Astral Magick

Spiritualism and the Rituals of Kabbalah

Magic in theory and practice as opposed to the acts of legerdemain performed by illusionists for entertainment on the stage, concerns itself with the areas of Divination, Evocation and Vision. These are also the basic tenets of Kabbalah, the ancient Art of Jewish Mysticism. In Kabbalah as in other forms of Magic, spirituality and magic ritual play a perfunctory role.

When Kabbalah actually started as a practice among the ancient Jews is shrouded in Antiquity, however its evidence traces back to at least 515 BCE. Its traditions likely existed far longer ago than that, but have not been documented. Qabalistic practices were undoubtedly passed down orally and not written. In fact the word Kabbalah is likely derived from the Hebrew root “QBH” which alternatively means to “to tell” and “to receive”

Many aspects of traditional Kabbalah are so intricately interwoven with Jewish religious beliefs and customs that they are meaningless outside of the practice of Judaism. However, various aspects of Kabbalah have been embraced by other spiritualist and Magick Societies and have been practiced beyond any connection to Judaism for centuries. For example The Greater Ritual of the Pentagram as practiced daily by all practitioners of High Magick and Followers of the Golden Dawn, is a magic ritual taken directly from Kabbalah. Many of the spiritual and magic rituals of Wicca, Thelema and other versions of so-called Western Occultism or Modern Spirituality have their roots in Kabbalah. 

The ultimate goal in Kabbalah, as in all doctrines of Spirituality is Self-Actualization and connection to the Supreme Being. The path to ascension in most spirituality movements is identical to that conceived by the Jewish Mystics - union with the Godhead. New Age Spiritualism and Ritual Magic sees “the divine” as Light, Love, and. Spirit. It is a spark in all things. A living and omnipresent force, sustaining all energies from the tinniest quantum particle to the vastness of the Universe itself.

To reach this lofty goal Kabbalah sees Ascension as a moving from one plane of existence to another. This is illustrated by the Cabalistic Tree of Life. To The Cabalist the Tree of Life is a road map toward Spiritual Awareness and the Godhead.  Along each of the lower branches of the tree or rungs of the ladder, magical ritual is involved that allows communion with the “spirits” or supernatural beings that exist at that level i.e.: Archangels, Seraphim, Angels and other Supernatural beings.

Through magical ritual the follower of Kabbalah invokes these spirits and mingles his own life energy with theirs. Each such “bonding” bringing him closer to the Ultimate Spirit - The All, The Almighty, The Is, or God. With each ascension his spiritual perceptions become more acute, with his consciousness more accustomed to the divine force flowing through him, and thus becomes prepared to “take it to the next level”

With each spiritual evolution the Cabalist then invokes the Spirit of the Sephirah or plane immediately above him, and so on, until finally he transcends. Standing upon the profound peak of spiritual realization, united with the infinite.