Family Tree of Life
The great Kabbalist, Rabbi Isaac Luria, also known as the Ari, lived and taught in Safed in the early 1570’s. In the Ari's teachings, the Ten Sefirot are presented as Partzufim (Faces of God). These are how prophets and kabbalists see the Sefirot in our own image. The verse in Genesis that says that we were created in God’s image and likeness refers to the Sefirot or Partzufim that veil and channel God’s Infinite light to create and guide the world on our finite level so that we can be partners with God in the process of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world).
Because we are both Masculine and Feminine, young and old, the Partzufim are seen in all of these images. In this picture, the blue square symbolizes the Masculine, the red triangle symbolizes the Feminine, and the yellow circle symbolizes the joining of the two together.
At the top is a large head with long white hair and a long flowing white beard. This represents Arich Anpin (the Large Face of God) - the Partzuf made from Keter (Crown) the highest Sefirah. This Face of God represents unconditional love and acceptance. His long white hair and beard are metaphors for a loving Grandfather who is patient and forgiving. The blue square in his head represents his Masculine side; the red triangle at his throat represents his Feminine side; and the yellow circle above his head represents how these two sides are one in him. The purple tefilin (phylacteries) above this yellow circle hint at Partzuf Atik Yomin (Ancient of Days) - the hidden Grandmother who constantly prepares the feast we will enjoy in the Eternal World that we earn day by day.
The two figures that start from the throat of Arich Anpin and flow down with his beard represent the Partzufim Abba and Imma (the Father and the Mother). Abba is made from Chochmah (Wisdom) and Imma is made from Binah (Understanding). They channel Arich Anpin's unconditional Love down into the conditional head of Zeir Anpin (the Small Face of God) a Partzuf made from the next six Sefirot - Chesed (Love), Gevurah (Strength), Tiferet (Beauty or Harmony), Netzach (Victory), Hod (Splendor) and Yesod (Foundation). Zeir Anpin is often simply called Tiferet - the harmonious blend of all these six Sefirot.
Zeir Anpin is described in the Kabbalah and presented here as a young man with short black hair and beard, metaphors for the judgmental and often angry nature of this conditional Face of God. As Zeir Anpin matures, he gradually embraces more and more of the unconditional nature of his Elders. When he is immature he can only encompass a small amount of this higher consciousness, which is given by a lower aspect of Abba and Imma, called Yisrael Saba and Tevunah. Sometimes Abba and Imma together are called Chochmah (Wisdom), and Yisrael Saba and Tevunah together are called Binah (Understanding).
The lowest Partzuf - Nukva (the Female) - is made from the tenth Sefirah Malchut (Kingship). She is depicted here as the young woman dressed in purple with red hair. A crescent moon is on her forehead as she relates the moon and its waxing and waning. Nukva is the Face of God that dwells in us and is thus associated with the Shechinah (Divine Presence). Zer Anpin judges - rewards and punishes - according to our choices. Zer Anpin is described as the first-born Son that inherits both Masculine and Feminine halves of Daat (Knowledge) from his Parents (Abba and Imma). He then gives the Feminine half to Nukba. This sharing of Daat is symbolized by the tefilin (phylacteries) that are worn on the heads of both.
Nukva is the lowest Partzuf in the world of Atzilut (Emanation). She gives birth to all the lower worlds - the world of Briyah (Creation); the world of Yetzirah (Formation); and the world of Asiyah (Action) represented by the head, torso, and lower body of the small child beneath her.
Until the work of Tikkun Olam is completed, evil is part of these worlds - represented by the dark shadow at the bottom of this picture.
Imma (Chochmah) Abba
Tevunah (Binah) Yisrael Saba