The Qabalah’s Tree of Life is a glyph that represents, simultaneously, two directions: the flow of the Divine from Above to Below, and the Path of Return to Source, Below to Above, for those on spiritual journeys of enlightenment. It is a glyph that represents all of creation and all the energies of creation.
The Tree of Life is comprised of ten circles called Sephiroth and the 22 paths that connect them. The Paths are subjective, and allocated to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet as well as the 22 Major Arcana of the Tarot. The 10 Spheres are objective and are considered emmanations of the Divine. They are allocated to the First Swirlings, the Zodiac, the six visible planets, the Moon and the Earth.
Libra is represented on the Tree of Life through its associated Tarot Card, which is Key 11, The Justice card. The Hebrew letter for this path is Lamed, which means Ox Goad, and can mean “to teach” or “learning through correction.” Its numerical value is 30, it is a simple letter - its “gift” – is Work. Lamed, as “ox goad” has a special relationship with Aleph - “ox”, which is attributed to the Fool card. Together they create “El", one of the names of God. Justice gives course correction and balance to the Fool’s primal force; as Crowley put it, Justice is the Fool’s “dancing partner.” In a perhaps not-so curious coincidence, The Fool is Path 11, whereas Justice is Key 11.
The 22nd Path of Lamed resides in the Ethical Triad of the Higher Self and connects Tiphareth and Geburah. The connection between Geburah (Severity/Mars) and Tipareth (Beauty/Sun) represents the balance between strength and harmony, which are core Libra themes. As we have mentioned before, it is Geburah that provides Justice her Sword, and Tiphareth her Scales. In the Sephir Yetzirah, the 22nd Path is called the “Faithful Intelligence”, and “receives the spiritual influx and distributes it with balance,” symbolizing ethical discernment and cosmic order.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead describes a ceremony called “The Weighing of the Soul.” In this ceremony, deceased enters the Hall of Two Truths to determine if they will be allowed to reincarnate. On a large set of scales, the heart of the deceased is weighed against the feather of Ma’at (the goddess of Truth, Justice and cosmic order.) Anubis administers the test, and Thoth records the results. If the heart is balanced, the Soul is allowed to advance to the Field of Reeds and granted rebirth. If the heart fails the test, the Soul is devoured by the beast Ammit and is considered condemned.
The heart being tested can be seen qabalisticaly as the harsh discipline of Geburah. Ma’at’s feather, symbolizing truth, relates to Tipareth. The balance between them is Path 22, Libra, which unites strength with truth and harmony, synthesizing and creating the ability to discern.
Meditation: The Scales of Ma’at
Purpose: To bring the heart into equilibrium with truth — to feel and experience the psychostasia (weighing of the soul) as an inner alchemy of justice, beauty, and peace.
1. Preparation: Entering the Hall of Two Truths
• Sit upright, spine aligned like the Tree of Life.
• Breathe deeply and slowly until your mind becomes calm and lucid.
• Visualize yourself entering the Hall of Two Truths, the ancient Egyptian temple of judgment.
The air is still. Before you stands Ma’at, radiant and serene, her ostrich feather gleaming with soft light. To your right stands Thoth, the scribe of wisdom; to your left, Anubis, guardian of transitions. As you enter, silently affirm: “I seek balance in the heart of truth.”
2. The Scales Before You
Visualize a great balance scale of gold before you. On the left pan rests your heart, glowing softly with inner warmth. On the right pan rests the Feather of Ma’at, luminous and weightless. At the center, the fulcrum point, is a glowing gold light and represents perfect balance. Sense that this balance represents the Path of Libra, connecting the inner powers of Geburah (Justice) and Tiphareth (Beauty).
3. The Examination of the Heart
Bring your attention softly to your heart center. Feel your breath flowing in and out of this space — steady, calm, kind. Rather than looking for faults or memories, you are simply listening — like hearing the quiet rhythm of truth within.
With each inhale, say inwardly:
“My heart receives light.”
With each exhale:
“My heart releases what no longer serves me.”
If any sensations or feelings arise, acknowledge them lovingly, and set them aside without judgement.
See your heart gradually becoming clear and luminous, its weight equal to that of the feather.
You might sense ease, spaciousness, or even a gentle smile forming in the chest — signs that equilibrium is being restored.
Stay with the rhythm of your breath and the quiet sense of peace that unfolds. There is nothing to fix, only to harmonize.
4. The Balancing
As your inner heart and the feather come into perfect equilibrium, feel the scales hover motionless — a sacred stillness. This is the moment of inner equinox, when the soul stands between night and day, between self and cosmos.
You may feel a gentle pressure or warmth in the chest — the solar flame of Tiphareth awakening.
Stay here for several minutes, breathing in harmony with the image of the scales in balance.
Affirm softly:
“I am aligned with the Order of Ma’at. My heart is light, my mind clear, my soul true.”
5. The Blessing of Ma’at
See Ma’at raise her feather and touch it gently to your forehead and your heart.
A golden radiance flows through you — this is the Faithful Intelligence, the Libra current of divine equilibrium. It calibrates your inner world, restoring beauty, honesty, and serene proportion to your being.
Let the light fill your aura with shimmering gold and pale blue — the colors of Venus and Air — then gradually return to your breath.
6. Completion
When you feel ready, visualize the Hall dissolving into pure light. Bring your awareness back to your body, feeling grounded yet serene. End with gratitude:
“May my heart be as light as the feather of truth. May I act in balance, speak in beauty, and live in harmony.”