Tarot... um, 201?

I finally finished this. Phew...

The Ten Sephiroth on the Tree of Life – Part One: Introduction




This took longer than I thought it would. And it’s necessarily pretty long. The sources are not entirely consistent with each other. So I tried to compare as many different useful descriptions as I could to summarize what seems to be the general idea of each Sephira and how it relates to the similarities among small cards of the same number. That is one way that an understanding of the Tree of Life can make it easier to understand and memorize the meanings of the cards. Although sometimes the tarot meanings do not seem to obviously relate to the Kabbalah’s meaning for that sephira.

I’d like to note that although tarot is heavily influenced by the Jewish Kabbalah, which is strongly focused on the Judeo-Christian God, it is not necessary to believe or practice this particular religion in order to use the cards. The cards are also influenced by several other religions, traditions, and philosophies. This is not exactly what my own faith is like, although I think a lot of this makes sense. I am not saying that the process of creation definitely happens this way. This essay is meant to just explain what the Sephiroth that have in large part determined the meanings of the cards are.

Like the Four worlds, the 10 Sephiroth are also a chain that successively links the Divine to His creation. There is a Tree of Life in each of the Four Worlds and each Sephira also contains its own Tree. These could be seen as the pathways that the Divine light travels through on Its way through the Four Worlds, down each Tree, until it gets low enough to transition into our physical world. This is also seen as a map that humans can follow to find their way to the Divine or Higher Self. So it can go in both directions.

Why does the Tree have the shape that it has? To put it as simply as I can, the Sephiroth are said to reflect themselves. The first one reflects itself and the second one appears. Then the third appears almost simultaneously as another reflection to balance and stabilize them, forming the first triad, which is a group of three Sephiroth. The next triad is a reflection of the first one (up side down), and the same is the case with the third triad.

These are called the Supernal Triad, the Ethical Triad, and the Astral Triad. In each triad, the Sephiroth on the right and left pillar have somewhat opposite characteristics that are both necessary in order to create. With the exception of the first Sephira, where it all begins, the Sephiroth in the middle pillar are where the two side pillars are balanced and combined so they work together to complete the stage and lead to the next one. The first three Sephiroth are separated from the rest of the Tree by The Abyss, which is sometimes represented by a horizontal line drawn below this triad. This is like a barrier that separates the ideal from the actual. Above The Abyss, everything exists harmoniously in a realm beyond what the human mind can perceive. Here the idea or element has not yet materialized in a way that we can observe directly.

Some have used Plato’s allegory of the cave to illustrate this. In the allegory, humans have been living their whole lives chained up in a cave. They cannot even turn their heads. The only source of light is the mouth of the cave behind them. They can see their shadows on the opposite wall, but nothing else. They cannot see the opening behind them or their own real selves. The way I see it, the light is the light of God and the shadows are the actual manifestations that we can see with our eyes while our real selves that cast the shadows are the ideal that we cannot see. The space between the ideal and the wall onto which the shadows are projected is The Abyss. As we travel down the Tree and further from the source of the light its energy becomes weaker and heavier.

The Ten Sephiroth - Part 2: The Supernal Triad, Da’at, and the Ethical Triad

Note: Each Sephiroth name has many different spellings. Other sources will likely spell them differently.

These first three Sephiroth are called the Supernal Triad, which means heavenly/divine triad. They are the intellectual attributes of creation. It starts with the first seed or spark of life (in 1) that then becomes fertilized and energized (in 2), and then gestates within the womb of mother earth (in 3). The energy in these cards is very strong and generally positive (but not always).

Sephira 1 is called Kether, which means Crown. It is called “the most hidden of all hidden things” in the Kabbalistic text called the Zohar. Here God feels His first impulse to reveal Himself through creation, but has not taken any action yet. The four Aces represent the initial spark of ambition, feeling, thought, or matter that exists perhaps before we are even aware of it. They are the idea or seed of the element that has not yet sprouted, rather than the element itself. They represent beginnings, possibilities, and potential. There’s a very high amount of energy in these cards, but the energy has no focus or direction yet.

Sephira 2 is called Chokmah, which means Wisdom. This is where God begins to act on His impulse to create. Since Kether is so hidden, this is the first expression of the element itself as an idea. The energy from the Aces has some directions it could take. Chokmah is the first of the “three fathers” pillar mentioned above. This male energy fuels the spark from the Aces into a flame or fertilizes the seed so to speak. The four Twos represent a choice or decision to make, duality, harmony, balance of polar opposites, harmonious change, and instinctual knowledge.

Sephira 3 is called Binah, which means Understanding. This is the first of the ‘three mothers”. This is the womb that incubates the seed that was fertilized in Chokmah. If Chokmah is the fuel for the fire, Binah is the fireplace. Chokmah and Binah must work together in the creative process. The Threes represent the first result or offspring of the choice that had to be made in the Twos, the completion of a stage, ideas worked out through a rational process (rather than instinctual knowledge), creativity, planning, and cultivating.

Sometimes images of the Tree of Life will depict a ‘hidden Sephira’ called Da’at, which means Knowledge. It lies on The Abyss and is like a direct reflection of Kether. It is not really a Sephira. It is all 10 Sephira united as one and indistinguishable from one another within it. It is like an embodiment of the Abyss. Some say it represents the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil that Eve took fruit from when tricked by the serpent, causing mankind to be banished form the Garden of Eden. Thus it can represent the Fall of Man. However, it also represents knowledge of God that is present in all Sephiroth and it is said that humans can see and experience this hidden Sephira if they become selfless enough. It does not correspond to any cards, but it is worth noting that it is there, hidden.

Sephiroth 4, 5, and 6 are called the Ethical Triad. Here the ambitions, emotions, ideas, and matters that began in the Aces as ideals start to manifest as something actual that we can perceive. These are the emotive attributes of creation. God manifests His loving-kindness (in 4), then His strict justice (in 5), and then these two aspects are mediated and balanced out (in 6).

Sephira 4 is called Chesed, which means Mercy or Kindness. This Sephira manifests God’s unlimited kindness. This is the first expression of the element that we can see. From our perspective, this appears to be where things first begin, but that is just because we cannot see the three emanations that preceded this. In tarot, the Fours represent something that has reached a stage where it is established, stabilized, and rooted. This can be either good or bad, depending on what has been established here. There’s a tendency to get stuck in these cards in some way, because people either don’t want to leave if it is comfortable there or they can’t find the way out.

Sephira 5 is called Gevurah, which means Severity or Strength. In contrast to Chesed, this Sephira manifests God’s strict judgment and justice. This is like God’s “tough love”. The Fives represent the destruction of the barriers that can keep people stuck in the Fours so that they can continue on their paths. This destruction frees you, but it’s very harsh. These pose both a problem and a solution. They poison you and tell you where to go find the antidote in order to get you moving again. These involve crises and challenges that are forced on you, but after you get through this painful time you will come out stronger.

Sephira 6 is called Tiphereth, which means Beauty. Located in the middle of the Tree, this Sephira mediates between the pillars of Mercy and Severity, reconciling their differences to find a middle ground. It also mediates between the upper Sephiroth and lower Sephiroth. Some associate this Sephira with Jesus Christ, who mediates between God and humans through the sacrifice of his life similar to how God sacrifices His life force by transforming it into matter during creation. In tarot, the Sixes represent finding and enacting the solution to the problem posed in the Fives. This solution involves compromise and compassion. It brings a temporary balance and harmony among opposing forces that is beneficial to all involved.

The Ten Sephiroth – Part 3: The Astral Triad and Malkuth

Sephiroth 7, 8, and 9 are called the Astral Triad. On this level, the choices and actions of humans play more of a role. Recall that these paths can go both ways. When the Sephiroth are described in the opposite order, from 10 to 1, the focus tends to be on how humans can climb up the Tree. Here we are nearer to the beginning of the journey from our material world to the source of creation. We are provided with what we need to get started, but we must make the effort to use it. It seems like no two sources about the Kabbalah say the same thing about these Sephiroth. There is more consistency in the sources about what these cards tend to mean in tarot, which often seems very different from the Kabbalistic interpretations at this point. Lon Milo DuQuette says that here the original energy of the suit has become so weak that the zodiac attributes of the cards have more influence on their meaning, which can be good or bad.

Generally, the story of this triad as far as I can gather is that humans are given the ambition to make the effort to find their way to God, but they don’t have the means yet so they experience a crisis (in 7). But a crisis is also an opportunity. God then provides a way to make use of that opportunity and humans make the decision to do so (in 8). Then the emotions of 7 and logic of 8 are combined to form the foundation for the beginning of our journey (in 9).

Sephira 7 is called Netzach, which means Victory. These are acts of God that seem harsh, but are meant to help you. It is also the leadership aspect of group interaction. This is the more intuitive and emotional aspect of the Astral Triad. The Sevens involve trying to take the reigns of your life to gain control the opposing forces within it and accomplish something. These are difficult challenges you bravely choose to take on in order to further your personal growth, rather than ones forced on you like in the Fives. There is crisis, instability, and destruction. But this creates something potentially useful. If you make the effort you could benefit from the opportunity this creates. I loosely compare this to nuclear power in my notes. It is technology humans chose to develop that has caused a lot of destruction when we used it unwisely, but it happens to create energy that can be useful if it is harnessed successfully. These cards involve disappointment, exhaustion, conflict, and acting on emotions without thinking things through.

Sephira 8 is called Hod, which means Splendor. Some say this relates to prayer and the community aspect of group interaction. This is the more intellectual and analytical aspect of the Triad. If Netzach is like our feelings and the things we mean to say, Hod is like the words that give them form in a way we can express. Both are needed for language to work, just as both a leader and a community are needed for group interaction to work. In tarot, the Eights represent making good use of the opportunity in the Sevens and overcoming the challenge. The energy from the Sevens is harnessed and transformed into forms that we can use. You begin to successfully take control of your own life, but in most Eights there are still obstacles in your way. These cards relate to practical matters, managing material assets, attention to detail (perhaps too much), organizing, prioritizing, and perhaps being too analytical while not taking emotions into consideration enough.

Sephira 9 is called Yesod, which means Foundation. This is where God combines and balances the energies of Netzach and Hod to create a structure we can use to translate our thoughts into actions and begin on our path to unite with Him. Going with the previous analogy, words and meanings are combined to form the structure of language and action that our souls/consciousnesses can use to interact and communicate with our world, with each other, and with God. In tarot, the Nines are when you have completed something and are taking time to reflect on what you have learned, gained, and accomplished. You have reaped what you have sown, good or bad.

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Sephira 10 is not a part of a triad. It is called Malkuth, which means Kingdom. It is also sometimes called Shekhinah, which means “inhabit” and is a term referring to God’s inherent presence in this world. This is where the spiritual realm transitions into a tangible form and it represents the entire physical universe. It is the end and the beginning in several ways. Recall that there are Four Worlds, each with its own Tree. Malkuth is where each World ends and transitions into beginning of the next one. Also, while this is where God completes the process of creation, this is the very beginning of the path humans can travel to unite with Him.

I have been generally describing the Tree as a step-by-step process, which is hard to avoid. However, creation is a continual process, and each Sephiroth has its own Tree. It could cause some confusion if one starts to think that one step is done and over with once you move to the next one, because every step of this process is happening all the time as long as creation exists. Using the analogy of an actual tree, Malkuth is when the tree has born fruit that contains seeds that will grow into another tree. The parent tree still exists. If the light of God is like and endless source of water that feeds it, the roots, branches, leaves, and fruit are like the different Sephiroth that channel this water and turn it into energy it can use resulting in the process we call life. Hence, God is present in this world. Each seed contains the DNA of its ancestors and it is already programmed to produce seeds of its own.

Malkuth is associated with Assiah, the fourth World, which is the World of Action, because this is where actions manifest. It is often called the World of Speech, because this is where we are given the power of self-expression through action. Using the earlier analogy, now that we have meanings (in 7), words to express them (in 8), and a language that puts them together (in 9) we use them in the act of speaking (in 10).

In tarot, the Tens represent the final outcome, the sum total, and ultimate good or bad of the suit. It is the completion of one process and the beginning of the next one. They transition into the Ace of the next suit, from Wands to Cups to Swords to Pentacles/Disks then back up to the Ace of Wands after the 10 of Pentacles. These cards can represent the recognition that you have reached the end of a stage in life and need to head into the next one taking with you what you have learned so far. You either see the results of what you were (perhaps subconsciously) aiming for or see that what you got is not what you wanted after all. These cards can mean you’ve taken things too far to the point where it has become unhealthy, used too much force, or focused too much on one thing for too long.

wow, thank you very much and bless you for doing that and sharing that


G

It was my pleasure :)