My Unity Framework:
Tree of Life Mapping, Nature Wisdom & Inclusion Varnishing
The Aha Moment
For years, I studied Kabbalah the traditional way - prescribed paths, rigid structures, "do this, then this, then this."
But something didn't sit right.
I'd also spent decades exploring other spiritual traditions: shamanism, Buddhism, Paganism, Taoism. Each one felt TRUE. Each one resonated in some way.
And then it hit me:
What if the unity was already there - I just had to reveal it?
Not unity I needed to create or force. Unity that existed all along:
The unity connecting Buddhism's path to Christianity's journey to Paganism's cycles. The unity between human spiritual wisdom and Nature's teachings. The unity within each tradition and across all traditions.
My entire body of work rests on this foundation: revealing unity that was never actually separate.
What if they're all pointing at the same thing?
Not the same G-D necessarily (though maybe). But the same PROCESS. The same journey from Source to manifestation. The same patterns of spiritual growth.
So I started mapping.
Buddhism's Eightfold Path. Islam's 99 Names of Allah. Norse mythology's Nine Worlds. Yoruba Orishas. Taoist principles. Pagan Wheel of the Year.
Over 40 traditions. Hundreds of hours of research. One stunning conclusion:
They're all describing the Kabbalah Tree of Life.
They just use different language.
Why This Is Revolutionary
Most Kabbalah Teachers Say:
"The Tree of Life is a Jewish mystical framework with 10 or 11 Sephirot. Here's the prescribed path you follow to ascend spiritually. Do it this way."
I Say:
The Tree of Life is a universal PROCESS that shows up in 40+ spiritual traditions. YOU are the structure. You navigate it uniquely.
This changes everything.
Because it reveals unity - not as nice philosophy - as documented reality.
When Christianity, Buddhism, and Taoism's Yin-Yang all map to the Tree - that's not coincidence.
That's unity. Observable. Mappable. Real.
Three Key Differences in My Approach
1. Process, Not Structure
Traditional Kabbalah: The Tree is a rigid structure. There are specific "paths" between Sephirot you must follow in order.
My Approach: The Tree is a living PROCESS. You move through it organically, based on where YOU are and what YOUR soul needs. Sometimes you loop back. Sometimes you skip around. Sometimes you sit in one Sephirah for years.
YOU are the structure. The Tree is your map. Nature is your teacher.
2. Eleven Sephirot, Not Ten
Traditional Kabbalah: 10 Sephirot. Da'at (the "hidden" Sephirah) is considered invisible or non-existent.
My Approach: 11 Sephirot - including Da'at.
Why this matters:
Da'at represents the integration of Wisdom (Chokmah) and Understanding (Binah). It's where insight becomes KNOWING. It's your soul purpose - your true "mazal."
In my Tree of Life Astrology work, Da'at is THE most important Sephirah - and most teachers leave it out entirely.
Without Da'at, there's no balance. Without Da'at, you're missing the bridge between divine wisdom and lived experience.
Pretty important to skip, right?
3. Universal Framework, Not Religious Doctrine
Traditional Kabbalah: Rooted specifically in Jewish mysticism. Other traditions may borrow from it, but Kabbalah is THE source.
My Approach: The Tree of Life is a universal process that shows up EVERYWHERE.
What This Really Means:
These three shifts - Process not Structure, 11 not 10, Universal not Doctrine - all point to the same foundation:
Unity.
Unity across traditions (they're all teaching the same process). Unity with Nature (the Tree isn't abstract theory - it's reflected in ecosystems, seasons, cycles). Unity within yourself (YOU are the structure navigating the map).
This isn't comparative religion as intellectual exercise. This is recognizing what was never separate.
Here's what I've documented:
How 40+ Traditions Map to the Tree of Life
Christianity
Trinity → Keter (Father), Chokmah (Son), Binah (Holy Spirit)
Stages of faith → Journey through the Sephirot
Crucifixion/Resurrection → Death of ego (Tiferet) and rebirth (Malkhut to Keter)
Buddhism
Eightfold Path → Maps to multiple Sephirot (Right Speech = Hod, Right Action = Netzach, etc.)
Enlightenment stages → Ascending the Tree
Middle Way → The Middle Pillar (balance between expansion and contraction)
Taoism
Yin & Yang → Pillars of Severity (contraction) and Mercy (expansion)
Wu Wei (effortless action) → Tiferet (balance/harmony)
Qi (life force) → Yesod (foundation/energy flow)
And 37+ more traditions - all pointing at the same universal journey.
Nature as First Teacher, Tree as Map
Here's something most spiritual teachers miss:
Before any human wrote a sacred text, before any tradition formed, Nature was already teaching us everything we need to know about the Divine.
Trees don't question whether they're "doing it right." Rivers don't worry about their spiritual path. Birds don't read books about how to migrate.
They trust the process. They follow the patterns encoded in their being. They navigate instinctively.
This is what the Tree of Life shows: The same patterns that govern how a seed becomes a forest also govern how divine energy moves from Source (Keter) to physical reality (Malkhut) - and back again.
It's all the same process.
What Nature Teaches That Traditions Confirm
Diversity Creates Resilience
In Nature, monocultures are vulnerable. A field of only corn? One disease away from total failure.
A biodiverse ecosystem? When one species struggles, others compensate. The whole system stays healthy.
This isn't just ecology - it's spirituality. When we honor multiple paths, multiple perspectives, multiple ways of connecting with the Divine, we create resilience. Strength. Wholeness.
Everything Is Connected
Walk into a forest and you see maybe 10% of what's happening. Underground, mycelial networks connect tree to tree - sharing nutrients, sending warnings about pests, supporting each other's growth.
The Tree of Life maps these same invisible connections. Chesed (expansion) can't exist without Gevurah (contraction). Chokmah (wisdom) needs Binah (understanding). Everything flows. Everything connects.
Nature shows us the map is real.
Cycles, Not Lines
Nature doesn't move in straight lines. Seeds germinate, plants grow, flowers bloom, fruit forms, seeds scatter, dormancy arrives, and the cycle begins again.
Death isn't failure. Winter isn't punishment. They're essential parts of the process.
The Tree of Life works the same way. You don't climb it once and "arrive." You spiral through it, season after season, each time deepening your understanding, each time integrating more fully.
Trust the Process
Here's what I've learned exploring Nature for years, walking & photographing the 500+ miles of trails in DuPage County:
Nature never rushes. An oak tree doesn't stress about becoming an oak. It trusts the acorn knows what to do.
The Tree of Life is the same. Your soul knows where you need to go. Your job isn't to force it. Your job is to navigate - paying attention, trusting the process, following what Nature has been teaching since before humans had words.
This is why all my work weaves Nature throughout. Because Nature isn't a metaphor for spirituality.
Nature IS spirituality, teaching us in real-time how the Tree works.
Coining New Cultural Vocabulary: "Inclusion Varnishing"
Part of my work involves naming what we experience but haven't had language for.
I've coined the term "inclusion varnishing" to describe a phenomenon showing up everywhere right now:
When dominant culture uses the language, symbols, or names from marginalized groups to appear inclusive while keeping all the actual power and space for themselves.
Think of it like putting a fresh coat of varnish on old furniture. It looks shiny and updated on the surface, but the structure underneath hasn't changed at all.
How This Connects to My Work
The Tree of Life teaches us that genuine diversity isn't just nice - it's how thriving systems work.
Nature doesn't do inclusion varnishing. A forest doesn't pretend to honor biodiversity while maintaining a monoculture. Either the ecosystem supports multiple species actually thriving together, or it's weak and vulnerable.
The same applies to spiritual communities, organizations, and culture at large.
Examples of Inclusion Varnishing:
"Festival of Lights" events that are 100% Christmas (appropriating Chanukah's name without honoring the tradition)
"Happy Holidays!" in exclusively red and green with Christmas imagery everywhere
Rainbow logos during Pride Month with zero LGBTQ+ policy protections
"We celebrate all paths!" spiritual communities that cherry-pick from Indigenous, Hindu, and Buddhist traditions without understanding or crediting them
Interfaith events where Christianity gets 90% of the programming and other traditions get a token mention at best
What Real Inclusion Looks Like:
Real inclusion means multiple traditions, voices, and perspectives get equal time, equal space, equal respect, and equal power.
It means the dominant culture doesn't just borrow language - it shares space.
It means marginalized people don't have to do emotional labor being grateful for scraps while our actual traditions are erased.
Nature models this for us constantly. Healthy ecosystems don't have one species dominating while others get token representation. They have genuine biodiversity where each species contributes something unique the others can't.
Why I'm Spreading This Term
"Inclusion varnishing" gives people language to name their experience.
If you've ever:
felt MORE alone when someone tried to be "inclusive"...
experienced your tradition being used as decoration for someone else's celebration...
watched organizations claim diversity while maintaining unchanged power structures...
You've experienced inclusion varnishing.
And now you have words for it.
I'm working to make this term as recognized as "gaslighting" or "microaggression" - vocabulary that helps us see clearly, name what's happening, and demand better.
You'll see this concept woven throughout my work - in articles, presentations, and teaching. Because the Tree of Life shows us that authentic inclusion isn't just morally right. It's how systems thrive.
Why This Matters for You
You Don't Have to Abandon Your Roots
Were you raised Christian? Buddhist? Muslim? Pagan? Jewish? Something else entirely?
You don't have to leave that tradition behind to work with the Tree of Life - unless you want to.
The patterns YOUR tradition teaches are already on the Tree. You haven't seen them mapped this way before.
You Don't Have to Follow Someone Else's Prescribed Path
Traditional Kabbalah says: "Start at Malkhut. Move to Yesod. Then Hod. Then Netzach. Follow this exact order."
But what if you're not there?
What if you're stuck in Yesod (trust/foundation) right now? What if you need Gevurah (boundaries) more than Chesed (expansion)?
My approach meets you where you ARE - not where some ancient text says you "should" be.
You Get to Navigate the Tree in YOUR Unique Way
Your spiritual journey will look different than anyone else's.
Maybe you move up the Tree quickly, then loop back. Maybe you sit in one Sephirah for years. Maybe you bounce between Chesed and Gevurah (expansion and contraction) for a decade before finding Tiferet (balance).
All of it is valid. All of it is YOUR path.
The Tree adapts to YOU. Not the other way around.
You Get to See the Connections
Unity isn't something you have to create or force. It's what you recognize when you see the patterns:
Your Christian upbringing teaching the same journey as your Buddhist practice. Your connection to Nature reflecting the same Tree structure as Kabbalah. Your personal spiritual path weaving through traditions that seemed separate but were pointing at the same truth all along.
Weaving these connections - that's the work.
How This Framework Informs My Work
Everything I offer is based on this revolutionary approach:
-
🌲 Tree of Life Card Readings
Using 11 cards (one for each Sephirah, including Da'at), I show you:
- Where you are on the Tree right now
- What's blocking you
- What your soul needs to move forward
-
🌲 Tree of Life Astrology
I map your birth chart to the Sephirot, revealing:
- Your soul purpose (Da'at position)
- How you uniquely navigate the Tree
- Which Sephirot are naturally strong vs. challenging for you
- Your spiritual "home base"
-
🌲 Complete Soul Clarity Blueprint
A comprehensive reading combining:
- Tree of Life Card Reading (where you are NOW)
- Tree of Life Astrology (your soul's MAP)
- Integrated guidance for your unique path forward
-
🌲 Online Course (Launching 2026)
Deep dive into:
- How to navigate the Tree as a PROCESS
- Detailed mappings of 40+ traditions
- Practical tools for YOUR spiritual journey
-
The Book (Coming Soon)
This framework lives in a 179-page manuscript I've written, documenting:
- 40+ spiritual tradition mappings
- The Process vs. Structure paradigm
- Why Da'at is essential
- Tools for individual navigation
- How to work with the Tree practically
I'm waiting for it to land on the right desk for a "yes."
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This Is Original Scholarship
To be clear: No one else has done this work.
Plenty of Kabbalah teachers teach the Tree of Life.
Plenty of comparative religion scholars study multiple traditions.
No one has mapped 40+ spiritual traditions to the Tree of Life as a universal PROCESS that individuals navigate uniquely.
And no one has positioned this work where it actually belongs: as the revelation of unity.
Not unity as abstract ideal. Unity as foundation. Unity across traditions, with Nature, within yourself, in your relationships and community.
That's what makes this revolutionary - and why it matters now more than ever.
This is unprecedented research, synthesized into practical tools for modern seekers.
Ready to Experience This Framework?
Not sure where to start?
Take the Quiz → - Discover your spiritual seeking style (and where you might be on the Tree right now)
Want to see where YOU are on your journey?
Book a Tree of Life Card Reading → - Get clarity on your current position and next steps
Ready to understand your soul's unique map?
Get a Tree of Life Astrology Report → - See how the Sephirot show up in YOUR birth chart
Want the complete picture?
Explore the Complete Soul Clarity Blueprint → - Comprehensive guidance combining cards, astrology, and integrated wisdom
Questions About the Framework?
Hit reply to any of my emails, or contact me here.
I love talking about this work - it's my life's passion.
Welcome to the Grove. I'm honored you're here.
💚🌲✨
- Sarah
