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The theory of the Sefirot is presented in detail in the Book of Light and describes the divine structure as being divided into ten Sefirot. The Sefirot illustrate how God reveals Himself in the world. In numerous places, the Sefirot are depicted as kinds of ‘conduits’ that link our world with God and it is through them that the “divine abundance” is transmitted. The purpose of being conversant in the Sefirot is to enable the divine abundance to make an optimal descent into the world.
The Sefirot are often described and drawn in the image of a human body. The human soul is also depicted in the shape of the Tree of Life (the symbol of the Sefirot). That way, the perfection of the Sefirot also helps perfect the human soul.According to Rabbi Isaac Luria (known as the holy Ari) who lived in Safed in the 16th century, the ten Sefirot can be reconfigured using a model of five partzufim that represent the divine structure. These partzufim are imperfect and all lack something, but can be rectified through prayers and intentions.
The five layers of the human soul are also associated with the five partzufim. The human soul is the link that connects the infinite and lofty worlds of divinity with the human, material and finite world.
