The Sephiroth of the Tree of Life all lie vertically within three columns, known as Pillars. These three pillars represent many concepts and symbols, most of which revolve around the idea of a harmony between two opposing forces. The three pillars are sometimes referred to as the zahzahoth (hidden splendours), a term used to denote the underlying balance of opposing forces of primordial mercy and primordial justice by primordial will.
The Black Pillar
The Black Pillar is also known as the Pillar of Severity or Judgement, the Pillar of Fire, Primordial Justice, or the Feminine Pillar. The Black Pillar is considered to be negative, in the sense of negative charge as opposed to bad. The Black Pillar also represents night. As we look at the Tree of Life the Black Pillar is on the left facing us, as it corresponds to the right side of the body. This Pillar equates with Boaz (BAaZ), one of the pillars in the
The Black Pillar contains the Sephiroth of Binah, Geburah and Hod. Adding together the numbers corresponding to the letters joining these Sephiroth on the Black Pillar we have the total of 48 (Cheth: 8 + Mem: 40). 48 is the total for black (ChM) recalling the name of the pillar, and also star/planet, the heaven of Hod (KVKB) at its base. Hence the nature of this pillar, which represents form, is clearly indicated by the letters totalling the same number as its colour and the heaven of its base.
This point is further developed if we consider the Divine Names of the Sephiroth on the Black Pillar. All three of these Divine Names contain the plural Elohim (Gods) - Yahveh Elohim (Binah), Elohim Gibor (Geburah) and Elohim Sabaoth (Hod). This demonstrates the association with form, for form does not occur in singularity, but rather in relationships that define the form.
The White Pillar
The White Pillar is also known as the Pillar of Mercy or Love, the Pillar of Water, Primordial Mercy, or the Masculine Pillar. The White Pillar is considered to be positive in the sense of charge. The White Pillar also represents day. As we look at the Tree of Life the White Pillar is on the right facing us, as it corresponds to the left side of the body. This Pillar equates with Jachin (IAChIN), the other pillar in the
The White Pillar contains the Sephiroth of Chokmah, Chesed and Hod. Adding together the numbers corresponding to the letters joining these Sephiroth on the White Pillar we have the total of 26 (Vav: 6 + Kaph: 20). 26 is also the total for Tetragrammaton (IHVH), so we can see this pillar expressing the divine force, as Chokmah at its top corresponds to force.
The Middle or Grey Pillar
The Grey Pillar is also known as the Pillar of Equilibrium or Harmony, or Pillar of Balance, or Pillar of Consciousness, or the Primordial Will. The Grey Pillar is considered to be neutral, the equilibrium and union of the two opposing pillars. The Grey Pillar represents the times in-between day and night, i.e. dawn and dusk. Hence we see that the word conjunction or union (AaDH) also adds to 79, showing the linking of the black and white pillars on either side of it.
If we add together the numbers corresponding to the paths on the Middle Pillar, we get 463 (Tav: 400 + Samekh: 60 + Gimel: 3). Now "a rod of almond" (MTH HShQD) also adds to 463, which is why the Middle Pillar is also known as the almond rod or wand. The word "crowns" also adds to 463 (ThGIN), illustrating the crowning glory of Kether manifesting itself down the Middle Pillar in the Royal Child (Tiphereth) and the Royal Bride (Malkuth). The Middle Pillar is also sometimes called the Shekinah, possibly also to indicate this descent of divine wisdom from the highest through to manifestation (see later chapter The Shekinah).
By combining the totals for the letters on all three pillars we get the total of 537 (463+48+26). Significantly 537 is also the total for Atziluth (ATzILVTh), the Archetypal World of the Supernal Triad. So the three pillars represent the expression of the Archetypal World, each descending from one of the three Sephiroth of the Supernal Triad - Black Pillar from Binah, Middle Pillar from Kether, and White Pillar from Chokmah.
Although the Black Pillar is referred to as negative and the White Pillar as positive, there is another consideration when looking at the Sephiroth individually. This is that each Sephira is considered positive to the one below it, and negative to the one above it. E.g. Chokmah is negative to Kether, but positive to Binah. This may also be why the three Veils of Negativity are so called, for they are negative to each other in sequence, but positive to Kether, which expresses the veils in its manifestation.