The tree of life and the runes
An Introduction to the Kabbalah
Sometimes: Tree of Life: An Introduction to the Cabala
by Z'ev ben Shimon Halevi(a.k.a. Warren Kenton)
The author is the only one that has given examples of how he classifies things according to the Tree (of Life) and given examples of his own trees. If you go through the book, you'll find many illustrations to help you see the different relations and applications of the Tree system.
The idea is for us to use the Tree to classify things for ourselves. This presents a way of using the Kabbalah as a whole that doesn't sound so mysterious that it leaves others out. It's not a beginner's book, but it's not so advanced that a beginner can't use it. It's not so simple that the advanced won't find it interesting.
This book teaches using the Tree as a whole rather than isolated qualities on the Tree (contrast this with The Mystical Qabalah
by Dion Fortune). Taking the Tree down from it's "high" position to classify everyday things like money. If we are to change our lives, we can move everything in our lives onto the tree.The symbol on the left is Thor's Hammer.
The runes inscribed on it mean "Courage to seek the truth, Strength to stand alone, Wisdom to be taught by all experience."
The runes (a set of cyphers is sometimes called a rune) is called the "hammer of the gods" and only those who could follow its teaching perfectly might wield it. Those who could not, but nevertheless tried to seize its power in vanity, were crushed by it. It was said of Thor Odenson that this "hammer" always returned to him, its master... and was a "present" from the All Father. This suggests the vast differences between god/desses and men...but is none the less an ideal and inspiration for the rest of us.
