Although kabbalah began as an esoteric practice of a small group of educated men, today this ancient mystical tradition is adapting to contemporary sensibilities, including respect for the environment, gender equality, and conscious connection to other spiritual traditions. Access to this wisdom does not depend on one leader or require you to join a cult. Kabbalah, which literally means “that which is received” refers not only to the mystical maps of reality handed down by tradition, but to the awareness each person “receives” along their own journey.Kabbalah has always aimed at healing, repairing and rebalancing the individual, the community and the cosmos as a whole, recognizing the unity in all creation. FUNDAMENTALS OF JEWISH MYSTICISM AND KABBALAH addresses both the historical sources and evolving tradition of kabbalah. Topics covered include shamanic healing, the divine feminine, amulets, sacred sex, dimensions of the soul, time, numerology, the Tree-of-Life, the Hebrew alphabet, and the role of sacred texts and Torah.
A Note on Hebrew Usage in This Book
A Note on Historical Dates
Preface - Why Study Kabbalah Today?
Introduction : What is the Kabbalah?
Chapter 1 : Jewish Mystical Texts and Practices
Chapter 2 : Historical Development of the Kabbalah
Chapter 3 : Kabbalah's Place in Judaism
Chapter 4 : The Structure of Reality, the Life of the Soul
Chapter 5 : Kabbalistic Healing : The Shamanic Dimension of Judaism
Chapter 6 : The Holiness of the Body and Sex
Chapter 7 : Kabbalistic Time : The Jewish Calendar and the Holiday Cycle
Chapter 8 : Some Problems with Traditional Kabbalah
Notes
Go and Learn
List of Figures and Tables
