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[[File:Kircher Tree of Life.png|300px|thumb|The Tree of Life, a major Kabbalistic symbol]]
[[File:Kabbalah Trees Juntos.jpg|400px|thumb|The Tree of Life and Tree of Death side-by-side]]
'''Kabbalah''' (from Hebrew קַבָּלָה (qabalah) 'reception, accounting') is a Western esoteric tradition involving mysticism and the [[occult]]. It is the underlying philosophy and framework for magical societies such as the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn|Golden Dawn]], [[Thelema|Thelemic orders]], mystical-religious societies such as the Builders of the Adytum and the Fellowship of the Rosy Cross, and is a precursor to the [[paganism|Neopagan]], [[Wicca]]n and [[New Age]] movements.
'''Kabbalah''' (from Hebrew קַבָּלָה (qabalah) "reception, accounting") is a Western esoteric tradition involving mysticism and the [[occult]]. It is the underlying philosophy and framework for magical societies such as the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn|Golden Dawn]], [[Thelema|Thelemic orders]], mystical-religious societies such as the Builders of the Adytum and the Fellowship of the Rosy Cross, and is a precursor to the [[paganism|Neopagan]], [[Wicca]]n and [[New Age]] movements.


The Kabbalah as used by ritual [[magician]]s differs from the [[Judaism|Jewish]] form in being a more admittedly syncretic system, however it shares many concepts with Jewish Kabbalah.
The Kabbalah as used by ritual [[magician]]s differs from the [[Judaism|Jewish]] form in being a more admittedly syncretic system, however it shares many concepts with Jewish Kabbalah.


Non-religious Kabbalistic practices are sometimes called "Hermetic Qabalah," despite having religious overtones.
Non-religious Kabbalistic practices are sometimes called "[[Hermetic]] Qabalah," despite having religious overtones.


==History==
==History==
Traditionalist Judaic views of Kabbalah's origins view it as an original development from within the Jewish religion, perhaps expressed through syncretic terminology from Medieval Jewish Neoplatonism. Contemporary academics of Jewish mysticism have reassessed Gershom Scholem's theory that the new doctrine of Medieval Kabbalah assimilated an earlier Jewish version of Gnosticism; Moshe Idel instead has posited a historical continuity of development from early Jewish mysticism.
[[File:Portaelucis Cover.jpg|400px|thumb|Cover illustration of ''Portae Lucis'' (1516) showing the [[Tree of Life]] being studied by a Kabbalist.]]
Traditionalist [[Judaism|Judaic]] views of Kabbalah's origins view it as an original development from within the Jewish religion, perhaps expressed through syncretic terminology from Medieval Jewish Neoplatonism. Contemporary academics of Jewish mysticism have reassessed Gershom Scholem's theory that the new doctrine of Medieval Kabbalah assimilated an earlier Jewish version of Gnosticism; Moshe Idel instead has posited a historical continuity of development from early Jewish mysticism.


In contrast, Hermeticists have taken different views of Qabalah's origins. Some authors see the origins of Qabalah not in Semitic/Jewish mysticism or ancient Egyptian [[Gnosticism]], but in a western tradition originating in classical Greece with Indo-European cultural roots, later adopted by Jewish mystics. According to this view, "Hermetic Qabalah" would be the original Qabalah, even though the word itself is Judaic Hebrew, over the Christian Cabalah or the Jewish Kabbalah.
In contrast, Hermeticists have taken different views of Qabalah's origins. Some authors see the origins of Qabalah not in Semitic/Jewish mysticism or ancient Egyptian [[Gnosticism]], but in a western tradition originating in classical Greece with Indo-European cultural roots, later adopted by Jewish mystics. According to this view, "Hermetic Qabalah" would be the original Qabalah, even though the word itself is Judaic Hebrew, over the Christian Cabalah or the Jewish Kabbalah.
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==Mystical revelation==
==Mystical revelation==
[[File:72 Fold Name of God.png|350px|thumb|The 72-fold name of God]]
When read by later generations of Kabbalists, the Torah's description of the creation in the Book of Genesis reveals mysteries about [[Yahweh|God]] himself. The [[Bible]] provides ample additional material for mythic and mystical speculation. The [[prophet]] Ezekiel's visions in particular attracted much mystical speculation, as did Isaiah's Temple vision. Other mystical events include Jacob's vision of the ladder to [[heaven]], and Moses' encounters with the Burning bush and God on Mount Sinai.
When read by later generations of Kabbalists, the Torah's description of the creation in the Book of Genesis reveals mysteries about [[Yahweh|God]] himself. The [[Bible]] provides ample additional material for mythic and mystical speculation. The [[prophet]] Ezekiel's visions in particular attracted much mystical speculation, as did Isaiah's Temple vision. Other mystical events include Jacob's vision of the ladder to [[heaven]], and Moses' encounters with the Burning bush and God on Mount Sinai.


The [[Shem HaMephorash|72 letter name of God]] which is used in Jewish mysticism for [[meditation]] purposes is derived from the Hebrew verbal utterance Moses spoke in the presence of an angel, while the Sea of Reeds parted, allowing the Hebrews to escape their approaching attackers. This was subsequently incorporated into [[ritual magic]] in the names of the 72 [[Kabbalistic angel]]s.
The [[Shem HaMephorash|72 letter name of God]] which is used in Jewish mysticism for [[meditation]] purposes is derived from the Hebrew verbal utterance Moses spoke in the presence of an angel, while the Sea of Reeds parted, allowing the Hebrews to escape their approaching attackers. This was subsequently incorporated into [[ritual magic]] in the names of the 72 [[Kabbalistic angel]]s.


==Sefirot and the Tree of Life==
==Sefirot and qlippoth==
The ten [[sefirot]] of the [[Tree of Life]] are fundamental to understanding the key concepts of Kabbalah. [[Occultist]]s have syncretized these spheres into virtually everything from astrology to [[tarot]]. These forces of divine power are opposed by the [[qlippoth]], which are emanations of the [[Tree of Death]].
The ten [[sefirot]] of the [[Tree of Life]] are fundamental to understanding the key concepts of Kabbalah. [[Occultist]]s have syncretized these spheres into virtually everything from astrology to [[tarot]]. These forces of divine power are opposed by the [[qlippoth]], which are emanations of the [[Tree of Death]].


Sefirot are the 10 attributes/emanations in Kabbalah, through which Ein Sof ("infinite space") reveals itself and continuously creates both the physical realm and the seder hishtalshelut (the chained descent of the metaphysical Four Worlds). The term is alternatively transliterated into English as sephirot/sephiroth, singular sefira/sephirah.
Sefirot are the 10 attributes/emanations in Kabbalah, through which Ein Sof ("infinite space") reveals itself and continuously creates both the physical realm and the seder hishtalshelut (the chained descent of the metaphysical Four Worlds). The term is alternatively transliterated into English as sephirot/sephiroth, singular sefira/sephirah. The qlippoth are their shadows, through which previous incarnations of our universe attempt to influence the present world. These "husks" or "shells" may be thought of as mere traces of ancient cosmic energy. Although some [[magician]]s of the [[Left-hand path]] work with qlippoth, most Kabbalistic magicians view them as harmful and explicitly evil.


As revelations of the creator's will, the sefirot should not be understood as ten gods, but rather as ten different channels through which the one God reveals His will. In later [[Judaism|Jewish]] literature, the ten sefirot refer either to the ten manifestations of God; the ten powers or faculties of the soul; or the ten structural forces of nature.
As revelations of the creator's will, the sefirot and qlippoth should not be thought of as living deities or literal worlds, but rather as ten different channels through which the one God reveals His will.


===List of the Sefirot===
==Kabbalah correspondences==
::''The correspondences in this table are not universally agreed upon by all scholars of Kabbalah.''
Nearly every scholar of the Kabbalah has created their own system of correspondences to link various esoteric concepts into the schema of the sefirot and qlippoth. Unfortunately, correspondences do not always agree with one another and are sometimes in complete opposition, with different authors disagreeing on which, color, [[Zodiac]] sign, [[chakra]], or unique gemstone should correspond to a certain sefirot. Given this turbulent history, it becomes exceedingly difficult to create a chart of correspondences which finds approval across all [[ritual magic|magical]] traditions and all authors.
 
<br>
{| class="wikitable"
<center>''The correspondences in this table are not universally agreed upon by all scholars of Kabbalah, they will be updated from time to time.''</center>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: auto;"
!colspan="5" style="color:white; background-color:#000000;" |Tree of Life
!colspan="5" style="border-left:solid 2px white; color:white; background-color:#000000;" |Tree of Death
|-
|-
! Category
! Category
! Sphere
! Sphere
! Sefirah
! Sefirot
! Meaning
! Tarot Card
! style="border-left:solid 2px black |Qlippoth
! Meaning
! Meaning
! Tarot Card
! Tarot Card
! Qlippoth
! Sphere
! Category
|-
|-
|rowspan="1" style="background:#E5E4E2";text-align:center|'''Super-conscious'''
|rowspan="1" style="background:#E5E4E2";text-align:center|'''Super-conscious'''
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| "Crown"
| "Crown"
| [[The Magician]]
| [[The Magician]]
| [[Thaumiel]]
|style="border-left:solid 2px black |[[Thaumiel]]
| "Twins of God"
| [[Justice]]
|style="text-align:center;" |1
|rowspan="3" style="background:#E5E4E2";text-align:right|'''Realm of Darkness'''
|-
|-
|rowspan="2" style="background:#E5E4E2";text-align:center|'''Conscious intellect'''
|rowspan="2" style="background:#E5E4E2";text-align:center|'''Conscious intellect'''
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| "Wisdom"
| "Wisdom"
| [[The High Priestess]]
| [[The High Priestess]]
| [[Ghogiel]]
|style="border-left:solid 2px black |[[Ghogiel]]
| "The Hinderers"
| [[The Hanged Man]]
|style="text-align:center;" |2
|-
|-
|style="text-align:center;" |3
|style="text-align:center;" |3
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| "Understanding"
| "Understanding"
| [[The Empress]]
| [[The Empress]]
| [[Satariel]]
|style="border-left:solid 2px black |[[Satariel]]
| "Concealers"
| [[Death]]
|style="text-align:center;" |3
|-
|-
|rowspan="7" style="background:#E5E4E2";text-align:center|'''Conscious emotions'''
|rowspan="7" style="background:#E5E4E2";text-align:center|'''Conscious emotions'''
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| "Kindness"
| "Kindness"
| [[The Emperor]]
| [[The Emperor]]
| [[Agshekeloh]]
|style="border-left:solid 2px black |[[Gha’ag Sheklah]]
| "Smiters"
| [[Temperance]]
|style="text-align:center;" |4
|rowspan="4" style="background:#E5E4E2";text-align:right|'''Realm of Evil'''
|-
|-
|style="text-align:center;" |5
|style="text-align:center;" |5
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| "Discipline"
| "Discipline"
| [[The Hierophant]]
| [[The Hierophant]]
| [[Golohab]]
|style="border-left:solid 2px black |[[Golachab]]
| "Burners"
| [[The Devil (Tarot)|The Devil]]
|style="text-align:center;" |5
|-
|-
|style="text-align:center;" |6
|style="text-align:center;" |6
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| "Glory"
| "Glory"
| [[The Lovers]]
| [[The Lovers]]
| [[Tagiriron]]
|style="border-left:solid 2px black |[[Thagiriron]]
| "The Disputers"
| [[The Tower]]
|style="text-align:center;" |6
|-
|-
|style="text-align:center;" |7
|style="text-align:center;" |7
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| "Victory"
| "Victory"
| [[The Chariot]]
| [[The Chariot]]
| [[Gharab Tzerek]]
|style="border-left:solid 2px black |[[A’arab Zaraq]]
| "Corrosive Ones"
| [[The Star]]
|style="text-align:center;" |7
|-
|-
|style="text-align:center;" |8
|style="text-align:center;" |8
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| "Splendour"
| "Splendour"
| [[Strength]]
| [[Strength]]
| [[Samael (qlippoth)|Samael]]
|style="border-left:solid 2px black |[[Samael (qlippoth)|Samael]]
| "Poison of God"
| [[The Moon]]
|style="text-align:center;" |8
|rowspan="3" style="background:#E5E4E2";text-align:right|'''Realm of Mud and Clay'''
|-
|-
|style="text-align:center;" |9
|style="text-align:center;" |9
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| "Foundation"
| "Foundation"
| [[The Hermit]]
| [[The Hermit]]
| [[Gamaliel]]
|style="border-left:solid 2px black |[[Gamaliel]]
| "Obscene Ones"
| [[The Sun]]
|style="text-align:center;" |9
|-
|-
|style="text-align:center;" |10
|style="text-align:center;" |10
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| "Kingdom"
| "Kingdom"
| [[Wheel of Fortune]]
| [[Wheel of Fortune]]
| [[Lilith (qlippoth)|Lilith]]
|style="border-left:solid 2px black |[[Lilith (qlippoth)|Lilith]]
| "Queen of Night"
| [[Judgement]]
|style="text-align:center;" |10
|-
|-
|rowspan="1" style="background:#E5E4E2";text-align:center|'''Unification'''
|rowspan="1" style="background:#E5E4E2";text-align:center|'''Unification'''
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| "Knowledge"
| "Knowledge"
| [[The World]]
| [[The World]]
| [[Belial (qlippoth)|Belial]]
|style="border-left:solid 2px black |[[Belial (qlippoth)|Belial]]
| "Worthless"
| [[The Fool]]
|style="text-align:center;" |11
|rowspan="1" style="background:#E5E4E2";text-align:right|'''Gateway'''
|}
|}


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[[Category:Kabbalah]]
[[Category:Kabbalah]]
[[Category:Poor Articles]]
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