The Kabbalah is an esoteric interpretation of Bibical scriptures which can be studied via archetypal associations to receive insights into the various aspects of God and for personal spiritual growth.
The first known manuscripts date from 11th century France; from there the study was especially taken up in medieval Spain. Legend say that the Kabbalah's roots may go as far back as Abraham, evolving through Merkabah, or Chariot mysticism, of Enoch and Ezequiel (recorded in the Sefer Raziel, a compilation of their visions).
Kabbalah Theme of Ascent
Neo-platonic and Gnostic ideas influenced the Kabbalah. It has also been interpreted as a system for Christian mysticism. According to Archetypes on the Tree, Teachings of the Paul Foster Case Tarot, by Sorel A.L., "the theme of ascent is what working with the Tree of Life is all about...we see the evolution of distinct levels or worlds in this visionary journey which have become finely articulated by various initiates and mystics as the tradition developed."
The Sefer Yetzirah, which supposedly recorded Abraham's mystical visions, was written as an attempt to resolve the dichotomy of "theosophical Hebraic streams with Neoplatonism." A complex system was described in the book that related "the ten primordial numbers, or sephirot, the 22 sacred letters of the Hebrew alphabet and the 32 paths of Wisdom (Chokmah or Sophia) by which God created the world."
Contemplating the Tree of Life
Hebrew words and letters connate multiple associations and meanings, unlike younger languages like English in which meanings are more denotative. Students of the Kabbalah study these associations, as well as the spiritual meanings of numbers and the multiple Hebraic names for God, applying these to the Tree of Life.
Tradition and modern practice of the Kabbalah revolve around contemplation of the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life consists of ten spheres, or sephira, which represent different emanations of divine energy, from Kether, the most etheric at the top of the Tree, to Malkuth, also referred to as "earth" or "kingdom," found at the bottom.
Each sephoroth also has multiple attributions associated with it, archetypes that carry the energy of each emanation. Thus, different mythological deities, legends, symbols, herbs, gems, etc. can be "correspondences" that help students understand the various aspects of God, as well as their own spiritual evolution.
Ain Soph, Negative Existence
According to Kabbalastic teaching, all of the Sephira eminate from Ain Soph, or negative existence, which lies beyond all attributes or ideas. In other words, Ain Soph is the transcendent and unknowable Godhead, the First Cause. By contemplating the Sephira, one can delve into a deeper understanding of the reality of God, but never to the deepest level of Ain Soph, because it surpasses the nature of thought altogether.
Sources
Soror A.L., Archetypes on the Tree: Teachings of the Paul Foster Case Tarot, The Raphael Group, Berkeley, 2009.
FREEDICTIONARYTheFreeDictionary.com/Kabalistic. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
Alethea Eason - Alethea Eason is a writer, teacher and free-lance editor. Hungry, her humorous middle grade science fiction novel was published by ...
