The Tree of Life is a Kabbalistic glyph which is supposed to represent the blueprint inherent in the structure of Reality. It is the structure of the Universe, God, and the Self. Now, firstly I would like to briefly discuss the uniqueness and difficulties in such glyphs, such symbolic representations. As something which can be both appealing and make for difficult communication, all meaning is in the subtleties which continued contemplation will lay over the pre-given structure and symbol-set. So, in some ways it's all already defined the second you look at the picture. You can read a basic summary somewhere, and think that's it. But it's all in the subtely of meaning, and that is personal by nature, accomplished through contemplation and analysis. Nonetheless, as some renewed interest and insight has been coming to me on this topic as of late, I would like to explain the structure of the Tree of Life and the Sephiroth, as it seems to me at this point in time. Before you read the rest, look at the picture at the bottom of this post. The 10 Sephiroth, emenations of God, as structured on the Tree of Life. First notice that there are three pillars. Left, right, middle. The left pillar is the 'pillar of severity.' The right pillar 'the pillar of mercy.' The middle pillar 'the pillar of balance.' Notice also how there are three trinities as you descend the Tree. Now, Kether is the first Sephirah, heading the first trinity in the pillar of balance. Kether means the Crown. It is the Unity which transcends all limitations, where all polarities are one. It is the Will of God that causes all to be and not-be as it is. The second sephirah is Chokmah, Wisdom. This is the activity of God, infinite motion. It is the tendency of the Divine to spread out into all possibilities. It is the highest sense of the principle of life and motion. The third sephirah, in polarity with chokmah, closing out the first trinity, is binah, understanding. This is the shared substrate of all existence. The undifferentiated primordial matter, undefined and with unlimited potential forms. Thus closes out the supernal trinity, existing only as an ideal, prior to actual, non-infinite existence. Chesed, loving-kindness, is the first non-infinite expression. Perhaps reflecting this transition, it represents the principle of openness, spreading forth, increasing, giving. Geburah, strength, in polarity with chesed, represents restriction, limitation, cutting off, ending. Tiphareth, beauty or harmony, unifying the above polarity, and being in the center point of the whole structure. It is the inherent self-existence which remains constant, allowing for all differentiation in experience to occur. That which is changeless amidst change. The unmoving core of being, resulting as a constant 'is-ness' throughout the interplay of the various dialectics. The next sephirah, heading the next trinity, is netzach, victory. This is desire, feeling, imagery. Due to the inherent balance and stability established through the previous sephirah, these things become the focus. Desires, preferences, feelings, fantasies. The polarity here, is with hod, splendour. This represents analysis, categorization, and labeling. As the potential for real individualized existence opens up with this polarity, yesod, foundation, is the harmonizing sephirah. This is subconscious processes like the beating of the heart, instinct, and natural drives. Closing out the Tree, the final sephirah, is Malkuth, the Kingdom. This represents objective, material existence. To give more detail, and perhaps help elucidate more meaning, this tree can also be represented by the hebrew God-name YHWH. The uppermost point of yud is kether, its extension is chokmah. Yud is the father. The first heh, the mother, is binah. The vav, the son, is the next 6 sephiroth. Interestingly, the letter vav has a numerical value of 6. Also note that Tiphareth is the 6th Sephirah, thus the quintessence of vav. The final heh, the bride, is Malkuth. Also interestingly, if you write out YHWH vertically, with the hebrew letters, the form represents the human body. Note that there is a resonance between the two heh's, and between the yud and the vav. Notice, in terms of form, how vav is an extended form of yud. So, I've attempted to expound on some of the meaning of the sephiroth and the tree of life. But, keep in mind this is a spiritual glyph. It is a foundation which meaningful spiritual insight can be gained through, by uncovering the implied and necessary meanings which will be found as one contemplates and deduces based on this image and its structure.