The Divine Emanations
The Ten Sefirot (singular: Sefirah, Hebrew: ספירות) are the ten attributes or emanations through which Ein Sof (the Infinite, Limitless One) reveals itself and continuously creates both the physical realm and the chain of higher metaphysical realms.
They form the Tree of Life (Etz Chaim), a map of divine consciousness and the structure of reality itself. Each Sefirah represents a different aspect of God's nature and creative power, and together they form a complete system for understanding the flow of divine energy from the infinite to the finite.
The Three Pillars
The Sefirot are arranged in three vertical pillars representing different modes of divine energy:
Left Pillar (Severity)
Feminine, Restrictive, Din (Judgment)
Represents divine judgment, boundaries, and limitation.
Middle Pillar (Balance)
Harmonizing, Central Column of Consciousness
Represents divine balance, harmony, and integration.
Right Pillar (Mercy)
Masculine, Expansive, Chesed (Mercy)
Represents divine mercy, expansion, and giving.
The 10 Sefirot in Descending Order
From the highest (most concealed) to the lowest (most revealed), the divine light flows through these ten emanations:
2. 🔵 Chokmah
Wisdom
The flash of insight, pure intuition, the masculine creative force
7. 🟢 Netzach
Victory/Eternity
Endurance, ambition, active engagement with the world
8. 🟠 Hod
Splendor/Glory
Intellect, order, form, receptive analysis
9. 🟣 Yesod
Foundation
The connecting link, sexual energy, dreams, the astral realm
The Lightning Flash (Path of Creation)
The Lightning Flash or Flaming Sword represents the path of divine energy descending from Keter to Malkhut in a zigzag pattern:
Keter → Chokmah → Binah → Chesed → Gevurah → Tiferet → Netzach → Hod → Yesod → Malkhut
This path shows how divine will descends through wisdom, understanding, mercy, judgment, beauty, endurance, intellect, foundation, and finally manifests in physical reality.
The Serpent's Path (Path of Ascension)
The upward path of spiritual ascent reverses this flow, as the initiate climbs from material reality (Malkhut) back to divine unity (Keter). This is the path of return, tikkun (repair), and mystical enlightenment.
See The Kabbalistic Spiritual Path for the complete 6-stage journey of ascension.