The Hermetic Kabballah

The Kabbalistic tree of life is such a huge topic that can be approached in so many ways. I am not by any means a historian so I can only speak from my experiences with using the powers represented by this sacred diagram. This will not be a historical exploration of the tree of life. I am not a scholar, I am a magician. I use the techniques that I have been taught, make predictions, record the results, refine my theories, then repeat the process over and over again. Sometimes I will contact certain spirits and ask them to teach me more about their particular office and I find this to be one of the best ways to learn.

The Kabbalistic tree of life can serve as a useful tool for any magical practitioner. Even if you don’t practice magick it can be a useful model for the mind and understanding of your own consciousness. While the tree of life itself originates from Judaism, its use is not limited to any one tradition. It is a description of the process of creation from formless unity into the physical world and all the stages in between. This is going to be a quick introductory overview of the tree of life. This is not a full or comprehensive description.

The belief system that underlies the tree of life is not dogmatic because you can experiment with it and see for yourself that it produces results. Magick is like an art and a science at the same time. You don’t have to take anyone’s word for it because by working with the tree in various ways you can experience its efficacy for yourself. You do the ritual or meditation and you get the effects. It is not just a conceptual idea but an accurate description and model for a higher form of physics.

There are two trees, one in the universe and one within the body (technically there are infinite trees but more on that later). Since the universe is made of consciousness, it makes sense to reason that the same principles underlying the creation of the universe would have their fractal representation in the consciousness of the individual as well.

The way we are going to be using these principles is quite different than anything you might learn from a traditional Jewish rabbi. There is a lot of overlap in understanding but the key difference is that in Judaism the use of the names of god for magical purposes is strictly forbidden, whereas the practices we will be getting are centered around the use of these Hebrew words of power. If you have a magician’s understanding of the kabbalah and try to discuss it with a Jewish person, get ready to have some disagreements. Words like ‘heretic’ or ‘blasphemy’ may come up.

This post will be an introduction to the tree of life and the Hermetic worldview. For the sake of distinction we can call this angle on the Kaballah and tree of life the ‘Hermetic Kaballah’ or ‘Hermetic Tree of life’. This philosophy can be applied to almost any magical system. If you understand the tree of life it will enhance your ability to understand all other forms of magick. Various gods from different traditions can be seen to be embodiments of the primordial forces described by the kabbalah. The study of mythological figures and how they relate to the tree of life can be dizzyingly complex and there is a great deal of work to be done in this field if you should happen to feel called to it.

If you are unfamiliar with the 7 hermetic principles there is plenty of material on the internet that you can find for free. There is no need to repeat this information here. Maybe we will get into that in future posts but for now, I will just give a general overview. The main idea behind the Hermetic worldview is that everything is consciousness. This is the first Hermetic Principle and the rest are refinements and details pertaining to this overarching principle.

There exists one infinite consciousness referred to as the All-mind. All of reality exists within this divine mind and the all-mind exists within all things. The sphere of Kether, the first sphere of the tree of life (see number 1 on the diagram), represents this formless state of consciousness. It contains all potentials existing simultaneously.

The God name associated with this sphere is pronounced “Eh-Heh-Yeh” meaning “I am that I am”. The word Kether means ‘crown’ and happens to find its place in the human body in the same place as the crown chakra of the eastern esoteric systems. While there is some overlap between the tree in the body and the chakra system, I believe that they are not the same thing. The chakra and the spheres of the tree have different functions and apply to different levels of reality.

If everything is made of the one consciousness, then reality is something like a dream inside the mind of God. God in this case not being a patriarchal figure watching over the universe, but the source of all creation. In this state represented by Kether, the All-mind is not aware of itself. It is pure potential energy. A swirling of formless energy. One of the names for the Sphere of Kether is “the first swirlings”.

This energy can be tapped into and used in your magick. By incorporating Kether into our magick, we are creating something new, adding to the sum total of energy in the universe rather than just rearranging the energy that already exists. Without using Kether we are taking energy from one thing and moving it somewhere else. If used correctly you can overcome the problem of magical entropy and create magick that does not need to be renewed over time but is plugged into the infinite power source. A well-crafted talisman that takes this idea into account will theoretically last forever unless it is ritualistically discharged. I say theoretically because I haven’t tested this enough to say for sure, but Dion Fortune in her book “Mystical Qabalah” comments on this and it makes sense to me that this should be possible.

For the All-mind to become aware of itself it had to split itself into two. The unconscious urge to know thyself seems to be a fundamental drive built into existence itself. Self-awareness comes into being in the second sphere on the tree known as ‘Chokmah’. While processes of the tree are described as a linear process with one thing happening after the other, this is for the sake of convenience of understanding. The processes of the tree are all happening at the same time in every single moment. Each sphere is nested within the sphere above it. Kether is the outermost layer of this Russian nesting doll like setup, and within it is Chokmah. Each descending layer represents a more dense frequency of vibration with the physical world being the solid center.

With Chokmah comes the quality of self-awareness that resides outside of space and time. This is still a state of pure energy but instead of being pure potential, it is now a dynamic force. Chokmah is an outpouring of energy with no limitations or containers for it to be poured into. It is a purely abstract expression. Meditation on this sphere can help to increase that elusive sense of presence. The ‘observer’ that science has so far failed to explain has its origins outside of space and time in Chokmah. You could say this is the level of the individual soul. I Kether is the ‘I AM’ then Chokmah is the sense of ‘I am aware that I am’.

Working with this sphere can increase your sense of wakefulness and presence. Words fail to accurately describe it, you’ll just have to try it for yourself.

This abstract, boundless and dynamic force needs some kind of container. Here is where the third sphere comes into play. This sphere is called ‘Binah’ and it creates the 3rd point that when connected to both Chokmah and Kether creates a triangle. The qualities of the planet Saturn in astrology fit nicely within this sphere. We still have not reached the level of physical form but here we have the concept of the mind as a complete unit of consciousness. Now the power of self-awareness has a vehicle, a method for consciously directing energy. Through limitation, it can differentiate and create something that appears separate from itself.

Working with this sphere or planet through meditation or invoking hexagram rituals can grant you greater patience, capacity for silence, stability, and a sense of grounded practicality. It can also help you gain an appreciation for limitations and how they can help guide and direct your creativity.

The first 3 spheres, Kether, Chokmah, and Kether combine to form what is known as ‘the supernal triad’ which represents the god-head. Now the divine is aware of itself and can create something. The triangle is the first solid shape and often represents creativity and manifestation. It also is the alchemical symbol for the element of fire.

If you want a sort of mnemonic device you could assign a keyword or phrase to each of these three spheres and come up with a sentence that helps you remember. Kether = pure Being or I am-ness, Chokmah = Awareness, and Binah = creation. Combine these by saying “I am aware I am the Creator” or even better “I am aware that I am creation” and you have a good idea of what the supernal triad is all about. Awareness of being the self-created creator of the universe. This is both a state of the universal mind before physical creation came into being and a state of consciousness that can be achieved by a person who ‘climbs the tree’ and achieves enlightenment. It is said that no person can achieve this state while incarnated in a physical body. Only the so-called ‘ascended masters’ can have the full awareness of their nature as the god-head. While incarnated one is still subject to the limitation of the physical body and still has a mixed experience of both being divine and mortal at the same time. Only after the physical death can a living master become an ascended master.

In most depictions of the tree of life, there is no path that leads from Binah down to the 4th sphere of Chesed. This gap is often referred to as ‘the abyss’ and it represents the veil of forgetting that one must go through in order to enter into the physical world. The divine mind has to forget its origins in order to know itself from the perspective of a human. The experience of being human would lose all meaning if you could still remember that you are ultimately god playing a game with itself. The entire point is for the divine to come to know itself from a new perspective. By forgetting, falling into complete identification with matter, and then rediscovering its divine roots it can come to conscious awareness and appreciation for its omnipotent state.

Think of when you were a kid and you would play with your toys. You were in complete control of the situation, you knew what was going to happen because you were the one making it all happen. Eventually, you get older and you get bored with this type of play, you start seeking others to play with so you can experience the element of surprise. Being in complete control of your entire reality would be a terribly boring experience. Magick is a way of reclaiming your godlike power without having to control all the details. You still don’t know how or when things are going to manifest as a result of your magick, you still get to enjoy the element of surprise and the excitement of not being totally in control of everything.

Chesed is the first stage of manifestation. While there are still no concrete physical forms we begin to have the energetic foundation on which the universe can be built. Working with Chesed can help you get to the very foundations of your psyche and teach about the most basic and fundamental assumptions about the nature of reality. It helps you understand the big picture. People often assume that because Jupiter finds its home on the tree of life in this sphere that it is all about manifesting money. This is not quite accurate, it’s more about letting go of your attachment to money which then allows you to attract more of it. Abundance is not just a surplus of cash, it is the ability to do what you need to do when you need to do it. From the human perspective, Chesed is about detachment. When you are detached from the outcomes of your magick you are free from the lust for results that so often stifles people’s ability to manifest.

Chesed is like the blueprint level of both the human psyche and the physical universe. Here we find the formulation of the divine laws which govern the universe. Working with this sphere can help with your ability to make and stick to long-term plans. It can help you better manage your money, it can encourage kindness and forgiveness, and it will amplify whatever you apply its energies to. This is also the sphere of the spiritual masters and teachers.

There is a quality of expansion and growth inherent in this sphere. As I mentioned before it will amplify whatever it is applied to and will make things grow larger. If this constant growth is not balanced by some form of destructive principle everything would just grow wildly out of control. In the case of the human body, an over-growth of cells can lead to cancer. We need something that knows when to destroy so that healthy growth may continue.

The destructive principle is what we find in sphere number 5 called ‘Geburah’. The planet Mars is associated with this sphere and its merciless destruction is what brings balance to the growth principle of Chesed. Think of your metabolism, food needs to be broken down and converted into energy for the body and the excess material needs to be eliminated. Geburah is also the just enforcer of the laws created by Chesed.

Although Geburah is destructive that does not mean it is evil or expresses rage. Rage and cruelty are the negative and unbalanced expressions of this sphere. The balanced expression of Geburah is like that of the kung fu grandmaster who is calm and in complete control of his destructive potential. Working with this sphere can help you gain courage and discipline and learn to tame and control anger. It can help you be more strategic and methodical in the execution of your plans and goals. It can help you learn to stand up for yourself and enforce personal boundaries.

Too much chesed will make you a pushover who allows injustice to occur, too much Geburah will make you a tyrant and a bully.

The 6th sephirah (sphere) is called ‘Tipareth’ meaning ‘glory’ or ‘Beauty’. The Sun in Astrology shares its correspondence with this sphere. Tiphereth is the great equalizer, bringing balance to and illuminating all the other spheres. The negative expression of Tiphereth is ego and arrogance while the positive expression is inspiration. The ego is never really inspired, it only acts out of fear, and what it takes as inspiration is a feeling of satisfaction that comes from successfully staving off a scenario that it is afraid to experience.

Tiphereth is the sphere of the redeemer and the healer. This is the energy of self-transformation and enlightenment. While chesed represents the enlightened master, Tipareth is the force that causes their enlightenment. It illuminates all the hidden aspects of the subconscious and brings them out into the open so they may be healed and integrated into the personality. Working with this sphere can bring greater insight into the shadow and help you understand the mechanisms of the ego. This sphere can bring a sense of childlike joy and can help you to attract new friends or followers. Of course, this is only after you have become attuned to this energy.

The story of Jesus and the cross could be seen as a symbolic representation of a process of awakening through suffering. Awakening involves understanding the painful and repressed aspects of the mind and letting go of the attachments that go along with trying to avoid looking at these unconscious wounds. The crucifixion could be seen as a symbol for the crucifixion of the ego that comes along with initiation into the current of Tiphereth. In more new age circles people may refer to this current as the christ force or christ consciousness.

The combination of Geburah, Chesed, and Tipareth is sometimes referred to as the ‘Ethical Triad’. Here we find the balance of mercy and severity as well as the process of regeneration. Chesed builds, Geburah destroys, and Tipareth heals and brings regeneration to what has been destroyed, creating newer and higher expressions like the phoenix rising renewed from its own ashes.

The next sphere, number 7, is known as Netzach. This is the sphere where Venus finds its place on the tree. This is where we begin to find the most tenuous type of form. There is still no solidity in the universe at this stage but we have the movement of the creative force. To explain this sphere it might be useful to first describe the one that comes after it. This is the sphere of relationships after all so it makes sense that it is easiest to understand it in terms of its relationship to its neighboring spheres of Hod and Yesod.

Hos is the sphere associated with Mercury. This is where we find the functions of logic, speaking, writing, and thinking. Every thought is like an empty container ready to be filled with energy. Netzach, the previous sphere, is the energy that ensouls these thought-forms and gives them life. The energy that flows through us when we feel emotions is defined by Netzach. When performing a ritual invocation of a deity or cosmic force, the feeling and sensations we experience are the functions of Netzach in action. By combing this energy with thoughts (hod) and imagination (Yesod) we create magick.

Empty words and thoughts that are not backed by some kind of feeling are like empty astral containers. Any thought that is repeated enough will build up an astral form that is ready to be ensouled by some form of energy. It is my opinion that this was common knowledge among the priest casts of ancient societies and the pantheons of gods were created as thought-forms that were meant to be animated by the primordial forces of nature described by the all the spheres on the tree of life. They may not have used this exact system of understanding but the concept of creating certain gods and deities as a way to interact with the forces of nature for the sake of performing magick seems to be at the core of many ancient civilizations.

By creating a god, then convincing an entire society to worship and make offerings to them, you would essentially be creating a thoughtform or egregore(group thoughtform) that would become extremely powerful extremely quickly. These thought-forms became so powerful that they still exist today and can be called upon for assistance. It is my opinion that man created the deities of the many pantheons rather than the deities already existing and then revealing themselves to humans. Angels on the other hand could be seen as the first thought-forms created by the all-mind to serve as the eyes, ears, and hands of creation itself. This could be debated endlessly and we would never be able to know for sure, but it’s a theory that I think makes good sense.

Working with the sphere of Hod can help to increase your general intelligence, clarify your speech, and gain the ability to see the truth behind complicated matters.

Yesod is the 9th sphere. As I briefly touched on above, this is the sphere of the imagination and the astral realm. All things that manifest in the physical world have their roots in Yesod. Malkuth, the 10th and final sphere, represents the physical world. It is the realm of manifestations and results. When we combine the spheres of Netzach, Hod, and Yesod we have what is sometimes referred to as the ‘Magical Triad’. This is like the magician’s control panel for their reality. All magick takes place in Yesod. When you experience the higher spheres of the tree you are not experiencing them directly but you experience their reflection in the astral realm/Yesod. When you call the energies of higher spheres into your circle during a magick ritual, you are pulling them into Yesod.

Yesod also represents the subconscious and the moon is the astrological body associated with this sphere. The subconscious is the gateway to the astral realm. This is why it is so important for the magician to clear out and heal all subconscious wounds and negative beliefs so that their intuition is clear and they do not accidentally self-sabotage through unintentional magick. Subconscious beliefs are like thought-forms whose purpose is to perpetuate experiences that reinforce that belief. If you subconsciously believe life is miserable and unfair you will constantly experience that as the truth. Your world will reinforce that belief. As a magician, you must recognize that what appears to be true to you is not THE truth, but A truth.

Working with the sphere of Yesod in meditation or ritual can increase psychic awareness and perception of energy. Imagination, Psychic intuition, and understanding of the mechanisms of the astral realm can also be increased through these types of workings.

Most people in modern society are at a level of consciousness that does not extend beyond Malkuth. They are unaware of the spiritual nature of reality and spend their time moving around the pieces on the chessboard which already exist. A magician doesn’t need to bother with moving the pieces on the board because they can change the game board itself and the pieces rearrange on their own. Performing magick is like altering the blueprint of physical reality. All physical manifestations are simply the material expressions of the astral energy behind them. Change the energy and the physical expression has no choice but to change as well.

A true magician does not need to control life or other people. He/she need only to influence the energy behind a situation and let the governing intelligence of Yesod decide the best way for that change in energy to manifest. The results of magick will always seem like pure coincidence and can always be explained away as such by someone who doesn’t understand the idea of synchronicity. Much of the early work of the magician is to learn to let go of all self-sabotaging beliefs and overcome the fear of letting go of the kind of control that society encourages.

When you learn to work with these forces of nature and become adept at performing magick, the ego becomes obsolete and only serves as a hindrance to your magick. You must learn to ride the waves of the natural forces directed in ritual like a surfer rides the edge of a wave in the ocean. You are not controlling nature but working alongside it. You are directing the natural forces and they decide for themselves how the result comes about.

There is still much to be explored on the topic of the tree of life, such as the 4 kabbalistic worlds, the god names, the color scales associated with each level of each sphere, the archangels, and their choirs of angels. As I mentioned previously this is only a rudimentary introduction to the tree. This post is already quite long so we will continue this exploration in future lessons.

Until next time, thanks for reading and take care!

Frater Malakai