The middle pillar of the Tree of Life represents Consciousness or awareness. Kether is the Crown of Consciousness. It represents pure being, unlimited consciousness that transcends space, matter and time. Reaching this level of consciousness is reaching enlightenment since it is associated with transcendence.

In Tifereth, consciousness becomes limited as it steps into the space-time continuum of creation although it remains immortal. The soul, associated with Tifereth is deathless but no longer sees everything from a point outside of creation therefore its view and perception becomes limited.

In Yesod consciousness takes on an ego. The ego is the personality that associates with the body while the soul does not directly associated with the body. The ego therefore becomes an interface between the Soul and Body allowing the soul to act in the physical world yet remaining separate from it. When a person dies, so does the ego since it is a personality that identifies with the body.

In Malkuth we find the body which is simply the House of consciousness. The body is where the personality or ego dwells and acts as an interface for Spirit. The body is only a vessel that allows the soul to act and purify itself until it reaches spiritual consciousness associated with enlightenment. When one has attained enlightenment, the body becomes a vessel for for the Spirit. Therefore the Soul must purify itself until the crown of consciousness is realized. Therefore attaining the Crown of Consciousness seems to be our goal but we can never attain this crown if we remain ignorant and focus only on the physical ignoring the Crown that awaits above.

So as consciousness descends it becomes more and more engrossed in the physical with the ego being the part of consciousness most associated with the physical. In order for a seeker to realize their crown of consciousness, they must turn within and stop identifying with a mortal identity. Only the spirit at Kether behind the abyss remains separate from Creation standing only as the crown that perfects the soul. The One who has perfected the material wears the Crown which is sometimes depicted as halo 😇. At the Level of Kether, the peak of consciousness, MATTER no longer has power or control over you, no, you become its Master, bending it according to your will.

The descent of consciousness from Kether to Malkuth is characterized by limitation of consciousness from immortal pure timeless being to death and limitation in a three dimensional body. Our goal is to climb the ladder of consciousness and to the root and crown of consciousness itself where death would no longer be a problem. Indeed, the crown is our goal and we aspire to wear it.