Climbing the Tree of Life: A Manual of Practical Magickal Qabalah

CLIMBING THE TREE OF LIFE: A Manual of Practical Magickal Qabalah
[Second Edition, Revised & Expanded, 2022]
By David Rankine

Qabalah is a dynamic system of esoteric philosophy that explores the nature of divinity, the universe, the human soul, creation, the function of life and a whole range of other philosophical and metaphysical subjects. Qabalah offers a challenge to anyone who chooses to practice it, for it presents a path to the infinite, which unfolds conditioning and challenges views, whilst at the same time reinforcing all of the best qualities in the student.

The success of Qabalah is demonstrated by the effectiveness of its practices, and the way that it has come to permeate so much of modern magical practice.  It provides a panoramic worldview and one can practice Qabalah with or without including ritual practice in your life. As with all other aspects of Qabalah, the choice of how you climb the Tree of Life is up to you.

Subjects covered in this comprehensive volume include:

• The history and development of Qabalah
• The Tree of Life: The Four Worlds, Sephiroth, Three Pillars, Triads and Seven Palaces
• The Veils on the Tree of Life The Lightning Flash, TzimTzum, Tetragrammaton, Adam Kadmon and Qliphoth
• The Shekinah and the Divine Feminine in Qabalah The Human Soul, Reincarnation and Guardian Angels
• Practical methods for working with the Tree of Life, the Gods, Archangels and the Planets Colour and Number Correspondences
• The Sephiroth, their symbols, temples and more. Ritual Techniques such as Pathworking, The Vibratory Formula, Divine Names, Fragrance, Magical Images, Assumption of Deity, The Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, License to Remain, Middle Pillar, Lightning Flash Affirmation, and how to structure Qabalistic Ritual.
• Talismans, including Kameas, Sigilisation, AIQ Beker and Planetary Timing.

Also included: additional ideas for Qabalistic practices, including The Tree of Life Tarot Spread, further invocations and meditations, Permutation meditation on the Divine Name and using the Qabalah in daily life.

Table of Contents:

PART I:  HISTORY & DEFINITIONS
1 A Brief History of Qabalah.. 18
2 Otz Chiim: The Tree of Life.. 25
3 Terms used in Practicing Qabalah.. 27

PART II:  DIVIDING THE TREE OF LIFE
4 The Four Worlds. 30
5 The Sephiroth in the Worlds. 35
6 The Three Pillars on the Tree.. 39
7 The Triads on the Tree.. 44
8 The Seven Palaces. 49

PART III:  THE VEILS OF THE TREE
9 The Veils of Negativity.. 54
10 The Veils dividing the Tree.. 61
11 Other Important Relationships. 64

PART IV:  IMPORTANT CONCEPTS
12 The Lightning Flash.. 68
13 The Serpent.. 71
14 Tzim-Tzum… 73
15 The Unpronounceable Name of God.. 76
16 The Shekinah.. 83
17 Adam Kadmon.. 88
18 The Qliphoth.. 92

PART V:  MAN AND THE QABALAH
19 The Human Soul on the Tree.. 98
20 Reincarnation and Qabalah.. 104
21 The Guardian Angel.. 106

PART VI:  EXPANDING PERCEPTIONS
22 Working with the Tree of Life.. 110
23 Qabalah and the Gods. 111
24 The Archangels. 113
25 The Planets. 115

PART VII:  COLOURS & NUMBERS
26 The Colour Scales. 120
27 The Magic of Numbers. 125

PART VIII:  THE SEPHIROTH
28 The Sephiroth.. 128
29 MALKUTH (MLKVTh) – Kingdom… 135
30 YESOD (ISVD) – Foundation.. 157
31 HOD (HVD) – Splendour.. 173
32 NETZACH (NTzCh) – Victory.. 189
33 TIPHERETH (ThPhARTh) – Beauty.. 203
34 GEBURAH (GBVRH) – Strength.. 222
35 CHESED (ChSD) – Mercy.. 235
36 DAATH (DaaTh) – Knowledge.. 249
37 BINAH (BINH) – Understanding.. 258
38 CHOKMAH (ChKMH) – Wisdom… 270
39 KETHER (KThR) – The Crown.. 280

PART IX:  RITUAL TECHNIQUES
40 Pathworking.. 298
41 Vibratory Formula & Divine Names. 301
42 Fragrance.. 304
43 Magical Images & Assumption of Deity.. 315
44 Magic of the Hands. 316
45 The Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram… 318
46 License to Remain.. 326
47 The Middle Pillar Exercise.. 327
48 The Lightning Flash Affirmation.. 331
49 The Structure of Qabalistic Ritual.. 334

PART X:  QABALAH & TALISMANS
50 Kameas & Sigilisation.. 338
51 Aiq Beker.. 340
52 Planetary Hours and Timing.. 343
53 Consecration of Talismans. 348

PART XI:  FURTHER IDEAS
54 Tree of Life Tarot Spread.. 352
55 Further Invocations & Meditations. 356
56 Permutation Meditation on the Divine Name.. 360
57 Qabalah in Daily Life.. 363

APPENDICES. 369
Bibliography.. 374
Index.. 380