The Four Worlds of Qabalah: Applying Mystical Philosophy to Your Natal Chart for Ultimate Productivity
The Four Worlds sequence taught in qabalah outlines a mystical creation process, a divine checklist and how-to manual to manifest your goal. I call this sequence “Spark! Dream! Focus! Finish!” and use it to get things done! In this post I’ll explain where it comes from and how it works. Then, by identifying the four worlds in your natal chart, I’ll show you how you can use this mystical philosophy to increase your productivity!
I’ve written about the Four Worlds many times on my blog. Check out the Four Worlds of Qabalah category for a list of resources. It’s also addressed in some of my videos, for instance, “40-Step Manifestation Process” and “Kindergarten Kabbalah.”
The Four Worlds Of Qabalah
Spark!
- Title: Atziluth, “Emanation”
- Hebrew Letter: Yod
- Element: Fire
- Tarot Suit: Wands
- Experience: Something-out-of-nothing inspiration
Dream!
- Title: Briah, “Creation”
- Hebrew Letter: Heh
- Element: Water
- Tarot Suit: Cups
- Experience: Imagine the possibilities
Focus!
- Title: Yetzirah, “Formation”
- Hebrew Letter: Vav
- Element: Air
- Tarot Suit: Swords
- Experience: Measure and cut
Finish!
- Title: Assiah, “Manifestation”
- Hebrew Letter: Final Heh
- Element: Earth
- Tarot Suit: Pentacles
- Experience: The finished object, the completed goal
Spark! Dream! Focus! Finish! is a Creative Process

The creative process is outside time. You can think of it as a vertical axis from above—Spark, or the connection to Source, to below—Finish, a presence in the manifest world. This is a sequence from nothing to something. It can have the complete clarity of a psychic download or feel as vague as an urge that you don’t understand. However you experience it, it is the goal that inspires you, your motivating force.
To say that it’s outside of time means that this creative process is not dependent on time. Think of a time when you got an idea so clear, you were able to just do it, no additional thought or planning required, the idea itself contained everything you needed. That’s an example of the SDFF process working at its best. It’s like the sun shining brightly.
But most of us, most of the time, don’t get our ideas all at once like that. They might come in fits and starts, like a cloudy day with rare glimpses of the light. When that’s the case, it’s true that your process takes time to come together and congeal. But the sun was there with its illumination unceasingly. That’s what we mean by beyond time. Even in many creation myths, the main elements of coming-into-being unfold before the imposition of linear time.
This is one of the keys to understanding the Spark! Dream! Focus! Finish! process. These are the spiritual forces behind the work that we do.
The Qabalistic Order of the Four Elements
By the way, there are different ways of arranging the elements. We’re using the qabalistic four worlds, which inspired the Golden Dawn approach to the tarot. But to be comprehensive, you can arrange them many ways:
- Qabalah: Fire, Water, Air, Earth
- Astrological, based on the four cardinal seasons: Fire, Water, Air, Earth (this has the benefit of being the same as the qabalistic arrangement!)
- Astrological, based on the four fixed seasons; also the order of the four kerubs: Earth, Fire, Water, Air
- Classical, based on Aristotle and the Ptolemaic cosmos: Fire, Air, Water, Earth
- Astrological, based on the first four signs of the zodiac: Fire, Earth, Air, Water
- Neo-Pagan, based on the four quarters of the circle: Air, Fire, Water, Earth
- Alphabetical: Air, Earth, Fire, Water
- Others?
Descriptions of Spark! Dream! Focus! Finish!
Spark: Something from nothing. This is the lightbulb moment of a new idea.
Dream: Imagine the possibilities. This is the gushing feeling of option after option cascading over you.
Focus: Measure and cut. This is the stark necessity of evaluating what will work and what won’t. You review and revise, fix problems, and determine how to work within the limits reality imposes.
Finish: The completed object. The conclusion, accomplishment, manifestation and realization. The release of the created into the world.
Understanding the Qabalistic Four Worlds: Pottery Example
This is my favorite example of this process, the pottery example.
Spark: So, one day I come home and as I’m putting my keys on the entryway table in the foyer (because apparently my dream house has a foyer), I suddenly think, “you know what would look great here? A vase!” This is a new idea, something from nothing. I come home every day, put my keys here every day, I’ve never had that thought before. But today, something sparked, and now I want a vase.
Dream: I start imagining what it’s going to look like, its size, shape, design, color, decoration, and function. It’s going to be big and curved and hold long-stem flowers, and have gold leaf accents and will be so beautiful! This is the “Dream!” stage where I imagine all the possibilities.
Focus: I’m so inspired I head immediately to my pottery studio out back (because apparently in my dream house I have a pottery studio) and begin gathering supplies. Unfortunately (yup, this is the swords stage), I only have a pound of clay, and I’m out of the glazes I imagined, and there’s not enough gold leaf. I could order all these things, but it would be expensive and take too long and I want this now! So reality sets in and I make adjustments to my vision based on these limitations. During this stage, I also shape the pot, or for instance if I was making something from wood or fabric, I would measure and cut the pieces. In fact, this qabalistic world is called Yetzirah, which has the same root as yatser, meaning “a potter shaping clay.” That’s how I came up with this pottery example!
Finish: I finally complete my work, fire the pot, and it’s done! It’s not exactly as I imagined it, but I still love it and it will definitely hold flowers to brighten up my foyer.
What is Your Creative Process?
Grab a copy of your astrology chart because we’re going to look at the four elements in your chart to determine what your personal creative process is like.
Which element is most common for you? Counting the Ascendant and 10 planets, determine how many placements you have in each element. If there’s a tie, give extra weight for Sun, Moon, and Asc. The Fire signs are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. Water signs are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. Air signs are Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. And earth signs are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.
- If you have about the same number of planets in each element, you’re probably pretty balanced.
- If you have a preponderance of planets in one or two elements, those are likely stronger.
- If you have one or no planets in an element, that’s probably weaker.
- Also, note where your Sun and Moon are, and where the benefic planets Venus and Jupiter are. These areas probably are easier. Take sect (whether you have a day or night chart) into consideration as well.
- Likewise, note where the malefic planets Mars and Saturn are. These might indicate areas of especial challenge.
- For people more experienced in astrology, it can be interesting to note the planets and their significations that reside in each level—this can provide a deeper level of insight into the creative process.
How to Use Spark! Dream! Focus! Finish! To Get things Done
Examine where your strengths and weaknesses fall in the SDFF process. You might find that it’s easiest to approach creative projects from a place of strength. For instance, someone who has a lot of Finish (Earth) might find themselves planning down to the last detail, honoring their strong ability to complete things even in the earlier stages. Someone with a lot of Focus (Air) might find that they are all about the process, the refining and reworking. I’ve had Focus-centered clients who don’t even need to complete things because they are fulfilled by the earlier stages of the process. On the other hand, if you’re weak in Spark (Fire), you might find that you need outside inspiration. Hanging out with other Fire people should get you going!
On the down side, your strength can also become your comfort zone. If you feel stuck, you might be overindulging the stage that is most natural for you and procrastinating moving forward to a stage that is weak or challenging for you. Recognizing this and knowing the next step is half the battle!
When you have trouble moving into a stage that is difficult, it helps to skip over that step to the next one. I am strong in water with no air in my chart, so I get lost in the dream stage often. For instance, although I have lots of ideas, I find the actual writing challenging. I do well with outlines, which imposes an earthy structure. But even so, my notes often end up in a jumbled mess. For me, jumping over Focus and going straight to Finish helps. I do this by putting the notes I have into a blog post or PowerPoint template, shifting my focus to the finished product. Then the air level fills in out of necessity, forcing my expansive ideas to get to the point.
Remember, the sun is always shining above the clouds!
Free Workshop

Join me for a free workshop on this topic on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 9:30 AM via Zoom at the Greater Seattle Tarot Meetup.
Or for a more personalized experience, schedule a session if you’d like my help understanding this process in your own chart.