Going Kabbalahing!
Joined a Meet Up which will require me to read and discuss something called “Kabbalah,” a belief system revered by Jewish mystics. Felt I was being “called” to explore it. Read a post by a fellow Greek which led me to surf to a site on Kabbalah Yoga, and left a lengthy comment on a technique called the “ten-five rhythm.” You breath in for 10 second, hold for five, and release for another 10.
Next, you “visualize” something that I’ve done on my own for over a year now and have never been able to accurately put into words or feel someone else on this Planet would understand.
Visualize Love flowing from my heart and into space.
Seeking, I'm Always Seeking
That’s the message I got from the site and it resonated inside, almost forcing me to want to know more. I googled “Kabbalah,” “Philadelphia Yoga,” five or six others terms I thought of, and couldn’t find anything remotely close to this reference of the heart. You see, I’ve experienced that sensation dozens of times while meditating. Feeling love “pour” out of me and into the Cosmos because my small 5’6″-frame was too small, too inadequate, to contain the volume of energy flowing through me. I gotta let it out, and I’ve described that “opening process” as a “feeding of myself” — my essence — to those unloved in this world, this universe. The sick old man in Calcutta; the lonely orphan in Bangladesh; the desperate single mother in Birmingham, Alabama; the lost little Greek boy in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
Found a Kabbalah cite outside Philadelphia (KABBALAH-BNEI-BARUCH-PHILADELPHIA). Read a few comments, saw several names with Ph.Ds and rabbi attached to ’em, and read a description of the organizers who seem to be searching as much as I’ve been the past two years. Not sure what I’m searching for . . . answers . . . Peace . . . God . . . Enlightenment. Perhaps, all the above.
Committed myself to attend a Congress for Kabbalistic practitioners meeting locally to discuss whatever serious Kabbalah students talk about. ( See: Kabbalah Mega Congress 2010.) Hope we’ll focus on the same God that Abraham spoke to, and whom fathered three religions, one for the Jews, another the Christians, and the third with Muslims. According to my limited Kabbalah reading, one can find traces of the Jewish language in Hindu, Buddhism and, of course, many of our New Age beliefs.
All came from one single language, according to one view of the Kabbalah.
May have been more to the story about Babylon then what I thought.
Wish me luck. Don’t plan to convert. Just became a Buddhist, and have yet to break in my new sandals and robe. Think I’ll like this path. If I can pick from what my heart tells me is True.
Contoveros 
I have felt this urge/calling to study Kabbalah – I have no idea why. I just googled “Kabbalah Birmingham” and found your blog. I am a single mom in Birmingham, Alabama – and it turns out that you have been sending ME love. Thank you. I feel it. I hope to find a study group here.
LikeLike
http://www.kabbalah.info/engkab/learning-center/learning-center
michael j
LikeLike
[…] If you have a “hole in the soul” typical of this civilization you might want to check this out. There’s a good beginners thread at contoveros. And a couple of links to get you started. Also note that my graphics were chosen for color compatibility, not accuracy, except for the burning hand, turquoise flames don’t really look right. Maybe I could say “As part if the initiation ritual you dip your hand in boiling sulphur and set it on fire”. Nah! that would be a deal stopper for me, and it looks like it’s worthwhile. I welome any corrections. There’s a pretty good beginners thread here> Contoveros […]
LikeLike
Thank you Cartography of the Psyche. A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.
michael j
LikeLike
Michael, Walter, I find that most people feel overwhelmed when they first look at the Sophian website, not knowing where to begin. I have another blog that is for the Circle I lead that contains most of the basic concepts.
http://sasophiancircle.wordpress.com/
Sophia
LikeLike
Sophia,
I like this, I like this . . .
michael j
LikeLike
[…] If you have a “hole in the soul” typical of this civilization you might want to check this out. There’s a good beginners thread at contoveros. And a couple of links to get you started. Also note that my graphics were chosen for color compatibility, not accuracy, except for the burning hand, turquoise flames don’t really look right. I welome any corrections. There’s a pretty good beginners thread here> Contoveros […]
LikeLike
Not sure is this was a repeat, but I hope it helps others who might want to explore this topic of life and death.
michael j
LikeLike
Learning the Kabbalah is at first really daunting but then it just suddenly click and it so worth the years of learning. It really helps to have a teacher because it literally takes a few years to learn the basics combined with the practices, and it is easy to give up on your own. It expands your mind like nothing else I have experienced before. It gives you a framework with which to venture into the great unknown. It certainly keeps you very humble and awe of the vastness which is. Although I am teaching, I am still learning as well – there is no better way to learn than to teach what you have learnt.
Sophia
LikeLike
My God!
I had just left you a comment at your “About” site and signing in to my Blog, I see you had left me a message.
That’s synchronicity.
But wait. I asked you what a Sophian was, Googled it, fearing it might have something to do with sexual preferences, not that there’s anything wrong with it, but seeing something that knocked my socks off . . . mention of a Christian Kabbalah!
Holy crapoli!
Forgive me. I’m getting shivers here. Just finished some 100 pages of an introduction book on the Kabbalah — complete with note-taking that I haven’t done in years — only to trip over it at your site and your comment here.
It’s more than synchronicity at work. There’s a power afoot much greater than I ever thought of in my wildest dreams.
Thanks for sharing. I think . . .
michael j
looking over his shoulder for any other “signs”
LikeLike
It is indeed Christian Gnostic Kabbalah. We do of course also study the classic Kabbalah texts like Sefer Yetzirah, and Zohar but the perspective is from a Christian Gnostic perspective with associated meditative practices. The Supernals are of course transcendent, and beyond all, and especially relates to what is known as the Melchizedek teachings.
Tau Malachi’s book “Gnosis of the Cosmic Christ: A Gnostic Christian Kabbalah” is what we use as an introduction. You can see more on the main website and forums.
http://www.sophian.org/index.html
Sophia
LikeLike
Sophia,
Meditated long and hard and wondered why Kabbalah has been hidden from humanity all these years only to flourish in what could be considered our recent history? Why have I become “lost” while seeking its message? Are there forces at play that a mere mortal can not fathom?
Let me ponder this at the breakfast table . . . I tend to get a lot of answers in silence there.
Thanks,
michael j
LikeLike
Michael, if there is one thing I have learnt on the journey, and it has indeed been a long time since I have been traveling the path – I was about 6 ot 7 years old – is that what you need to know will be revealed to you when you need to you. The Kabbalists were persecuted just the same as the Gnostics were and kept underground, passing on theteachings through word of mouth from teacher to pupil. All the truths already existed since the dawn of time, but only when we are ready can we see it. The teachings of the Kabbalah is very lofty and not many has been ready before. Have you ever read a book , felt inspired by it, and years later read it again and suddenly saw things in there that did not see before. “How could I not have seen it before?”
Lofty teachings reveals itself in layers.
I was often breathless when I was learning the hebrew alphabet and tetrgramaton. It is just so incredible how even the words in itself contains whole teachings in just the way it is spelled.
Sophia
LikeLike
Learning Hebrew sounds so “daunting.” Almost as tough as learning “Greek.”
I’m still struggling with the English language and the little Yiddish I picked up from vaudevillian comedians. I guess I have to learn some, like the words for the four spiritual worlds of Atsilut, Beria, Yetzirat and Assiya . . .
One must have a lot of chutzpah to think they could understand this from a Catholic background. But, what the hey! Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Only dealing with my immortal soul here.
michael j
LikeLike
lol. I remember that there was one master who actually tried to convert a Pope to the Kabbalah.
To begin with you just have to learn the terminology used. It gives one such insight into Christianity itself. Take the word Amen for example. Most people know that it basically means “So be it.” It is also an alternative name for Keter. Amen is composed of three letters: Aleph-Mem-Nun. Aleph is the Fiery Intelligence, Radiant Holy Breath or Holy Spirit, and is said to represent Keter. Mem is water or the substance of consciousness/creation from which all things are formed, and is said to represent Hokmah. Nun is the energy-intelligence of the zodiacal sign of Scorpio, which is an occult or hidden power of fire drawn from within water, and is said to represent Binah. Thus, the word amen bears the full power of the Supernals: Keter-Hokmah-Binah, or more properly Hokmah-Binah-Da’at. It is akin to the mantric word Om in the Eastern Traditions, though in its intonement a distinction is made between the upper and lower worlds, or the World of Supernal Light and matrix of creation.Coupled with creative visualization the chant of amen is said to be a great manifesting power. Just try intoning it with full understanding of what it represents. You begin the with the Aa high and the nnn low.
Sophia
LikeLike
As they say, great secrets are often hidden in plain sight.
LikeLike
Why, thank you Sophia. I’m doing a bunch of intro’s into how the various methods of achieving nirvana, awareness, whole brain thinking (whatever) works in the mind, not so much the worldview per se. Talk about synchronicity. You just succinctly described the core concept (mine anyway) of what I’m looking for. Good job. Saved me a lot of research. Some years ago I studied yoga (Ganesh) as a method to get around customs talking my blood pressure pills away every time I went to a different country. Worked well. When speaking to Mr. Patel about this he said “It helps to have a god to meditate on, It doesn’t really matter which one, it helps in focusing.”
And Mr. Michael, your comments folder is getting kinda narrow. You may want to think about skipping nesting for this thread.
Thanks again Sophia (If you can read this)
LikeLike
bye, bye! To you who try to see the last word all the way down to here.
It’s
LOVE
LikeLike
Mike,
I went to this group a few times (and attended a few hours of one of the congresses). ‘The complete idiot’s guide to Kabbalah’, in spite of the title, really helped a bit to understand the terms Dr Laitman uses. It is a great book for beginners.
Cheers to letting your heart guide you to truth!
Eric
LikeLike
Eric,
Just ordered the book. Saw a couple others by Dr. Laitman, and might get those if I see myself getting into this more . . .
Thanks for the insight!
michael j
LikeLike
Got the book, read it, took notesx. Loaned it to a woman who I met at a meeting and have not seen her for three months.
It’s all right. I see the book as an investment in her future as it was an awakening for mine.
Excellent reading source and I recommend it to others who have not been exposed to to this perception of reality that is as old as the hills. Well, as old as Abraham. (Or was that Adam?) Well, someone from the Middle East. Those Kabbalists all seem alike after the fall of Babylon.
Thanks Eric!
michael j
LikeLike
Michael J., I’m with Amy. Please post more on this as you gain experience(s). Fascinating.
And I like the idea of a neuron trellis!
Katharine at sanctuarywithoutwalls.com
LikeLike
Katherine, my dear. Only you could have put it into such a beautiful term: “neuron trellis.”
But, that’s exactly what it is, isn’t it?
Opening yourself to allow the Love to grow from you to all others. Just like in nature. Just like a trellis.
You’re really grounded. A daughter Mother Earth is proud she nurtured as she watches you help others — like me — to grow in Her Spirit
Thanks.
michael j
LikeLike
Wait a minute!
Walt below came up with the “neuron trellis.”
Well, I’ll be . . .
Thanks Walt. I still meant all the things I offered to Katherine, but it goes double for you, too.
LikeLike
Oh good, hope you will share what you discover. This keeps coming into my path, as well. – Amy
LikeLike
Wow!
Beginning to feel like a Stranger in a Strange Land, but one in which I may have so much to learn and experience it’s a little frightening.
But, hell! What new path isn’t, when you’re about to take your first baby step?
Already dreamed about being smaller than a baby. Not quite as big as a fetus seen in a womb, and only slightly larger than what you could visulaize as a “thought” in human form.
I wiggled and became like mercury. Malleable with everything I came in contact with.
Saw myself growing and becoming like a chameleon taking on the form of those I came into physical contact with. Looked pretty cool with English tweed hat on my head, tilting to cover “me one eye.” A jacket covered my naked totally undeveloped form beneath.
I’ve already started traveling with these “pre-baby steps” and feel like I will meet companions who may show me a new way to walk. To what destination, I don’t know.
I’ll send you a postcard from somewhere along the path, Amy. In case I don’t reach the end of the road in this life time.
michael j
LikeLike
Hi, Mr Michael
I had asked Mr Patel about secular meditation (mindfulness) he responded. “you can do it but it’s easier with a god, it doesn’t matter which one. It helps to focus your thoughts”.
i think of a belief system as a neuron trellis.
walt
LikeLike
God. Who would have thought He’d be in the center of all of this?
The mystics, all of ’em!
michael j
LikeLike
Ok. I see your “neuron trellis” as a belief system.
But I also see it as a mystical outpouring of Love from me to all in the Universe.
There. I feel better. Thank you Walt.
michael j
LikeLike