Book Forum: (Ancient Traditions of...) Qabbalistic Magic - by Salomo Baal-Shem

The book prompted me to go online and see if Salomo offers any courses and essentially led me to this site. This is the book I was waiting for - it goes into the depths of Jewish magic and discussed topics that are completely prohibited for any open discussion in the Jewish communities until this day. Even Kabbalists avoid the subject alltogeter!

Brave book, superb research. I felt that much needs to be done here yet - because this type of magic is not practiced by many, it will be crucial to keep notes of all experiments!

Please share your experiences!

Bumblebee.

I have been reading and rereading the book since i received from Amazon, it is quite amazing because it is a far higher form of data...you just don't find this in the books out there for students of Magic. I have been working with the Kavvanah exercise in Chapter 6, (still trying to get it fully memorized with colors and coresponding feelings), as well as the Shimmushey Tehillim. Also went and bought me a package of Sculpey clay to make some bowls. Though I'm really still grasping a lot of the concepts within the book, it has truly impressed me. I remember seeing somewhere there was another book coming, so i will be looking for it as well. Anyway, peace unto you all, I'm just finding my way through the website, trying to figure out the navigation. Very nicely done!

Dear Salomo:

I found the book amazing. Although I am not Jewish, I waited for such a book for years. Several years ago I come across with Esoteric knowledge and I learned Western Esoteric Tradition had included Jewish Qabbalah into their body of teachings (QM: Intro, Page 1 and 2. Because I am quoting your book here you can see how identified I feel when reading your book). I started to feel a strong need to learn from the very source i.e. Jewish Qabbalah and Jewish Sages. I read several books on Theoretical and Meditative Jewish Qabbalah and about Western Esoteric Tradition too, I learned a lot from them and I felt then a new strong need to practice Qabbalah instead of just read about it but it was difficult because I decided to look for an Order more oriented to Jewish Qabbalah than Chistian Qabbalah. It was even more difficult try to find one close to my country, Chile. I am thankful to find this book and the free course you teach here.

A question arose in my mind because of your book but not related directly to it. It would be great if you could offer a course, for those interested on, with pure Torah/Tanak study and Practical Qabbalah. I am reading (in English) Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, Rabbi Isaac Luria, Rashi, Baal Ha-Turim, Ramban and Rabbi Abulafia. It is amazing see how all Qabbalistic concepts are deduced from the very Bible. In my opinion, a course with such a flavor of Torah, Jewish Sages and Practical Qabbalah it would be a thing without precedence like your book Qabbalistic Magic. Per Dolores foreword I think a lot of Western Esoteric Tradition students will be interested on such a course. A whole Order/grades based on such teachings it would be one of my dreams come true. I will continue reading your book and studying the free course offered here. I think I will find more interesting teachings in the way I am looking for.

Your book make justice to ancient Jewish Qabbalistic Rabbis and their old Mystical teachings. Once I found a magician a little bit anti-Semitic I told him that when he says Ata or Gevurah or Gedulah or Rafael, etc. in his rituals he was talking in Hebrew and performing rituals based on mystical Jewish teachings. After my comments no answer in return.

About the scientists you mentions on QM: Intro, page 1, it is true that sometimes they simplify the origin of Qabbalah but also these scholars recognize in several places on his writings that Jewish mystical teachings were transmitted orally and between small Jewish secret societies. I can remember a couple of books from Gershom Scholem (Kabbalah) and Moshe Idel (Kabbalah: New Perspectives). Gershom Scholem mentions that Jewish mystical teachings had other names in the past like Sitre Torah, Maaseh Merkabah, Maase Bereshit and other names in Talmudic times and many other names in Post-Talmudic times. I think in the times of the prophets these teachings were taught in the Schools of the Prophets. In the very Bible is mentioned the Prophetic Position (very close to the Child posture in Yoga, which makes me think on the individuation process of Jung i.e. the individuated person becomes like a child with all the parts of his psyche gathered together again like in the time he born).

On QM: Intro, Page 3 you advice about a danger of perform some rituals without a master. I live in Chile and I would like to know if there is a way to learn how to practice from Internet tools like Skype (it would be a little bit difficult for me travel to Germany).

In the same page you touched my heart when saying "... angelic beings are approached in our times by those who serve the Light... with respect and not by binding them by an oath". It would be great if you could expand more about this idea because I would like to understand better my feelings when I read books like the Keys of Salomon or Abramelin the Mage (sometimes the Grimorium Verum but with a sense of discomfort). For years I asked myself why to force a spiritual being to perform a task in our behalf, these beings could feel rage against us and try to harm us if the opportunity appears. Probably it is a psychological matter and people from the Middle Ages could have needed to work more on repression of their Shadow but I think this kind of repression will ends on huge spiritual battles and these beings will act against us with all the opposition available to them and in the form of demons/monsters trying to destroy us.

Thank you for your book, at least you reached this non-Jewish (QM: Intro, page 2).

In L.V.X.

Exequiel

I have just downloaded the book to my Kobo. Looking forward to new discoveries!

 

Bess

I am on my second reading of the book and have learned much from it. I has inspired several questions about the research that went into its preparation. Sadly, if I pose these questions on this forum I seem to run afoul of the rules. Do you have a vehicle (website or open blog) where you would consider answering some specific questions regarding the various elements that are contained in  the various systems of study of Qabbalah  and the relevance of these elements to a truly meaningful study of Qabbalah? Based upon my reading of your work I trust your judgement. I live in a relatively rural area of the US and it is difficult to find Rabbinic scholars to confer with on these matters. Thank you and Shalom, Abbarossa

I believe Magic has a lot to do with the mental structure. Visualization and rituals play important role in making magic happen. My question is a mix question regarding chap 7 :Segullot page 47 second paragraph: "First you must never use magic to fulfill the desires of the Evil Urge....."/   and chap 6  Kavvanah, page 36 and 37 third paragraph:" In order to cause any magical effect, you must create a thought-from  and do so with a specific intention and concentration......"  Question: Some parts of the world (beliefs) (religions),( cuture), certain actions are acceptable, normal. Example: Polygamy, gay etc. Some other parts of the world, it is an abomination. Therefore, talking about intention, evil desire, is there a sort of universal mental structure that need to be followed or your action, "intention", "what is evil and what is not" will depend on your background and belief system of the part of the world you belong to?

   "I just give a random example and I don't really want to focus on them but on "ethical part" of how an individual supposes to make the difference when something is ethical or not." according to the wisdom of the kabbalah.