Glossary - exWitch Australia (formerly 'Born Again Pagan')

TREE OF LIFE

The Kabbalistic 'Tree of Life'

In the Kabbalah, the Sepher Yetzira proclaims the 'ineffable Sephiroth' to be ten in number, with each of them in control of a section of the cosmos.

They are envisaged as forming a cosmic Tree of Life, symbolic of the essential unity of the whole universe and of its patterns of interaction. Nine of the ten Sephiroth are set in triangles formed of two opposing and one harmonising force. On the left are the female and 'negative' forces, Binah (understanding), Geburah (power), Hod (majesty); on the left the male and 'positive' forces, Hokmah (wisdom), Hesed (love), Netsah (endurance); in the centre are the ambivalent forces, Kether (supreme crown), Tiphereth (beauty) and Yesod (foundation).

Not direcrly linked to these triangular harmonisations is the tenth force, Malkuth (kingdom). The Tree is sometimes depicted in the form of a male human body to indicate the micro/macro aspects of the universe.

Kether stands for the Prime Mover, creation. Hokmah is the active principle that drives the cosmos. Binah is the passive principle, the understanding of God. Hesed is fatherly love and authority. Geburah is severe and harsh. Tiphereth is the Sun, the life-force. Netsah is the force of nature. Hod is the force of mental power. Yesod is the sphere of the Moon, of hidden depths. Malkuth is the principle of earth and subsumes within itself the whole divine cosmos. Its number is 10, meaning all things.

see also: KABBALAH

PLEASE NOTE:
One of the major problems with 'defining' Paganism and/or its beliefs and practices is that it is an 'organic' movement, in that it is undergoing constant change and re-evaluation from within, and as such any 'one-size-fits-all' approach to understanding Paganism will be found wanting.

Due to the very 'organic' nature of Paganism, and the many differing Paths and Traditions within it, in many cases no one definition may be universally accepted by all Pagans. Therefore, where such cases of possible conflicting and/or contradictory meanings of certain terms occur I have endevoured to give not only the generally accepted meaning, but also any major 'variations' in belief and/or practice.

Christians who believe this difference in meaning of certain key terms, beliefs and practices to be unique to Paganism need to remember that such conflicts also arise within the Body of Christ - the Church. Take for instance the differing practices amongst Christians concerning Baptism and the different attitudes towards women in the clergy.

- Jean-Luc