Kabbalah laced with the Tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 13 Aug 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

TapestryThreads	13 Aug 2002
I have researched Kabbalah -Jewish mysticism- for quite some time, though have just recently realized the familiarity of the two practices and how one can accent the other. The Tarot can be used as a tool to prophecize with, and two other uses that I am fond of - decision making and meditation. The Kabbalah can be explained as the beginning of the universe, numerology, practical magic, astral projection, a type of action, prayer, history, and used for meditation. Some similarities include: The Tarot presents a story to the reader. of course fantasized and changed among each person. The Kabbalah can be a form of Jewish fantasy and occult literature, similar to the stories told by the Tarot. There are twenty-two cards in the Tarot deck, twenty-two paths on the Tree of Life that connect to the ten spheres, and twenty-two letters in the alphabet. Visit www.byzant.com -- Tapestry Threads

Thirteen	13 Aug 2002
You should check out Wang's *Qabalistic Tarot* the definitive book on the subject. The Golden Dawn guys certainly were well up on the Kabbalah when they created their decks, as is clear from the Hebrew names each card has designating its purpose as part of the pathway up the tree to the crown.

Laurel	13 Aug 2002
Welcome to Aeclectic, Tapestry. I've only been here for a month but in that time I have grown to be amazed at the wisdom, knowledge and understanding everyone here so obviously possesses and so sincerely shares. There are some excellent conversations about all different aspects of tarot, including relations to both Jewish Kabbalah and Hermetic Qabalah. In particular, check out the General forum and the QBL study group. Like you, I've studied Jewish Kabbalah for a number of years, with a particular enthusiasm for the Isaac Luria and the modern Kabbalistic writers and scholars. It was a little disconcerting when I'd been studying for about a year and a half that a friend walked into my house and announced "Madonna is a Kabbalist!" As I feared, Kabbalah went through a "trendy" stage where anyone who knew a little wrote a book to make loads of money off the spiritually-starved quick fix seekers and a lot of mediocre texts hit the market, but now that the lemming-like furor is over *g*, things are getting back to normal. One of the most disconsorting things for me at first, in terms of working with both the Kabbalah and tarot together were that some but not all of the oft quoted correspondences made sense to me. So I studied and studied and contemplated and contemplated and in the end, started to create something that was completely meaningful for myself that went beyond "tradition" but had a firm foundation on the shoulders of giants. I think that's what the Kabbalah (and tarot) should be ultimately for everyone. Laurel

TapestryThreads	13 Aug 2002
Ack.. where are my manners? Thank you for such a warm welcome from what seems to be a unique community. I am pleased with the suggested reading and am psyched that someone else is also interested. I desire to learn, to expand this narrow mind.. I have read several books on Kabbalah thus far and visited many websites on both the Kabbalah and of the Tarot... only finding one book, called Magic of Qabalah, written by a Wiccan, referring to the Tarot, and one website that refers to all that I am interested in, Byzant. The other two books that I have read have been written by Rabbis; one of Practical Kabbalah -magic through meditation on the tree of life, and one of the history, that included fascinating stories and scientific elements. -- Tapestry Threads

Minderwiz	14 Aug 2002
Tapestry welcome to the forum I don't really know a lot about the Kabbalah - though I have tried to get into it a couple of times. I'd really be interested in your (and other people's) insights as I am also interested in learning more about the numerological side of the Tarot and this looks like it means I will have to confront the kabbalah again! Minderwiz

Liliana	14 Aug 2002
Welcome, one of my interests has always been studying Tarot from a Christian perspective, which ultimately leads to some Qabala studies, tho it is Christian Qabala not Jewish (not that I can say exactly what the difference is between Christian, Hermetic, and Jewish Qabala). Admittedly I dont know all that much Qabala, as what Ive tried to read for the most part made very little sense to me once it got beyond the basics, but Im always interested in learning more :) :THP

lupo138	14 Aug 2002
I just recommende a book about the Qabala at the poll thread - be sure, I do not benefit frm it in a material way ;) I am quite sure,. that the Qabala is a main key to the cards. Until now I only managed to get a glimpse of the Sephiroth, but not the paths between them (the sephiroth are related to the Minor and the paths between are related to the Major Arcana) I am really looking forward to getting a deeper insight - after having read a lot of books and having spent plenty of time with meditation ;)

Helruna	14 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by TapestryThreads I have read several books on Kabbalah thus far and visited many websites on both the Kabbalah and of the Tarot... only finding one book, called Magic of Qabalah, written by a Wiccan, referring to the Tarot, and one website that refers to all that I am interested in, Byzant. -- Tapestry Threads Hi Tapestry! I have a question: I have seen this book - Magic of Qabalah - at my English bookstore, but back at the time they had it, I had no money for getting it. I had a quick glimpse or two through it though - and it looked pretty nice and comprehensive. Do you think that this might be a good book for someone with little knowledge in Qabalah to start with? Or would you rather recommend reading something else first? :) BB, Helruna

Laurel	15 Aug 2002
Helruna- it really depends on what aspect of Kabbalah you are interested in. I personally use the following spelling to try and differentiate what I'm talking about and hope I don't confuse people 1) Jewish Kabbalah 2) modern Western Hermetic Qabalah 3) pre-19th c. Western Cabala (tends to be associated with gnosticism, Christian mysticism, alchemy, medieval astrology) All three use the Tree of Life glyph, with the latter two giving it central importance. Some authors use this style of differentiation, most don't. *g* The book I personally recommend for starting to learn about Kabbalah would be _A Kabbalah for the Modern World_ by Migene Gonzalez-Wippler. Some of the other fundamental Kabbalistic ideas beyond just the Tree of Life glyph, (such as Adam Kaidmon, the Four Worlds, the Tetragrammaton, Merkabah, the divisions of the soul, the Veils of Negative Existence, the metaphysical meanings of the letters, Gematria) are explained in a very simple, easy-to-follow way. After reading Wippler, its easy to tackle Aryeh Kaplan and Gershom, who are the next "most Euro-American friendly" Kabbalistic writers. Once there's this kind of foundation then its easier to look at how tarot relates to Kabbalah. Its best to take all of this in first and then look at relationships to paganism, Wicca, or Tantra. Laurel

jema	15 Aug 2002
i know i am probably the last person to give advice on books. i just started reading up on the subject myself. the book that helped me with a very basic grasp on it all was the Jayanti book - principles of the qabalah. it is a good book for a beginner cause even i could understand it! it does not really go into the qabalah in depth at all - it is basically just telling you what it is and how one can go on working with it. i see at as a preface to actual qabalah books. without it i would have been totally lost. now i can read posts in the forum and understand what they are writing about. and that is pretty good! the book is slender and not too expensive either.

The Kabbalah laced with the Tarot thread was originally posted on 13 Aug 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.