kabbala
Esoteric Hebrew tradition
Kabbala is a tradition of Jewish mysticism emphasizing hidden meanings in scripture and esoteric knowledge of the divine.
Practitioners seek spiritual insight through interpretation of sacred texts, numerology, and meditation.
The spelling varies—kabbalah, cabala, qabalah—reflecting transliteration from Hebrew.
She studied kabbala for years before feeling she grasped its basics.
Judaism's core scripture
- Sefer YetzirahHebrew mystical cosmogony treatise
- commentaryExplanatory remarks on events
- interpretationAssigned meaning
- hermeneuticsStudy of interpretation methods
numerology · Hebrew · letters · scripture · exegesis · midrash · secrets · codes
Of hidden spiritual significance
- esotericAccessible to few
- divineOf or from gods
- emanationSomething that flows out
- hiddenKept out of sight
secrets · revelation · spiritual · transcendence · illumination · contemplation · meditation · ecstasy
Southeastern French region
- SpainIberian Peninsula country
- HasidismDevout mystical branch of Judaism
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
- RenaissanceEuropean cultural reawakening
Isaac Luria · transmission · lineage · schools · persecution · secrecy · initiation · masters
Sacred botanical symbol
- emanationSomething that flows out
- creationMaking something exist
- worldsPlanets or spheres
- vesselsCarriers or containers
light · contraction · sparks · primordial · realms
Focused attention practice
- prayerAddress to deity
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- repairRestore to working order
- intentionPlanned purpose for acting
angels · invocation · amulets · theurgy · magic · purification · fasting · visualization
Torah
Judaism's core scripture
- Sefer YetzirahHebrew mystical cosmogony treatise
- commentaryExplanatory remarks on events
- interpretationAssigned meaning
hermeneutics · numerology · Hebrew · letters · scripture · exegesis · midrash · secrets · codes · Aramaic
mystical
Of hidden spiritual significance
hidden · secrets · revelation · spiritual · transcendence · illumination · contemplation · meditation · ecstasy · union
Provence
Southeastern French region
Isaac Luria · Renaissance · transmission · lineage · schools · persecution · secrecy · initiation · masters · disciples
Tree of Life
Sacred botanical symbol
vessels · light · contraction · sparks · primordial · realms
meditation
Focused attention practice
intention · angels · invocation · amulets · theurgy · magic · purification · fasting · visualization · breathing
kabbalamaterialism
Prioritizing goods over spirit
atheism · secularism · disenchantment · secular humanism · agnosticism
- Lurianic KabbalahIsaac's transformative Jewish mysticism