10 Sephirot

Cabalistic Tree of Life

Tree of Life is the central symbol of Cabala. Here is a 1653 copy from A. Kircher, Oedipus Aegyptiacus (Rome). Vertices represent the 10 Sephirot (divine manifestations). (According to Zohar the world was created in ten words). The 22 edges -- (corresponding to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet) are channels through which the divine powers are transmitted. The diagram has many mystic connotations, but principally it represents the body of the universe or the plan of creation.

Note the plausible --- and often pointed out source --- is the Pythagorean Tetractys with its ten divine elements.

The harmonic evolution digraph is

      Tree = T4

      Loops = L1 + 9 L7

Comment: The cabalist should be truly delighted by this feature. Although the structure of the Sephirot Tree seems to neglect the mystic number seven, yet the harmonic game reveals its hidden presence! Even more --- the tree part is a pure binary tree with 4 levels that may viewed as the Pythagorean tetractys with its 4 levels!

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