Many people are introduced to Kabbalah through the Hollywood faces of Madonna (aka Esther), Roseanne Barr, Winona Rider, Sandra Bernhardt, Demi Moore and Mick Jagger. Why is there so much interest in this ancient tradition? Because Kabbalah provides answers, wisdom, meditations, spiritual exercises, prayers and tools to transform your life.
Who studies and practices Kabbalah?
Men, Women, Jews, Christians, Buddhists, you name it – whomever resonates with the teaching and has a heart open and willing to receive spiritual wisdom.
Kabbalah is the Jewish mystical teaching that forms the foundation of western spirituality, including Christianity and the teachings of Jesus. “Kabbalah” means "to receive" and is the body of knowledge passed down from teacher to student for thousands of years.
It is a deep and profound path of inner knowledge for those seeking to develop their soul.
Kabbalah teachings are based on principles that we all know and recognize as spiritual truths - wisdom such as "Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength" and "Love your neighbor as yourself."
When I heard these truths in my youth I remember thinking "OK, that sounds good. But how do I actually do this?"
What I love about Kabbalah is that it offers a detailed road map with meditations, instructions and practical exercises to help you achieve these important states of being and help you develop attributes like compassion, perspective, emotional maturity, personal responsibility and spiritual insight. The teachings are also very holistic and consider the body, mind and spirit in the growth and healing process.
Let's take the example, "Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength" and look at it from a Kabbalistic perspective. Within this spiritual truth, lies the Kabbalistic teaching of the four worlds; that is, human beings participate in physical, psychological, spiritual and divine realities.
So we are to love God with our heart -- the center of our physical body, our soul -- the center of our psychological self, our mind -- or higher mind, the center of our spiritual self, and our strength, the center of our will at the heart of our divine self.
Shifting our attention between these four states can become a daily spiritual practice.
For example, in any given situation, I can check in with my body -- how is my body reacting and what guidance can it give me?
How am I responding emotionally?
How can my spiritual self or higher wisdom guide me in this situation?
As I remember my divine connection, how can I respond to this situation?
This is how the teachings of Kabbalah come to life.
To learn about the ever-growing Kabbalah community, go to Z'ev ben Shimon Halevi's website www.Kabbalahsociety.org
This summer (July 5-12, 2005), Megan will leading a "sacred journey" for women to Crete. Space is limited to twelve. If you are interested, please call (650) 364.5171.
Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful and open heart, always learning living!
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Tree of Life Leaders, Megan Wagner & Jim Larkin
