The Kabbalah Tree of Life (Etz Chaim) is a symbolic diagram from the Jewish mystical tradition consisting of ten Sephirot (divine emanations) connected by twenty-two paths, used as a map of creation, consciousness, and spiritual ascent. This free PDF study guide covers each Sephirah and path with Hebrew letter correspondences, planetary associations, and Tarot connections.
Prefer a sephirah-by-sephirah chart? See our free printable Tree of Life chart · all 10 Sephirot with Hebrew names, pillars, and Tarot and planetary correspondences at a glance.
The Tree of Life is one of the oldest and most complete maps of human consciousness ever devised. Ten Sephirot, twenty-two connecting paths, three pillars, four worlds. It charts the descent of divine energy into matter and the soul's ascent back toward wholeness.
These path notes were compiled as a study companion for students working with the Tree of Life. They cover each of the ten Sephirot and the twenty-two paths that connect them, including Hebrew letter correspondences, planetary associations, and Tarot connections. Whether you are encountering the Tree for the first time or returning to deepen your understanding, this reference is designed to sit beside your study materials and give you a reliable foundation.
What's Inside the Path Notes
The PDF covers three core areas of Tree of Life study:
The Ten Sephirot
Each of the ten divine emanations, from Malkuth (the Kingdom, our physical reality) to Kether (the Crown, union with the infinite). For each Sephirah: its Hebrew name, English translation, position on the Tree, associated divine name, archangel, planet, and psychological quality.
The Twenty-Two Paths
Each path connecting two Sephirot, numbered 11 through 32. The paths are the subjective experiences of moving between states of consciousness. For each path: the Hebrew letter, its meaning and numerical value, the corresponding Major Arcana card, and the astrological or elemental attribution.
The Three Pillars & Four Worlds
The vertical structure of the Tree (the Pillar of Mercy, the Pillar of Severity, and the Pillar of Equilibrium) and the four levels at which the entire Tree operates simultaneously: Atziluth (Emanation), Briah (Creation), Yetzirah (Formation), and Assiah (Action).
Enter your email and we'll send the complete Path Notes PDF straight to your inbox, covering all 10 Sephirot, 22 Paths, Hebrew letters, and Tarot correspondences.
Get the Free Path Notes (PDF)Your PDF arrives in minutes. We respect your privacy.
How to Use These Notes
These path notes work best as a reference, not a starting point. The Tree of Life is an experiential system. Reading about Tiferet (Beauty, the heart centre of the Tree) is one thing. Sitting with the concept, noticing how the tension between mercy and severity plays out in your own decisions, feeling the balance point, that is something else entirely.
If You Are New to Kabbalah
Begin with the Sephirot, starting from Malkuth and working upward. Read the entry for each Sephirah, then spend a few days noticing where that quality appears in your daily life. Malkuth is the physical world: your body, your surroundings, the sensory reality you inhabit right now. Yesod is the foundation: your dreams, your subconscious patterns, the stories running beneath the surface. Work slowly. The Tree does not reward rushing.
If You Have Some Background
Use the path notes as a cross-reference while studying the paths. Each path connects two Sephirot and represents a specific transition in consciousness. The Hebrew letter is the key. Pay attention to its shape, its meaning, and its numerical value. These are not arbitrary assignments. In the Kabbalistic tradition, the Hebrew letters are the building blocks of creation itself.
If You Are Studying Tarot and Kabbalah Together
The twenty-two paths correspond to the twenty-two Major Arcana. The path notes include these correspondences. When you draw The High Priestess, you are encountering Path 13, the longest single path on the Tree, connecting Tiferet (the heart) directly to Kether (the crown). That context changes the reading entirely.
The Tree of Life in Western Tradition
Kabbalah (Hebrew for "that which is received") originated within Jewish mysticism, with roots stretching back more than two thousand years. The path notes and the courses listed below work within the Western Qabalah tradition, which emerged when Renaissance scholars, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and later teachers like Dion Fortune integrated the Tree of Life with Tarot, astrology, and depth psychology.
This tradition treats the Tree of Life as a psychological and spiritual map for modern seekers. It respects the Jewish roots of Kabbalah while making the Tree accessible to students of all backgrounds. Evelynne Joffe, who teaches the Tree of Life courses at Global Spiritual Studies, has spent more than thirty years working within this framework, drawing on her training in Jungian psychology, esoteric studies, and the Sefer Yetzirah.
Go Deeper: Tree of Life Courses
Eight recorded classes walking through all ten Sephirot from Malkuth to Kether. Mythology, psychology, and daily practice woven together. The foundation course for serious Tree of Life study.
Twenty classes covering all twenty-two paths. Hebrew letters, Tarot correspondences, Sefer Yetzirah texts, and practical guidance for each path. The most comprehensive path study available online.
A single master class reversing the conventional Fool's Journey. The soul ascends the Tree from the World to the Fool. Joffe's distinctive "Hanged Man perspective" on the Major Arcana.
Three traditions woven into one course by the former head of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. Where the Celtic and Kabbalistic trees overlap, and how Tarot bridges them.
A focused exploration of the Devil card through the lens of Kabbalah, examining Path 26 on the Tree (Hod to Tiferet). Why the Kabbalistic tradition says the devil does not exist, and what the card actually represents.
The path notes give you the map. Evelynne Joffe's courses give you the experience of walking the paths yourself, from Malkuth to Kether, with thirty years of teaching to guide you.
Explore Kabbalah CoursesThe Complete Tree of Life
For the deepest dive, Evelynne Joffe's twenty-nine class study of the path notes you have just downloaded. Sixty-seven downloadable PDFs (transcripts, study guides, workbooks, reference cards, glossaries, and self-assessment quizzes), three private course-group forums, three certificates of completion, and lifetime access.
See the Complete Tree of Life Bundle →Sources & Tradition
The correspondences in these notes follow the classic sources of the Tree of Life · the Sefer Yetzirah (Book of Formation), the Zohar, the Sephirotic and path attributions codified by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and Dion Fortune’s The Mystical Qabalah (1935). The practice-based reading of the Tree reflects Evelynne Joffe’s Living the Tree of Life courses taught at Global Spiritual Studies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Kabbalah Tree of Life represent?
The Tree of Life is a diagram of ten divine emanations (Sephirot) connected by twenty-two paths. It maps the flow of energy from the infinite into the physical world, and simultaneously charts the soul's journey back toward wholeness. In the Western tradition, it serves as a framework for psychological self-knowledge, meditation, and understanding the Tarot.
How are Kabbalah and Tarot connected?
The twenty-two paths on the Tree of Life correspond to the twenty-two Major Arcana cards. Each path is also assigned a Hebrew letter. This system of correspondences, developed primarily by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in the late nineteenth century, means that every Major Arcana card carries a specific position and meaning within the Kabbalistic framework.
Do I need to be Jewish to study Kabbalah?
The courses and materials at Global Spiritual Studies work within the Western Qabalah tradition, which is open to students of all backgrounds. This tradition respects Kabbalah's Jewish roots while approaching the Tree of Life as a universal map of consciousness. You do not need any religious affiliation to study.
What is the difference between Kabbalah, Cabala, and Qabalah?
The three spellings reflect different traditions. Kabbalah (with a K) refers to the original Jewish mystical tradition. Cabala (with a C) refers to the Christian adaptation that emerged during the Renaissance. Qabalah (with a Q) refers to the Western Hermetic tradition that integrates the Tree of Life with Tarot, astrology, and ceremonial magic. GSS primarily teaches within the Qabalah tradition.
What are the Sephirot?
The Sephirot (singular: Sephirah) are the ten divine attributes or emanations arranged on the Tree of Life. They range from Kether (the Crown, representing unity with the infinite) at the top to Malkuth (the Kingdom, representing physical reality) at the bottom. Each Sephirah has associated divine names, archangels, planets, colours, and psychological qualities.
What are the 22 paths on the Tree of Life?
The paths are the connecting lines between the ten Sephirot. Each path represents the experience of transitioning between two states of consciousness. They are numbered 11 through 32, with each assigned a Hebrew letter, a Tarot Major Arcana card, and an astrological or elemental correspondence.
