The Image on the Cover: "Universal Shiviti Amulet" - Part 5

F. Central Magen David Complex cont.:

2. The Name of Seventy-Two Names

(More to follow)

The Image on the Cover: "Universal Shiviti Amulet" - Part 4

F. Central Magen David Complex:

1. Forty-Two Letter Name of God

1. - ABGYTTz

2. - KRAShTN

3. - NGDYKSh

4. - BTRTzTG

5. - ChKBTNA

6. - YGLFZK

7. - ShKVTzYT

(more to follow)

The Image on the Cover: "Universal Shiviti Amulet" - Part 3

E. Magic Squares:

1. Top Right—Twelve Permutations of - YHVH

2. Top Left—Twelve Permutations of - EHYEH

3. Bottom Right:

a. Outer Square: - TAFTAFYAH

b. Middle Square: - AGALA'A

This Divine Name is derived from the first letters of the following phrase from the Amidah prayer:

Transliteration:

Atah Gibor l'Olam Adonai

Translation:

You are mighty throughout eternity Adonai

c. Centre Square: - YHVH

4. Bottom Left:

a. Outer Square: - MATZPATZ

YHVH transposed according to the Atbash cipher.

b. Inner Square: - YVD HY VYV HY

5. Bottom Border Centre:

a. Reading the first letter in each box:

Upper Row: - EHYeH

Middle Row: - YHVH

Lower Row: - AdoNaY

b. Reading the second letter in each box:

Yislach Ezrecha Mikodesh (Psalm 20:3)

c. Reading the third letter in each box:

Yishmar'cha mikol ra Y"Sh (Psalm 121:7)

d. Reading the fourth letter in each box:

Yishmor Tzet'cha Uvo'echa (Psalm 121:8)

Translation:

Ehyeh YHVH Adonai, may He send you help from (His) holiness, may He guard you from all evil (Blessed be His Name), may He guard your going forth and coming in.

(more to follow)

The Image on the Cover: "Universal Shiviti Amulet" - Part 2

As promised, herewith an account of the contents of the "Universal Shiviti Amulet."

A. Outside Frame: Twenty-Four Permutations of Adonai

Transliteration:

Top] ADNY ADYN ANDY ANYD AYND AYDN

[Left] DNYA DNAY DYNA DYAN DAYN DANY

[Bottom] NYAD NYDA NAYD NADY NDAY NDYA

[Right] YADN YAND YDAN YDNA YNDA YNAD

B. Top Centre: Psalm 16:8

Transliteration:

Shiviti Adonai l’negdi tamid

Translation:

"I have set YHVH before me"

Transliteration:

YAHDVNHY—Combination of YHVH and Adonai

C. Border Top:

Transliteration:

[Right] da lifnei mi atah omed lifnei.....

[Left] melech mal’chei hamlachim ha-kadosh baruch hu

Translation:

[Right] "Know before whom you stand, before.....

[Left] the King of kings of kings, the Holy One, Blessed be He."

D. Border Right—Bottom—Left: Psalm 121

Right:Transliteration:

[verse 1] shir lama’alot esa einai el heharim me’ayin yavo ezri:

[verse 2] ezri me’im YHVH oseh shamayim v’aretz:

[verse 3] al yiten lamot rag’lecha v’al yanum.....

Translation:

[verse 1] "A Song of Ascents. I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: from whence shall my help come?

[verse 2] My help cometh from YHVH, who made heaven and earth.

[verse 3] He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; He will not slumber that.....

Bottom:Transliteration:

.....shomrecha: [verse 4] Hinei lo yanum v’lo yishan shomer yisra’el

[verse 5] YHVH shomrecha YHVH tzil’cha al yad yeminecha:

[verse 6] Yomam.....

Translation:

.....keepeth thee. [verse 4] Behold, He that keepeth Israel doth neither slumber nor sleep.

[verse 5] YHVH is thy keeper; YHVH is thy shade upon thy right hand.

[verse 6] By day.....

Left:Transliteration:

.....ha-shemesh lo yakeka v’yarei’ach balailah:

[verse 7] YHVH yishmorcha mikol ra yishmor et naf’shecha:

[verse 8] YHVH yishmor tzeit’cha uvo’echa mei’atah v’ad olam.

Translation:

.....the sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

[verse 7] YHVH shall keep thee from all evil; He shall keep thy soul.

[verse 8] YHVH shall guard thy going out and thy coming in, from this time forth and for ever."

(more to follow)

The Image on the Cover: "Universal Shiviti Amulet" - Part 1

Following a private query regarding the "image on the cover" of "The Book of Sacred Names," I thought readers of this blog may be equally interested in the details. My querant wanted to know what it is, who created it, and where she might be able to acquire a larger copy than the image on the book cover I posted here.

It is called a "Universal Shiviti Amulet," the contents of which is addressed in great detail in "The Book of Sacred Names." It is a large, poster size (A1) talismanic construct comprised of verses from the biblical "Book of Psalms," sets of Divine as well as Angelic Names, and Chotamot (Magical Seals).

As is the case with all "Shiviti amulets," this construct is meant to protect its "owner" against all evil intentions and adversity, however it is also designed to "generate" beneficent circumstances. Besides this, it is employed as a visual meditation device, which is similar to oriental mandalas. In this regard the image is meant to facilitate special alignment with the "Spiritual Forces" behind the letters, words, verses, and Divine Names invoked during meditation. In fact, it is understood that the "inherent power" of a Shiviti amulet is triggered, so to speak, by anyone glancing at it.

Regarding the "creator" of the "Universal Shiviti Amulet," I humbly admit that I am the responsible party. I constructed it over a period of approximately a year from a variety of traditional amulets, in accordance with a specific design and by following definite rules. The large central "Magen David" portion, which incorporates, amongst others, the "Forty-two Letter Name" and the "Name of Seventy-two Names," was derived from the following well-known, highly decorative, sixteenth century "protection amulet":

I will shortly post a fuller analysis of the contents of the "Universal Shiviti Amulet." As far as procuring a poster size copy of this Amulet is concerned, details can be found from the "Sangreal Sodality Press" link on the Sangreal Sodality® website which you can access directly at:

www.sangrealsodality.com

On Practical Kabbalah being termed "Black Magic" revisited

I simply could not resist visiting the following "incident" on the net to which I was alerted by an observant friend. Since it pertains to a message I posted here, and since I am somehow personally involved, though not directly so by "name," I thought I would share the mentioned "incident."

In February 2010 I posted a short essay titled "Practical Kabbalah vs Black Magic." I am delighted to discover, if somewhat belatedly, that my little essay was crossposted on an "official" Chabad forum, where opinions were being sought on its contents. I did notice that the crosspost was edited in order to eliminate the link to my blog which was defined a "non-Jewish religious site." Since I am a Jew, I find this definition of my blog quite hillarious! Furthermore, whilst dealing with spiritual matters of "Jewish concern," my blog is not actually a "religious site" per se. Otherwise, though not cited by name, I am listed as "an academic whose impact outside of the university has been nil," yet I cannot be sure whether the commentator was referring to me personally, or to J.H. Chajes, the "real academic" mentioned in my missive, considering the fact that I have discarded my "academic mantle" some decades ago, and no longer make any pretensions in this regard.

Be that as it may, I was amazed at witnessing the incoherence and inability of those who, other than hiding behind their utmost rigid fundamentalist religious stance, have failed to deal with my essay in any meaningful manner. The strongest allegation is that I posited Abraham Abulafia, Shabbatai Tzvi and Jacob Frank against Josef Karo, which is plainly not the case, and which the commentator might have realised had he actually READ and UNDERSTOOD my original missive.

What I found most surprising of all is unfamiliarity with the contents of Moses Cordovero's "Pardes Rimmonim," by the one who was seeking indications of "Practical Kabbalah" in the writings of the great rabbi, and who very obliquely hinted at familiarity with this text. All right, lets give him the benefit of the doubt! In the mentioned text Moses Cordovero dealt with "early Kabbalah" from the broadest, most inclusive perspective possible, and his extensive essays on Divine Names and their practical applications in this book may not have been directly termed "Practical Kabbalah" (Kabbalah Ma'asit), but these were certainly recognised to be just that by other equally "orthodox," equally "frum," and equally respected Rabbis.....and of course those scholars whom the commentator considers to have no influence outside their acadamic institutions. Come to think of it, I made reference in my essay to some of these seemingly "mainstream" rabbis who openly indulged their minds, souls and bodies in the dreaded "non-Kosher" domain of "Practical Kabbalah," including the great Josef Caro himself, who do not appear to have been unduly bothered by his personal nightly "channellings" of a "spirit intelligence," although he did so in absolute secrecy, and details of which were discovered only after his demise.

It is quite telling that my detractors who carefully avoided commenting on these "anomalies," would rather, in accordance with the norm when it comes to dealing with "uncomfortable" issues, divert attention and focus on a personal assault on the poor chap who posted my "offensive" essay on the said forum. Come to think of it, perhaps they thought HE wrote it! I actually feel a little sorry for this guy who held out very bravely against the onslaught, but what chance would he have had discoursing with anyone whose consciousness does not extend beyond the length of his nose? I would say "ZERO"!

Yet, I believe it would have been interesting to have queried the said forum regarding the "occult" activities of the Besht, the very founder of modern Chasidism, who was in fact proud of being a "Baal Shem," a "wonder worker" in the traditional "practitioner of magic" or "wonderworker" sense, as recently highlighted by those who no longer follow the general inclination of suppressing evidence [See "The Besht: Magician, Mystic and Leader" by Immanuel Etkes].

All of this notwithstanding, I am absolutely delighted to have witnessed my essay "making it" on the Chabad forum, and those who would like to "revisit" it on this site, AND read the entire diatribe themselves, may access the "thread" on the forum at:

http://www.chabadtalk.com/forum/showthread.php3?t=11758