"And a river went out of Eden" - Part 4

I have chanced upon a number of very interesting reflections on the "Four Rivers" of Gan Eden. Amongst these, consider for example a unique Kabbalistic tikkun, a magical "mending rite," intended to "heal" the "breaches" within the Divine One, as depicted by Abraham Miguel Cardozo, the 17th century Shabbatean prophet and "magus." Of course, the "broken deity" is understood to be referring to the "lower aspects" of the divine in manifestation, and not to the primordial oneness of the Eternal Living Spirit beyond time, space and events.

The rectification ritual requires one to select sets of five stones respectively representing five holy sefirot and five "demonic" counterparts, or perhaps the "demonic counterparts" of the five aspects of the human "Self," the latter being the Nefesh, Ru'ach, Neshamah, Chiah and Yechidah. The ritual procedure requires practitioners to alternatively position the stones inside streams of water, remove them, replace, remove and to scatter them, and so forth, whilst simultaneously reciting prayers and selected biblical verses. Cardozo informed us "the demonic powers are called 'stumbling stone' and 'obstacle stone' [Isaiah 8:14].....[while] the holy sefirot are called 'smooth stones.'....."

Regarding Cardozo's mentioned magical "divine mending rite," he told us that "when you take up these stones, your purpose is not to separate or to distance them from the brook, to distance, that is, the Persons from the Primordial Adam. God forbid! These are our portion and our heritage; it is our task fully to mend the flaw inflicted upon them by our ancestor's sins and by our own, and it is for this purpose that you are taking them up. For it is he who has true knowledge of God who is able to do the 'Mending'." In delineating the rite in question, Cordozo instructed those indending to work this "mending" of the "disfigured deity," to recite Genesis 2:10-14 whilst standing on the banks of a brook, stream or river. He explains "the 'river' is Primordial Adam.....He perpetually 'goes forth from Eden,' this being 'Adam of the World of Emanation.' The 'garden' is that vacant space, which, according to Rabbi Isaac Luria, was left when the Infinite initially contracted Itself into Itself.....This is, in the truest sense, that 'garden,' and it is for the purpose of watering it that the river — Primordial Adam — goes forth from the primordial Eden, which is 'Adam of the World of Emanation'....."

Having completed the recitation of the mentioned verse, the practitioner was required to place "the five stones of the realms of holiness into the river's waters," which was followed by prayers and a variety of further actions. The ritual and the meanings of the "five stones" can be traced in "Abraham Miguel Cardozo: Selected Writings" by Abraham Miguel Cardozo & David Joel Halperin.

Now, regarding the division of the one Edenic river into four, Cardozo believed this to be a division of the "divine flow" commencing within the sefirah Keter (Crown), or in the partzuf (Countenance) of Arich Anpin, i.e. the "Long-suffering" or "Patient One." The "Four Rivers" are then understood to be referring to the four divisions or "faces" as explicated in the Lurianic doctrine of the "partzufim," i.e. "Father," "Mother," "Son" and "Daughter" respectively indicating the four sefirot of Chochmah (Wisdom), Binah (Understanding), Tiferet (Beauty) and Malchut (Kingdom). The "four" are also considered to be representing four "messianic figures": Messiah ben David, Messiah ben Ephraim, Moses, and the fourth, according to David Halperin, "is something of a mystery."

Being a Shabbatean, Cardozo naturally included the failed Messiah Shabbetai Tzvi in his deliberations on the four "rivers" of Eden. Hence he informed us that "the name of the first [river] is Pishon [Genesis 2:11]. This is the Sefirah Chochmah [= Father].....The name of the second river is Gichon: This is Binah [= Mother].....[whose] role is to cover and to protect.....The roots of the two Messiah's souls derive from Father and Mother. This is why the numerical value of the words 'the name of the first is Pishon,' when the number of its letters are counted in, is equivalent to the value of 'Shabbetai Tzvi'." As it is, the gematria does not quite add up so nicely, but with some additional reasoning and a bit of manipulation here and there, anything is achievable.

Notwithstanding this, it would seem Abraham Miguel Cardozo assigned himself a special "messianic" mission, one perhaps a little greater than that of Shabbetai Tzvi. Continuing the theme of the "Four Rivers" and their "messianic" affiliations, he informed us that "at Messiah ben David's coming.....the sefirah Chochmah witdrew itself.....Messiah ben David was then left 'a waterless river, all dried up' [Job 14:11].....He was unable to reveal the Divinity in any explicit fashion, and he withdrew himself to the heights. Messiah ben Ephraim, by contrast, is the Sefirah Yesod (Foundation)." In Lurianic doctrine the phrase "broad places of the river" is identified with Yesod as the sex organ of the "Son" partzuf in Tiferet (Beauty), the messianic figure of which Cardoza maintained to be deriving "from the Mother's genital, which is called 'the broad places of the river.' He is thus able to spread doctrine throughout the world, and the divine effluence along with it, to make known the faith of the Cause Above All Causes, through the Blessed Holy One and His Shechinah. This is why the numerical value of 'the broad places of the river'," with again a little push and shove here and there to forcefit the issue nicely, is equivalent to that of the name of....."Abraham Miguel Cardozo" himself!

Regarding the remaining two Edenic rivers, Cardoza informed us that the third named "Chedekel" (Tigris) refers to the partzuf of Ze'ir Anpin, the "Impatient One" whose unique locale is Tiferet (Beauty) on the sefirotic tree. This Cardozo said is corresponding to Moses whom he maintained is incorporating "the roots of both Messiahs." In conclusion, he told us that the fourth river Frat (Euphrates) "is the sefirah Malchut, which is the source of all that is produced." Regarding the latter "river," Cardoza noted that there is no special reference in the bible, which he understood to mean that Malchut (Kingdom), the associated sefirah, "takes on various names, in accord with whatever effluence this sefirah receives" from the higher sefirot, and hence there is also some ambivalence regarding the affiliated messianic personage. On the one hand it is understood to be indicating the prophet Elijah, said to be "the Man Who Brings Good News" [ha-Mevaser], but that "it remains unclear whether Elijah is really the one who will announce the Redemption." In this regard Cardozo conjectured that "it is possible also that this will be done by a woman," i.e. Mavaseret Tziyon, 'She Who Brings Good News to Zion'."

In terms of the Lurianic doctrine of the "partzufim" (divine countenances) on the sefirotic tree, the sefirah Malchut is associated with Nukva, the divine feminine or "Daughter," manifested by and through all women on earth. This is the Shechinah, the female counterpart of the Divine One, regarding whom Cardozo implored the Infinite One: "O Master of all the worlds, You who necessarily exist! O God, above whom there is no God! O Lord over all the lords, King over all the Kings! Like the soul in the body and in its clothing, You shine within the ten sefirot of the World of Emanation, the ten sefirot of the World of Creation, the ten sefirot of the World of Fashioning, the ten sefirot of the World of Making. You join together all the worlds: the Yod to the Heh, the Heh to the Vav, and the Vav to the Heh. You give life to them all, and the host of heaven prostrates itself to You before Your honoured throne. You it is who unites the Blessed Holy One and His Shechinah. In the light of the manifest faces [is] Your face. May it be Your will to bring the Shechinah near, from You, to the Blessed Holy One. For, as seen from Your perspective, there is no separation or dissociation, no banishment or distancing."

This is certainly a most beautiful and very moving prayer, which, as well as the "sacred mending" saga, you can investigate in great detail in "Abraham Miguel Cardozo: Selected Writings" by Abraham Miguel Cardozo & David Joel Halperin.

(More to follow)

Practical Kabbalah vs "Black Magic"

As indicated in the header of this blog, I intend discussing some of those techniques of "Practical Kabbalah" which I addressed in my "The Book of Self Creation," and which I have greatly expanded upon, with lots of additional practical Kabbalistic material translated from primary Hebrew sources, in my forthcoming "The Book of Sacred Names," to be published by The Sangreal Sodality Press as the second volume in "The Shadow Tree Series."

For more than forty years I have devoted myself to both a serious investigation as well as the practical implementation of Kabbalistic teachings in my everyday life. For me "Kabbalah" was like a pair of old slippers, i.e. absolutely comfortable and easily slipped into, and it has remained so for the entire period that I have been associated with it. There are certainly times when I battle with the obscurities of the doctrines found in some of the primary texts, but, in the main, Kabbalah has served me well on many levels, whether these be physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. In terms of my everyday existence, I have found the teachings of "Practical Kabbalah" especially meaningful, despite the endless warnings about these being "bad," and that I might incur "the wrath of the Almighty."

Of course, it is worth noting that "Kabbalah" and Orthodox Judaism have always been uneasy bedfellows. Sometimes they would be more or less comfortable in their relationship and need of each other, but at other times they would burst into open conflict. The strong messianic tendencies of certain Kabbalists, like for example Shabbetai Tzvi, Jacob Frank, or, much further back, that of Abraham Abulafia, contributed to the notion amongst the orthodoxy that the tradition is a blasphemous quagmire out to snare the gullible. Yet, should the same Messianic tendency shine forth in what appears to be a most godly and sanctified individual, such as Rabbi Isaac Luria, then we can relax and bask in the glory of his "unique light," without any trepidation of being led up the garden path, so to speak.

We know that mysticism goes hand in hand with Judaism, as it does with other faiths, provided it stayed on the thin and narrow and managed to dress its visions, miracles, and what can only be termed "magical activities," in the garb of the formal and accepted religious views of the day. Step out of line, and that individual, who was deemed into manifestation in order to be redeemed in eternity, will be doomed by his peers unto the aeons. To put it simply, certain concepts of Kabbalah entered into mainstream Judaism, and comfortably remained there to this very day. These concepts mainly pertained to the speculative side of the Tradition. In fact, many Rabbis were both Kabbalists and orthodox religious leaders of their communities, as they are still today, with no particular problem one way or the other.

Having said that, I should also mention that some of them did keep their more "controversial" experiences and activities quite hidden for fear of rejection, as for example the case of Rabbi Joseph Caro and his Maggid clearly indicates. However, the more individualistic aspects of the tradition, such as "Practical Kabbalah," which patently involves magical practices, often led to a fracas everywhere, and yet there were again many orthodox Rabbis who beneficially utilized this forbidden zone of the tradition. In fact, many still do with their Kameot (Hebrew amulets), Segulot, Terufot, and magical use of holy writ. To this day the grave of Rabbi ben Duan in Wazzan outside Fez in Morocco, is used as a place where miraculous healings take place. Prior to his demise, the good Rabbi issued an instruction that a certain Kamea (amulet) should be engraved on his tombstone, which would then cause the grave itself to become a place of healing when the sick are placed on it. I can relate a first hand example of its effectiveness, but it will make this introduction much too lengthy. It would appear that the many people undertaking a healing pilgrimage to the good Rabbi’s tomb, is not bothering the orthodoxy unduly.

Naturally we need to recognise that the rise of pseudo-messiahs, such as the earlier mentioned Shabbetai Tzvi and Jacob Frank, contributed enormously towards the fall of Kabbalah from grace in the eyes of mainstream Judaism. Even more so after Shabbetai Tzvi’s conversion to Islam, following the Jewish authorities denouncement of him as a blasphemer to the Muslim authorities. He caused a lot of havoc with his enormous influence over thousands of Jews across the then "civilized" world, and naturally this was more than worrying to the rabbinical authorities who wanted to protect their flocks, and who could see Tzvi’s appeal as spelling disaster for Jewry as a whole. This was certainly a very dark period for both Kabbalah and Judaism alike. However, today Shabbatai Tzvi and his approach to both Kabbalah and Judaism, are understood in a much more open manner, and he appears less of a threat. The same cannot be said for "Practical Kabbalah," which is still drawing vehement condemnation from mainstream religious authorities.

I recently responded to a post online in which it was claimed that Joseph Karo, the great 16th century legalist and Kabbalist, referred to "Kabbalah Ma'asit" (Practical Kabbalah) in his Shulchan Aruch as "black magic." Seeking clarification I wrote:

"In the numerous pre-Lurianic Kabbalistic texts, as well as several subsequent works of the same genre penned by East European Baalei Shem, the term 'Kabbalah Ma'asit' referred to 'Practical Kabbalah' exclusively. There is no specific indication in these writings that the appellation 'Kabbalah Ma'asit' referred to 'Black Magic' per se. When exactly did it acquire the adverse connotation you are referring to?"

To this I received the following response:

"Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De'ah.....laws of Avoda Zerah. The Shulchan Aruch makes very clear that Kabbalah Ma'asit is what the Torah was referring to when it spoke about magic. There are a few rare exceptions, but by and large that is the status."

Since I could not find any reference to Kabbalah Ma'asit being "black magic" in the reference provided, I continued quizzing lest it appeared somewhere else in that authoritative legalistic tome, asking:

"Does the Shulchan Aruch use the specific appellative 'Black Magic' in reference to 'Kabbalah Ma'asit,' and does this turn astute and highly revered Kabbalists like Rabbi Eleazar of Worms, Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, Rabbi Moshe Zacutto, Rabbi Avraham Chamaui, et al, who openly shared techniques belonging to the 'Kabbalah Ma'asit' arena, into heretics who pandered what is forbidden? By the same token are 'Practical Kabbalistic' writings like the Sefer Raziel, Brit Menucha, Shorshei ha-Shemot, amongst others, considered 'black magic' texts?"

In response I was told:

"Actually the Sh"A refers to black magic and all other forms of forbidden sorcery as Kabbalah Ma'asit. As well as enumerates the practices that are forbidden. Considering that R' Cordovero was actually a teacher of R' Karo, I would assume that R' Karo learned what was forbidden from him. Receipt and knowledge of Kabbalah ma'asit is not forbidden, its usage is. Read the introduction by R' Zecuto (who is post-Lurianic by the way) he specifically warns against the usage of what he has written. There are exceptions to this within the bounds of halacha, but one first must be a competent Rav versed in the applicable halachot to know what they are and when they can be properly applied."

Realising the "deflective" nature of this response, the lack of direct textual references, the absurdity of the claim that it is in order to read and learn about Practical Kabbalah, but that you are not allowed to put such knowledge to practical use, and that I am not likely to get a clear answer to my query, I did not press for further details. It quickly became abundantly clear that pursuing the matter any further would just result in me listing more and more of those astute rabbis who did not only wrote about, but actually employed that which the individual in question termed "Black Magic," and likewise he will come back with a list of equally as many astute rabbis who decried "Practical Kabbalah." So why bother?

I thought the statement that Moses Cordovero was the teacher of Joseph Karo, and that the respondent assumed that accordingly "R' Karo learned what was forbidden from him," to be indeed most curious, since Cordovero himself freely shared techniques of the Kabbalah Ma'asit (Practical Kabbalah) genre in his Pardes Rimmonim (Garden of the Pomegranates). Joseph Karo was certainly not unfamiliar with the more "extreme aspects" of Kabbalah. After all, he diligently kept a diary, albeit a secret one, of his clairvoyant channelling of a Maggid, a heavenly spirit mentor, and he apparently left his mark in the local lore of Nicopolis, the town in which he grew up, where visitors are still shown Karo's Kan Gishmi (Fountain of Blood), a spot where it is said he "performed miracles." One wonders if the latter were of the "Practical Kabbalah" variety?

Regarding Moses Zacutto's warning "against the usage of what he has written," we know that he personally employed many of the magical techniques he listed so openly and enthusiastically in his Shorshei ha-Shemot (Roots of Names) and Sefer ha-Sodot she-Kibbalti mi Rabbotai (The Book of Secrets I Received from My Masters). In fact, in many instances he affirmed the efficacy of these procedures with the phrase "tested by me," and hence J.H. Chajes appears to be correct in his observation that Zacutto "assembled this magical material for practical and not merely theoretical purposes." It is also curious, as also noted by Chajes, that both Chaim Vital, of Lurianic fame, and his son Samuel did not hesitate to consult with Muslim magicians when they felt it necessary to do so!!