Kabalah

Some key characteristics of Kabalah

Please read the introductory remarks on the >Home page. I have also previously written a brief overview of Kabalah that can be viewed online at >issue 22 of the Association for Tarot Studies Newsletter. Not wishing to re-present what can be viewed via the link, what follows are some rather brief characteristics.

'Kabalah' can be described as that which is 'received'. This is normally understood to refer to that which is passed on and received by tradition. I would, however, here suggest that Kabalah becomes alight when that which is received transcends the knowedge of tradition, and enters the supernal realms of understanding and wisdom: that which is received from above and transforms one's work is essentially kabalistic.

To be sure, the traditional aspect of Kabalah also forms the foundation of the work. Here, I would suggest that it has three characteristics.

The first refers to key texts, which include the Tanakh (Old Testament), the Sefer Yetzirah, the Bahir, and the Zohar; secondly, there is the glyph of Etz ha’ Hayim (the Tree of Life); and thirdly, the Alefbeit (Hebrew alphabet).

Both the Tree of Life and the Hebrew alphabet have their own pages. I have also linked to an online version of the Sefer Yetzirah - see the links at the bottom of this page. Of the other texts, I leave these as simply mentioned for the time being, though again do refer to my short introduction mentioned above (issue 22 of the ATS Newsletter).

Tetragrammaton - YHVH

I will here only make a short additional comment related to this important name found in the Old Testament (Tanakh). [unfinished]

Festivals

Both Christianity and Judaïsm have three principal festivals (amongst many others 'lesser' festivals, of course), and each matches the other in quite a number of significant ways. It is not, however, the similarities that one can find that are of the greater significance, but rather being able to live into each in its own manner.

At the very least, these six festivals, together with a celebration of the Equinoxes and Solstices, form the foundation of a solid earthly and spiritually striving social group of individuals engaged in its festivities.

The Jewish festivals of Pesach (Passover), Yom Kippur, and Hanukah form one set; the Christian ones of Easter, Pentecost, and Christmas another. With the four points astronomically defined by solstice and equinox, these form ten celebrations.

Kabalah resources

books on the Kabalah

Kaplan, Aryeh Sefer Yetzirah

Kaplan, Aryeh Bahir

Idel, Moshe

Kabalah sites

Foundation Stone (free learn Hebrew software also available)

Z'ev ben Shimon Halevi's Kabbalah Society

Kabalah discussion forum

None that I am aware of that I would specifically recommend

for other Kabalah pages on this site

> Kabalah index (on home page)