The Kabbalah discusses 10 aspects of consciousness which describe the interface between our present experience of separation, and our coming to the realization of oneness. These 10 aspects are called the 10 Sefirot or Tree of Life.

The Kabbalah discusses in great detail the inner workings of these 10 aspects of consciousness and the way in which they describe the interfacing of our spiritual and physical reality. The inner mappings of the 10 Sefirot describe how the infinite unconditional love at the root of all creation becomes manifest in our present experience. The 10 Sefirot also describe our spiritual work towards experiencing our Divine source in the realization of unconditional love and oneness.

The 10 Sefirot and one of many ways of translating their meaning and associated state of consciousness is:

Keter – Purpose of Creation / Infinite Goodness
Chochma – Experience of Oneness
Bina – State of Unconditional Love
Chesed – Loving Kindness
Gevurah – Humility
Tiferet – Harmony
Netzach – Eternity
Hod – Thankfulness
Yesod – Unity
Malchut – Central Point in the Heart

On one level of experiencing the Tree of Life, the Sefirot are divided between the lower 7 Sefirot and the upper 3 Sefirot. The lower 7 Sefirot are associated with aspects of our inner self, which when purified through spiritual work, bring revelation of the upper 3 Sefirot. The upper 3 Sefirot represent our coming to experience the Divine goodness.

The 7 lower Sefirot each contain within themselves all 7 of the Sefirot, for a total of 49 Sefirot. These 49 aspects of consciousness are aspects of our inner self, that when spiritually elevated, brings us to experience the Divine goodness in the state of pure giving and unconditional love. The completed harmony and spiritual ascension of these 49 aspects, brings realization of the inner prayer in the deepest part of ourselves. This is the opening of the 50th gate of Bina.

This painting is patterned in the way of the 50 gates, by mapping the Sefirot with colors associated with each Sefira:

In the upper right of the painting is a white square representing the Sefira of Chesed.
In the upper left of the painting is a red square representing the Sefira of Gevurah.
In the upper middle of the painting is a purple square representing the Sefira of Tiferet.
In the middle right of the painting is a square, white with a bit of red, representing the Sefira of Netzach.
In the middle left of the painting is a square, red with a bit of white, representing the Sefira of Hod.
In the middle center of the painting is an orange square representing the Sefira of Yesod.
The large blue area at the bottom of the painting represents the Sefira of Malchut.

Within each of these areas are 7 triangles, representing the 7 Sefirot contained within each of the Sefirot. Their colors take the same pattern of the Sefirot reflected in the large squares which make up the background of the painting. One of the 7 Sefirot is not visible in each area, as it is the same color as the Sefira in which it rests.

The final Sefira of the 49 is Malchut of Malchut. Malchut of Malchut is painted green, which is associated with Bina. This represents the opening of the 50th gate, where all 49 aspects come to Bina, the state of pure unconditional love. This reveals the upper 3 Sefirot, representing the realization of oneness and experience of the Divine.

This spiritual structure of the lower 7 Sefirot within each of the lower 7, with the Malchut of Malchut ascending to Bina, is discussed at great length in the Kabbalah. While there are innumerable associations with this structure, it can be clearly seen in relationship to the Yovel or Jubilee year, which comes every 50 years and is associated with a new era of freedom. The holiest of Jewish prayers: Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad / Baruch Shem Kavod Malchutow Leolam Vaed, contains in Hebrew exactly 49 letters. Also the mitzva of counting the Omer is directly associated with this structure, as the mitzva is to count the 49 days between the holidays of Pesach (Passover) and Shevuot (Festival of Weeks).

On an inner spiritual level, the holiday of Pesach represents being freed from our self serving egotistical desires. The next 49 days represent our spiritual progression through the 49 aspects of the 7 lower Sefirot. The 1st day after Pesach is associated with the spiritual energy of Chesed of Chesed. The 2nd day after Pesach is associated with the spiritual energy of Gevurah of Chesed. Each consecutive day is associated with the spiritual energy of the next Sefira in the downwards progression from Chesed to Malchut. The 49th day is the Malchut of Malchut. This is the spiritually evolved state of completely desiring to be in the state of pure unconditional love. This opens the 50th gate of Bina. Our attaining the pure state of unconditional love, together in oneness and unity, is associated with the holiday of Shevuot, celebrating the revelation of G-d.