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Tree of Life Logical Progression |
by David Bowman
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Basic postulates are rarely questioned and thus often taken for granted. This gives us some freedom, for we can build our own speculations upon a base of knowledge that is a solid foundation. But sometimes even the basic, formative, ideas can be questioned, when a formula of even more simplicity and lucidity is presented. This analysis of the basic Kabbalistic glyph called the Tree of Life has no pretence to defy the traditional Kircher / Golden Dawn's configuration of the Sephiroth since its correctness has been proved by practical work. It is merely an attempt to trace the possible development of the basic scheme of the Tree of Life. Since structuralisation is the precondition for evolution of ideas/concepts it seems important that we try to discover the rules of creation.
There is one logical arrangement of the paths on the Tree of Life that comes close to the arrangement known from Kircher's publication of the Sephiroth. A successive connection of numbers as presented in the diagram below.
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| Kabbalistic Tree of Life |
|
Sephira |
Path |
Sephira |
| 1 |
A |
2 |
| 1 |
B |
3 |
| 1 |
G |
6 |
| 2 |
D |
3 |
| 2 |
H |
4 |
| 2 |
V |
6 |
| 3 |
Z |
5 |
| 3 |
Ch |
6 |
| 4 |
T |
5 |
| 4 |
I |
6 |
| 4 |
K |
7 |
| 5 |
L |
6 |
| 5 |
M |
8 |
| 6 |
N |
7 |
| 6 |
S |
8 |
| 6 |
O |
9 |
| 7 |
Ph |
8 |
| 7 |
Tz |
9 |
| 7 |
Q |
10 |
| 8 |
R |
9 |
| 8 |
Sh |
10 |
| 9 |
Th |
10 |
The principle is a very simple one, adopting the layout of the paths, every sephira is connected to the nearest value if possible, e.g. Kether (1) - Chokmah (2) = A (1), the next number to connect Kether is 3 or Binah and the next path, Beth (2). Kether is not connected with 4 nor with 5 but with 6, Tiphareth, and the connection the next letter, Gimel. We exhausted all the connection of number 1, so we move to 2 or Chokmah: 2 is already connected to 1, so the first connection is with 3, Binah, with letter Daleth. The next connection to be made is from 2 to 4 and the letter is He, and so on until the whole paths are arranged according to the described system.
There are only three interchanges of the neighboring letters on the whole Sephiroth: He for Vav, Cheth for Zain, and Ayin for Samekh.
Apologia I
The interchange of Samekh and Ayin positions the latter on the Middle Pillar, connecting Tiphareth with Yesod. It is not odd to have an erect phallus placed in the Middle Pillar, connecting Sun and Moon. The symbols of the Devil are always phalocentric, but note also the androgynous aspect, for Sun without Moon exists not.
The three paths to Tiphareth from below in this arrangement, S - O - N, are in accordance with the succession of Atus:
8 + 6 = 14 = XIV = Samekh = Art
9 + 6 = 15 = XV = Ayin = Devil
7 + 6 = 13 = XIII = Nun = Death
Zodiacal sign attributed to Samekh is Sagittarius or QShTH with the value 800 which is also the value of Greek letter Omega traditionally attributed to Tiphareth. 8 in 800 is Hod, and 00 = Omega = Tiphareth.
The change of these two paths and establishing Ayin on the Middle Pillar, leaving out the (obvious) sexual connotation, would establish the formula of Pan (appreciation of all) as a direct link from the Foundation to the Knowledge and Conversation With Holy Guardian Angel. In another manner the interpretation suggests the unconsciousness connected to the consciousness via phallus or better via a word. Even the picture of Atu XV, according to The Book of Toth, represents the Middle Pillar.
The twins paradigm of the card Art may resemble the twin serpents of Caduceus. The Arrow of Sagittarius may well be associated to Mercury. To quote The Book of Toth:
The Arrow, both in this card and in Atu VI, is of supreme importance. The Arrow is, in fact, the simplest and purest glyph of Mercury, being the symbol of directed Will. - A. Crowley, The Book of Thoth, Samuel Weiser, 1992
Apologia II
The Middle Pillar in logical arrangement is GOTh with value 473, not much explored number. The Book of Numbers says that 473 equals AThHVANI or AThH : HVA : ANI coalesced. AThHVANI is also AThH VANI or You and I, object and subject.
473 also equals GVLGLThA or Skull. Ancient symbol of Skull & Bones interprets the three pillars of Sephiroth. Also the number 473 is one less than DOTh, 474, the false sephira along the Path of Messiah.
Apologia III
The interchanging of the paths above Tiphareth are much obscure, and when the Interpreter asked for the explanation a laconic answer was heard: "observe the similarity of shapes", but to no value ... Still some correspondences are indicative:
- The path from Chokmah to Chesed is He. By natural association Aquarius is linked to Chesed since:
Chesed is traditionally the sphere of Water, also called The Sea bellow the Abyss, and the zodiacal sign referring to He (Atu XVII, The Star) is Aquarius, thus Nuit pouring the 'waters of above' into the first Vessel below the Abyss. The birth of all phenomena comes from the Word.
- The connecting path between Chokmah and Tiphareth is Vau. The zodiacal sign of Atu V, The Hierophant, is Taurus, ShVR in Hebrew. In Logical Arrangement the Bull is naturally connected to Tiphareth, remembering all the myths connected with the sacred/sacrificed solar Bull.
- Connecting Power and Understanding is Zain, and the Sword is suggestive weapon of the Warrior, for only by means of analytical faculty the Understanding may be brought down.
- Leading from Tiphareth to Binah is Cheth, Atu VII, The Chariot. It suggests that the bearer of the Holy Grail is Son ascending to the Throne.
Conclusion
The Logical Arrangement of Sephiroth comes close to the published Kircher's Tree. The various indices point to the possibility that somewhere in the past the original configuration was changed, thus obfuscating or elevating the Truth, that being left to every adept to judge for himself. Anyway the arrangement proves not to be just haphazard coincidence for certain apologies explained above are strangely suggestive ...
Besakih, Baal-Yod
22.8.01 e.v.
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 "Tree of Life Logical Progression")
