Qabalah: Discover Powerful Tools to Explore Practical Magic and the Tree of Life (Hay House Basics) - David Wells 2017

Building the Tree of Life
Symbolism and The Tree of Life

The Tree of Life in its very basic form is a symbol. It is a drawing that holds within it the very essence of the universe, but, like all symbols, it can’t come alive until you breathe life into it. Consider a statue of your favourite spiritual icon, be it Buddha, Christ or Archangel Michael. The plaster, bronze or even golden statue is itself just a statue; it’s the embodiment, the ensoulment of the energy that’s been invested in the image that makes it so very special to you — to all of us.

For centuries, symbols have rallied nations. What is a flag but a symbol? Banners have separated and bound humanity and still do, so it’s not such a surprise that the Tree of Life is a powerful symbol, considering it’s had thousands of years of energy poured into making it so.

Symbols work on our subconscious mind; they bring many meanings, all wrapped up in one simple drawing, picture or icon, as well as a vibration of their very own, something that will become increasingly important as we go on. Think of that Buddha statue — what do you see when you look at it? What do you feel? How does it change you and what do you aspire to when you walk away from it? Does thinking of certain symbols help you to centre yourself, and if it does, do you do that often enough?

Now imagine a symbol that does everything the Buddha statue does but also points out where you are now and what you can do to help yourself if you want to change your location, and will also attract the right energy into your life to help you get there, all under the direction of your own will.

It also allows you to communicate with your angels, your guides, your Aunty Vera and your soul, as well as offers you information on how to deal with co-workers, what your life purpose is and just why you should avoid some situations and embrace the challenge of others. It’s all things to all people, but above all, it’s your Tree — no dogma, no ’have to’, no ’follow me’ or ’follow a religion’. It communicates through symbols — your symbols. Your own creative nature is your own Tree of Life.

Now think about negative symbols, things that draw you towards dour thoughts rather than positive ones, for they have just as much power. Removing them from your life is important — you don’t need them. No matter how, when or why they’ve come to you, it’s time to say bye-bye to those symbols that no longer serve you. Let them go with gratitude, with the understanding that they have brought you to where you are now, but let them go.

Start by switching off the news channel. Even the theme music to the news will prompt negativity, and if you watch death, destruction and argumentative politicians, your head will be full of those kind of thoughts and your angry response will overshadow the lightness of your spirit.

Don’t mistake this for being in a world of your own, oblivious to what’s going on around you — that’s not what’s being suggested. It’s just that it’s best to concentrate on yourself — your soul, your spirit and your link with the divine. Make your own choices.

There will be more challenges to come — they’re unavoidable — but the Tree will highlight their lessons and show you the way through the toughest of times, just as it will help you make the best of the good ones.

What you will need

Begin by gathering the materials you will need for the journey. It’s basic and fundamental to putting your spiritual development in order. Here’s a list:

· A journal. You’ll need to write down everything you experience, every symbol you see and every feeling; thought or sign that comes your way, for they will all be relevant. Use it as your dream book too. Record your dreams, as your subconscious will continue to give you information even when you’re asleep, and it’s likely to be more active than ever as you begin this journey.

· Next, a good symbol book. This will help you decipher the meaning of that dove, rose or lion that keeps popping up in your meditations. As you do this, you’ll be building your own symbol store, which your subconscious will use to keep you on track. There’s always the internet too, but go easy there — check and double-check the meanings given, and most of all check with your own gut instinct.

· A pack of Tarot cards — I use the Thoth deck — to help you understand the Tree and provide you with more information. Every card in the deck has its place on the Tree of Life — every one. If you haven’t studied the Tarot, get a good book like Kim Arnold’s Tarot: Learn How to Read and Interpret the Cards (see Bibliography). There’s no need to learn the Tarot first — you’ll learn more as you go along — but as you move through the Tree, it will help you understand it more. And if it does spark a bigger interest in the Tarot, there are many resources available to further your knowledge.

· The same goes for astrological influences on the Tree: you’ll learn more about them as you go. That’s something I really loved about my journey up the Tree — the wonderful mix of learning new things and the magic that runs through them all. If you would like to have a book on astrology for reference, a great one is Parkers’ Astrology by Julia and Derek Parker.

Drawing the Tree of Life

No-thing

To get a better understanding of the Tree and begin to appreciate its structure, you are going to draw it, but before you begin, let’s pause a moment to look at the three levels of being above the Tree: the Three Veils of Negative Existence.

· Ain, which means ’not’ or ’nothing’, ’no-thing’, and is totally incomprehensible to us.

· Ain Soph, which means ’no limit, infinity’.

· Ain Soph Aur, which means ’limitless or infinite light’. This is slightly more tangible than the others, but still beyond our true understanding.

But consider this: whilst it’s difficult for us to understand these veils, that doesn’t mean they don’t influence us. They do. They exert pressure. They give rise to our own Tree of Life. The universe, it’s suggested, comes from the divine breath of God. I find that a wonderful description. The out-breath, that’s the pressure perhaps? ’The breath taken before a word is spoken’ describes these veils perfectly.

Perhaps whilst we’re incarnate here on Earth this is as much as we need to know, and as a Qabalist of many years, I must confess these realms are outside my understanding and I start with Kether, the highest point on the Tree. Let’s start drawing the Tree there.

Exercise: Drawing the Tree

· Get yourself a coin, maybe a dollar or a 10 pence piece.

· Take a blank sheet of A4 paper, find the centre vertically and draw a faint pencil line from top to bottom.

· Now find the midpoint between that line and the edge of the paper, on both the right and left-hand side, and draw vertical lines from those points so you have three lines on which to centre your circles and balance your Tree.

As you draw the Tree, what you’re drawing and why will be briefly explained, and don’t worry, more explanations will follow as we go along. You’ll build on your knowledge piece by piece, adding layer upon layer, just like your Tree, and filling your symbol store with riches enough to last many lifetimes, as well as remembering those golden nuggets of information you’ve left already!

So let’s begin. To help you, here’s what you’re aiming for.

Figure 1: The Tree of Life

Don’t panic, it’s not as complicated as it looks, like so many things in life, and when you take your time and take one step then another, it will all make sense.

Each of the spheres is a Sephira; the plural is Sephiroth. See them as powerhouses of energy. They are states of being and will show themselves as conditions in your life and the lives of those around you. Pretty quickly they will become very familiar to you. It may even be more a case of remembering than learning.

To draw the Sephiroth:

· Take your coin and place it at the top of your paper. Centre it on your middle line and draw around it. This is Kether, where it all begins. Write the words ’Kether’ and ’Crown’ inside the circle and put the number one in there as well. Kether is where the divine in us and in the universe sits, waiting for the manifestation process to begin, holding onto every creative idea there is and ever will be until they are accessed — accessed and brought down.

· Now drop down to your right-hand side and draw another circle. Inside it write the words ’Chokmah’ (pronounced Hok-ma, with the ’Ch’ we Scots say in ’loch’) and ’Wisdom’ and the number two. Here those creative ideas are stimulated, charged with energy and hooked into the universal grid.

· Move across to the left-hand side of your page on the same level as Chokmah and draw your next circle. It’s called Binah (Bee-na). In it, write the word ’Understanding’ and the number three. It’s here that those ideas are first given form, structure and direction.

· Now move back to the right-hand side under Chokmah and draw circle number four, Chesed (Hess-ed) and write ’Mercy’ in it and the number four. As you do so, consider what excites you in life, where you practise generosity, what opportunities come to you when ideas flow and how you can sometimes get carried away with it all.

· Then it’s back to the left with the next circle, Geburah (G-boo-rah). Here, write the word ’Severity’ and the number five. Here is where you edit, make changes and cut away the excess as you realize that some things aren’t necessary or even desirable.

· Into the centre now as you draw Tiphareth (Tiff-a-reth) and write the word ’Beauty’ and the number six. If you look at this circle, you will see it sits at the centre of the Tree. It’s about balance and finding the beauty in that moment of balance.

· Back to the right and Netzach appears (Net-sack). Write in the word ’Victory’ and the number seven. Here’s where you acknowledge your feelings. For the first time on this journey things get personal and seem to relate to day-to-day stuff more.

· Then over to Hod, the word ’Splendour’ and the number eight. Your thoughts are represented here. This is where you create images, and be they negative or positive, you have the power to change your attitude, no matter what’s going on around you, by changing your mindset.

· Then it’s back to the centre and Yesod, the word ’Foundation’ and the number nine. Here is where you store all your emotions, your memories and your past-life conditioning, and where you can get lost in repeating cycles.

· Finally, the last Sephira, Malkuth (Mal-cooth). Write in the word ’Kingdom’ and the number 10. Take a look around you, for here you are, on Earth. You currently live in Malkuth. Is it the end point or is it the beginning?

(You can download blank Trees of Life on my website: davidwells.co.uk/qabalah.)

Looking at your Tree so far, you will see that what is simply 10 circles on a page is already beginning to make more sense. By attaching words to the symbols you have drawn, you start to imbue them with magical energy, and that in turn brings the attention of universal energies your way, as they recognize the efforts you’re making and the light you’re switching on.

Da’ath

You will have noticed that just below Kether, between Binah and Chokmah, there is a dotted circle. This is called Da’ath, the great Abyss. It will be discussed later, but for now write the word ’Knowledge’ in there.

’Which end is up again?’

Some folks get a little confused about to how to use the Tree in situations that are very personal and perhaps those that are environmental. It’s all a question of perspective.

If you’re looking at the Tree square on, as you’re doing from the pages of this book, you’re looking at the universal Tree, a Tree that’s about the world(s) you live in and how that environment affects you: the macrocosm. If you imagine sitting with the Tree behind you, the middle pillar on your spine, this is your personal Tree: the microcosm.

Yes, that does mean that as you sit with the Tree at your back what’s on your right as you look at it is now on your left, but your perspective is fundamental to working with the Tree. It all depends on the issue. If it’s personal, you will put your spine on the Tree; if it’s universal, you will face it.

Lightning flash

Going back for moment to the way you drew the Sephiroth, as you follow the energy down, you will notice it takes this direction:

Figure 2: Energy flow through the Tree

If you follow the energy through, you can begin to see how the process of manifestation works. This works for anything from your own soul’s incarnation right through to baking a batch of cupcakes, and knowing more means taking more control of the process so that you get that recipe just right.

Colours

Go back over your drawing and this time colour the Sephiroth in: colour my Qabalah! Each of the Sephiroth has a particular colour associated with it (see below). Colour is the first language of symbolism. Think about what the colour you’re using says to you.

· Kether: An idea is waiting to be recognized and grabbed. Bright white with flashes of electric blue — truth and purity.

· Chokmah: It’s charged with the spark of creativity. Grey, neither black nor white — a range of possibilities.

· Binah: Structure is put around it and it is given form. Black as night — deep meditation, form.

· Chesed: Excitement builds, ideas flow, opportunities exist. Royal blue — luxuriousness, spirituality, richness, peace.

· Geburah: Anything unnecessary is removed. Red, ruby red — being assertive, active, sensual; karma.

· Tiphareth: The idea is balanced and its true beauty shines. Yellow — golden days, creativity, the Sun.

· Netzach: Time to invest your feelings and joy into it. Emerald green — nature’s colour, fertility.

· Hod: Time to brand and create the image. Orange — thoughtfulness.

· Yesod: Remember old pitfalls and learn from the past. Silver and purple mixed — memories, the Moon.

· Malkuth: Time to land. Russet, ochre, olive, brown — the colours of Earth.

The four worlds

Qabalah states that we exist in four worlds — not four planets, but four aspects of the divine, the divine within us and external to us. Each of us has a way of being in and being of these worlds.

Atziluth

Atziluth means ’Stand near’ and this is where all that is willed into being waits, literally stands near, for the moment it can begin to realize its potential. Your divine spark is here; this world is where you come from and where you will return to. You will see in the following diagram it holds only one Sephira, Kether. That always feels like a reminder that the source of all things operates from Kether in utter purity, creating the Tree you’re about to experience.

In Tarot this world is where the four knights/kings sit. Its element is Fire.

Briah

The spiritual world manifests through the 10 mighty archangels, whose names you will come to know as you progress through the Sephiroth. Expansion, contraction and balance are important here to help manifest peace within you. Here are the teaching rooms, the schools and divine temples of the inner planes, where your immortal self gathers information as well as informs the universe, God, of what you have learned and have still to understand. Here is the mighty Archangel Metatron, the great headmaster, gatherer and keeper of information.

The Tarot association here is with the four queens and the element is Air.

Yetzirah

Here are the astral worlds, where images are formed before manifestation in dreams, visions and meditation. Here we meet the hosts of angelic beings responsible for the world we see in front us, from the stars in the firmament to the blade of grass under our feet. Here, too, we meet disincarnate humans, living in their version of heaven, or not, of their own choosing. Our emotional body is often considered to be here too, in a dimension that’s the final halt before the physical.

The four princes/knights of the Tarot sit here, as well as the element of Water.

Assiah

The final world, Assiah, is unsurprisingly the physical world, where we experience our incarnate existence. It’s the densest of all four worlds and as such has rules attached, universal laws. We will discuss these later.

The Tarot cards are the four princesses/pages and the element is Earth.

In each sphere of Qabalah, the energy, the vibration, slows down, and as it passes from the world of the divine through the spiritual and astral worlds and into the physical world, it becomes denser and denser. This is the connection between human and God, source, divine energy — whatever you choose to call the expression of all there is.

It’s important to remember the worlds are connected. They don’t work individually, they work as one, as you are already one with the Godhead, energy or source.

Just to add a little more to your thought process on these worlds, imagine in each world there is another Tree. It helps to consider the integrations of all four worlds within you, so Kether exists not only in Atziluth but also in Briah, Yetzirah and Assiah.

The Sephirothic Triads

If you look at your Tree, you will see it can be split into three triangles:

· The Supernal Triad: Binah, Chokmah and Kether. This governs the bigger picture, humanity as a whole, and can be seen as your spiritual triangle.

· The Etheric Triad: Tiphareth, Geburah and Chesed. This is about your intuition and your soul, as well as the soul of humanity, and is seen as your soul triangle.

· The Astral Triad: Yesod, Hod and Netzach. This one is personality led and of course reflects not just your own personality but that of humanity too. So it is seen as your personality triangle.

Malkuth, home sweet home, is at the bottom waiting to receive all this information.

You will also notice that the bottom two triangles point down, the top up, suggesting the direction of their focus perhaps. The higher Sephiroth pointing up, the lower down — consider that for a moment.

Figure 3: The Sephirothic Triads

The three pillars

Now it’s time to consider the other structures that help bring the Tree to life. First the pillars. These are easy to see when you look at your drawing. There are three:

· one on the left, containing Binah, Geburah and Hod, known as the Pillar of Severity

· one in the centre, holding Kether, Tiphareth, Yesod and Malkuth, known as the Middle Pillar

· one on the right, with Chokmah, Chesed and Netzach, known as the Pillar of Mercy

Figure 4: The three pillars

Now let’s consider each in turn.

The Pillar of Severity

Binah

This is the Great Mother, directing with an understanding that goes beyond what might be obvious to those who are on the receiving end of her decisions. She shows you where you might experience limits, but limits that will ultimately shape your destiny. This Sephira of silence takes those difficult decisions.

Geburah

Often this Sephira is seen as challenging, but all it really wants to do is to cut away what is no longer required. Sometimes its influence is felt through trials and tribulations, but if you recognize that what’s truly happening is losing what’s not necessary, aren’t you better equipped to deal with it? This will turn what you may have perceived as a weakness into a strength.

Hod

This is concerned with worldly matters like business and career, with how you approach these things, how you communicate and what images you create. It asks, ’How do you think — with your head, your heart, your gut?’ It is an absolute powerhouse of affirmations, as you seek to create your world through positive thoughts and images.

The Pillar of Mercy

Chokmah

The opposite number to the Great Mother! Here you will find the Cosmic Father, balanced behaviour and responsibilities. Logic is the way of Chokmah, but don’t think of this as a dull Sephira — it’s very far from it. When choices need to be made that require both logic and sudden illumination, this is the place to be!

Chesed

Here you’re rewarded for the work you’ve put in, the opportunities you’ve been prepared to take and the adventurous side of your nature that has helped you take them. Compassion, peace and positivity are reflected in Chesed, and here you can manifest abundance, be that spiritual, financial or emotional.

Netzach

Your feelings and emotional attachments are represented here — what you desire and perhaps who you find attractive as well as who your BFF is and what makes them that. Use Netzach to understand your relationships, what you want from them and how others make you feel when you’re around them.

The Middle Pillar

Kether

At the crown of the Tree of Life sit your full potential, new starts and inspirational ideas. Here are the spiritual realms and that place you go to when you’re sitting on your rug, eyes closed and no-thing bothering you. But it can also be where you lose yourself and become so heavenly-minded that you’re no Earthly good.

Tiphareth

A beautiful Sephira, which represents your higher self, or maybe what is best described as your soul. It’s all about higher ideals as well as where you meet that part of yourself that would sacrifice all for those you love. It sits at the centre of the Tree and therefore at your own centre too. Can you remember the last time you felt truly balanced?

Yesod

Habits and cycles are shown here — what you repeat. When you know how to look into the mirror of this Sephira, you will be able to see where those habits or patterns come from — this life, past lives…? This Sephira also shines a light on your hopes and fears as well as affecting your physical dreams and allowing the subconscious to communicate clearly. The question is, do you want to listen?

Malkuth

Your kingdom on Earth, the physical world you live in. All that’s manifest in your life is here. Here you become consciously aware of everything above you, to your left and to your right. All you have done gathers in Malkuth, including in your physical body, which is the vehicle for all your thoughts, feelings, dreams, aspirations, logical decisions, adventures, tough love, images… You get the picture.

So, in brief, the three pillars are:

· Severity: Here are found the principles of taking tough decisions when they need to be taken, in a way that is firm but fair. What needs to be done in order to move towards your goal. Divine justice.

· Mercy: Here is your benevolent side, the part of you that wants peace and, when you have brought it into your life, to enjoy that peace and all the rewards of your efforts. Divine mercy.

· Middle: When you have cut away what doesn’t work and embraced all those opportunities that have come your way, you will find yourself in a place of balance. Divine!

Now consider where these pillars sit on your body. If you have your back to the Tree, your right side is Severity, your left is Mercy and clearly the Middle goes down your spine.

Consider your physicality in terms of the Tree. Could there be a problem in the spiritual realm that’s manifesting in the physical? If you’re experiencing pain on your left-hand side, are you being too generous, giving too much to others? If you’re a healer, this could give another dimension to your work.

That also brings into consideration where the Sephiroth sit on the human body.

The Tree on your body

From this diagram you’ll see where the Sephiroth sit on your body, and if you’re involved in energy work, you’ll see how they correspond to the chakra system. More of that later. For now, think about where they sit on your body and what that could tell you about a pain or an odd sensation around a particular area. I’m not for one second suggesting that as a substitute for professional medical advice, but as you work with the Tree you may feel the Sephiroth physically, some people do, and I would hate you to miss out on any information the Tree can impart.

Figure 5: Where the Sephiroth sit on your body

So:

· Kether is above the head

· Chokmah on the left side of your face

· Binah to the right

· Da’ath not shown, but on your throat

· Chesed your left arm and shoulder

· Geburah your right arm and shoulder

· Tiphareth your solar plexus

· Netzach your left hip and leg

· Hod your right hip and leg

· Yesod your genitals

· Malkuth your feet

If you want to take this information further, you might consider the significance of a constant pain, or a returning injury or sensation. Where is it? As you move through the Sephiroth, it may be highlighted again. As you find out more about each of these powerhouses, be aware of what your body could be telling you. If you are aware, you can fix it!

Remember the four worlds of Atziluth, Briah, Yetzirah and Assiah? What if the energy from an issue in Yetzirah was being mirrored in Assiah, reflected in your physical body?

Just as your body mirrors the Sephiroth, they can be seen working in the world around you through the laws of the universe. Let’s stop and consider them. You’ll be familiar with some of them already, but referring back to the Tree of Life will help bring clarity and recognition — it opens your mind and heart to what’s really going on!