Kabbalah : an introduction to the esoteric heart of Jewish mysticism

130 Pages·2013·43.22 MB·English

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Kabbalah
THIS ISA CARLTON BOOK
Text and design copyright © Cartton
Books Ltd 2005
First published in 2005.
This paperback edition published in 2012
by Carlton Books Ltd
20 Mortimer Street
London WIT 3JW
109 8 76 5 4 3 2 I
This book is sold subject to the condition
that it shall not, by way of trade or other
wise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise
circulated without the publisher's prior
written consent in any form of cover or
binding other than that in which it is
published and without a similar condition
including this condition, being imposed
upon the subsequent purchaser
All rights reserved.
A CIP catalogue for this book is available
from the British Library,
ISBN 978-1-78097-178-0
Editor: Penny Craig
Art Editor: Zoe Dissell
Design: Anita Ruddell
Picture Research: Sarah Edwards
Production:J anette Burgin
Printed in Dubai
Kabbalah
An introduction to the esoteric
heart of Jewish mysticism
Tim Dedopulos
CARLTON

Contents
Chapter One
What Is the Kabbalah?
page 6
Chapter Two
The Tree of Tife
page 2S
Chapter Three
The Mystical Kabbalah
page S'2
Chapter Four
I
Living with the Kabbalah
owi3a
page lOO
Resources
page 124
Index
page 126
Picture Credits
page 12S
Chapter One
What Is the Kabbalah?
The ancient mystic wisdom of the Jewish faith is many things: a map
that shows the path to self-perfection: an elegant model of the psyche;
the heart of the western mystery tradition; a perfect system of corre
spondences; God's blueprint for creation; the key to unlocking your
ultimate potential .... The Kabbalah is all these things and more - a
vibrant body of mystical techniques and teachings that can help unlock
the true meaning of life, the universe and, well, pretty much everything.
The Teaching of Tradition
The word "Kabbalah" is derived from a Hebraic root
word that means "to receive," "to accept," and by
common usage, "tradition." Looking at the various
meanings of the word gives us our first clues. Tradition
is that which is received and accepted - in other words,
knowledge, passed down over the millennia. The
knowledge itself is tradition; the teacher just a vessel. This,
then, is the nature of the Kabbalah: the first and ultimate
knowledge, greater than any master, it takes the foim of KIGiri: Limitless Light: in
a large body of teachings - written, oral and practical - Kabbalistic thought, all the
about the nature of God himself, the birth of the soul, the universe and the diversity of life
process of the creation of the universe, the purpose of within it springs from the light of
life on Earth, and what happens afterward, in addition to God's love.
the wisdom it contains, the Kabbalah also gives specific
techniques for improving your mind, body, soul and life.
Many different groups have adopted and worked with researchers, heretical visionaries and everyone in
the Kabbalah over the centuries. Ever since the Italian between. Ail this different input into the tradition has given
Renaissance masters in the fifteenth century first sought it real vibrancy and life. As in every school of thought, there
to master the compelling power of the Kabbalah from a are competing viewpoints, rivalries and jealousies, but the
Christian viewpoint, a steady stream of European knowl Kabbalah itself benefits from the debate, growing ever
edge-seekers has influenced its development - stronger, its greatest gift to the world, perhaps, is its
alchemists. Gnostics, Freemasons, Rosicrucians, ritual compelling vision of inclusive religious experience. The
ists, Theosophists and more. Each of these groups has Kabbaiah does not try to identify and label God, nor does
developed the tradition in unique ways. it preach about beliefs. Instead, it assures the seeker that
In the meantime, the traditional Kabbalah has it is possible to experience God for oneself, and it offers
remained strong within Judaism, developed by careful techniques for going ahead and doing just that.
What Is the Kabbalah?
The second chapter. The Tree of Life, introduces the
A Guide to the Kabbalah
heart of the Kabbalah, and of the universe itself. The Otz
This book will take you on a grand tour of aii the
Chiim, or Tree of Life, is the sacred centre of Kabbalistic
Kabbalah's many rich aspects. This chapter. What is teaching, the framework upon which everything else
the Kabbalah? looks at the history and development of the hangs. It is the pattern by which God created the universe
tradition, from its early beginnings 3,000 years ago, through - and by which the soul itself is born - as well as the struc
the golden Kabbalistic ages of the twelfth and fifteenth ture by which ail things can be understood. The Tree of
centuries, to more modern times. It will also look at the Life consists of ten Sephiroth. or spheres of influence,
most important strands of divergent thought from the linked by 22 paths, or Nativoth. Understanding the Tree
Judaic teachings, including the "Cabbala" of the Gnostic of Life is the key to perfection of the self and mastery of
Christians and the "Qabaia" of the Hermetic mages. the world.
Chapter One
In the third chapter, The Mystical Kabbalah, we will no doubt among us, as a species, that somewhere along
look in greater detail at the various schools of thought the line, something was responsible, whether it was the
that have integrated the Kabbalah, and the use that they First Word, the Sundering, or (as a new theory suggests)
have made of its mysteries. We will also examine the the accidental collision of a pair of 11-dimensional
psychology of magical and mystical mindsets, and look membranes.
atthe way the Kabbalah has Influenced, guided and been The problem lies in working out exactly what it was
linked to the tarot since its very earliest times. In many that happened, and what we can do to find a point of
important ways, the tarot is a manifestation of the Tree contact, a way to break back into the infinite realms. One
of Life, and understanding the one can greatly influence of the greatest modern scholars of the Kabbalah,
understanding the other. Gershom Scholem, conceived of the structure of
Finally, the fourth chapter. Living with the Kabbalah, religion as something that had evolved over several
will bring things right up to date. We'll look at the discrete stages. In the first, "primitive" stage, religion does
Kabbalah as a modern phenomenon in its incarnation as not admit any significant differentiation between the
a mystical path for the stars, and examine some of the universe and the divine. Stars, heavenly bodies, storms,
ways it has adapted to modern times. Then to finish off, oceans, deep forests, all of these are direct and
you'll discover a wide range of exercises and techniques Immediate aspects of the gods. When lightning strikes,
that will help you put your new-found wisdom to work the Thunder God is angrily smashing his fist onto the
in your own life. The pinnacle of Kabballstic work is the earth. When there is a solar eclipse, the Sun God is dying.
cultivation of "stillness" - that is, to refine and purify the This animistic attitude paints humanity as the plaything
self Into a state of perfection, where true understanding and victim of the divine - in close touch with the gods,
of God, the universe and your own immortal soul can but helpless in the face of their cruelties and whims.
finally be unlocked. The second stage is the "creational." In which God is
Prepare yourself, for you are about to learn the responsible for the formation of the universe and every
deepest, most powerful secrets of creation itself. thing it contains, but he is not part of It. There are many
wonders In nature, but they are evidence of God's power
and creativity, rather than a manifestation of his body.
The Beginnings of Kabbalism
When the seas rise up, it is because God's winds are
The heart of Kabbalistic thought Is nothing less than
blowing, rather than because the sea itself is angry.
the most profound expression of humanity's desire Scholem saw this as Israel's unique contribution to world
to understand the divine- how can a mere mortal, flawed theology. In this model, God Is all-powerful and all-loving,
and unworthy, possibly find a way truly to know God and but withdrawn from the world. Humanity can rely on
discern his purposes? This question has driven the devel God's mercy, but cannot get close to him, nor easily
opment of the Kabbalah, taking it from its very earliest communicate with him.
origins through to its current prominence. The third and most advanced stage of religion Is the
This question is hardly unique to the Kabbalists. We "mystical", and it is the province of the Kabbalah. In this
all feel the need to find some sort of personal answer to final form, the circle starts to close back toward primi
the deepest questions of life, even if the answer some tive animism, but from the point of view of empowered
people choose is just that everything is a random coinci understanding and loving communication. God's created
dence. Every culture throughout history has come up with are able to uncover the paths by which they can make
some sort of explanation as to how the world was their way back to God. They can therefore form very
created. The answers range from the very simple to the personal, open relationships with him; the Lord of All
very complex, from Fiat Lux to the veils of Maya, or the becomes the Loving Friend. By treading the paths of the
mathematical intricacies of the Big Bang. There seems orchard - that is, by studying the Kabbalah - the mystic
Whai Is ihc Kabbalah?
is able to finally come to the perfect relationship with
divinity, in close contact with God, and certain of receiving
his blessings.
The Kabbalah is a map and guide, but at the same
time it is the territory itself. It represents the world, but
also creates it and maintains it. The solid ground beneath - mr>'
our feet is formed by the interplay of the forces it
describes, expressed and channelled through the Tree
of Life. The Kabbalah is a description of creation, a
blueprint for creation, and the very substance of
creation itself, and all Its complexities and intricacies have
developed from that one fundamental question of how fl(% ElftK™
we can know God.
AI50\'F.: Early man sought to tame the fury of nature by
yAdbfRI
naming Its elemental forces and worshipping them,
hoping to win them over.
KIGHT: The Kabbalah manifesting through the Tree of
Life was a powerful image for medieval esoterlcists, as
this 1617 variant Tree of Life by Robert Fludd Indicates.