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Modern culture and a rising popularity of Kabblah amongst celebrities have made Kabbalah appear to be something it is not.
What the Kabbalah IsKabbalah is a form of Jewish mysticism. Modern pop-culture has expanded the popularity of this esoteric branch of Judaism but have diluted it from the original intentions of the people who produced it. This unique branch of Jewish mysticiam includes speculation about the nature of god, magic, and meditative practices. Perhaps the best known symbol known to people who study the Kabbalah is the Ein Sof or the Tree of Life. Ein Sof is a Hebrew phrase that means without end. Because Kabbalah teaches that no one can accurately describe what God is but merely what He is not. Ein Sof means "without end." The Ein Sof interacts with the Universe and humanity through ten emanations of its essence known as the Ten Sefirot. The Ten Sefirot of KabbalahThe Ten Sefirot of the Kabbalah are Keter the crown, Chokhmah which means wisdom, Binah which means understanding, chesed which means or gedulah which means greantess, gevurah which means strength, tiferet which means glory, neztach which means victory, Hod which means majesty, Yesod which means foundation, and Malkut which means sovereignty. The ten sefirot of the Kabbalah are usually represented by a diagram called the tree of life. Their position in the chart and the lines that connect them show their relationship to each other and how each Sefirot is connected. Finding someone who can teach Kabbalah can be difficult. While a number of books have appeared on the subject to appeal to a mass audience, finding authentic teachers can be difficult. Can People Who Are Not Jewish Study the Kabbalah?Aspects of this mystical tradition have been used outside of Judaism for many years. Hermetic Kabbalah dates back to the last decade of the 1500s during the Italian Renaissance. The works of Hermes Trimestigius were being translated in Italy and the King of Spain had forcibly ejected Jews from his country on pain of death. The environment in Italy at the time provided a rich haven for a new hidden teaching which happened to be the Kabbalah brought by Spanish Jews to spread. The Christian mystics at the time seized on it as a new inner key to the Bible. The Jews were at the time were suspicious of the Christian mystics use of the texts as they perceived it as another potential tool Christians might use to convert people to Christianity. What the Kabbalah Branches Have in Common and What to Be Wary OfBoth Hermetic and the Traditional Kabbalah have a belief in magic, ceremony, and ritual in place. Jewish practitioners view it as the great work, while Hermetic practitioners may also do so, they are more likely to use the magic necessary for personal gain. Should a person decide to study this unique branch of Jewish mysticism, finding a teacher that works well with the student and can meet with the student regularly is essential. A number of books have been written on the subject, but it is better to search for scholarly publications rather than books written for mass media consumption. Sources:
The copyright of the article Kabbalah in Alternative Spirituality is owned by Shawn Landis. Permission to republish Kabbalah in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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