Qabalah question!
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93,
You'll get several answers on this, I'm sure. I think what we need to bear in mind is that Qabalah is a huge conceptual framework. However we work with it, it will activate ideas and feelings within us, and develop our ideas about what we are and what our universe is.
It can be form a framework for magick, and also for meditation. Both can easily be combined in one working, while some people prefer to use only meditation.
The question that needs to be defined is: What is it you want to accomplish through Qabalah? That will clarify any more specific answer you get.
93 93/93,
EM
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Ed thank you for your response!
I was looking for a basic understanding of Qabalah being that I am intersted mainly in the other side of this being the Qliphoth.
The shadow of the Tree of Life persay.
I will give you a little of were im comeing from as it pertains to my qustion.
I am trying to get a grasp on Qabalah as most understand it and compare it to the Qliphoth Practiced my the Order I belong to Dragon Rouge.
I know some look at this from many diffrant view points and not all good but ill paste here.
Here is the offical statement of my orders aim as it pertains to the Qliphoth..
The Qabalah is a mystery philosophy which has roots in Greek philosophy and which was kept alive in Jewish mysticism and in the western magical tradition. The Qliphoth is the dark side of this tradition. The Qliphoth is the principles of the shadow and the antitheses that are hidden behind everything. The side of light in the Qabalah represents mathematical/ geometrical principles through which God created the world. The Qliphoth corresponds to fractals and principles of chaos. The Qliphoth are the dividing and destructive forces. The Qliphotic Qabalah uses the forces of destruction to free the adept from the limitations of creation. Through these forces we can learn to create. In the Qabalah, Lucifer and the fallen angels are those who first used the Qliphotic forces to free themselves from God. The principles of light are keeping the angels and the rest of creation in their firm, predetermined circles. The dark forces break these circles and make a free will and an individual existence outside God possible.Demonology and the Goetic magic are parts of the Qliphotic Qabalah in which the magician conjures and evokes personified dark forces in the shape of different demons. In Dragon Rouge we are using the traditional black magical and demonological texts for this purpose but we have adopted these old methods to our draconian system. The Testament of Solomon, the Keys of Solomon, the Lemegeton and Le Dragon Rouge are examples of demonological texts used by Dragon Rouge.
So in essance im trying to learn about sides of the Tree.
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The thing about the qliphoth, is it leads to decay. It is not useful as far as a developmental system, unless you would prefer to lessen your own grip upon the universe. But hey, google dragon rouge if you're interested in finding a system that works with it.
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Dragon Rouge does deal with with the Qliphoth and has a whole system of magick based around it...but I think some people have diffrant view points on what the Qliphoth actully is.
I know Grant goes into detail about this along with the "Tunnels of Set" and so forth.
I have talked to a few higher Intiats in the order[Dragon Rouge] that have been useing it along with other methods of alchemy and have produced true effects.
But to my main qustion again.
Can any one give me a really good refrance to a good book on Qabalah to read?
Its odd ive been into the Occult for years studyed and practiced alot of diffrant stuff but never fully dove into what the Qabalah is abotu on a practical level..of course I understand the goal and aim.
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Good bookes on the Qabala would be:
The Mysical Qabala by Dion Fortune (has an esoteric Christian bent)
The Chicken Qabala by Lon Milo DuQuette (haven't read this one but have heard good things about it)
Kabballah by Charles Ponce (talks more broadly on the system as a whole rather than specifically on the tree of life, although it definitely speaks thoroughly on the Tree of Life)I don't think any of these authors will present the tree of life and the Qliphoth the same as how the Dragon Rouge presents it. From what I've seen, the way Dragon Rouge approaches the Qliphoth, has no basis in actual Jewish lore.
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Qabalah: a magical primer, by John Bonner
I've been using it to connect the dots.
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Thanks for the advice on books.
I may go with DuQuette's being I all ready have one of his books perhaps.
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SD, 93,
In 'conventional' Qabalah, we are cautioned that seeking the Light alone is only part of the story, since "there is a light so strenuous it cannot be perceived as light." Similarly, choosing solely a Qlippothic path is putting an unnecessary restriction on yourself. Just saying "I know what I want to do" may well be just giving in to a superficial decision that doesn't meet your complete needs, only a temporary whim.
Any Qabalist finds himself/herself exploring Qlippothic energies, simply because they're part of what we are. Choosing to exclude exploring the other side of the Tree is, IMHO, narrow-minded. In choosing any one route, we make U-turns harder down the way, since the psyche learns only the one approach. Yes, you'll get results, but those results can themselves be restricting.
93 93/93,
EM
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The book that's proved most useful for me concerning the Qabalah is "A Practical Guide to Qabalistic Symbolism" by Gareth Knight.
Careful with the Qliphoth. I don't see any real need to study it or even be involved with it, but my scope is admittedly limited in that regard.
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Thank you every one for the response..I got some of the information im looking for here along with other places:}
Cheers