Tiferet

Tiferet, meaning beauty or splendor in Hebrew, is one of the ten sefirot in the Jewish Kabbalistic Tree of Life. It is traditionally placed at the center of the diagram, along the middle pillar, and is regarded as the harmonizing force that mediates between Chesed (loving-kindness) and Gevurah (severity).

As a mediator, Tiferet absorbs and diffuses the flow of divine generosity into a balanced expression. It receives from Chesed and Gevurah and transmits influence to the lower sefirot, notably Netzach and Hod, helping to integrate mercy with discipline and to reflect divine light into creation. In this sense, Tiferet is associated with balance, compassion, and spiritual beauty.

Symbolically, Tiferet is linked to the heart and to the sun, often representing inner beauty, harmony, and the revelation of the divine presence through balanced action. It is seen as the center of balance within the Tree of Life, embodying a reconciled radiance that bridges upper-intensity and lower manifestation.

In practice, Tiferet is a focus in mystical study and ethical reflection, inviting contemplation of how mercy and judgment can be expressed in a tempered, graceful manner. It is also invoked as a model for cultivating character traits that embody harmony, truth, and humane compassion.

Scholarly and mystical interpretations of Tiferet vary. In different Kabbalistic schools, its exact associations or methods of meditation may differ, but its core role as the central, balancing beauty within the sefirot remains a common thread.