Esowiki - Spiritual Terms Simply Explained

Sefiroth

Kabalah
Sefiroth

The Sefirot (also spelled Sephirot or Sefiroth) refers to the ten attributes or emanations through which the Divine, or God, is understood to manifest and interact with the world in Kabbalistic Jewish mysticism. The Sefirot are a central part of the Kabbalistic understanding of creation and the relationship between God and the world.

The ten Sefirot are organized into three columns, and they represent different aspects of divine energy and cosmic structure. These Sefirot are often depicted in the form of a tree, called the Tree of Life, where each Sefirot is connected to the others in a particular way, forming a network of spiritual connections.

The ten Sefirot are:

  1. Keter (Crown) – Represents the divine will or consciousness. It is the highest, most abstract level of divine energy.

  2. Chochmah (Wisdom) – The source of intuitive, creative thought. It represents pure wisdom or the initial spark of creation.

  3. Binah (Understanding) – Represents the ability to process and analyze. It brings structure to the raw energy of Chochmah.

  4. Chesed (Kindness or Mercy) – The expansive, benevolent energy of the universe. It represents love and generosity.

  5. Gevurah (Severity or Judgment) – Represents limitation, discipline, and restraint. It balances Chesed with structure and form.

  6. Tiferet (Beauty or Harmony) – The balance between Chesed and Gevurah. It represents compassion and the integration of mercy and judgment.

  7. Netzach (Eternity or Victory) – Represents endurance, ambition, and the drive to overcome obstacles.

  8. Hod (Glory or Splendor) – Represents humility, submission, and communication. It is the counterpart to Netzach, focusing on intellect and reflection.

  9. Yesod (Foundation) – Represents the channel through which divine energy flows into the physical world. It is the foundation of creation.

  10. Malkhut (Sovereignty or Kingdom) – The manifestation of divine energy into the material world. It is the receptive aspect that reflects all other Sefirot and connects them to the physical world.

These Sefirot are often thought to be interrelated, and through their interaction, the spiritual and material realms are understood to be linked. They also represent the process of creation, from the divine source down to the physical universe.