) level. The Divine Hebrew name of Chesed is "El" which means simply "God." Other titles include Gedulah, Love and Majesty. The Magickal Image of this sphere is that of a mighty crowned and throned king. The physical manifestation of Chesed is the planet Jupiter, which brings up images of a jovial, majestic god who rules with mercy and kindness. (In fact the spiritual experience of this Sephirah is that of the vision of Love.) Other symbols associated with Chesed are the equal-armed cross, the Crook of Mercy, the four-sided pyramid, the orb, the square, and the scepter.

����������GEBURAH, is the Fifth Sephirah, and its name means "Severity" Other titles given to this sphere are Justice and Fear. Indeed, this is the least understood and most feared Sephirah on the tree. However, the natural order of the universe depends upon concepts of opposites in balance, thus the benevolence, mercy and form-building functions of Chesed are now equilibrated by the harsh, destructive actions of the fifth sphere. Geburah's duty is to break down the form issued by Chesed and apply discipline in the Force of a purging Fire. Any energy that makes its way down the Tree of Life into the material world must be tested and tempered by the opposites of Mercy and Severity. It must be cleansed in the fires of Geburah, like a blade of a strong sword, free from impurities. Only in this way, can the energy be a sturdy vehicle for manifestation.

����������The Divine Hebrew name of Geburah is "Elohim Gibor," which means "Almighty God" as well as "God of Battles." The Magickal Image of the sphere is that of a mighty warrior in his chariot. The Mundane Chakra or physical manifestation of Geburah is the planet Mars, named after the Roman god of war. Geburah's effects are often seen a being evil, but then again an unruly child also considers his punshment unjust. Geburah is the strong arm of God, commanding respect and burning away all that is useless or outmoded. The harsh, destructive action of this sphere is absolutely vital to further evolution. Geburah can be likened to the lightning bolt which strikes an old, dried woodland, clearing away the dead trees so that new vegetation can grow. Or a surgeon, who must amputate a limb in order to spare a life. Geburah is a dynamic Power Which is fully capable of implementing severe actions which may seem harsh to us, but is necessary in the greater scheme of things.

����������Just as Chesed is the same energy of Chokmah on a lower level, Geburah is a lower form of Binah (the sphere which restricts and disciplines). In the same manner Gebuah, too, is considered to be a "feminine" or negative Sephirah (speaking in terms of polarity). Geburah seems much more harsh than Binah, simply because it is below the Abyss, and its effects are more easily seen by us in the manifested universe.

����������Other symbols of Geburah include the pentagon, the Rose of Five Petals, the Scourge of Severity, the spear, and the sword.

����������TIPHARETH, is the Sixth Sephirah, whose name means "Beauty" Its Divine Name in Hebrew is "Yod Heh Vav Heh Eloah Va Daath" which means "Lord God of Knowledge." Other titles include Zoar Anpin, the Lesser Countenance, Melekh, the King Adam, The Son, and The Man. Tiphareth lies at the very center of the Tree of Life (the center of Equilibrium) and receives the powers of all the other Sephiroth. This sphere strikes balance between the Mercy of Chesed and the severity of Geburah. Its magickal images are those of a King, a Child, and a sacrificed god. These images can only be understood by Tiphareth's relationship to the other Sephiroth on the Tree. From our standpoint in Malkuth, the Sixth Sphere seems a great king, but from the height of Kether, it appears as a small child. And from the standpoint of Tiphareth itself, the image is that of a sacrificed god.

������������Until this point, I have described each Sephirah in abstract terms of Force and Form, of Macrocosmic archtypes which are somewhat remote from us. But in Tiphareth, this changes because the sixth sphere lies within the range of human experence. The Sephiroth from Tiphareth down can be considered more by the effects they have on human consciousness, than by polarities alone.

������������The center of the Tree of Life is ths place of the Reconciler or Redeemer. God-forms of this energy include Christ, Buddha and Osiris. This is because Tipareth mediates beween the God-head in Kether (the one Source) and the material universe. The Mundane Chakra assigned to this sphere is the life giving Sun... also symbolically the Son... born unto the father (Kether) into the earthly plane to reconcile That Which is Above to That Which is Below. Tiphareth intercedes or mediates between the Divine and the Physical Universe.

������������Tiphareth is an especially mystical sphere. The spiritual experience that takes place in Tiphareth is the Vision of the Harmony of Things This is due to the fact that the Higher Self, or Holy Guardian Angel, of every individual sits in Tiphareth. The goal of all spiritual experience is the search for the light, and this is obtained by devotion to the Great Work. This is why the Christ-consciousness, as the giver of Illumination (and the healer) is paced in Tiphareth. This is the incarnation of the Child within us as seen from the view of Kether. The dying god myth (be it Christ, Osiris or another) comes into play here as the living god willingly sacrifices himself for the universal cycle of death and rebirth, and for union with the Divine. This sacrifice is not seen as a loss, but as a gain...the exchange of one form for another.

����������Symbolically, Tiphareth is placed in the heart center of the human body. Other symbols include the Calvary Cross, the Rose Cross, the truncated pyramid and the cube.

NETZACH, is the Seventh Sephirah, whose name means "Victory." As I said earlier in the section dealing with Tiphareth, the lower realms of the Tree of Life can be better described in terms of human consciousness and experience. This is especially true of the four remaining Sephiroth which begin with Netzach. The sphere of Netzach is the dwelling place of human instincts, emotions and desires. It is the "feeling" side of the personality that can be likened to the right side of the human brain. This is where human creativity is born. Once again the idea of polarity comes into play, because Netzach is considered a feminine or negative sphere which has an opposite sephirah to balance it. But at this level on the Tree, we are truly discussing negative and positive sides of the human mind.

����������The Divine Hebrew name of Netzach is "Yod Heh Vav Heh Tzabaoth" which means "The Lord of Hosts or Armies." The order of angels assigned to this sphere is the Elohim, which simply means the "Gods" and the physical manifestation is the planet Venus, named for the goddess of love. This is because the "gods" as thought of by humans are born in the Netzach part of the human mind. God is perceived by the feelings and instincts (some times called faith) of Netzach, more so than in the intellectual mind. This is why humans have always defined the reality of the Divine in terms of art, music, dance, and poetry... all expressions of Netzach energy. In this manner the divine is brought closer to those who seek it. In the Seventh Sphere, we also find the seat of what is called the "Group Mind" the storehouse of symbols and images in all of us, which inspires the artist, dancer, or poet to create works that speak to us on a deep level of consciousness.

������������Netzach is a dynamic Force which inspires and drives us. This sphere is a reflection of the fiery Geburah, but at the level of the human personality, mediated by Tiphareth, the fire becomes desire and emotion. The Magickal Image of Netzach is that of a beautiful naked woman. Other symbols include the rose, the lamp, and the girdle. In this sphere we find expression of beauty and love, but also less understood emotions of anger and hate, because all emotions dwell here. It is for this reason that the energies of Netzach must be balanced by its opposite, Intellect.

� HOD, is the Eighth Sephirah, whose name means "Splendor" or "Glory." Just as Netzach symbolized the raw animal instincts, Hod represents the intellectual part of the mind to which the "left brain" can be assigned. It is the rational Mind which organizes and categorizes. The Mundane Chakra attributed here is the planet Mercury, named after the messenger god...the god of knowledge. All expressions of writing, language, communication, science and magick are assigned to Hod. All words and Names of Powers have there origins in this Sphere We also find the idea of the "Individual Mind" here, as opposed to the "Group Mind" which is in Netzach. It is the Individual Mind of Hod which makes one aware of one's personal relationship to the Divine.

����������Hod is a lower form of the energy found in Chesed, but mediated through Tiphareth. The energy is described as watery or fluidic. The Divine Hebrew name given to this Sephirah is " Elohim Tzabaoth," "God of Hosts." The Magickal Image of Hod is a Hermaphrodite, the neutral representation of a visual image. This image is indeterminate until given form by Hod.

������������Hod and Netzach truly cannot function properly one without the other, Intellect needs the balance of emotion to drive it, otherwise the words and science of Hod become mere rational labellings, dead and uninspired. Likewise, Emotions need the discipline of intellect to stabilize and ground, to keep the dynamic energy from being squandered. The relationship between Hod and Netzach is symbiotic. In terms of the individual, the two spheres must be in harmony and balance in order to maintain a healthy personality.

��YESOD, is the Ninth Sephirah, Whose name means "Foundation" The spiritual experience of Yesod is the vision of the Machinery of the Universe. What this implies is that Yesod is the sphere of the Astral Light, also known as Akasha. This is the matrix upon which the physical universe is built. Yesod is the receptacle of influences from all the other Sephiroth... which then are combined into a type of blueprint made from the Astral Light. This blueprint is the "Foundation" or Etheric Double upon which the earthly plane is constructed. All events, whether natural or man made, occur in the aethers of Yesod before they occur in the physical world. The Ninth Sephirah is the force which activates the final manifestation of Form. In the same manner, all the planets were borne out of the mind of God, and all man-made inventions appear first as an idea in the Yesodic part of the mind of the inventor. All magickal operations as well take place by working in the sphere of Yesod, because the Magician seeks to affect changes in the physical world by manipulating the subtle currents of the Astral.

����������The physical manifestation of Yesod is the Moon, in all its phases of flux and reflux. The Bright and Dark moon is said to represent the upper and lower parts of the astral plane, Which contains many images that are both fantastic and frightening. This is because the Astral Plane retains the Akashic Record, which is a storehouse of images created by humans since their earliest days on earth. Because of this, the lower realms of the Astral are full of fear, dreams and illusions.

����������The Divine Hebrew name of Yesod is "Shaddai El Chai," which means "Almighty Living God" and the Magickal Image is that of a beautiful naked young man. This alludes to the beauty that can be found if the illusions of Yesod are met with courage and strength. In fact Yesod, as a representation of the Moon, reflects back the Solar Light of Tiphareth to the earth below. True understanding of the Astral Light which dwells in Yesod, is power indeed.

������������The force given here is also sexual, because in Yesod the sexes are for the first time given the form that they will take in the Earthly plane. Additional symbols of Yesod are perfumes and sandals (as ritual garb) are important elements in magickal ceremonies, which are carried out in the Astral realms.

��MALKUTH, is the Tenth Sephirah, whose name means "The Kingdom." This is the Sphere of Form and of manifestation; the material universe as we know it. The physical manifestation of Malkuth is the planet Earth, our own terra firma. Yet Malkuth is more than just the ground beneath our feet, it is also the Sephirah in which all four elements are based. Therefore when discussing Malkuth, we are really talking about the physical manifestations of fire, water, air, and earth. Malkuth is the ultimate receptacle for all of the combined currents of energy of the entire Tree of Life. While the other Sephiroth are basically kinetic and mobile, Malkuth is the only sphere that has achieved stability and inertia (a period of rest). The Tenth and final sphere receives the etheric framework of manifestation from Yesod and completes the building process by grounding the energy in matter.

������������The Divine Hebrew name of Malkuth is "Adonai Ha Aretz" Which means "Lord of Earth" This again refers to the function of this sphere as bringing the Will of the Divine into concrete, tangible form. It also alludes to the fact that although Malkuth is identified with the world of matter, it is not seen as unspiritual. The Tenth Sephirah is seen as the completion of the Tree of Life in one sense, and the beginning of a new Tree in another, because Malkuth is a lower reflection of Kether, and in fact is the Kether of another Tree.

����������As the ultimate Sphere of Form and passivity, the fertile Malkuth is also known as the Inferior Mother (as opposed to the Great Mother, Binah) Malkah, the Queen, Kallah, and the Bride. The Magickal Image is that of a young woman, crowned and throned. Another title given is the Gate--the Gate of Tears, the Gate of Death, the gate of Justice, and the Gate of the Garden of Eden, just to name a few. This implies that we as physical beings live out our lives in the realm of Malkuth, only to pass through the gate upon leaving our bodies behind. Additional symbols of Malkuth include the Altar of the Double Cube, the equal armed cross, the Magick Circle, and the Triangle of Art.

The Qabalistic Tree of Life is a richly complex system of esoteric thought. In addition to a description of the ten Sephiroth, relationships between the different groups of spheres must also be examined. There are many ways of exploring the diversified patterns that occur on the Tree of Life, because these various combinations shed light on different aspects of each Sephirah by disclosing their balance and alliances.

����������THE PILLARS, The first important configuration that occurs on the Tree is that of the three Pillars. The natural succession of the Sephiroth shows this formation clearly. The spheres of Binah, Geburah, and Hod form what is called the left hand Pillar, or Pillar of Severity. Chockmah, Chesed and Netzach create what is known as the Right hand Pillar, or Pillar of Mercy. And the Sephiroth in the center form the Middle Pillar, or Pillar of Mildness.

������������The Right hand or White Pillar is described as masculine, positive and active....It is the Pillar of Force. The Left hand or Black Pillar is Feminine, negative and passive.... the Pillar of Form. These columns represent the two great contending Forces in Nature, and their descriptions are not meant to imply that one is good and the other evil, for the harmony of the universe depends upon their balanced opposition.

������������The Middle Pillar is the Equilibrium; the way of balance between the other two. It is the Devotion Path of the Mystic, and the path of the Arrow, which leads a straight line from the completion of the tree in Malkuth, to its One Source in Kether. The three Pillars can easily be described like parts of an atom; the right and left Pillars function not unlike protons and electrons, while the Middle Pillar acts as a neutron, neither positively nor negatively charged.

����������THE TRIADS, The next important pattern of the Tree of Life is that of the three Triangles or Triads. The first Triangle consists of Kether, Chokmah and Binah. This is called the Supernal Triad or the Divine Self. Next is Chesed, Geburah and Tiphareth which form the Ethical Triad or Higher Self. Finally we have the Astral Triad which contains Netzach, Hod, and Yesod, which is the realm of the Personality. With this series of Triangles, the Qabalah defines the three parts of the individual Self from the Supreme Spiritual Essence of the human ego. The Supernal or Celestial Triad is the only one whose apex points upward to the One Source, the Crown of Kether; the point to which the student of Qabalah eternally strives. The Ethical Triad combines the spheres of Severity with Mercy, and Beauty is the result. This Triangle is the seat of the Higher Self or Lower Genius, which seeks ever to unite our conscious, waking self to that Greater Genius above the Abyss. The Astral or Mundane Triad is the realm of the waking personality, concerned only with worldly affairs. The balancing of the three spheres of this triad is the first step of the Hermetic student, for only when the Astral House is in order, can the higher branches of the Tree be seriously explored.

THE FOUR WORLDS, This method of looking at the Tree is especially important when considering how much it corresponds to the Tarot. Qabalistic theory describes the universe as being separated into four distinct "Worlds". (in fact the four-fold model occurs over and over again in esoteric thought.) With the Creation of the Sephiroth by the Path of the Flaming Sword, the four worlds came into being, each evolving from the one before it, becoming more substantial as they reach manifestation into physical form. Each Qabalistic "World" is symbolized by one of the Hebrew letters of the Divine Name of God, "Yod Hey Vav Heh" (which is known as the Tetragrammaton or Four-lettered Name). These four letters are said to represent the true Name of God which is unknown and unpronounceable. Each of the four letters of the Name have one of the four elements assigned to it. Yod, the first letter of the Tetragrammaton is attributed to the element of Fire. Heh, the second letter is associated with the element of Water. Vav, the third letter is ascribed to Air, while Heh Final refers to the element of Earth. These letters also show the balance of polarities inherent in the Qabalistic system, for Yod-Fire and Vav-Air are masculine, positive energies, while Hey-Water and Heh Final-Earth, are feminine and negative currents. The unpronounceable name of God is the cornerstone of the four-fold model of the manifest universe.

����������ATZILUTH, is the first of the Four Worlds and is attributed to Yod, the first letter. It is known as the Archetypical World, and the domain of Primordial Fire. This is the Divine realm of pure Spirit which consists of the spheres of Kether, Chockmah and Binah, all three of Sephiroth which reside above the Abyss. The fiery domain of Atziluth activates and fathers the other three worlds. This is a world inhabited by the presence of the powers of God, symbolized by various Divine names.

����������BRIAH, is the second World, the World of Creation. This level of the Tree includes Chesed, Geburah and Tiphareth. The second Heh of Tetragrammaton is ascribed to this World, and it is therefore the dominion of Primordial Water. the element of Water represents the fluid, inventive Mind, thus Briah is described as the World of Pure Intellect. This is where the Archangels are said to exist.

������������YETZIRAH, is the third level, known as the World of Formation. This consists of Netzach, Hod and Yesod. Vav the third letter of the concealed Name is associated with this realm, along with Primordial Air. This World is approximate to the Astral Plane, because the etheric framework behind the material universe is found here. It is also the domain of the various orders of angels.

������������ASSIAH, Is the forth and final World. It is the World of Action which consists only of the Sephiroth Malkuth. The final Heh of Tetragrammaton, as well as Primordial Earth is ascribed to Assiah. In this World the four elements which made up the physical universe exist both in sensation and in hidden properties of matter. In this World, Tangible action can take place.

������������There is an additional way of looking at the four Worlds which shows four entire Trees of Life one on top of the other, each one representing one of the Worlds-- forming a total of forty Sephiroth. This way of looking at the four worlds gives rise to various meditations and will in fact become quite important when discussing the Minor Arcana of the Tarot.

THE DIVISIONS OF THE SOUL

����������The final discourse on the Tree which I will examine with this post is that of the parts of the human Soul. The first and highest part is known as the,

NESCHAMAH which is further subdivided into the Yechida, the Chiah and Neschamah. The Yechidah is centered in Kether, and is what Freud called the "superego". It is our true and Immortal Divine Self. The Chiah, placed in Chokmah, is our inquisitive urge to become more than human...it is our True Will. The Neschamah is our psychic intuition. This part is located in Binah, but it lends its name to the other Supernals as being generally descriptive of the highest aspirations of the Soul.

������������The next major division Is the RUACH, the conscious part of our being which is also called the Ego. It is the mind and reasoning powers. The Ruach is located in the five Sephiroth which lie just below the Abyss, and it is ruled by secular and temporary desires.

������������The NEPHESCH is the dark side of our subconscious also known as the lower self which resides in Yesod. The proper use of Nephesch energy is important in some aspects of Magick but it must always remain under the firm control of the Ruach.

��������������The final part of the Soul is called the G'UPH. Located in Malkuth, this lowest part of the soul is closely tied to the physical body. It is a low level of the subconscious which communicates with the brain about current condition of the human body.

������������This completes my posting on the Qabalah. I would like to state that my posting on this subject has just scratched the surface of knowledge contained inside this ancient wisdom, an outline at best. This knowledge has been called "The Yoga of the West" by some. It is the foundation of Magick and Mysticism of our culture. I have studied the Tarot for over 10 years now and everything I learn about the Qabalah Ties in like two pieces of a puzzle. One makes sense out of the other and vice versa only to strengthen my understanding of the Qabalah and the Tarot. ~Rick~