Tree of Life Poster – Portae Lucis (1516), Kabbalistic Sephiroth Print, Hermetic Qabalah, Sacred Geometry & Occult Art #20

This Tree of Life Poster is a high-quality reproduction of the famous woodcut frontispiece from Portae Lucis (The Gate of Light), first published in Augsburg in 1516 by Paul Ricci (Paolo Riccio). The engraving depicts the Sephirothic Tree of Life, a mystical diagram central to Kabbalah and Hermetic Qabalah, and features the legendary Joseph ben Abraham Gikatilla (1248 – after 1305), one of the most influential Spanish Kabbalists. Known as Joseph Ba’al ha-Nissim (Joseph the Master of Miracles), Gikatilla was revered for his wisdom, mystic insight, and miraculous powers.

The original Hebrew work, Sha’are Orah (Gates of Light), was among the most important medieval Kabbalistic treatises, later translated into Latin as Portae Lucis. The Latin title reads: Portae lucis haec est porta tetragrammaton (“The Gate of Light, which is the Portal of the Tetragrammaton”), referring to the divine four-letter name of God.

This print is an exquisite blend of sacred geometry, mysticism, and Renaissance occultism, making it a powerful piece of art for Hermetic, esoteric, and spiritual interiors. Available as canvas or parchment-style wall art, it brings antique Kabbalistic wisdom into the modern home.

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What the Artwork Depicts

The central motif is the Tree of Life (Etz Chaim), composed of ten spheres known as the Sephiroth (emanations of divine energy), connected by 22 pathways corresponding to the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Each Sephirah is inscribed in Hebrew, radiating symbolic meaning:

Keter (Crown) – The highest Sephirah, representing pure divine will, unity, and the source of all creation. It is the unknowable, the infinite spark beyond comprehension. Keter is the crown of the Tree, symbolizing divine light before manifestation.

Chokhmah (Wisdom) – The second Sephirah, the primordial masculine force, pure creative energy. It represents inspiration, intuition, and the first flash of divine thought.

Binah (Understanding) – The third Sephirah, the primordial feminine force, receiving the impulse of Chokhmah and giving it form. Binah symbolizes structure, order, and the womb of creation — the mother of manifestation.

Chesed (Mercy, or Loving-kindness) – The fourth Sephirah, embodying expansiveness, grace, benevolence, and compassion. Chesed radiates love and generosity, reflecting the sustaining kindness of the Divine.

Geburah (Severity, or Strength) – The fifth Sephirah, representing justice, discipline, power, and divine judgment. Geburah tempers Chesed, balancing mercy with necessary restriction and strength.

Tiferet (Beauty) – The sixth Sephirah, the harmonizing center of the Tree, balancing mercy and severity. It embodies beauty, truth, harmony, and spiritual compassion. Tiferet is often associated with the heart and with divine love.

Netzach (Victory, Eternity) – The seventh Sephirah, symbolizing endurance, persistence, passion, and the power of desire. Netzach is linked to creativity, emotion, and the eternal rhythm of life.

Hod (Glory, Splendor) – The eighth Sephirah, embodying intellect, reason, communication, and order. Hod governs logic, analysis, language, and ritual precision.

Yesod (Foundation) – The ninth Sephirah, functioning as the bridge between the spiritual and the physical realms. Yesod gathers the energies of the higher Sephiroth and channels them into the material plane. It is associated with the subconscious, imagination, and the power of dreams.

Malkuth (Kingdom) – The tenth and lowest Sephirah, representing the material world, manifestation, and physical reality. It is the vessel in which divine energy takes form, symbolizing the Earth and human existence.

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In the image, the Kabbalist Gikatilla is shown contemplating the Tree, symbolizing the eternal quest for divine wisdom and illumination. The Latin and Hebrew inscriptions emphasize the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) as the divine portal of light.

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Symbolism and Esoteric Meaning

The Tree of Life is one of the most profound symbols in Jewish mysticism, Hermetic philosophy, and Western esotericism. It serves as a cosmic map of existence, bridging the gap between the divine and the earthly:

• Kabbalah – Represents the emanations of God’s light into creation.

• Hermetic Qabalah – Adopted into Renaissance occultism, ceremonial magick, and later esoteric traditions.

• Sacred Geometry – The interconnected Sephiroth reflect harmony, order, and divine design.

• Mystical Ascent – The diagram is a spiritual ladder for meditation, guiding practitioners from the material realm to higher consciousness.

• Portal of the Tetragrammaton – The unspoken four-letter name of God is the gateway to ultimate divine reality.

The figure of Joseph Gikatilla grounds the Tree in the authority of Jewish mystical tradition, linking the work to the transmission of esoteric knowledge across cultures and centuries.

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Historical Context – Portae Lucis (1516)

The Latin edition of Sha’are Orah was prepared and published by Paul Ricci (Paolo Riccio), a German-Jewish convert to Catholicism who became a professor at the University of Pavia. His 1516 translation was instrumental in introducing Kabbalistic wisdom into the Christian Renaissance world, influencing thinkers, mystics, and alchemists across Europe.

The Portae Lucis engraving reflects this fusion of traditions: Jewish Kabbalah, Christian mysticism, and Renaissance Hermeticism all converging into one powerful symbolic image.

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Why Choose This Print?

• Authentic reproduction of a 1516 Renaissance Kabbalistic woodcut

• Features Tree of Life (Sephiroth) and Joseph ben Abraham Gikatilla

• Rich in occult, mystical, and Hermetic symbolism

• Available on canvas or parchment-style aged paper for antique authenticity

• Ideal as occult wall art, meditation aid, or spiritual study illustration

• Perfect for Hermetic libraries, esoteric collections, and sacred spaces

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Perfect For

• Students of Kabbalah and Hermetic Qabalah

• Esoteric and occult practitioners working with sacred geometry

• Collectors of antique prints and Renaissance mysticism

• Gothic and dark academia interiors

• Witchcraft and ceremonial magick altars

• Spiritual gift for seekers of wisdom and gnosis

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Bring the Light of the Sephiroth Into Your Space

This Tree of Life Print from Portae Lucis (1516) is more than just an antique illustration – it is a spiritual diagram, a meditation tool, and a gateway to mystical wisdom. Whether used as occult wall art, a Hermetic study aid, or sacred decor, it embodies the eternal symbolism of the Sephirothic Tree and the divine portal of light.

👉 Order your Tree of Life / Sephiroth Poster today – the perfect esoteric wall art for seekers of Hermetic wisdom, Kabbalah practitioners, and lovers of sacred geometry.

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Canvas vs. Hand-Made Paper — Print Comparison Guide