Kabbalism is the esoteric tradition and mystical soul of Judaism. It functions as a formal study of the metaphysical source code of the universe. Its roots extend to ancient Babylon.
The tradition was codified during the Middle Ages. Rabbi Moses de León publicised the central compendium, the Zohar, in Islamic Spain. This text contains commentaries on the spiritual meaning of the Torah. It records oral teachings attributed to the first-century Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.
Modern Kabbalism follows the system developed by Rabbi Isaac Luria in the 16th century. This system is known as Lurianic Kabbalism. It defines the relationship between the infinite divine and the finite world.
The Divine Infinite and the Emanations
The absolute, infinite state of God is the Ein Sof. This represents the divine before any manifestation or interaction with the physical world. The Ein Sof is incomprehensible and possesses no anthropomorphic attributes.
Creation requires the infinite to filter into the finite. This process occurs through ten divine emanations called the Sefirot. These emanations form the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life is a structured map of divine energy. The top three Sefirot are Keter, Chokhmah, and Binah. Keter represents the crown or the pure will to create.
Chokhmah is the flash of divine wisdom. Binah is the faculty of understanding that shapes this wisdom into form. Energy flows from the Ein Sof through these circles down to the physical world. The bottom of the Tree of Life is Malkuth. This represents the physical earth and the kingdom of man. It is the receiving point for all divine energy.
The Primordial Shattering and the Other Side
The creation of the finite world involved a catastrophic event called Shevirat HaKeilim. This is the shattering of the vessels. The divine energy from the Ein Sof was too powerful for the Sefirot to contain. The lower vessels shattered under the pressure of the light. This explosion scattered divine sparks throughout the material world. These sparks are called Nitzotzot.
The shattering also produced the Sitra Achra. This is the Other Side. It is the domain of chaos, impurity, and the demonic. The Sitra Achra is composed of Qlippot. These are husks or shells that surround the divine sparks. These husks prevent the light of God from flowing purely into the world.
The material world is currently in a state of disorder. This disorder is the result of the mixing of divine sparks with the gunk of the Qlippot. The existence of evil is the direct consequence of this primordial accident.
The Metaphysics of the Human Soul
Kabbalism describes a macrocosmic, primordial being called Adam Kadmon. This figure is a non-binary or bisexual super-being. It represents the state of humanity before the fall and the fragmentation of gender.
The human soul is divided into distinct categories based on its origin. The Jewish soul is the Nephesh Elokit. This soul contains the divine sparks of the higher Sefirot. Gentile souls are the Nephesh HaBahamit. They originate from the Sitra Achra and the Qlippot. These souls are empty of the higher divine light.
The archetype of the Gentile woman is Lilith. She is the first wife of Adam who rebelled against the divine order. Lilith is the queen of the Other Side and the mother of demons. Judaism is matrilineal to prevent the corruption of the divine soul by the energy of Lilith. Sexual communion with the Shekhinah is the means by which the Jewish people connect with the divine. The Shekhinah is the feminine, receiving aspect of God.
Practical Kabbalism and the Mastery of the Name
Practical Kabbalism involves the manipulation of divine energy through words of power. Speech is the primary mechanism of creation. The phrase Abracadabra derives from the Aramaic Avra Kehdabra, meaning I create as I speak - to speak into being - which is true magic.
A master of this tradition is a Baal Shem. This title means Master of the Name. It refers to the ability to wield the Tetragrammaton, the secret name of God. King Solomon utilised this power to control the demonic. He wore a ring engraved with the name of God to bind fallen angels. These angels provided Solomon with forbidden knowledge.
Solomon captured the demon king Ashmedai to assist in the construction of the Temple. The demon king eventually tricked Solomon and assumed his form. Solomon subsequently turned to idolatry before repenting. The Star of David is a Solomonic seal. It is a symbol used to control demons and harness divine energy. It appears on the flag of the State of Israel as a representation of this power.
The Restoration of the Divine Order
The central mission of the Jewish people is Tikkun Olam. This means repairing the world or repairing the face of God. This is achieved through the performance of mitzvot and prayer. Each righteous act liberates a divine spark from its husk. When all sparks are gathered, the Tree of Life will be restored. This restoration triggers the arrival of the Messiah.
The Messiah is the final piece of the divine filter. He is the ultimate Master of the Name. His arrival requires a landing pad in the physical world. The Jerusalem Temple is this landing pad. It is the root of the Tree of Life on earth. Without the Temple, the Messiah remains caught in the higher emanations.
The Messianic Age involves the total subjugation of the Sitra Achra. The Qlippot will be destroyed or transformed. The Jewish people will rule the world as originally intended by the Ein Sof.
Gentiles who survive this transition will serve the nation of Israel. Their free will will be removed as their connection to the gunk of the Other Side is severed. The world will then exist in a state of perfect, technocratic unity.
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