The Inverted Tree
© 2006, John Opsopaus
The Inverted Tree is an esoteric concept known from Neoplatonism
and many other spiritual traditions. It is a symbol of how the
world of manifestation is rooted in the realm of Archetypal
Ideas. The Tree’s source is the Inexpressible One, and its
principal branches are the Archetypal Ideas. These ramify into
the subsidiary images and reflections of the Ideas down through the
realms of greater materialization. The leaves are the Astral
Forms of things, which “in-form” the existence of things in the
Material Realm, the misty plane of existence, in which nothing is
perfectly clear, the realm of Flux, of Becoming, of Coming-to-be and
Passing-away. In the Theurgic Ascent, we follow the branches from
the Leaves back to their Source, ascending the Rays emanating from the
Center. (See also Part V “Theurgy” in my Summary of Pythagorean Theology.)
Digitally executed using Bryce® 5 and Seashore.
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Last updated: 2006-12-03.
