The Qabalah's Tree of Life in plain language

I spent a long time dabbling in Eastern mysticism, but often felt adrift without a clear structure to guide my studies. When I first encountered the Qabalah years ago, the sheer amount of material to memorize put me off. Recently though, I felt a strong pull to explore it again, and this time, its framework resonated deeply, giving me the structure I had been missing.

Using it as a working map rather than a belief system, it became surprisingly resonant and useful. Something I could apply to dreams, decisions, and daily practice. As I'm planning to discuss it a lot from now on, here is a primer for the uninitiated, I've included an image loosely relating it to the 8 Circuit Model of Consciousness and the Chakras if you're familiar with any of those already. This post will not explain enough as that's a bit hard to do with the Qabalah, but that’s the point. It’s meant to open a door, to spark a mystery or a journey of your own. 

The ten spheres

1. Keter - Crown

Represents pure being, the origin point before form. In practice, it’s the seed of intention and the sense of connection to the highest source.

2. Chokhmah - Wisdom

Symbolizes raw, unshaped inspiration. It’s the flash of insight or instinct before words, structure, or judgment enter.

3. Binah - Understanding

Gives form and limits to inspiration, turning insight into something coherent. It’s also the principle of integration - bringing ideas and elements together into a stable whole.

4. Chesed - Mercy

Represents expansion, abundance, and generosity. In life, it’s the urge to grow, include, and bless without holding back, and it carries the quality of grace - kindness freely given.

5. Geburah - Severity

Symbolizes strength, discipline, and boundaries. It’s the principle of cutting away what doesn’t serve and protecting what matters.

6. Tiferet - Beauty

Holds harmony and integration at the center of the Tree. It’s the unifying heart that balances love, will, and truth, and it embodies the very act of balancing both sides of the Tree of Life.

7. Netzach - Victory

Represents endurance, passion, and emotional drive. It’s the principle that keeps you moving through challenges toward a goal.

8. Hod - Splendor

Relates to language, symbol systems, and intellectual clarity. It’s the realm of codes, analysis, and organizing knowledge.

9. Yesod - Foundation

Represents imagination, dreams, and the subconscious patterns that shape reality. It’s the bridge between inner vision and outer manifestation.

10. Malkuth - Kingdom

Relates to the material world and physical embodiment. It’s the sphere of tangible results, action, and lived reality.

How to use this map

• For decisions: Notice where you are, then name what balances it. If you’re stuck in analysis (Hod), take one embodied step (Malkuth) or return to heart-integration (Tiferet).
• For creativity: Let an idea spark (Chokhmah), give it a container (Binah), then choose one next action (Malkuth).
• For boundaries: If you’re overextending (Chesed), restore a clear no (Geburah) that protects the heart (Tiferet).
• For communication: Shape the message (Hod), then sustain momentum over time (Netzach).

The Tarot connection

The spheres aren’t isolated—they’re linked by the 22 paths of the Tree, each corresponding to a card from the Major Arcana of the Tarot. These paths describe the journeys between states of being, such as the move from inspiration to structure, or from discipline to compassion. Studying these card-paths can make the Tree feel alive, turning it from a static diagram into a moving map of personal transformation.

Why dream work belongs here

Yesod is the natural home of dreams. It gathers impressions and symbols, then offers them up for understanding and integration. A simple practice is to place each dream scene where it seems to belong—heart-healing in Tiferet, boundary lessons in Geburah, repetitive work stress in Hod—so interpretation becomes structured instead of overwhelming.

A one-minute check-in

1. Name the sphere you’re living in today.

2. Name the balancing sphere you’ve ;maybe neglected.

3. Choose one small action that moves you toward coherence.

What comes next

This is only the frame. In future posts, we’ll look at how to work with it in practice and the concepts that shape it. For now, try the one-minute check-in for a few days and note what shifts.