#beg/tree

Approaching the Tree of Life as a dynamic rather than a static 2d diagram, we can trace the emergence of the Tree from a balanced, perfect tree to the present diagram. The concept is based on the assumption that 1) there is a source of existence and 2) that it descends from the upper to the lower, from the more subtle to the more dense and 3) needs to be somewhat asymmetric. Thus the Tree spiralled into existence through a movement from above to below powered by the Will to Express.

There is also a two phase picture, one in which first the tree existed in potential, and then it “manifested”. In addition, is the concept of the ladder (known actually as Jacob’s ladder) in which it progressed from the higher world (Atzilut) down to the lowest world (Assisyah) which is also the densest.

In modern physical terms, it cooled down from an excited, hot and somewhat chaotic state to a cooler, calmer state. Another is to say that it reached its ground state, and through the process gained what might be termed inertia—which we experience as density, or heaviness, the inability to move easily.

The idea is that it unfolds, spiralling from Keter, along the central pillar to Malkhut. A kind of unfolding in layers, each component taking its place in the “downward” or “outward” emanation into manifestation. That is why it is visualised as a descent, though it may be looked at as an expansion into materiality, or as a concretence, a contraction, into greater density. This is because there is both a falling down together with a rising up (as it says, “One descended, another ascended to be crowned above.”) So bear with me, and hopefully I will express my idea clearly enough.

The will of G-d is pushing the emergence down—down being away from the Source, to be bound with greater density. Force is expressed as a vector, which is represented by a straight line that has “direction”, i.e., that of moving “down” the central pillar. But the actual movement of these vector element(s) through a space greater than 2d is circular, emerging as a spiral or vortex.¹ Thus we see the emergence of the sefirot along the central pillar, with the outer sefirot emerging at the polarities of the left and right columns. One could think of it as a double helix, similar to that of the DNA model, swirling around the middle column, which forms its axis mundi. This forms a third strand along which the energy descends, running through the middle of it. Think of it as making up the “metatron”, the root particle, which, when activated along certain pathways, produces the manifold forms of creation.

Zohar: Five sturdy leaves surround the rose and enshroud it, protecting it with the 13 attributes of mercy.

This is connected with the Principle of Five where there is a further explanation of the unfolding of the tree.

1. Balanced tree

=> perfect cube, made up of balanced, equilateral $\triangle$’s
=> within this, have all the balanced shapes of sacred geometry
=> all is at rest, perfect.

* * *

2. The emergence, a birth

=> The first emanation.
Emanation being emergence of the Divine in Malchut.
Required the emergence of asymmetrical structure. Where good & evil emerge, i.e. there is no balance.
=> Rising to meet the beloved.
It starts with gravity = emf – the reaching out, the desire (for union with the beloved) begins to “shape” the tree.

=> The first movement,
the first (upper) $\triangle$, the trigram.
The holy trinity.
The principle of creation, $s_1 \leftrightarrow s_2$,
The Word G-d spoke, $x = y$
The first sentence—subject, verb, predicate $\rightarrow y = f(x)$
There is now a beginning, a separation, and a transformation, a progression to union.

=> Interaction Emergence of ellipse, ovals. Where G-d enters, separation begins. Removal of nothing to make space for something 1st gaze is upward and outward * * *

=> Reflection

Now we can see the reflection in keter $\Rightarrow$ yesod
as is said: “as above, so below”
The energies that scintillate in the realms of the Divine manifest here in the realm of creation. The many splendoured dance above is reflected below. For each piece of creation there is a spark in the upper realm that is reflected here.

The analogy is that each whole number is surrounded by an infinite array of rational numbers, and an even greater amount of transcendental numbers. In fact, there are so many transcendental numbers, they completely drown out the existence of the numbers we are familiar with—to such an extent that it could be said that it is a miracle that we are able to identify any whole numbers at all. In other words, it is as if we were provided these whole numbers, almost to say that we were programmed to be able to identify them by some consciousness that had either created or was already aware of them.

* * *

The seven sisters transform the cloud of Keter into the denseness of Malchut. The two energies, referred to as Male and Female, direct the show, expressed as the Divine splitting to “do” creation.

* * *

Duality:

The dropping is also the first splitting. The actualisation of the duality expressed in **Malchut** as _Shechinah_ and מלכות, the masculine and feminine aspects of G-d. This splitting is a transformation of the 1^st idea.

So says Rabbi Chinoos: The crystal was formed in the words “It is good”

* * *

3. Central pillar:

The first separation
The splintering
Reflections
The chording
The energy of transmutation of movement travels down the central pillar, and causes a split in the middle of the middle.
(Think of the middle child, always split $\Rightarrow$ reflects both up & down)
The lighter piece floats up to become דעת
Because it is light, it is also more hidden.
The heavier part of the middle drops to become תפארת, the groom.
He is connected with his higher self through knowledge (hence the push to understanding), so can be filled with beauty and love. Although it can get caught up in the midst of it all, becoming too heady and all-knowing, as there is a the dark underbelly that pushes downward and tests the foundation upon which it rests.

* * *

4. Testing of the foundation, the splintering

The 3rd droppings
The heaviness of holding creates the 3rd movement

Can’t go up, so goes down.
Spits, this time into Yesod, the foundation.

Malkhut, the created, manifest world, the wondrous expression of our experience. We see the need for the light in the pulling of the spark from its diagonal to its vertical, pulled by the centre spark’s only vertical movement, except for the entry into the tree via Keter.

* * *

Spiralling tree

Sexual energy = energy of (pro)creation = energy of G-d's creating The same energy that moves through the Divine is the energy that vivifies and enervates us. That feeling of "sexiness" pervades the universe. He wants us to revel in it.

Most of our neuroses, as Freud correctly pointed out—perhaps having learnt about that from his Rabbinic teachers— about sublimating sexual desires - denying the ecstasy that courses through our veins in interacting with all that is; the fear/excitement of the live and death. This is how we express/honour the Divine that has created us, through dancing the ecstasy that pours through us all the time, seeking to revel and enjoy His creation, through expressing ourselves sexually/sensually—just being ALIVE - what an incredible, awesome, unbelievable miracle!

Actually Tiferet is pulled down by its lower urges, as they are heavier than Da’at.

Desire

Desire causes it to go down
Closer to Tiferet, “attracts its light”

Bounces back up. Left a shadow attracted to the light of Tiferet

Place for light of Tiferet = Da’at
Removed Tiferet’s light. It now becomes darker and heavier

But because it is Tiferet, balance, it releases its dark side to maintain balance – Yesod, which ends up in Malchut (daughter)

Perhaps this is the engine. If we wish to be uplifted, we lift the tree “above” its ground state.

Upon its uprising, Keter remain above. It is so connected, once it has arisen, it will not go down again unless commanded by G-d.

Da’at, in union with Keter will be rejected again, and this will start the downswing to creation.

Desire… pulls light out of Tiferet which drops. That is the path of desire. The path of love is where Keter is attracted to the mystery. You could say the desire arises in Keter.

Keter split
Up goes most of its light.
Being a Bhodisattva, she leaves something behind. This is the placeholder for her Da’at. Here is the information (if you have the wisdom and understanding to handle it.)

Pulls Tiferet, splits light up -> Da’at. Lower piece is Tiferet, but still has light component.

Pushes down on Yesod. Drops its darkness to create Malchut

Pushes on Yesod
Malchut ends up being the creation.
All the rest is just preparation.

Full engine of emergence

Here is a geometric unfolding of the Engine of Emergence.

_

Trees with Magen David

Here is a attempt to use hexagons to provide some insight into the geometric depth of the Tree diagram.

Footnotes

Footnotes

1. A mass of fluid, especially of a liquid, having a whirling or circular motion tending to form a cavity or vacuum in the centre of the circle, and to draw in towards the centre bodies subject to its action; the form assumed by a fluid in such motion; a whirlpool; an eddy.
   (Cartesian System) A supposed collection of particles of very subtile matter, endowed with a rapid rotary motion around an axis which was also the axis of a sun or a planet. Descartes attempted to account for the formation of the universe, and the movements of the bodies composing it, by a theory of vortices ↩︎