What is Kabbalah?

Expand Your Spiritual Approach With the Kabbalah

You’ve heard of the Kabbalah (spelled numerous ways). Famous personalities from Madonna to Demi Moore have been associated with it. Is it a religion? A philosophy? A dangerous cult?

The challenge to understanding the Kabbalah is that it’s thousands of years old, and its sources are even older. Over the ages, various groups or schools have focused on one or more aspects of the Kabbalah, often adding new concepts and modifying ideas. This is similar to the way there are numerous Christian churches and sects today. The brief introduction here will try to include the basics.

Although mythically the sources of the Kabbalah go back to Adam after he was driven from the Garden of Eden, the sons of Noah, and Moses’ brother Aaron, founder of the Jewish priesthood, historically it really started to develop around the beginning of the common era 2,000 years ago. Certainly it had earlier sources, ranging from Middle Eastern folk magic to mystical interpretations of the Jewish Bible. This included the shamanic techniques of the early Jewish tribes known as Merkabah Mysticism, where practitioners known as Merkabah Riders would go into a trance, travel through seven visualized spiritual palaces, and have the ecstatic experience of gazing upon God and His throne! The first books on aspects that became part of the Kabbalah can only be traced back 2,000 years. The most famous Kabbalistic book, the Zohar, supposedly goes back to that time, but was only published in the thirteenth century.

The Kabbalah is not a single book or idea. Rather, it is the mystical underpinnings of the three great Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and to a lesser extent, Islam. Traditionally, it is composed of four parts or branches:

The Dogmatic Kabbalah is a study of Kabbalistically-oriented books. The most famous are the Tanach (the Jewish Bible) and the Zohar. Others include the Bahir and Sefer Yetzirah.

The Practical Kabbalah explains the making of talismans and amulets, primarily for health, safe childbirth, and fertile crops and cattle.

The Literal Kabbalah consists of several methods of finding and making codes. Originally, these were used to find secrets within the Bible. They were also used in the making of talismans and amulets, often using abbreviations to represent long passages of writing.

The Unwritten Kabbalah, until the last 150 years, has been the most secret aspect of the Kabbalah. It is based on the concept of correspondences. For example, the color red corresponds to being energetic while blue corresponds to feeling calm. Long and elaborate lists of correspondences have developed over time to help people make changes in their lives. It has become a basis for designing magical rituals and spells by many practitioners of magic. The famous image known as the Tree of Life can function like a filing cabinet, allowing people to memorize and use the correspondences to achieve their goals. An example of a set of correspondences is that the planet Mars is associated with martial energy and the color red. Therefore, by using more red, you can bring more of that Mars energy into your life.

For ages, the Kabbalah was nurtured within Jewish culture, so it has very Jewish overtones to it. A few centuries ago, some Christian mystics investigated the Kabbalah with a goal of using it to convert Jews to Christianity. Although that goal failed, it helped open the wisdom of the Kabbalah to non-Jews.

Using the Kabbalah

The easiest way to make use of the Kabbalah in your life without years of study is through the use of correspondences. Simply burn a colored candle according to the following chart when you want to gain the listed qualities:

Light Blue: Tranquility, Understanding, Patience
Dark Blue: Ending Depression, Starting Change
Red: Strength, Vigor, Lust
Yellow: Attraction, Charm, Confidence
Green: Improved Finances, Fertility, Luck
Orange: Encouragement, Adaptability
Purple: Ambition, Business Progress
Pink: Honor, Love, Morality

Of course, only burning a candle won’t get you anything. However, it can help turn your mind and actions toward focusing on your desires. Focus and action—mind and body united—can help you achieve your goals. This combination is a part of Kabbalistic magic.

The true challenge of the Kabbalah is that it is not part of mainstream spiritual practices. Following Kabbalistic ideas requires you to expand your boundaries and give up spiritual and religious dogma. Not everyone is able to do it. But if you’re up for a challenge, the study of the Kabbalah may be for you!

Donald Michael Kraig graduated from UCLA with a degree in philosophy, and has become a certified hypnotherapist and Master NLP practitioner. His book, Modern Magick, is the most popular step-by-step course in real magick ever published.