Magic of Qabalah

Rating:
Summary: WHO ARE THE HOI-POLLOI
Review: I truly am at a loss to understand the damning magazine editorial posted with this book. I can only conclude that this is an example of the "establishment" wanting to keep knowledge for themselves and resenting a fresh approach. This book is ideal for people wanting to understand Qaballah in an accessible and inspiring way. The pathworkings are clear, beautiful and easy to follow, with vivid descriptions of the sephira and an allegorical story at the end which pulls the entire journey up the Tree together, but that doesn't undermine the solid foundations on which the Tree of Life is based. I felt this book helped me to understand the concepts of the Qaballah without losing sight of the ancient wisdom which gave birth to it. I found the experience of reading and working with this book profound, meaningful and satisfying. It has all the integrity of the standards in the field while making the material approachable in a way which the other Qaballah books don't ever seem to manage.

Read it...you won't regret it!

Rating:
Summary: WHO ARE THE HOI-POLLOI
Review: Referred to by 'Publisher's Weekly'? People like myself I assume, who had a tentative knowledge of Qabalah prior to reading Kala Trobe's excellent book, and who now have a much better working knowledge of the subject. As far as I can see, Kala Trobe's approach is not 'glib', it is personal and it works for ordinary mortals like me.

There are many obscure books available on Qabalah, but this is the first time I have gotten any real purchase on the subject. I whole heartedly recommend that readers ignore the 'Publishers Weekly' review above and just try it for themselves. I shied away from the subject before reading this book. Now I feel confident that I at least have experienced the basics, and some more. Kala Trobe's descriptions of astral projection during her Yesodic time are very inspiring and interesting. More personal honesty is needed in these subjects, which otherwise are way too dry and intimidating.

I totally recommend this book. I found the imagery in it engrossing and will be using it to help me along the spiritual path.

JonB

Rating:
Summary: A good place to start
Review: The author doesn't claim this is an exhaustive or authoritative study of the esoterica of Qabalah which, as Lon DuQuette has said, will "count the nostril hairs of God." But for those trying to get their bearings, especially in the hermetic application of Qabalah, this is a good start. The rituals are less than perfect; they taste rather of "new age" instead of true ceremonial qabalism. But you can ignore them and substitute your own or those of the myriad other authors who have written on the subject, from Crowley to Regarie to Mathers. Start here; there is much more complex and confusing material you can puzzle on later.

If you're a hard core Thelemite looking for an accessible basic intro to Qabalah, stick with "The Chicken Qabalah" by Lon DuQuette. It's much funnier and more relevant to Thelema.

Rating:
Summary: A good place to start
Review: The author doesn't claim this is an exhaustive or authoritative study of the esoterica of Qabalah which, as Lon DuQuette has said, will "count the nostril hairs of God." But for those trying to get their bearings, especially in the hermetic application of Qabalah, this is a good start. The rituals are less than perfect; they taste rather of "new age" instead of true ceremonial qabalism. But you can ignore them and substitute your own or those of the myriad other authors who have written on the subject, from Crowley to Regarie to Mathers. Start here; there is much more complex and confusing material you can puzzle on later.

If you're a hard core Thelemite looking for an accessible basic intro to Qabalah, stick with "The Chicken Qabalah" by Lon DuQuette. It's much funnier and more relevant to Thelema.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book about Magickal (Hermetic) Qabalah
Review: This is an excellent book. The meditations are inspired and rather beautiful and quite traditional in their attributions. However, this book is a book for those in the Western Tradition of Magick (Wiccans, Hermeticists) and not a book rehashing ancient Judaism. It is a book on practical Qabalah. Qabalah you can use immediately.

Ms. Trobe never made claim that this was an exhaustive treatise on the subject of Jewish Kabbalah which when taken out of the context of the Jewish experience is nearly meaningless. Make no mistake, to take Traditional Kabbalah out of its Jewish context is tantamount to removing the Native American elements of Cherokee shamanism and then claim the material is traditional.

Though Ms. Trobe's book does not, many books on Western Qabalah contains attributions and concepts that simply are not contained in the Hebrew cosmology (cross cultural deities, and concepts) nor should they be because traditional Kabbalah is part of the Jewish religion. No matter which spiritually confused movie star or musician claims otherwise, Kabbalah is only Kabbalah (with a K) when married to its true religious and cultural context.

Hermetic Qabalah has thankfully becomes a largely non-denominational, eclectic map of consciousness and the spiritual universe in general. It is only a map, it is not the terrain. It is an attempt to understand and codify, to the best of human ability, the way the Divine functions within creation and is eminently accessible to the Western mind that likes to balance reason with more shamanic states of consciousness. In other words many of us want to see the man behind the curtain (the Great and Powerful?? God/dess).

Ms. La Trobe's Qabalah is a Qabalah that I can relate to. It is simple enough to understand easily yet full of great ideas and depth. Do I agree with everything she says? No. Do I feel that this is the only book on Hermetic Qabalah you'll ever need? No. But will this book introduce you to a Qabalah that you can fit into your own spiritual understanding? Yes.

Read it! Use it!

I also recommend two book: Simplified Magick and More Simplified Magick by Ted Andrews. The Witches Qabala by Ellen Cannon Reed, The Tree of Life : An Illustrated Study in Magic ,The Middle Pillar : The Balance Between Mind and Magic all of which can be had through Amazon.com and The Complete Guide to Kabbalah (Hermetic despite the spelling) by Will Parfitt which can be had through Amazon.com.uk.

Oh, and about the negative review from From Publishers Weekly. Ignore it utterly. It was obviously written by someone who dislikes eclecticism and the evolution of a tradition. Honestly, after reading the book I doubt that the reviewer really read the book and certainly didn't use the meditations. The reviewer brushed this book off as if it were some bit of fluffy nonsense that ignores its roots. This is an unfair criticism. However, at the same time the Jewish Kabbalah is heavily influenced philosophically by both greek Neo-Platonism, Canaanite and Babylonian religion and perhaps even ancient Egyptian beliefs.

Does this cultural borrowing invalidate the Judiac Kabbalah as well or is it all a matter of syncretism and the ability of our spiritual consciousness to know truth beyond issues of culture and nation?

The mandate of a tradition is evolve or die and though I am no mindless proponent of tradition, I believe that some traditions like Qabalah deserve to survive for the very reasons Ms.Trobe's book was criticized. It is eclectic and adaptable.

Bright Blessings,

Chris