The Tree of Life: A Beginner's Guide [Esoteric Saturdays]

An introduction to the Tree of Life being part 1 of a 5 part series on the basic teachings of Kabbalah/Qabalah, on which most of the Western esoteric tradition is based.

Videos in this series:

Please note that the views expressed here are only a starting point, you might even end up rejecting them altogether when you find your own way of conceptualising this phenomenal tool. If that is the case, please feel warmly invited to share what your take is below in the comments, only remember to be courteous and sensitive in your communications with others.

Recommended books related to the topic (starting from beginner, moving towards more advanced):

DISCLOSURE: The first five books have links that are Amazon Associate links from which I may receive a small commission (at no extra cost for you)

1) Promethea Deluxe Edition by Alan Moore (books 1, 2, 3)

2) The Chicken Qabalah by Lon Mio Duquette

3) Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot by Lon Milo Duquette

4) Q.B.L. by Frater Achad

5) Shadows on the Path by Abdi Assadi (mentioned at the beginning of the video)

6) The Thirty Two Keys by David Chaim Smith (published in June 2020)

Thank you so much for taking the time to watch this modest introduction!

Please remember to *Like* and *SUBSCRIBE* if you liked the video and would like to see more like this!

[xenoaltrax]

You might want to add in a later video on this topic that the 22 paths you showed in the drawing are in the form used in modern Jewish Kabbalah, where a path is shown between Chokmah and Gevurah as well as a path between Binah and Chesed. This form of the paths is described in Cordoveran Kabbalah and is also called the "Tree of Return", as well as sometimes called by Isaac Luria as the "Safed Tree".
Another form of the paths is more popular in Hermetic Qabalah in which there is no path between Chokmah and Gevurah as well as no path between Binah and Chesed, and instead there is a path between Netzach and Malkuth as well as a path between Hod and Malkuth. This form of the paths was the one popularized by the Golden Dawn, and was also used by Moses Cordovero in his Pardes Rimonim (together with the previous form) and also called the "Tree of Emanation" (to distinguish it from the previous "Tree of Return").
These variation in paths placement stems from the variety in the different kabbalistic traditions which people followed. The same can be said on the inclusion of Kether in the ten sephiroth while excluding Da'ath, this form of the ten sephiroth being more popular in Cordoveran Kabbalah; versus the form with exclusion of Kether (ie. considered as unknowable) and instead inclusion of Da'ath in the ten sephiroth, which was popular in Lurianic Kabbalah. While in the Hermetic Qabalah and Christian Cabala, these tended to favor the Cordoveran tradition.
Nowadays you see people mixing and matching various aspects of the different kabbalistic traditions depending on what appeals to them or feels right to them.

[andythedishwasher]

Positive aspects of Geburah (in my experience) include discipline, self-regulation, protective instincts, and dope rap lyrics.

[LoneLionLeo]

It’s fascinating how many religions and practices use this everything’s connected. Hermeticism, judaism, Buddhism, witchcraft, astrology, magick, etc... many spiritual practices include the same symbolism. And it’s awesome to go down the rabbit hole and learn everything

[AM-vqol]

As a complete novice, this is the most useful video about the Tree of Life I have watched so far, so thank you 💫

[jessicaabernathy]

I've seen this image before, but did not have a clue about how to approach it. Thanks for this beginning.

[NaseemDesai-do]

Simply fabulous and such an eye opener, Thank you ❤️

[SEKHMETSHOMEOFALCHEMY]

This was the first time, I was able to actually Innerstand the Tree of Life as a whole, maybe it’s the time, I’m ready. However, I appreciate you taking the time to break it down. Love ❤️ Sekhmet SapphyreSun❤️😻🙏🏾

[ravens_rambling]

Man I've been following you for a little over a year and have grown and learned so much. Thank you.😊

[andreasmacith]

I'm so happy for you all who have these knowledge and skills to live life in a relationship of union with the Divine Eternal Source. I'm truly happy for you. I on the other hand was not fortunate or privileged to learn any of this divine knowledge for 50yrs. I was fed Lies and deceptions all my existence. Now I'm getting a little bit of the knowledge from youtube. I'm thankful for that. Thank you. I can see some stuff but I don't know how to connect them. You help. I wish I had more time and money in life, to travel and go to the mystery school and find some spiritual light companies. Love to you all 💝💝💝.

[amirrezamokarram]

Thanks for the great consciousness you gave me lovely spirit🙏🏼💙i whish u stay in peace and love✨

[JJ_]

Very interesting! When you highlighted the columns of severity and mercy it occurred to me that this is one of the reasons the socially constructed gender binary has led to, for example, 'toxic masculinity'. In a healthy framework/society/culture there would be a recognition that every human needs to be in touch with each of these aspects 'to be whole', like you said. In a toxic masculine and feminine framework, people are socially conditioned to actively deny one side of their tree of life, leaving them unstable, unbalanced, and volatile.

[adamred]

The ancients are all the same. They believe that negative and possitive forces are both necessary in the creation and maintenance of the world. The Tree of Life basically is a summary of that delicate balance that is needed to be achieved in order for us to be aligned with The Source, to go back to Godhead successfully. Thank you for this. I really enjoyed the simplicity of your explanation. Bless you. 🙏🏽✨

[DanielleDeFreeze]

I've read tarot for years and never knew this about the tree of life and it's connection to these cards until this video just popped up in my suggestions. So cool!! Thank you for explaining this so simply for us so we have a basis to build on. I tried to learn about it but all the info I found was SO complicated. I feel like I can go forward and learn about it now having seen this.

[janetbravo]

I can't believe I just found this, what a great video! I especially love using the High Priestess here, she has not only the pillars, but the whole tree of life behind her on the veil. I interpret her as being the column of equilibrium, calling us to join her in the middle path, and it is probably no coincidence her head/crown are were Daath would be.

[samrizzardi]

I came here because I'm a fan of Jim Henson's "Dark Crystal", which makes extensive use of the Tree of Life. This video really helps understanding the subtleties behind it.

[mrsroboto]

I wanted so badly to find a video that could explain it to me 😭 Thanks for your existence

[southerndoomsday]

I think of the Tree of Life as manuscript to the quote of Socrates; A healthy mind is not enough without a healthy body and vice versa. Its like a charted map for human psyche and actually helps to keep track of yourself.

[fictitiousfictitious]

For me, this explains everything. Really. I used to play with the diagram, drawing it all kinds of ways and never knowing its deep spiritual meaning. Thank you for inviting me in to a special world.

[reuven]

You are the only esoteric author that I understand, thanks ❤

[manwithaplan]

We can repress our best selves and I never realized it until I started learning how to love. Love this section around 20:00