The Tree of Life

• Each is an "Archetypal Representation" at one or more levels.
• Each is composed of Spheres and pathways of energy connecting the Spheres
• Each has three columns of Spheres. (Left-Yin)(Central-Core)(Right-Yang)

http://mytapestry.crosswinds.net/tree_of_life.html

The word 'Qabala' finds its root in the Hebrew word 'Qibel' meaning 'to receive by oral tradition'. 

This receiving refers to an oral tradition of esoteric or secret knowledge concerning 'essentially' the mysteries of Nature, and more overtly, the hidden teachings concerning the Hebrew Torah. The Torah is, of course, the first five books of what Christians call the Old Testament, and the oldest surviving of the Judaic liturgical texts. 

The Kabala is an ancient Hebrew mystical system of thought. It is a symbolic representation of the path the Divine followed in the creation of the universe, including man. It is, by definition, humanity's process of returning to divinity along the same path. 

Kabbala, also spelled KABALA, KABBALAH, CABALA, CABBALA, OR CABBALAH, is an esoteric Jewish mysticism as it appeared in the 12th and following centuries. Kabbala has always been essentially an oral tradition in that initiation into its doctrines and practices is conducted by a personal guide to avoid the dangers inherent in mystical experiences. 

Esoteric Kabbala is also "tradition" inasmuch as it lays claim to secret knowledge of the unwritten Torah (divine revelation) that was communicated by God to Moses and Adam. Though observance of the Law of Moses remained the basic tenet of Judaism, Kabbala provided a means of approaching God directly.(The quote above, the three color pictures and the explanation of the Ten Spheres below from http://www.crystalinks.com/kabala.html  --you can visit their site by clicking on this link and read more and see the images much larger)
 

Sphere 1: KETER ....CROWN, GOD, INFINITE LIGHT & WISDOM, TOTAL & SUPREME CONSCIOUSNESS  Sphere 2: (HOKHMAK or CHOHMAN)...MALE YANG ENERGIES, PURE ENERGY, SPIRITUAL FORCE, COSMIC FATHER  Sphere 3: BINAH...YIN ENERGY, COMPASSION, PURE LOVE & UNDERSTANDING, THE COSMIC MOTHER  Sphere 4: (HESED or CHESED)...THE RULER, MAJESTY, POWER & AUTHORITY, CONSOLIDATOR OF THINGS  Sphere 5: (GEVURAH or GEBURAH)...THE WARRIOR, SPSERER OF MARS, STRENGTH, JUSTICE, PHYSICAL POWER  Sphere 6: (TIF'ERET or TIPERETH)...THE SUN, HARMONY, BEAUTY, PERFECTION, UNITY, CREATION Sphere 7: (NEZAH or NEDZACH)...THE LOVER, VENUS, ART, CREATIVITY INSPIRATION & EROTIC SPIRITUALITY  Sphere 8: HOD...THE INTELLECT, MERCURY, COMMUNICATION  Sphere 9: YESOD...THE MOON, VISION & DEEP MEMORY, THE CYCLES IN & AROUND US, ILLUSION Sphere10: (SHEKHINAH or MALKUTH)...PHYSICAL REALITY, DEATH, PAIN, HEALING

If you would like to read about the Kamitic Tree of Life you can use the following link.
http://www.theafrican.com/Magazine/Cosmo.htm
 
 

The Tree of Life is a symbolic diagram, which has been used by Kabbalists (Judaism's most ancient mystical sect) for several thousand years. It explains how energy flows down from God into the world.............. The ten sefirot are arranged in a way that divides them into seven levels. Each of these levels corresponds perfectly with those of the chakra and sacrament systems, and represents a quality of power that is essential for us to develop in order to maintain a healthy body - both physically and spiritually.

The Tree of Life Symbol has many levels of meaning. It has meaning as a two dimensional as well as three dimensional Symbol.