The Dynamics of the Kabbalistic Tree

The Left Pillar	The Central Pillar	The Right Pillar
Form	Axis (Mundi)	Force
Receiving	The Pillar of Balance	Expressing
Contraction		Expansion
Feminine		Masculine
Culminating in Manifest Reality

In the Sefer Yetzirah, the Book of Formation, written down sometime in the 6th century or perhaps earlier, it speaks of the ten levels through which the Will of G-d manifests. These represent levels of awareness or vibrational levels. As the energy flows down the Tree, each sefirah receives from above, shapes the energy in its unique way, then transmits it onwards. In addition to the ten sefirot, there are also four Worlds, or dimensions, through which reality is formed.

The descriptions here relate to the general level at each of the sefirot. There exists an entire Tree in each of these four worlds, and an entire Tree in each of the sefirot of each Tree in each World. The manifestations of these energies at any given level or any given place will be consistent with the general characteristics of each of the sefirot. The Tree will reveal the World in which it finds itself.

The World of ATZILUT (Emanation)

The upper two sefirot make up the world of Atzilut or Emanation, and hold the energies we are in need of if we are to truly realise our freedom from bondage. But all we can do is prepare ourselves. The energies of Atzilut (and the energies of Beriah) are beyond our direct influence according to the model of the Tree utilised for the Counting of the Omer. These higher worlds respond to our readiness, but not to our control.

1
כתר
KETER
Crown
The Creative Impulse
Crown of the Head
The Absolutely Unlimited “I”
Blinding Invisible White
Kamatz (Long “Ah”) or Chirek (Long “E”)
Name of God: EHYEH ASHER EHYEH
אהיה אשר אהיה
I AM that I AM

2
חכמה
CHOCHMAH
Wisdom
Right Hemisphere
The Energy of Awareness
A Gray that includes all colours
Patach (Shorter “Ah”)
יה
YAH

The World of BERIAH (Creation)

3
בינה
BINAH
Understanding
Left Hemisphere
The Form of Awareness
Green (or Yellow)
Tzeray (Long “Ay”)
יהוה
ELOHIM

דעת
DA’AT
The Space Called the Abyss
Dark night of the Soul
Crossing Over
Knowledge
The Third Eye

The World of YETZIRAH (Formation)

4
חסד
CHESED
Mercy (Lovingkindness)
Right Shoulder
The Outpouring of Emotion
White (or Silver)
Segol (“Eh”)
אל
EL

5
גבורה
GEVURAH
Judgment (Severity, Strength)
Left Shoulder
The Forms of Emotions
Red (or Gold)
Sh’va (Silent)
אלוהים
ELOHIM

6
תפארת
TIFERET
Beauty
The Heart Space
The Inclusive “I”
The Greater Self
Individuation
Purple (or Yellow)
Cholem (“Oh”) or Kamatz (“Ah”)
יהוה
ADONAI

7
נצח
NETZACH
Victory (Reverberation)
The Right Hip
The Force of Physical Expression
The Expansion of Physical Energy
Light Pink
Chirek (Long “E”)
יהוה צבאות
ADONAI TZAVA’OT

8
הוד
HOD
Glory (Splendour)
The Left Hip
The Form of Physical Expression
The Restriction of Physical Energy
Dark Pink
Kubbutz (Sorter “OO”)
אלוהים צבאות
ELOHIM TZAVA’OT

9
יסוד
YESOD
Foundation
The Loins
Ego “I” – Separate Self
Orange
Shurek (Long “OO”) or Cholem (“Oh”)
שדי אל חי
SHADDAI EL CHAI

The World of ASSIYAH

10
מלכות
MALCHUT
Kingdom
The Base of the Spine
Manifest reality
Receives from All the Sefirot above
Blue
No Vowel
Identity lost/hidden in the manifest world
אדוני
ADONAI / Lord