Kabbalah as the Western Wisdom Tradition

As a practitioner and teacher of Kabbalah and western psychology, I continually encounter western spiritual seekers who turn to the east for spiritual guidance because they find daily practices that don’t require them to go to church or synagogue or worship a God outside themselves, but promise inner peace and personal transformation instead. Many seekers do not realize that their own western wisdom tradition, that of Kabbalah, which underlies both Judaism and Christianity, is rich in mystical teachings that directly address the inner life, offering methods of transformation and tools to attain inner peace.

Kabbalah’s Tree of Life presents a comprehensive path of psycho-spiritual development and offers the Practitioner a holistic Spiritual Psychology that can be effectivley adapted to the western mind and heart. The Tree of Life is a wonderful image to work with because everyone can relate to it. Most people have a positive association to trees and the organic tree has a distinctly non-religious feel, making it a natural entry point for westerners turned off by religious dogma or wounded by a religious upbringing.

And yet, behind the seemingly benign image of the Tree of Life, lies a comprehensive road map to enlightenment, guidance on activating the 7 consciousness centers (the 7 chakras), meditation techniques to focus the mind and tools to shed psychological wounds and realize the “kingdom” within ourselves.

I am passionate about this subject because my clients and students have long been expressing the need for a comprehensive guide through the transformation process, including support for deep psychological healing and guidance for spiritual awakening. On a personal note, this is exactly what I needed years ago when my life was being turned upside down and I was searching to put the pieces back together again. I knew about initiations and rites of passage from my cross-cultural studies, and I had observed the kind of support and guidance that members of these communities received during times of change and transition. But as a member of modern Western culture, I had difficulty finding a road-map or wise elders to assist me emotionally, intellectually and spiritually, and I had to piece together a patchwork map as I went along.

When I came across the Tradition of Kabbalah, I discovered a rich living Tradition, filled with spiritual wisdom and inspiration from the West. I have been passionately studying and practicing ever since and I hope to share my passion for this Western Wisdom Tradition with all of you.

Rev. Dr. Megan Wagner