Most modern western magical systems are based upon the Tree of Life. The Tree is a diagram of the universe made up of the ten Sephiroth drawn as circles upon the Tree in a descending pattern from the highest aspect of Divinity 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.

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 should 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 Divinity; 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, meaning *love* or *mercy*, is male and positive. The 5th sephira, GEVURAH, power or *strength* complements Hesed as justice. Sixth is TIPARETH, as compassion or *beauty*; the heart of the universe.

The third or Astral Triangle contains sephiroth 7, 8, and 9 in Yetzirah. Sephira 7, NETSAH, is lasting endurance or *victory*. Complementing Netsah is 8, HOD, majesty or *splendor*. 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 Sephirotic 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.

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 Aliester Crowley's '777'. The 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 sephiroth 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 the human mind 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 (pathworking, or the way of return), in which we attempt to climb up the tree to attain union with divinity.

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