The Subtle Body in Sufism and Kabbalah: Islamic and Jewish Mystical Anatomy

By Nicole, Founder of Mystic Ryst

While Eastern traditions like Hinduism and Buddhism are well-known for their detailed maps of the subtle body—chakras, nadis, and energy centers—the Western monotheistic mystical traditions of Sufism (Islamic mysticism) and Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) have equally sophisticated systems of spiritual anatomy. These traditions describe the human being as composed of multiple souls, spiritual organs, and subtle centers that must be purified, activated, and aligned for spiritual realization.

Sufism speaks of the Lataif (subtle centers of consciousness), the Qalb (spiritual heart), and the Nafs (ego-soul) that must be transformed. Kabbalah describes the Neshamah (higher soul), the Sefirot as spiritual centers, and the Partzufim (divine faces) within the human structure. Both traditions offer complete maps of the inner journey from the dense material self to the refined spiritual self.

For spiritual entrepreneurs, these mystical systems offer profound wisdom about inner transformation, the purification of intention, the refinement of consciousness, and the alignment of the human will with the Divine Will—all essential for building businesses that serve a higher purpose while remaining grounded in ethical practice.

Let's explore the subtle body in Sufism and Kabbalah and discover how these ancient wisdom traditions can guide modern spiritual business.

The Sufi Subtle Body

The Lataif: Subtle Centers of Consciousness

Lataif (singular: Latifa) = "Subtleties" or "Gentle things"

The Lataif are spiritual organs or centers of consciousness that must be awakened and purified.

The Five (or Seven) Lataif

Different Sufi orders describe different numbers, but the most common system has five:

1. Qalb (The Heart) - Yellow/Gold

• Location: Left side of chest (physical heart area)
• Color: Yellow or gold
• Quality: Divine love, spiritual perception
• Prophet: Adam (peace be upon him)
• Function: Receives divine light, perceives spiritual realities
• When purified: Becomes a mirror reflecting divine attributes

2. Ruh (The Spirit) - Red

• Location: Right side of chest
• Color: Red
• Quality: Divine breath, life force
• Prophet: Abraham (peace be upon him)
• Function: Connection to divine spirit, inspiration
• When purified: Receives divine inspiration and guidance

3. Sirr (The Secret) - White

• Location: Solar plexus or center of chest
• Color: White
• Quality: Divine secrets, intimate knowledge
• Prophet: Moses (peace be upon him)
• Function: Direct communion with the Divine
• When purified: Receives divine secrets and mysteries

4. Khafi (The Hidden) - Black

• Location: Forehead (third eye area)
• Color: Black (the color of mystery)
• Quality: Hidden divine knowledge
• Prophet: Jesus (peace be upon him)
• Function: Perception of the unseen
• When purified: Sees beyond the veil

5. Akhfa (The Most Hidden) - Green

• Location: Center of chest or crown
• Color: Green (the color of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)
• Quality: The deepest divine mystery
• Prophet: Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)
• Function: Complete annihilation in the Divine
• When purified: Union with the Divine, fana (annihilation of ego)

The Nafs: The Ego-Soul

The Nafs is the ego, the lower self, the animal soul that must be transformed.

The Seven Stages of the Nafs:

1. Nafs al-Ammara (The Commanding Soul): Commands to evil, completely ego-driven
2. Nafs al-Lawwama (The Blaming Soul): Conscience awakens, self-reproach begins
3. Nafs al-Mulhima (The Inspired Soul): Receives divine inspiration
4. Nafs al-Mutma'inna (The Tranquil Soul): At peace, surrendered to divine will
5. Nafs al-Radiyya (The Pleased Soul): Pleased with divine decree
6. Nafs al-Mardiyya (The Pleasing Soul): Pleasing to the Divine
7. Nafs al-Safiyya/Kamila (The Pure/Perfected Soul): Completely purified, perfected

The spiritual journey is the transformation of the Nafs from stage 1 to stage 7.

The Qalb: The Spiritual Heart

The Qalb (heart) is the central organ of spiritual perception in Sufism.

Characteristics:

• Not the physical heart, but the spiritual heart
• Can be polished or rusted
• When polished: reflects divine light
• When rusted: covered by sins and heedlessness
• The seat of faith (iman)
• The organ that "sees" God

Hadith: "Truly in the body there is a morsel of flesh which, if it be sound, all the body is sound and which, if it be diseased, all of it is diseased. Truly it is the heart."

The Kabbalistic Subtle Body

The Five Levels of the Soul

Kabbalah describes the soul as having five levels, from lowest to highest:

1. Nefesh (Vital Soul)

• Level: Lowest, animal soul
• Location: Associated with the body, especially the blood
• Function: Physical vitality, instincts, desires
• Quality: Life force, animation
• All humans have this

2. Ruach (Spirit)

• Level: Emotional and moral soul
• Location: Heart area
• Function: Emotions, moral choices, personality
• Quality: Wind, breath, spirit
• Developed through ethical living

3. Neshamah (Higher Soul)

• Level: Intellectual and spiritual soul
• Location: Head/brain
• Function: Intellect, spiritual awareness, connection to divine
• Quality: Breath of God, divine spark
• Developed through Torah study and spiritual practice

4. Chayah (Living Essence)

• Level: Transcendent soul
• Location: Beyond the body
• Function: Connection to divine will
• Quality: Life itself, divine vitality
• Accessed by tzaddikim (righteous ones)

5. Yechidah (Unique Essence)

• Level: Highest, unity with God
• Location: Completely transcendent
• Function: Absolute unity with the Divine
• Quality: Oneness, the point where soul and God are one
• The ultimate goal

The Sefirot as Spiritual Centers

The Ten Sefirot (emanations) of the Tree of Life also exist within the human being:

Upper Triad (Intellectual):

• Keter (Crown): Divine will, crown of the head
• Chochmah (Wisdom): Intuitive flash, right brain
• Binah (Understanding): Analytical understanding, left brain

Middle Triad (Emotional):

• Chesed (Loving-kindness): Expansive love, right arm
• Gevurah (Strength/Judgment): Restraint, discipline, left arm
• Tiferet (Beauty/Harmony): Balance, heart center

Lower Triad (Action):

• Netzach (Victory/Eternity): Endurance, right leg
• Hod (Splendor/Glory): Humility, left leg
• Yesod (Foundation): Connection, sexual organs/foundation

Manifestation:

• Malchut (Kingdom): Physical manifestation, feet/earth

Each Sefirah is a spiritual center that must be balanced and activated.

The Partzufim: Divine Faces

Lurianic Kabbalah describes Partzufim (divine configurations) within the human:

• Atik Yomin (Ancient of Days): Highest, most hidden
• Arich Anpin (Long Face): Divine patience
• Abba (Father): Wisdom, giving
• Imma (Mother): Understanding, receiving
• Zeir Anpin (Small Face): The six emotional sefirot, the heart
• Nukvah (Female): Malchut, receptivity, manifestation

Parallels Between Sufism and Kabbalah

The Correspondences

Shared Principles

1. Multiple Souls/Levels: Both describe the human as having multiple soul levels

2. Purification Required: The lower must be purified to access the higher

3. The Heart is Central: The spiritual heart is the key organ

4. Transformation of Ego: The ego/lower self must be transformed or transcended

5. Union with Divine: The ultimate goal is unity with God

6. Ethical Foundation: Spiritual development requires ethical living

Business Applications: Sufi-Kabbalistic Wisdom

Purifying the Business Nafs/Nefesh

Your business has a Nafs (ego) that must be transformed:

Stage 1: Nafs al-Ammara (Commanding to Evil)

• Business driven purely by greed, ego, exploitation
• No ethics, only profit
• Harmful to others

Stage 2: Nafs al-Lawwama (Self-Reproaching)

• Conscience awakens
• You recognize when you're out of alignment
• Self-correction begins

Stage 3: Nafs al-Mulhima (Inspired)

• Divine inspiration guides your business
• You receive insights and guidance
• Purpose becomes clear

Stage 4: Nafs al-Mutma'inna (Tranquil)

• Business at peace, surrendered to divine will
• Trust in the process
• Detachment from outcomes

Stages 5-7: Pleased, Pleasing, Perfected

• Business becomes a vehicle for divine service
• Complete alignment with higher purpose
• Business as worship

Practice: Assess which stage your business is at. What needs to transform to move to the next stage?

Activating the Business Lataif

Work with each Latifa in your business:

Qalb (Heart) - Yellow:

• Activate: Lead with heart, love your work and clients
• Purify: Remove coldness, calculation, heartlessness
• Result: Heart-centered business that people feel

Ruh (Spirit) - Red:

• Activate: Infuse your business with spirit and life
• Purify: Remove deadness, going-through-motions energy
• Result: Alive, inspired, spirited business

Sirr (Secret) - White:

• Activate: Access divine secrets and wisdom for your business
• Purify: Remove reliance only on worldly knowledge
• Result: Business guided by divine wisdom

Khafi (Hidden) - Black:

• Activate: See the unseen opportunities and truths
• Purify: Remove blindness to spiritual realities
• Result: Visionary business that sees what others miss

Akhfa (Most Hidden) - Green:

• Activate: Complete surrender to divine will in business
• Purify: Remove all ego attachment
• Result: Business as pure service, fana in work

Balancing the Business Sefirot

Your business needs all ten Sefirot balanced:

Keter (Crown): Divine will—what is your business's highest purpose?
Chochmah (Wisdom): Intuitive flashes—trust your business intuition
Binah (Understanding): Analysis—understand your market and strategy
Chesed (Loving-kindness): Generosity—give freely, serve abundantly
Gevurah (Strength): Boundaries—say no, maintain standards, discipline
Tiferet (Beauty): Balance—harmonize all aspects, create beauty
Netzach (Victory): Endurance—persist, don't give up
Hod (Splendor): Humility—stay humble, acknowledge limitations
Yesod (Foundation): Connection—build strong relationships and foundation
Malchut (Kingdom): Manifestation—bring it all into physical reality

Practice: Which Sefirot are strong in your business? Which are weak? Balance them.

Spiritual Practices

Sufi Dhikr (Remembrance) for Business

Dhikr = Remembrance of God through repetition of divine names

Business Dhikr Practice:

1. Choose a divine name relevant to your business need:
   • Al-Razzaq (The Provider) - for abundance
   • Al-Fattah (The Opener) - for new opportunities
   • Al-Hakim (The Wise) - for wisdom
   • Al-Wadud (The Loving) - for heart-centered work
2. Repeat 99, 300, or 1000 times
3. With each repetition, breathe the quality into your business
4. Feel your business becoming infused with that divine attribute

Kabbalistic Meditation on the Sefirot

1. Visualize the Tree of Life within your body
2. Breathe light into each Sefirah, starting from Malchut (feet) up to Keter (crown)
3. As you breathe into each, contemplate its quality in your business
4. Balance any that feel weak or excessive
5. End with all ten Sefirot glowing in harmony

The Heart Polishing Practice (Sufi)

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said the heart can become rusted and must be polished.

Polish your business heart:

1. Identify what has rusted your business heart (greed, fear, resentment, etc.)
2. Seek forgiveness (tawbah) and make amends
3. Engage in acts of service and generosity
4. Dhikr and prayer
5. Return to your original pure intention

The Promise of Mystical Anatomy

When you work with Sufi and Kabbalistic subtle body wisdom:

• You transform your business from ego-driven to spirit-led
• You activate spiritual centers within your work
• You balance divine attributes in your business
• You purify intention and align with divine will
• You build a business that serves the highest good
• You integrate Western monotheistic mysticism with entrepreneurship

The Invitation

Sufism and Kabbalah offer profound maps of the inner journey—from the dense ego-self to the refined spiritual self, from separation to union, from the commanding soul to the perfected soul. These aren't just personal practices—they apply to your business, your work, your creative output.

Your business has a Nafs that must be transformed. It has Lataif that must be activated. It has Sefirot that must be balanced. It has a heart (Qalb) that must be polished.

Polish your business heart. Transform your business Nafs. Activate your Lataif. Balance your Sefirot. Build a business that reflects divine attributes.

Do you work with Sufi or Kabbalistic practices? How do you integrate mystical wisdom into your business? I'd love to hear your journey.