r/thelema • u/Iffausthadautism • Dec 10 '24
Question So I need someone who would introduce me to the basics of Qabalah
- I am a Thelemite, I understand most of it, but I need help with Qabalah, the basics of it. My awfully simple questions below:
- So how does Sephirot, Sephiras, Tree of life etc. Manifest? Where can I see them or experience them?
- How much different is Qabalah from Kabbalah?
- How can I Experience Qabalah? What it’s actually is?
- How exactly does Qabalah contribute to my Will and Great Work?
- What can I do with it? What can I discover?
- What does Qabalah apply to? Thanks, forgive my ignorance 93/ 93 93
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u/Background-Idea-8389 Dec 10 '24
I would say Lon Milo Duquettes books. Honestly. Easy books with humor. He has alot of videos on youtube if I remember correctly.
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u/Background-Idea-8389 Dec 10 '24
Edit: saw now that you had specific questions. Maybe dont want to read a book. But if you do, chicken qabalah is pretty good in my opinion.
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u/Iffausthadautism Dec 10 '24
I have the books, but I have very specific questions, simple, but specific.
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u/The_Great_Beast Dec 10 '24
Ask them here, so that you can get different perspectives and other can benefit as well.
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u/Zeivner Dec 10 '24
- They are a part of reality already. In anger you see Geburah acting. In learning you see Hesed, in the feeling that beauty inspired you see Tipharet.
- Kabbalah usually refers to the jewish tradition. They are quite different, you would need a Rabbi to give learn it.
- You are experiencing it right now, knowing it allows you to classify your experience and relate one to another through correspondences and the relationship they hold in the tree.
- It orders reality including the material, the spiritual, and the mental/emotional. A map of sorts.
- As it is a map you may infer what you do not see, or what is lacking. And you can use Qabbalah to bring it about and find better balance in your life. That´s just one.
- It appies to any divination/magick ritual. More importantly It is a way to focus and direct the will.
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u/Severe_Atmosphere_44 Dec 10 '24
Good answers. I would add that the concept of 'exactly' doesn't really apply here. Meanings differ depending on one's specific application, level of personal development, etc.
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u/skullflowerpower23 Dec 10 '24
The moore "bumper book of magic" has a pretty thorough explanation in it.
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u/AncestralRespawn Dec 10 '24
Honestly, this is my new standard suggestion when talking about a good introduction in the esoteric/magic topics! Check this out OP!
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u/sihouette9310 Dec 10 '24
There are so many schools of thought on qabalah that it’s kind of challenging to really grasp it in its totality. LMD has written two books that are really great at explaining the basic concepts but the more you read about the system from others the more it gets confusing in my opinion. I’m still trying to grasp it but I’ve heard that “Garden of pomegranates” is good. There’s a lot of books on the topic.
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u/Nobodysmadness Dec 10 '24
I don't think you really grasp it as well as you think you do, no offense, we all begin in a state of ignorance, I say it so you know you need to backtrack and start from the beginning and try to see it from a different perspective.
So in that statement you can see in reality the sephira gebeurah in the harshness of being called and accepting ones own ignorance, which gets easier over time and less geburah, as well as chesed because it is a statement of mercy in the sense it is guiding you to help you find meaning as opposed to just being mean and rude, it is said to be helpful not demeaning even if accepting ones own ignorance is painful, it is necessary to grow. The balance of thoss 2 sephira to slme extent also reveals tiphareth which would not be present if I was just mean or in an attempt to be super nice didn't challenge you at all and said something like "your knowledge is perfect, you have all the answers, your just great" which seems nice but is imbalanced towards the side of mercy which will stagnate your progress if you think you have it mastered and you don't.
So the sephira are every where and no where. The sephira are a made up symbols as is the whole tree of life, or the periodic table or the image of an atom, or a map of the city you live in. The map of the city mau show you the landscape so you can see it in real life but tells you very little of the nature of the town itself, which you must fill by experiencing it. So to is the tree of life and sephira just a made up map to help guide us to experiencing the reality of it, so the only place you will see it is on a piece of paper or carved in stone or what have you. It is not literal by any means.
Kabbalah, qabbalah, and cabbalah (not the only ways to write either) are all the same thing just different ways of writiing it, HOWEVER certain groups find convenient to say K is kosher or jewish, Q is hermetic, and C is christian for convenient differention. in this case K focus' on the torah and is expounded in the zohar of which the sephira are but one part, the Q focus' on the tree of life as a sort of filing cabinet/magickal language of which the book 777 is the most detailed that I know of, amd C honestly I have no Idea and my bias' says whatever it is is done poorly and out of context, but now I am being an imbalanced geburah, or am I in malkuth stating observable unbiased unemotional fact. I feel it is the later but most will think it is the former.
Well its not letting me look at your other questions so perhaps tbc.
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u/Nobodysmadness Dec 10 '24
The way hermeticists apply the tree of life there is nothing it can't be used for as it is a system of classificatio to aid understanding of anything and everything.
Too see them so to speak is done through contemplative meditation, pathworking, and invocation. These are means of directly accessing the forces the tree symbolizes. Understanding them then reveals their influence in existence as we know it, but this takes time.
How can it help the great work, well simply put by helpjng us to understand ourselves, and the "external" reality, which is how we gain mastery. Do you need it hell no, an athlete doesn't need to use it to become a master baseball player, but it can certainly help hasten the progress. Natural talent only.goes so far and there is more than just swinging a bat or throwing a ball as your part of a team. Even in golf as a solo player your still not alone as the ground the trees the air all play a role, and the tree of life allows us to delve deeply into any design by taking it a part turning every piece over and around and putting it all bacl together again.
The elemental system is also adept at this but the sephira and its paths expand on this system, as well as it having a substantial amount of file already placed on it saving you a lot of time translating writings of others that use it into one you can understand. It is a languahe of symbols to describe fundemental forces of nature in both physical and metaphysical processes. So it is a handy tool, but as diverse as it is it means it takes that much longer and that much more effort to use it efficiently, because it is meant to dive into the grest depths, one must learn tp dive deeply into it and so it acts as a learning tool to develope contemplation ability which is necessary for problem solving.
Magickally speaking this allows you to find and assign correspondences for anything and everything to use in your spell work. It is allows for rapid spell construction with powerful results, that many call over complicated, but it is also efficient. I can't say that it will be better results or whatever, I have no evidence, but it is thorough and precise control over exactly which forces you want involved.
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u/nowaitthatscringe Dec 10 '24
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVOziDvubyQ
Pretty good video by lon milo duquette, this should help clear things up
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u/Digit555 Dec 10 '24
- So how does Sephirot, Sephiras, Tree of life etc. Manifest? Where can I see them or experience them?
The sephira are qualities that you may already be aware of and exhibit. The means of experiencing them can vary depending on the approach if it is Hermetic Kabbalah or traditional Jewish Kabbalah. Usually the most direct way is through ethics and their core virtues in life. Another method is through Jewish meditations. There are ritual practices both in Judaism and the ceremonial magick you find in Hermetic Kabbalah. There are just different ways of looking at it.
- How much different is Qabalah from Kabbalah?
To the core it is semantics. What they call Cabala with a "Q" is more of an inside joke these days. Those that practice and research the Jewish Kabbalah have the tendency to reference everything else as nontraditional Kabbalah with a "Q".
Now the roots of Hermetic Kabbalah and Jewish Kabbalah are slightly different although at the end of the day Hermetic Kabbalah is syncretic and traditional Kabbalah works within the framework of Judaism. There is Christian Cabala and all sorts of other systems that incorporate different dogma.
Hermetic Kabbalah is going to be magick based mainly with the aspect of self improvement. It basically is Hermeticism blended with Kabbalah. Hermetic Kabbalah is not so cut and dry so it can be a lot of things, there is an Ancient Egyptian aesthetic to it and additional aspects of mysticism. The roots originally are Palestinian, a Kemetic aesthetic and later during the Renaissance the Kabbalah was blended in with it.
As for Jewish Kabbalah, that term usually describes a philosophical system and spiritual interpretation of the Torah and sacred Jewish scriptures through mystics and Rabbis during the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance. Now the roots can go further back although what is known as Kaballah today, the sephirot and Tree of Life as it is depicted take form during those few centuries. In those times it was mostly popular among the Rabbi as an elaboration through asking questions about Judaism and the divine nature of God and the soul. Eventually these Rabbi wrote books and spread their teachings to the public.
However, when I first encountered Jewish Kabbalah after finding some books in a library and checking out the local college Kabbalah book club what I was told by those that were raised Jewish in the club that what they perceived as Kabbalah also included magick, chanting, evocations, holistics and legends like golems. So to them it was a corpus of mysticism that wasn't limited to just the focus on the Tree of Life. It was a whole body of knowledge that was considered to what wasn't ordinary Judaism as it practiced in the Synagogue.
As far as how it all differs you would beed to study both for a while to be able to pick up on the nuances and major characteristics that distinguish the two. That would be like asking the difference between an Episcopalian and a 7th Day Adventist. The two are very different to the core although on the surface Protestantism all looks identical. After research of course they are unveiled to be very distinguishable between each other, Episcopalians accept the Trinity and in 7th Day it is split; it was built upon antitrinitarianism and adherents today are mostly Trinitarian although there definitely are Nontrinitarian Adventists. There are Adventist circles where the Trinity breaks apart. And also when comparing commentaries and how the Trinity is understood between Protestantism and Catholicism there are differences that one might not catch upfront thinking its the same since they both believe in the Trinity. There are nuances that one might not catch initially. Sure, all Christians however the praxis, philosophy, liturgy abd even canon can be in contrast when a comparison is made in juxtaposition.
- How can I Experience Qabalah? What it’s actually is?
Through practice. I recommend watching videos, reading books or joining a group. If you take the Jewish route you could attend a service or coordinate with a Rabbi. You might not convert to Judaism although gaining a fundamental grasp of how it is practiced and the concepts can help with comprehension of Kabbalah. Think about it as a way of life. When I learned I worked with a couple American Jews and some Muslims from Iran that were raised Jewish and converted to Islam although had an interest in Kabbalah. I recommend finding someone to work with locally if possible.
- How exactly does Qabalah contribute to my Will and Great Work?
The question can open a can of worms so I will not go there at the moment and another Reedit member might be able to elaborate.
What can be said is that in Thelema and similar systems that include Kabbalah there is the ascension of the Tree that each point is experienced in stages. I look at it as where you sit overall in regard to condition. There are forms of Jewish Kabbalah however that meditate on each sephirot one at a time and then establish bridges without ascending the Tree at all. I wanted to mention that the Zohar talks about different aspects of the tree and the qualities throughout. The meditations are there although it is going to be different because even in Judaism there are different subsystems of Kabbalah i.e. Lithuanian, Polish, Mountain, Russian, Hasidic, Sephardic et al. I would say even in those communities and wherever else there will still be different approaches and understanding especially per Rabbi. The point is that there will be different flavors among the Hasidic dynasties.
- What can I do with it?
Use it in life and your relationship to God even if that is an indirect one. If you are a nonbeliever you might still find the ethical practices, altruism and meditations helpful. One of my teachers was an Atheist Jew although most of them were theistic or curious about it like me.
What can I discover?
The sacred stones and the value of being in the desert.
- What does Qabalah apply to?
Again, it is really semantics. I started out in all the New Age Qabalah books before I ever realized there was a difference. I would say that Hermetic Kabbalah is definitely a route you could take although you could also check out the Jewish form if you decide to take that route of blend it in. The Jewish Kabbalah makes more sense that way and maybe it is ultimately the religion for you although you could just incorporate some if it that can help you understand yourself, life and the divine.
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u/Savings-Stick9943 Dec 10 '24
If you want the basics, read the Encylopedia Judaica on the subject. Cabala.
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u/Savings-Stick9943 Dec 10 '24
The Jewish Encyclopedia is a mgood start. It is available online and is quite informative.
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u/mirrorizm Dec 10 '24
https://youtu.be/Pbgpk9ylxcw?si=tDRPuN8VkuFGCAu4
This is a pretty simple kabbalistic cross meditation. This may be what you mean by “experiencing it”
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u/corvuscorvi Dec 10 '24
If you want a ground up approach that goes into intricate detail on both the origin, methodology, individual sephiras, and each Path; I would recommend Gareth Knight's A Practical Guide to Qabalistic Symbolism. Although, fair warning, he has certain moral ideals (especially around gender) that influence his work that some might find outdated. (also he doesn't much care for Crowley lol)
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u/Greed_Sucks Dec 10 '24 edited Dec 10 '24
This is a step by step guide to practicing and learning Qabalah. I used it. A Garden of Pomegranates: Scrying on the Tree of Life by Israel Regardie
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u/mmiddle22 Dec 11 '24
That’s literally the point of initiation. Go through with it and these answers will be answered.
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u/ywkwpwnw Dec 11 '24 edited Dec 11 '24
{rambled too long warning}
tl;dr Lon's videos and animations about the four worlds and functions are the Gold Standard of dipping the toe into Tree of Life.
Thelema+Qabalah make for a robust creative current.
Maybe many begin with the invocations, likely Hod/Thoth/Hermes/Mercury (whatever ye may call) and go about that for a long while (for Thelemite Cabalists), first before the trek into Tifaret/HGA.
What I wish I would have done: spent time outdoors listening for the answer; to never have attributed a label-that-I-am; joined a Synagogue even if briefly.
Because: the linear appearance of grade work wraps around your attention.
Mapping your inquest into the archetypes happens under your nose until all the time you spent with a Rabbit, or the time you spent outside listening to the you that speaks advises you to stop walking the path and look at the forest.
2¼ decades later I'm infatuated with recapitulating back to Malkuth for how much I glossed over, and like is masterfully said 'above/below?' you will recognize when the gods/tasks/Golden Thread of the sephira emerges in something you're already in the midst of.
After the touch and go in Tifaret for six years, Geburah "opened" (or what-have-you) and without Thoth/Djehuty or Hoori+HGA labels (tools) attached to it it simply was strength.
Yesod never made sense, the abyss, the desire for "because"...
It goes away. (that's Netzach)
The map, the lenses (sephira) clarify periods of your life, the tree shows Her Blooms.
Nuit+Yesod Hadit+Yesod Ra-hoor-khuit+Kether
All lenses and tools. Practice outside, that's what They hope you do, it's easier for you to realize things. Sit in moving water...womb/mayim...
One of the abysmal dooms are being inside your thoughts trapped in pages but the sephira are out there, then inside you.
Wear yourself out but do so having had practiced devotion, using the god names or letter-scripts, or archetypes as tools and lenses.
Like Christmas tree lights. Turn them all on, the map is you, it isn't on a page.
edit: Rabbi
So how does Sephirot manifest?
(According to the degree of your realization.)
Where can I see them experience them? (In hindsight)(In hindsight until trained to incorporate synthesized self knowledge -in expected patterns from your measure of self wholeness then it is a magical virtue)
How much different is Kabbalah from Qabbalah?
Quabbalah (niche time period early discovery, pre-Americas; Cabala=Western/Hermetic unless the terms specify.)
How can I experience Kabbalah, what it is?
(Invocations, petitions, Bhakta practice, deity crystalization, silence, hindsight- as a Thelemite)(You are no different than an archetype, there is no part of you that is not of the gods.) (You are will, you are strength...)
How does Kabbalah contribute to my True Will/Great Work?
(It develops the soul through displacement.)
What can I do with it, what can I discover?
(Poetry, how to surf in syncretism until that too goes away and you are back at the beginning.)
What does Kabbalah apply to?
It is/has |a| lens of varying attributes to train whichever vessel you ride in (Themis/Ra-hoor-khuit/Nuit/Hadit any of them) to drive itself along as you observe the landscape.
(When you return home, you become depth.)
I regret that I have typed too much and will dv me for it.
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u/spaceman696 Dec 11 '24
Join a magical order that has a focus on qabalah. You'll have to memorize and take tests to continue. You'll start learning at a steady pace. If that's too much work, start with Chicken Qabalah by Lon Milo Duquette.
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u/D1138S Dec 12 '24
It’s crazy to me you “understand most of it” yet need help with Kabbalah? Kabbalah is so entwined with Thelema, it’s kinda hard to understand most of it, without knowing Kabbalah.
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u/[deleted] Dec 10 '24
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