Gnostic Kabbalah: The Tree of Life

And out of the ground made יהוה אלוהים Jehovah Elohim to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. ―Genesis 2:9

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. ―Proverbs 11:30

The Ten Spheres or Sephiroth (emanations) of this diagram represent varying levels of matter, energy, and consciousness, which emerge and descend from the Unknowable Divine, the Absolute. This is in order for the soul to gain necessary experiences. Upon reaching physical materiality, Malkuth, the soul or consciousness must now return towards the higher realms or planes through specific works, thereby developing cognizance, understanding, virtue, and self-knowledge.

Gnostic Kabbalah:
The Tree of Life

A Map of Consciousness and the Universe

It [the Tree of Life] is a glyph, that is to say a composite symbol, which is intended to represent the cosmos in its entirety and the soul of man as related thereto; and the more we study it, the more we see that it is an amazingly adequate representation; we use it as the engineer or the mathematician uses his sliding-rule, to scan and calculate the intricacies of existence, visible and invisible, in external nature or the hidden depth of the soul...

...The Qabalistic cosmology is the Christian Gnosis. Without it we have an incomplete system in our religion, and it is this incomplete system which has been the weakness of Christianity. ―Dion Fortune, The Mystical Qabalah

The objective of studying the Kabbalah is to be skilled for work in the Internal Worlds... One who does not comprehend remains confused in the Internal Worlds. Kabbalah is the basis in order to understand the language of these worlds. ―Samael Aun Weor, Tarot and Kabbalah

The Tree of Life or the Hebraic Kabbalah קבלה is a map of consciousness, from the highest regions of spiritual abstraction, forces, and principles to the most dense, material forms of nature. This map is essential for knowing and understanding one's conscious experiences in meditation and dream yoga, since all of the universe and every aspect of the psyche is diagrammed here. It is therefore an essential tool for knowing oneself and divinity completely, for just as a person traveling to another country would learn its language and maps, so too does the Gnostic study Kabbalah in order not to get lost or confused within the superior dimensions.

This glyph is also not the sole patrimony of mystical Judaism, but has been present in every pantheon, religion, and cosmogony, albeit in different symbols, languages, and forms. The Western tradition and the Judeo-Christian Bible are founded upon the study of the Tree of Life; therefore, if one does not know the map of Kabbalah, one cannot properly understand Judaism or Christianity.

Related Books: Alchemy and Kabbalah in the Tarot, Secret Teachings of Moses, Tarot and Kabbalah

Kabbalah: The Yoga of the West

Kabbalah, the esoteric or mystical dimension of Jewish thought, embodies universal principles reflected within the heart of all great religions, particularly Judaism and Christianity. While expressed through Hebrew scripture, narrative, folklore, law, and prayer, Kabbalah conveys spiritual truths applicable to all of humanity, simultaneously elucidating conventional Jewish traditions and the path of personal, divine experience.

Many Westerners lack a fundamental understanding of their social, religious, and philosophical roots. Likewise, many Jews and Christians have distanced themselves from the mystical origins of their traditions. This is why Kabbalah is sometimes referenced as the Yoga of the West, for it offers a form of practical spirituality best suited for our modern dispensation. Discover how through the writings of Dion Fortune and Samael Aun Weor.

Kabbalah: The Doctrine of Soul and Spirit

This lecture builds on Kabbalah: The Yoga of the West, outlining the cultural, psychological, and spiritual contexts of Jewish mystical traditions. Kabbalah possesses a rich corpus embodying multiple levels of meaning and practice, codified within introductory, intermediate, and advanced knowledge. Discover these three tiers of instruction through the writings of Gershom Scholem, Manly P. Hall, Dion Fortune, Samael Aun Weor, and the Zohar.

Kabbalah: The Legacy of the Initiates

Spiritual initiates from every religion have existed, conveying their teachings through diverse scriptures, allegories, and symbols. The Jewish mystics were no different. However, their knowledge was codified in such a way as to provide accessibility and insight for those who were trained to read, interpret, and understand with an awakened consciousness. This lecture builds on Kabbalah: The Doctrine of Soul and Spirit, describing how five elements of Medieval Judaism can inform our understanding of initiatic life, specifically through Aggadah (narrative tradition), Halakah (Jewish law), Piyyut (liturgical prayer), Merkavah mysticism (the science for creating the soul), and The Sefer Yetzirah (a profound scripture of magical, initiatic import).

Kabbalah: The Universal Tree of Life

Gnostics utilize kabbalah for its profundity, accessibility, and synthetic power. When consciously utilized, kabbalah becomes incredibly practical for interpreting diverse religious symbolism, creation stories, and the development of the soul. Contrary to popular assumption, the tree of life is not merely a Jewish paradigm, but an essential, eternal, and universal representation within all cosmologies and mythologies. A continuation of Kabbalah: The Legacy of the Initiates, this lecture will explore the mystical significance of divine life in the kabbalistic tree, the ten sephiroth (spiritual emanations), and how specific Hebrew letters, words, and names relate to aspects of being, Hinduism, Arthurian legend, Nordic runes, Tantric Buddhism, and much more.