The Kingdom and The Tree

[SasQ 1,376]

I've been looking at the episodes list of Season 4, i.e. the season finale 2-parter "Twilight's Kingdom", and something struck me:

Remember when I said in my Symbolism thread that there seems to be some correspondence between the Elements of Harmony & the stained glass in Celestia's palace and the Kabbalistic Tree of Life?Let me refresh your memory if you don't:
 

After seeing the Season 4's opening 2-parter, "Princess Twilight Sparkle", I think this correspondence doesn't seem to be a mere coincidence anymore (as some objected in the Symbolism thread), because we've learned from that episode that the Elements of Harmony actually grows on trees 
 

Notice how they surround the "concealed" Sefirot of Magic (Da'at), where you can find Twilight Sparkle's cutie mark symbol. Below there are Sun and Moon symbols of Celestia and Luna. And guess what: they're there at the same exact places on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life!
 

 

 

Does anyone still think that this is a coincidence?

But that's not what I wanted to write about, so let's get on topic:
The bottom-most Sefirot of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life is called "Malkhut", which in Hebrew means "Kingdom"! And we've all seen at the end of Season 4's opening that the Tree of Harmony gave birth to that intriguing little blue box with six keyholes. It has grown from its roots, appearing inside a blue flower. We've been waiting the whole Season to see what's inside this box. Now, when almost all the keys has been completed, and there's no doubt that Twilight's key would appear in the Season 4's finale, which is titled "Twilight's Kingdom", we can safely assume, that these things will be related somehow.

For me, it is now clear that the Tree of Harmony is a metaphor of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, and I speculate that the title of the episode, "Twilight's Kingdom" is also not coincidental: it seems to correspond to the bottom-most Sefirot of the Tree of Life, which is also called "Kingdom"! The Kingdom is actually the first step from 10 in the path to God (called Ayn Sof in Kabbalah), which is above the top-most Sefirot of the tree, called the Crown.

 

As you can see on the pictures above, the Kingdom Sefirot is related to the four Greek Elements (Earth, Water, Air, Fire) and the physical world. As we seen in "Magic Duel" episode, Twilight Sparkle has already mastered all four Elements of the physical world, when she has been shown in a symbolic context of The Magician card from Tarot's Major Arcana set:

 

 

(more on that here and here), which makes the correspondence even stronger.

What do you think about all this stuff?

Edited May 7, 2014 by SasQ

[Serbon div 386]

I think that you're a genius and I have nothing else to say. Well done!

[Zekromic 1,054]

Pretty neat, we had some symbolism before with the pilot, but nothing like this

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

Wow, this is totally awesome! 

[CadetGrey 267]

[This post is hidden. No offense to anyone, but I am no longer part of the community and no longer wish to be an (active) part of the forums. I treasure the friendships I made along the way. Thank you!]

Edited March 28, 2021 by CadetGrey

[Kel_Grym 1,917]

I don't know if you ever did get around to reading my fan fic, but I put down all my magical theory involving the elements and their parallels with the classical elements, japanese godai, da'at, and chaos magick in this blog.

 

http://mlpforums.com/blog/1663/entry-10772-the-magical-theory-of-occultus-modis-harmoniae/

 

In my post I formed three alignments out of the 6 elements that correspond with each branch of the tree of life.

 

Honest/Loyalty = Honor = Left Branch

 

Kindness/Generosity = Compassion = Right Branch

 

Laughter/Magic = Wonder = Middle Branch

 

I agree that the Tree of Harmony is definitely a parallel with the Tree of Life, and Twilight's "Kingdom" seems to be an intentional esoteric reference.

Edited May 11, 2014 by KelGrym

[MLPFanatic34 3,234]

You my good friend are a genius! I would never have noticed any of that symbolism had you not pointed it out in a post, bravo! and that's not sarcasm I'm speaking lol.   

[Yuna Crescent 142]

you sir, are an absolute genius!!!! o.o

[dekutree64 713]

Great stuff, as always Does indeed seem intentional. Not only was the box grown from the bottom of the tree like the Kingdom, but it was literally a seed of a new Tree of Harmony, thus beginning a new journey to God (Twilight attaining immortality and getting her wavy hair?)
 
One thing I've been pondering on is why the new tree has 8 pointed stars instead of 6. Both the star on top, and the one in the center of the thrones, plus the seed/box had it on top. But now that I see the Tree of Life diagram, there are two more Sephirot unaccounted for on the original Tree of Harmony. Plus, Netreth/Triumph has Love listed as one of its properties, so maybe that represents Cadence. And Hod/Honor sounds pretty appropriate for Spike, who has a throne. So does that mean all 4 princesses, the other element bearers, and Spike will all be able to wield this tree's power together, for even more crazy magic than the old tree was capable of? I hope so, because that would be awesome Especially if Spike grows large when "powered up". Or maybe he'll just look like this

[TwilightDreamer 69]

Just from the evidence that you collected to support that theory, I think you hit the nail on the mark for philosophical messages behind some of the things that are in Friendship is Magic. That is one of those things that I never even bothered to look at.....until now with you and your theories.