Why the Kabbalah Tree of Life Isn't Working for You (And How to Fix It)
As a spiritual seeker trying to find your own path to Divine connection, you may have come across the Tree of Life before. It’s present in different forms in every spiritual and religious tradition - and all of those have roots in Kabbalah. (Stay tuned for my book for a thorough examination of this.)
If you’ve come across the Tree of Life before, even presented by other Kabbalists, the approach has probably looked something like this:
Tree with pathways: static, unmoving, and as unknowable as the Higher Power Divine you’re trying to connect with
You: work and work to move along the pathways, likely through meditation, journeying, or similar practices and that’s the only way to do it
You again: walk away maybe feeling a little better in the short-term, but without seeing any significant changes in the way you connect with the Divine, your inner Divinity (your G-dself), or feel supported by the Universe
After such a disheartening and dissatisfying experience, it’s understandable that you might think this whole Tree of Life thing is pretty unhelpful. And yet, some part of you still feels drawn to it.
Maybe you recognize some of these experiences:
That sinking feeling when another meditation or pathworking session ends and you think "I must be doing something wrong"
Wondering if you're spiritually broken because the Tree of Life seems to work for everyone else but you
Feeling like you need a PhD in ancient mysticism just to understand where to start
Getting excited about a new Kabbalistic practice, only to abandon it weeks later when it doesn't create the transformation you were promised
That frustrating cycle of: learn the structure → try the prescribed meditations → feel temporarily inspired → return to the same old spiritual disconnection
Looking at diagrams of sefirot and pathways thinking "This should be profound, so why does it feel so... empty?"
Secretly wondering if all those people posting about their "amazing Tree of Life breakthroughs" are just better at spiritual performance than you are
If you're nodding along to any of these, know that the problem isn't you, and it's not the Tree of Life itself.
Thank you for honoring your inner wisdom’s whisper and being open to finding a new way of working with The Tree.
If your experience with the Tree so far has left you feeling as lost and confused as you were before, you’re not alone! Countless people have gone down this road and walked away feeling like it didn’t really help. Including me!
Here’s the thing… The usual approach is actually kind of backwards! The Tree of Life is actually a process! It’s not static, not a structure through which you have to move.
The Kabbalah Tree of Life is the process by which you come home to your inner Divinity and the Higher Power.
Maybe that’s got you scratching your head a bit, so let me explain further.
Kabbalah Tree of Life Structure
You’ve probably seen something like this before.
The Sefirot
The circles, called sefirot, are usually thought of as “goals.” We’re meant to move to each one of them in a specific order through some type of meditation-y practice and magically arrive at a balanced state in the center.
Keter: all and nothing, the beginning, locus of pure compassion
Chokhmah: "wisdom,” first flash of intellect/creative spark
Binah: "contemplation" depth of thought that absorbs the first spark and shapes and refines it
Da'at: wisdom and understanding coalesce into knowledge
Chesed: Grace, Love of G-d, love for each and every Being
Gevurah: judgement/justice of G-d, boundaries on love/bastion of G-d's power - controls the flow in accordance with needs, abilities, and desires of receiver
Tiferet: "splendor" when Hesed and Gevurah are balanced, also called "truth
Netzach: "triumph" celebrates victory, believes we can triumph over all challenges, seeks to remake the world and render everything perfect, great force for good that inspires us to right the world's wrongs,
Hod: admission that we cannot change the world alone, acknowledgment that we have to accept the world as it is and ourselves as we are, gratefulness for life as it is given to us
Yesod: "righteous one" balance of Netzah and Hod, the rectifier - one who corrects the course, maturity/wisdom having been through the excess zeal of Netzah, knows how to strive/where to set limits - foundation for change, wholeness of inner peace
Malkhut: awareness of G-d in the here and now (mental and physical worlds), "kingdom"
The Worlds
The Tree is also broken down into worlds from top to bottom:
Adam Kadmon/Ain Sof: Primordial/Unmanifest potential
Atziluth: World of Emanation/Archetypes
Beriah: World of Creation/Thrones
Yetzirah: World of Formation/Angels
Assiah: World of Action/Matter
In theory, we live in “Assiah” the World of Action and Matter and everything else is “invisible” to us. Sorry, not sorry - how is this helpful as part of a spiritual growth journey?
If you’re like me, the answer is: it’s not! I got you. Stick with me just a bit longer to get through this structure bit, and I’ll show you a new, more accessible way to work with the Kabbalah Tree of Life.
The Pillars
The final bit of structure is known as the pillars:
Pillar of Severity (Left): Contraction, limitation, form, discipline
Pillar of Mercy (Right): Expansion, generosity, force, compassion
Middle Pillar: Balance, consciousness, synthesis, integration
Often, one side is thought of as male and the other as female. As a person who understands gender is not binary (in traditional Jewish thought, there are six genders, not two) and that gendered language can be misconstrued - even insulting, I’m not going there.
This is one example of how my approach differs from other Kabbalah teachers you might encounter - I prioritize accessibility and inclusivity over rigid traditional interpretations. While I deeply respect the ancient wisdom, I believe it should serve your spiritual growth, not create more barriers to connection.
Setting gender aside, the focus with the pillars is, again, being in the middle - the balance.
What’s Missing in The Tree of Life As Structure
Nowhere in this structure does it offer you any tools, guideposts, or assistance of any kind other than a proscribed order and very specific meditations. Meditation is a lovely tool for spiritual growth, but it only gets you so far.
I personally spent years trying different gurus’ sets of meditations and ways of “pathworking” and walked away from each one feeling like it didn’t quite hit the mark. It got to the point where I felt like I must be doing it wrong. (I wasn’t…neither are you!)
I remember feeling particularly inspired after reading Ted Andrews' "Pathworking" book - I still love Ted and his work. But after that initial 'wow' factor wore off, I found myself thinking, 'This isn't working for me like I thought and hoped it would.' It was another brilliant teacher, another promising method, same hollow result.
While this “Tree as structure” approach doesn’t really work, the goal is the same as my “Tree as process” approach - to uncover and reawaken your true self (G-dself) and in doing that reawaken your connection to the Divine.
Now, let’s try switching this around so that the Kabbalah Tree of Life is a process that actually gives you what you need to reawaken your Divine Connection.
The Kabbalah Tree of Life as a Process
Instead of goals, the sefirot are guideposts or check points. They help you understand where you are and why you’re feeling stuck. For example, if you constantly feel like you’re being taken advantage of, you might be stuck at Chesed.
The worlds, rather than being invisible and unreachable are principles/attributes of the Divine. They help you understand the nature of the universe and thus your place in it. For example, if you’re working reeeeeeaalllllly hard to make something happen (and seeing results), you may be playing in the World of Formation.
Pillars are forces - internal and external - that act upon us and try to get us to behave in a certain way. When you learn to recognize these forces, you can apply the appropriate counterforce to help you find a balance that works for your soul and your current place in your spiritual growth journey.
As an example, society is constantly hitting us with messages like “be more resilient,” “you need a thicker skin,” “if you want it done right, do it yourself,” etc. Those are very left pillar messages. You can counterbalance this by reminding yourself that being a kind soul in a world that often isn’t is actually a super power, that humans are social creatures and need loving communities, and making time to nourish and nurture yourself.
With this new understanding, you now have a map in the form of the Kabbalah Tree of Life to help you navigate your spiritual growth journey. It provides checkpoints, an understanding of the nature of the universe, and insight into feelings/behaviors.
And…
Like any well-written process, you also need the appropriate tools to implement the process correctly.
Tools for Working with The Kabbalah Tree of Life
Unlike traditional approaches that assign specific tools (usually meditation) to push you through specific pathways to arrive at specific sefirot, working with the Kabbalah Tree of Life as a process recognizes that you are the navigator, and tools are your instruments. Just as a sailor chooses different instruments based on weather conditions, time of day, and destination, your spiritual navigation requires different tools at different times.
Tools serve three primary functions in the Kabbalah Tree of Life Process:
Diagnostic: Helping you identify where you are and why you might feel stuck
Navigational: Providing direction and support for movement between states of consciousness (the whole “pathways” thing…)
Integrative: Supporting balance, grounding, and the synthesis of experiences
Remember: Tools are servants, not masters. They provide information, support, and structure, but your inner wisdom ultimately guides your unique path through the Tree. You can change tools, try different ones, put them in a box to use for later, or toss them out if they’re really not working. It’s completely up to you.
For clarity, I’ve broken the tools down into four categories. Within those, each modality can be diagnostic, navigational, or integrative (or a combination of them) depending on you, your system, and how you respond to that specific tool.
Energy Work & Healing
These tools address the energetic and physical blocks that can clog your movement through the Tree. When you feel stuck, there's often an energetic component that needs attention before mental or spiritual work can be effective.
Modalities:
Reiki/Chakras - Restoring energy flow and identifying blockages in your system
EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) - Releasing specific emotional blocks that keep you cycling in limitation
Breathwork - Connecting body and spirit, moving energy, accessing non-ordinary states
HeartMath - Achieving coherence between heart, mind, and emotions for clearer navigation
Elements (Air, Water, Fire, Earth, Etc) - Understanding how your system responds to different environmental energies
Acupuncture (Traditional & 5 Element) - Aligning physical and energetic bodies for optimal flow
Sound Healing/Vibrational Therapy - Using frequency to shift stuck energy patterns
Craniosacral Therapy - Subtle bodywork for deep energetic release
Polarity Therapy - Balancing opposing energetic forces (excellent for Pillar work)
Reflexology - Accessing whole-body healing through pressure points
Aromatherapy/Essential Oils - Vibrational support through scent and plant medicine
Color Therapy - Working with light frequencies to shift consciousness
Homeopathy - Energetic healing through highly diluted essences
Examples for using as part of the Kabbalah Tree of Life Process:
When stuck in Gevurah: Use heart-opening practices like HeartMath or rose essential oil
When stuck in Hod: Try breathwork to move beyond mental loops
When energy feels scattered: Ground with earth element work or reflexology
When feeling blocked between sefirot: Use EFT to release specific fears or limitations
Guidance
These tools help you understand where you are in your process, what energies are at play, and what direction might serve your highest good. They're like having a conversation with the deeper patterns of existence and your G-dself.
Modalities:
Tarot/Oracle Cards - Insight into current position and potential paths forward
Astrology - Understanding cosmic timing and how celestial patterns affect your personal journey
Nature's Cycles - Aligning with universal timing (seasons, moon phases, daily rhythms)
Numerology - Recognizing the mathematical patterns underlying your life experiences
Gematria (Kabbalistic Numerology) - Understanding the deeper numerical relationships in your spiritual work
Sacred Geometry - Seeing the universal patterns that connect all existence
I Ching - Ancient Chinese system for understanding change and flow
Runes - Germanic symbolic system for accessing ancestral wisdom
Pendulum Dowsing - Direct access to intuitive guidance
Animal/Spirit Guides - Nature-based wisdom and power animal medicine
Dream Interpretation - Understanding messages from your subconscious
Synchronicity Recognition - Reading the meaningful coincidences that guide your path
Examples for using as part of the Kabbalah Tree of Life Process:
Feeling lost on the Tree or like you’re not even on the Tree: Use tarot or I Ching for broader perspective
Timing questions: Check astrological transits or lunar phases
Repeating patterns: Explore numerological significance or dream messages
Need for direction: Work with pendulum or synchronicity awareness
Seeking deeper meaning: Apply gematria to names, dates, or significant words
Connecting with universal patterns: Study sacred geometry relevant to your current focus
Self-Understanding Systems
These tools help you understand your unique spiritual "operating system" - how you naturally process information, what motivates you, where your gifts lie, and what challenges you're here to work with.
Modalities:
Human Design - Your energetic blueprint and strategy for navigating life
Enneagram - Core motivations, fears, and growth patterns
Myers-Briggs (MBTI) - Cognitive preferences and how you process information
Gene Keys - Life purpose, gifts, and the transformation of your shadow aspects
Detailed Astrology Birth Chart - Comprehensive map of your soul's intentions
Ayurvedic Constitution (Doshas) - Understanding your physical and mental constitution
Chinese Medicine Constitutional Types - Five Element personality assessment
Strengths Finder/Gallup - Identifying your natural talents and abilities
Spiral Dynamics - Understanding your current developmental stage
Examples for using as part of the Kabbalah Tree of Life Process:
Choosing practices: A Projector in Human Design needs different energy practices than a Generator
Understanding resistance: Your Enneagram type reveals why certain sefirot feel more challenging
Optimizing learning: Myers-Briggs helps you choose tools that match your processing style
Finding purpose: Gene Keys reveals which sefirot hold your greatest gifts and challenges
Timing development: Spiral Dynamics shows what level of complexity you're ready to integrate
Physical considerations: Ayurvedic type influences which breathwork or movement practices serve you
Practice & Integration
These tools provide ongoing support for your spiritual development, helping you integrate insights, maintain balance, and continue growing through regular practice.
Modalities:
Meditation - Developing inner awareness and direct connection to source
Yoga - Integrating body, mind, and spirit through movement and breath
Shamanic Techniques - Journeying, soul retrieval, and working with non-ordinary reality
Feng Shui - Creating environmental harmony that supports your spiritual work
Crystals/Pendulums - Vibrational support and divination tools
Affirmations/Mantras - Conscious reprogramming of limiting beliefs
Forest Bathing - Deep connection with Nature for healing and clarity
Nervous System Regulation - Practices to reset dysregulation and maintain inner peace
Journaling/Stream of Consciousness - Processing experiences and accessing inner wisdom
Movement/Dance Therapy - Embodied integration and emotional release
Art/Creative Expression - Non-verbal processing and soul expression
Ritual/Ceremony - Marking transitions and setting sacred intentions
Fasting/Dietary Practices - Physical purification supporting spiritual clarity
Pilgrimage/Sacred Travel - Physical journey as metaphor for spiritual transformation
Examples for using as part of the Kabbalah Tree of Life Process:
Daily practice: Choose meditation or yoga styles that support your current sefirah focus
Transition support: Use ritual to mark movement between major life phases
Integration challenges: Try art or movement to process what can't be understood mentally
Environmental blocks: Adjust your space with Feng Shui to support your spiritual goals
Emotional overwhelm: Use nervous system regulation before attempting higher sefirot work
Seeking guidance: Regular journaling reveals patterns and inner wisdom
Community connection: Join or create ceremonial practices with others on similar paths
Choosing the Right Tool(s) for Where You Are Now
Your current challenges and stuck points determine which tools will be most helpful:
Physical symptoms or low energy: Begin with Energy Work & Healing
Confusion about direction: Start with Guidance tools
Repeating negative patterns: Explore Self-Understanding Systems
Difficulty maintaining progress: Focus on Practice & Integration
Match Tools to Your Nature:
Consider your natural preferences:
Highly mental types: May need more body-based practices to balance
Emotional processors: Might benefit from structured systems like astrology or numerology
Physical/kinesthetic learners: Could prefer yoga, dance, or hands-on healing
Intuitive types: May gravitate toward oracle cards, pendulums, or shamanic work
Layer Your Approach
Effective navigation often requires multiple tools:
Assessment: Use self-understanding tools to know your blueprint
Diagnosis: Apply guidance tools to understand current position
Treatment: Employ energy work to clear blocks
Integration: Maintain progress with regular practices
Trust Your Response
The right tool at the right time will feel:
Resonant: Something in you says "yes" to this approach
Accessible: You can engage with it given your current resources
Effective: You notice positive shifts when you use it consistently
Sustainable: You can maintain the practice without overwhelming yourself
Remember: The Kabbalah Tree of Life is alive and responsive. Your relationship with tools evolves as you grow. Stay curious, trust your experience, and let your inner wisdom guide your choices. The goal isn't to master every tool. The goal is to develop the discernment to choose what serves your highest good in each moment of your spiritual journey.
I hope this helps you feel like working with The Tree offers you the deep, meaningful Divine connection you’ve been seeking and gives you some ideas on how to take your next steps.
This process-based approach works beautifully in community settings, where I guide groups of spiritual seekers through workshops and sacred gatherings (both in-person and virtual) to explore how the Tree of Life serves each person's unique path to Divine connection.
Rather than prescribing one-size-fits-all practices, we discover together which tools and approaches serve your individual journey - regardless of your spiritual or religious background. The Tree as a process meets you exactly where you are.
If you’ve been nodding your head while reading this, I invite you to download my free Seeker’s Guide to Working with the Kabbalah Tree of Life for Spiritual Growth. In it, you’ll learn more about Kabbalah, the Tree of Life, and this innovative perspective of how The Tree as a process is available to everyone regardless of spiritual or religious background.