Did Madonna really brainwash A-Rod? These were the questions I was asked yesterday on Entertainment Tonight as they explored the sex, romance and religion story of the moment. My answer to the second question was already explored in yesterday’s posting, but the answer to the first may be more relevant to any of us who seek a meaningful spiritual path and a supportive community with whom to share it.
If by work, we mean, can the practice of certain rituals guarantee the outcomes we desire? I would say, no, Kabbalah doesn’t work. Although there is even a stream of thought within Jewish mystical thought which says that can and does happen – that we can perform acts on earth which compel God to provide what we desire. Though even masters of that approach do not teach that everyone can get what they want if they “just insert prayer A into heaven B”.
But if by work, we mean, are there practices which can transform our lives, get us more in touch with our own spiritual capacity, and give us a sense of greater wholeness? Then I would say, yes, Kabbalah can work. Let’s take the example of the red thread which people, including my own mother, wear and associate with Kabbalah.
Anyone who believes that the wearing of that thread is a guarantor of full protection or good outcomes is likely to be deeply disappointed. But the idea that one could wear a simple thread which reminds them of God’s presence and the fact that as people, we have the power to perform sacred acts which have profound and often unforeseen consequences is great.
The red thread is not an insurance policy; it is a token of relationship with something greater than yourself, and a statement to yourself and the world of your own sacredness and spiritual dignity. Not only is it vital that we all have such tokens in our lives, but this one is simply an adaptation of the ritual fringes, tzitzit, which Moses commands the newly freed Israelites to wear for precisely the same reasons. And I love that so many people have found their way to that consciousness through this new/old ritual.
I also want to thank Carolyn G., who responded so beautifully to yesterday’s posting and the comments it evoked about the so-called over-popularization of Kabbalah and Jewish ritual. Here’s what she wrote:
Listen to this wise woman! If the faiths we follow and the God we worship are truly infinite, then they can never be cheapened of diluted because each of those terms presumes a finite quantity which is made less valuable either because there is too much of it, or not enough. That is not a problem ever faced by that which is infinite.



Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of 



posted July 8, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Would it not be better for the Jewish people if all non-Jews could not understand Kaballism? Of course, this might go for Jewish people themselves, in that, Kaballism is obviously a plagiaristic transfer of the knowledge and rituals of Egyptian Mystery Religions. Who would want that realization to take place?
For instance:
Three trans-historical rules that govern the adequate and applicable shaping of Spirit in dominant Western Religion are:
I
The internal pole governing the applicable and adequate shape of Spirit is determined by the archetype indigenous to the constellation the sun rises through at the Vernal Equinox. Thus, western religion undergoes a major metamorphosis from one constellated archetype to another every two thousand to twenty-two hundred years.
II
The external complement to the internal, normally invisible, magnetic pole of these stimulus-response patterns in the visible spectrum is symbolic expression of the persona of the constellated archetype requires Its mask be shaped through visual and auditory Master Class Artistic Mediums. In other words, giving this invisible shape of Spirit, the specific Arcanum indigenous to the specific two thousand year cycle, a visible magnetic pole, as the stimuli for the cathartic response, comes by way of Master Class Mediums and Master Class Artists/Prophets. These mediums show the religious community what “gods” or “goddesses” look like, behave like, say,and do.
III
The modes of production form the basis of whether or not deities are either a natural shape or a human shape. They must correspond respectively to the economic basis of self-preservation in the said culture, which is either agrarian or non-agrarian. If a shape of Spirit is both applicable and adequate, it must substantiate the acts in the visible spectrum of Spirit furthering the self-preservation of the group. God must be the Sustainor and Artificer of the group. If God is not this S/substantiator of R/reality, the religious community requires a metamorphosis towards a more applicable and adequate shape of Spirit.
In astronomy, two thousand to twenty two hundred-year cycles have to do with the constellation in the background of the sun as it rises on March 21st, the Vernal Equinox. This is a physically verifiable phenomenon; it is due to the wobble of magnetic North, which causes a phenomenon known as the precession of the equinoxes. This involves transiting the nodes of these cycles approximately every two-thousand years and bringing into position a new constellation in the background of the rising sun at the Vernal Equinox. Or, This Is The Dawning of The Age of Aquarius might be a bit more than a song by the Fifth Dimension.
But these constellations have another association in Egyptian Mystery Religions and the Kabalah. Each of these cycles has an astrological sign identified with it, and each astrological sign has a dominant archetype indigenous to it. Something incredibly revealing, regarding the nature of western religions, occurs when these archetypes are related to significant spiritual metamorphoses in western religious history from pre-dynastic Egypt to present. The determinate shape of Spirit and the applicability and adequacy of its humanly shaped external magnetic complement is determined by the archetype indigenous to the astrological sign. Thus, the year 2000 AD presents civilization with an era of a transiting node from Pisces to Aquarius. If one presents the hypothesis that the precession of the equinoxes is directly associated with a shift of the dominant archetypes in the archetypal totem of civilization intersecting the individual consciousness of the inhabitants of its religious community, we are presented with an ideal test case for empirical verification.
In Egyptian Mystery Religions and the Kabalah, the archetype indigenous to Pisces is The Martyr, Arcanum XII, and the archetype dominant to Aquarius is Arcanum IX, The Wiseman/Sage.
The positive aspect of this perspective to the ecumenical movement is that the archetype determining an applicable and adequate shape of Spirit in the West for the period ca.2000 to 4000 AD is Arcanum IX. The Sage/Wiseman is identical to the dominant determinate shape of Spirit and goal of spiritual transformation in the Eastern Religious & Symbolic Game, thus supplying the ecumenical movement with its universal common denominator. The problem is whether rationality or prejudice will prevail by the Abrahamic Cults. More focally, the theological issue, given the perspective of the God Game is whether Abrahamic Cults will accept this archetypal shift, which has the direct implication the West become more like the East, rather than their self-referential dogma justifying their spiritual imperialism-Apocalypse or Aquarius? What telos seems a better alternative?
To make the point another way, remember the general reaction to Mel Gibson’s The Passion of The Christ by members identified with the Abrahamic religious community? The gentiles and Jews were/are both up in arms because it displayed the Jewish religious leaders martyring/murdering Christ. Ca. 0-2000 presented them with a new two thousand-year cycle marked by the sun rising through the sign of Pisces. The archetype indigenous to this sign is The Martyr. The synchronization of this event by the creators of this Religious & Symbolic Game was to portray an applicable and adequate shape of Spirit. Arcanum XII, The Martyr, became dominant internal magnetic pole/determinate shape of Spirit when the Vernal Equinox transited to the constellation Pisces approximately -60 BC. The Jewish King-Jesus Christ actualizes the Drama of the Crucifixion, primarily through the lyric and narrative prose scripted in the Old Testament. As such Christ became the dominant external magnetic pole of the dominant internal magnetic pole, The Martyr.
Accusations of antisemitism by the Jewish contingent and others were matched by an equal display of artistic and spiritual idiocy and bigotry by the Christian community. They lacked the perspective to understand the logic of these (f)acts and (f)actors. The critical theological issue is that the Jewish clergy, prophets, artists, and theologians of that period understood the nature of Western Religious & Symbolic Games because of their roots in Egypt. The critical issue for us is the level of intelligence and subliminal control that can be expressed and enhanced through artistic mediums used as such. For instance, the Biblical artists and prophets understood if they created the dominant shape of The Martyr, Its external magnetic pole in a Master Class Symbolic Medium such as the Bible, and the Drama actualization of Christ’s martyrdom, revisited and linked back to through symbolic ritual, their tribe ruled the world. Agree or disagree, this is an incredible human accomplishment. Furthermore, there is good reason why Christ disappeared to Egypt from age twelve to age thirty. Rehearsals for this role in this Drama, with all the things he had to do to fulfill the prophecies of Old Testament, were demanding to say the least. By understanding this type of demonic possession in a new light, one can progress gradually to being free from this demonic possession, which today threatens to destroy all life forces on the Earth, and all in the name of “god.”Then again, in a religious perspective, if we understood the nuclear fission theorem was, in essence the onset of the Apocalypse, and the resurrection of Tutankaten also known as Tutankamem, is the Second-Coming, an essay such as this would be unnecessary. Given the level of intelligence governing artistic “genius” in Hollywood, what else could we really expect. Mel Gibson did not even understand it.
The dominance of the S-R patterns produced by this Abrahamic Religious & Symbolic Game is by no means coincidental or mysterious; it is synchronized, premeditated, and logical. How this thesis applies to the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic perspectives, as well as Freemasonry and The Church of Rome, and the control of the rites of passage to rulership in Western Civilization, as the new shape of Spirit onsets, can no longer be avoided by artists, theologians, and philosophers. The powers that rule western civilization have been transliterated into the occult powers of King David and Solomon (The Cult of Amen), but their origin is seeded in the Pyramid Cults (The Cult of Aten).
The logic of these (f)acts and (f)actors, such as the relation of Judas to Jesus, in the specific God Game, Drama of Christ, is directly in line with reason. The artists/prophets who wrote the scriptures, and arranged these specific (f)acts and (f)actors knew perfectly well they needed a Martyr figure in the external realm as the external magnetic compliment. The cast had to be chosen, as well as the timing and of acting out the scriptures. In short, this was quite a production to put on, look at the size of it. No wonder why it took him eighteen years of actual rehearsals in Egypt. The players in this God Game must be given credit where credit is due, what an artistic accomplishment. Just think of the perspective of these humans, hopefully now one has had the time to put on the mask of these individuals and see through their lenses. In this sense the goal of this essay attempt4ed to accomplish the goal of many world religions in actually raising their level to that of the prophets and artists-real artists and prophets. And, hopefully, as one has put the mask of these prophets and artists on, one has taken another off and become to a greater degree free from the yoke of the mask of demonic possession whose soul purpose both internal and external has been to control and rule.
The Logic of Judas and Jesus, given this perspective, makes the Drama of Christ perfectly rational, and even The Passion of The Christ a pro-Semitic, pro-Abrahamic work of art. These are the conclusions, of an analysis of a particular God-Game, in a specific western religion, in an attempt to found a science of religion based on a genuine anthropology of Spirit.
In summary, I define genuine philosophy and theology as a process of delineation within one’s self analogous to faceting and polishing a diamond in the rough to the brilliance displayed by a finely cut gem bathing in the sunlight within the mind’s eye; and upon closer inspection, glimpsing the chessboard upon which the game of the forces that rule the world have played and currently play, from the dawn of civilization through the present-tense to its destiny…It is your move…Best wishes in all your endeavors…and remember,
It’s a poor sort of memory that only works backward
Lewis Carroll,
Through The Looking Glass
CONCLUDING NOTE
The onset of Arcanum IX, as the dominant archetype prefaces any new adequate and applicable Religious & Symbolic Game for the upcoming two-thousand year cycle of spiritual metamorphosis in the West. The fact that this archetype is identical to the primary goals of the spiritual practices of The Eastern Religious & Symbolic Game, implies Arcanum IX to be a most viable common denominator for the current ecumenical movement.
posted July 8, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Its not that maddonna and those at the The kaballah center “cheapen” Kaballah, infact, many Non jewish Thinkers studied Kaballah in the Middle Ages, which lead into the Rennaisance.
I’d like to think that at some level things like the red String fall under the heading:”If you can believe it, so shall it be”. which is no different that among many pre-western societies paining images on their bodies before going to battle, in order to make them selves invisible, or invulnerable.
posted July 9, 2008 at 5:57 pm
What is up with that long description??? Kabballah is OBVIOUSLY??? a plagiarized version of Egyptian mystery religions? Have you studied it outside of the occult version? It is not OBVIOUSLY anything! It is a discipline in and of itself. The diatribe is uneccessary here,Kaballah has its problems both with Jews and non-Jews- but the pursuit of an ancient mystic tradition within an ancient monotheism requires an open mind and a lifetime of study. Used to be that only men over 40 could study it, because the mystics taught that otherwise the practitioner would not have the spiritual maturity to learn it and be able to separate the illusions from the real. I abhor it when folks try to fit something to their limited definition. G-d by definition CANNOT be defined. Therefore, allow the believers and practitioners to pursue, without judgement. The Talmud says you should not judge unless you have walked in a person’s footsteps.
posted July 10, 2008 at 11:39 am
What the heck! – Plagiarized version of WHAT? Did the Egyptians have the Torah? I think NOT.
I am a student of Chassidic philosophy which is Kabballah – but NOT the red string variety as taught by the Kabballah Center. The Chabad Rabbi’s warn about such teachings and say they are not their teachings.
The source of Kabballah is the Torah in Chassidic teachings and the whole purpose is an understanding of the Power and Love of G-d and our relationship to this Power, to creation, to HaShem. It is non-magical, mystical yes. There is a big difference between the two. Through my studies of this philosophy I have come to a deeper awe of the ONENESS of G-d and the mystery and beauty of creation. It has deepened my relationship with HaShem and all creation in a profound way.
I have a friend who wears the red string and although I would not wear one I respect her feelings and I know it signifies something important to her in her relationship with the Divine. Shalom All – Chanalee
posted July 21, 2008 at 5:25 am
The Jews did not take Kabalah from the Egyptians. It was given to them by G-d after they left Egypt, on Mt Sinai when G-d gave the Jews the Torah, the Talmud and Kabalah. G-d gave all three to the Jews at that time. There are no red strings attached to this either. The Kabalah that Madonna and others study is not “Kosher Kabalah”, therefore it is nothing at all but some misguided spiritual new age teachings by a group of people that are selling this for a profit. Anyone who wants to learn Kabalah may do so, but I suggest you do it with Chabad which is a Chassidic orthodox sect, who can explain what it really is and how you can incorporate it to your daily life. For non Jews Kabalah might be interesting, for Jews it’s part of their souls and how they can elevate their body and their souls to be more closely aligned with G-d. Ditto keeping Kosher. But I don’t see Madonna keeping Kosher. If you are what you eat, and she is truly learning kosher kabalah then she would be keeping kosher.
posted July 21, 2008 at 7:07 am
Who can save you when you are sick? who can give the air you breathe? who can bring your life back when the doctors pronounce you dead?? think about this!! nobody but God please wake up before it’s to late God Bless
posted July 21, 2008 at 9:44 pm
The basis of defining the giver of those things as God is relative to individual disposition of mind..spiritual temperament..and level of understanding
If all things were dependent upon a God and God is unchanging in His nature then all things coming from God would be absolute and unchanging as well…but we know that the opposite is true…everything is in the nature of change and impermanence
Blessings
posted July 24, 2008 at 6:20 pm
I find it interesting that people need to define what are… or, are not, the teachings of God and where it came from. What matters is. if someone is enlightened and it results in their doing good deeds, God has a new disciple. One who recognizes a supreme being and believes in the goodness of man. Enlightenment can come from many places. If Kaballah gives that it to anyone, and I mean anyone… Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu… Whatever… It is a good thing. Why argue over who was first to introduce it? Personally, I don’t care… if the Egyptians, The omans or even The Vulcans or The Communists taught it first. It has a powerful message and that is enough for me.
posted July 27, 2008 at 11:14 am
Being spiritual does not come from an organized religion or a red string.
It comes from our heart. God gave us this beautiful planet to care for, as it cares for us. Yet we are destroying it. We are changing the climate. There are millions of people across the world that are dying of starvation or disease. Wars are being fought over land which God gave to everybody. Children are being killed, millions are being displaced from their homes. Old people can not afford there medications. The coral reefs in the oceans are being poisoned. We are wiping out species of life faster than we can record it in our records. Yet we argue about who gave us Kaballah and if wearing a red string will make us spiritual. Being spiritual is an act, What have you done today? Think about this for while.
posted July 28, 2008 at 9:50 pm
As I read through the comments it’s easy to see the difference between those who live by a set of do’s and don’ts and those who live with a power (whatever you choose to call it)in there life that actually makes a difference in how they live. You will know a tree by the fruit that it bears. What kind of fruit does your faith produce in your life? I am not a religious person but I have a faith that has given me the ability to be more than I could of ever been by myself and of myself. If wearing a red string helps you to think of God before you act, then it’s a good thing and there is value in that string for that paticular person. I don’t know anything about kabbalah but I have read a bit about some of the jewish beliefs and I have no doubt that anyone who seeks God and honestly trys to apply those beliefs in their life will indeed change-it will work. I believe that God is more concerned with how I treat the other people rather than what I did or didn’t have for lunch, or if I wear a skirt or pants. Bottom line is that God is real and if you honestly seek him He will reveal himself to you.
posted August 5, 2008 at 4:02 pm
For 51 years, I listened to stories about ghosts and never seen one, “mystics” and met fakes, looked at “rituals” that were as hokey and bound in ignorance, that no one could take them seriously. Then there was always the “supernatural”. All this stuff is what movies are made of and that people that ignorantly “practice” witchcraft and want to believe themselves to be “powerful”. I watched the homosexuals invade christianity, trying to “write” themselves into the bible, which the Episcopaleans can’t get them there. God has logical reasons for everything under the sun, and no amount of human fantasy or “mysticism” can ever change what will take place.
posted October 25, 2008 at 5:56 am
G-d is not our drive-thru. In this fast paced, give it to me now world mentality added to that the what about me factor, we forget G-d is G-d and we are NOT. He is there always, everywhere, and knows everything, we do NOT. Therefore, prayer is just that; a request or petition and an opportunity as well as a priviledge to come before the great creator G-d and be with HIM. We are to revolve around HIM not HIM around us. Much like a parent and child. The child should sit at the parent’s lap speaking respectfully and listening twice as often.
posted December 7, 2008 at 4:16 pm
When I first heard of Jesus, and what he sacrificed for us, it still has not totally made sense to me at 55 years of age. A human sacrifice so great as to permit countless of millions of souls the opportunity of everlasting joy. To this day it still amazes me why people need to conjure up reasons, ideas and rewards for themselves, moreover un believers take pride in demeaning our faith and sodomites run havoc with a double standard of threats, bigotry and made up words (homophobic). The leap of faith is difficult, to carry GOD with you is not an easy task given temptation and this self righteous entitlement of “riches, fulfillment and success”. My friends life is difficult, everyone does not win, become famous, enjoy riches and not carry burdens daily. Thread, cross, star or crescent and vail outwardly are only symbols, faith has no sign,no recognition and no adoration or ownership. Works of faith, spreading the news, caring for the poor, the weak, the fragile. Giving to mankind and not wearing pins, or threads as chevrons as self or public adoration is the key…exercise your faith, with cause and works and the reward will be yours in heaven.