The Tree of Life Explained: Sephiroth, Paths & Worlds Explained

Magic is the art of changing consciousness at will – Dion Fortune

World: Assiah

Hebrew Name: מַלְכוּת (Malḵūṯ)

Sephiroth Number: 10

Divine Name: Adonai Melekh (“Lord who is King”) and Adonai ha‑Aretz (“Lord of the Earth”)

Malkuth (Kingdom)

Malkuth is the tenth sephirah—“Kingdom”—representing the physical world and the culmination of divine energy into material existence. It is the receptive sphere where spiritual energy manifests in tangible form. As the sephirah of Assiah, it corresponds to the densest of the Four Worlds in Kabbalah and functions as the gateway between the divine and the mundane.

Path: Connected to Yesod directly above it. Also relates to the overall circuit from Kether
World: Assiah

Hebrew Name: יְסוֹד (Yesod)

Sephiroth Number: 9

Divine Name: Shaddai el Chai

Yesod (Foundation)

Yesod is the ninth sephirah, the Foundation that funnels and transmits divine energy into the material world. It balances and collects energies from above (Hod, Netzach, Tiphereth) and channels them onward into Malkuth, serving as the "engine room" of creation.

Path: Receives from Netzach (Victory) and Hod (Splendor), from Tiphereth (Beauty), and channels into Malkuth—the final sphere of manifestation.
World: Yetzirah

Hebrew Name: נצח (Netzach)

Sephiroth Number: 8

Divine Name: YHVH Tzivaot

Netzach (Victory)

Netzach is the seventh sephirah—Victory—embodying the power of endurance, motivation, and eternal persistence. Positioned on the right pillar, it represents the active drive to manifest spiritual inspiration through passion-filled action.

Path: Netzach receives influence from Tiphereth (beauty) and channels energy toward Yesod (foundation), balanced by Hod opposite.
World: Assiah

Hebrew Name: הוֹד

Sephiroth Number: 8

Divine Name: Elohim Tzabaoth

Hod (Splendor)

Hod is the eighth sephirah—“Glory”—embodying intellect, communication, and structure. It balances the emotional force of Netzach with analytical clarity and disciplined thought.

Path: Balances Netzach (opposite) and channels into Yesod. Receives energy from Gevurah and Tiphereth above.
World: Briah

Hebrew Name: תִּפְאֶרֶת

Sephiroth Number: 6

Divine Name: YHVH Eloah ve-Daath

Tiphereth (Beauty)

Tiphereth is the sixth sephirah—“Beauty”—and stands at the center of the Tree of Life. It harmonizes opposing forces and radiates balance, compassion, and the integrative power of the divine.

Path: Connects upward to Keter, Chokmah, and Binah through Daath; downward to Yesod; and laterally to Chesed (Mercy) and Gevurah (Severity).
World: Atziluth

Hebrew Name: חֶסֶד

Sephiroth Number: 4

Divine Name: El

Chesed (Mercy)

Chesed is the fourth sephirah—“Mercy”—embodying benevolence, expansive love, and divine kindness. It is the force of generosity that flows outward from the divine.

Path: Receives energy from Chokmah above; balanced laterally with Gevurah; flows downward into Tiphereth.
World: Beriah

Hebrew Name: גְּבוּרָה

Sephiroth Number: 5

Divine Name: Elohim Gibor

Gevurah (Strength, Severity)

Gevurah is the fifth sephirah—“Strength”—embodying divine justice, discipline, and the necessary power of limitation. It balances Chesed’s expansive mercy with restraint and judgment.

Path: Receives energy from Binah above; balanced laterally with Chesed; flows downward into Tiphereth.
World: Atziluth

Hebrew Name: חָכְמָה

Sephiroth Number: 2

Divine Name: Yah (יה)

Chokmah (Wisdom)

Chokmah is the second sephirah—“Wisdom”—the primordial masculine force of creation, representing pure dynamic energy before form. It is the counterpart to Binah, which shapes and gives structure.

Path: Receives directly from Keter; works in polarity with Binah; flows downward into Chesed.
World: Beriah

Hebrew Name: בִּינָה

Sephiroth Number: 3

Divine Name: Yahweh Elohim

Binah (Understanding)

Binah is the third sephirah—“Understanding”—the Great Mother who receives the dynamic energy of Chokmah and gives it form, structure, and meaning.

Path: Receives energy from Keter above; paired with Chokmah; flows downward into Gevurah.
World: Atziluth

Hebrew Name: כֶּתֶר

Sephiroth Number: 1

Divine Name: Eheieh

Kether (Crown)

Keter is the first sephirah—“Crown”—the source of all creation, pure divine will and the root of emanation.

Path: Source of emanation into Chokmah and Binah.

The Tree of Life: Everything You Need To Know

What is the Tree of Life?

The Tree of Life is the central diagram of Kabbalah, representing the process by which the divine manifests into the cosmos and into human existence.

It is composed of ten sefirot (emanations or attributes) and the interconnecting paths between them.

Each sefirah embodies a specific principle—such as Wisdom, Understanding, Beauty, or Strength—through which divine energy flows. Together, they form a map of creation, consciousness, and spiritual ascent.

In Jewish mysticism, the Tree is both a symbolic and metaphysical structure, used to understand the nature of God, the universe, and the soul’s journey.

In Western esotericism, the Tree of Life has been integrated into Hermeticism, magic, and the Tarot, where it is often studied as a model of spiritual psychology and initiation.

Where is the Tree of Life?

The Tree of Life is not a physical object located in space. Instead, it is a symbolic and metaphysical diagram.

In Kabbalistic tradition, it exists as a spiritual framework of creation—present in every level of reality, from the highest divine realms to the physical world.

In mystical practice, the Tree can be visualized within oneself as a map of the soul, with each sefirah corresponding to aspects of mind, body, and spirit.

In esotericism, the Tree is often studied as a universal archetype—appearing in Jewish mysticism, Hermetic Qabalah, and comparative philosophy.

Thus, the Tree is “everywhere” in the sense that it represents the structure underlying existence, and “within” as a guide to inner spiritual development.

What Are Paths on the Tree of Life?

The paths are the 22 connecting lines between the ten sefirot.

They represent channels through which divine energy flows and transitions are made from one principle to another.

Numerical Basis: The number 22 corresponds to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, each letter embodying a unique vibration of creation.

Esoteric Correspondence: In Hermetic Qabalah, these paths are often associated with the 22
Major Arcana of the Tarot.

Mystical Function: The paths represent the dynamic movement of consciousness. They are the “steps” by which one travels through the Tree, both in meditative ascent toward the divine and in the descent of energy from the infinite into the material.

In spiritual practice, the paths are used in meditation, ritual, and visionary journeying as the routes by which the initiate navigates the Tree of Life.