What is Kabbalah?

Kabbalah is the most commonly used term for the esoteric and mystical teachings of Judaism.  The word Kabbalah itself means “to receive,” to receive the knowledge and wisdom of the tradition. The wisdom of the Kabbalah is vast and requires a lifetime of study.  It’s teachings cover the origin, structure and evolution of the universe.  It addresses questions regarding aspects of human nature, the origins of good and evil, and suffering.

Jewish mysticism and the teachings of Kabbalah have long been secret, meant for only a select group of religious Jewish men who were over 40 years old, were married, and had studied the Torah (the 5 books of Moses in the Hebrew scriptures) and The Talmud (Jewish Law and commentary).  Kabbalstic teachings were  transmitted orally from master to disciple, however when the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed, the great rabbi-sages started to write them down so that they wouldn’t be lost forever.   The Sefer Yetzirah, (The Book of Creation), one of the oldest Kabbalistic texts was attributed to the Patriarch Abraham, which would date its origins at 18 b.c.e. The teachings were purposely written in an obscured or cryptic form to keep the knowledge from being understood or misused by the uninitiated.  One still needed a teacher or guide to be able to understand them.

Today, many of these teachings are available to the layperson, translated by scholars and rabbis into English.  Within every generation that has studied and contemplated the Kabbalah, there have always been those teachers who have added new interpretations to the body of knowledge, keeping it vital and current to the times. 

What would I get out of studying Kabbalah?

The aim of Kabbalah isto transform one’s consciousness so that there is sustained contact with the divine .  That is no short order!

The Kabbalah offers a systemized view of levels of consciousness and how to integrate and live an awakened life at each level. Like any spiritual path, there are no easy fixes.  Meditation is the practice of concentrating one’s mind for the purpose of gaining self-awareness, exploring the true nature of reality, and having direct experiences of the spiritual nature of existence.

Our essential nature is multi-dimensional and connected to everything, but we are trained from a very early age to disconnect, to live on the surface and to believe our reactivity rather than to search for the root causes of our states. 

One who works with the Kabbalistic tradition participates in giving back to creation/life in the following way:

As we open to the fullness of each level of experience  delineated in the Tree, and embody that fullness in the flow of our life, the more our soul develops.  The more our soul develops the better parents, teachers, students, employees, and human beings we become.  We become creative channels for that energy and give back to the world constructively, non-egoically and with an awareness of the unity of all of creation.

How difficult is it?

The beginner practitioner and the advanced practitioner have the same aim:  to prepare the heart for the influx of the divine consciousness.  This is somewhat akin to the wave of the ocean hollowing out a niche in a rock:  it is the ocean (God or the Divine) itself that prepares the vessel to be worthy.  We show up and start the dialogue –by longing for this connection.  The universe is actually structured to respond. Kabbalah is the study of this structure.   Divine light or awareness is intelligent and knows exactly what we need.    What any practice does is establish the regular time and commitment to open to that intelligence and light.  Our bodies, minds and psyches have to be prepared to receive the response.  This happens in increments with daily attention.  So like any other practice, one gets out of it what one puts into it. Ultimately we experience a greater sense of peacefulness, awareness, centeredness and connection.

What is the Tree of Life?

The Tree of Life is the main symbol of the Kabbalistic  view of creation,and to understand it is to be transformed by it.  It consists of 10 Sephirot,  or divine emanations, that are living qualities or attributes that every created thing is composed of. It is said to be like a ladder stretching between heaven and earth.   Like the study of DNA on the microcosmic side, or the planetary systems on the macrocosmic side, the Tree of Life teaches us about the basic building blocks of energy/light  that form our being and our world.

As well as providing a spiritual experience, can I use this for self-healing?

The practice is always self-healing in the broadest sense of the word – coming into more wholeness as we understand our struggles.  The Tree of Life is a model of how to look at the polarities in our lives and reach a place of synthesis or harmony. Further studies of the Tree of Life, emphasize different aspects of personal healing and spiritual attainment.

How does your understanding of the Kabbalah differ from that put forward by the Kabbalah Center of Madonna fame?

I don’t know a lot about the Kabbalah Center of Madonna fame. iMy understanding of Kabbalah comes from practice and constant study.

I work with the Tree of Life daily, as a Kabbalistic healer, embodying the attributes of the Tree to help people heal on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels.  Even still, I feel like I am constantly learning and receiving new understandings. The most rewarding  result of studying Kabbalah is that the more one opens, the more one receives knowledge, wisdom  and understanding directly from one’s own experience.  Kabbalah is like a big cosmic map through which I understand the workings of the universe.

The Tree of Life is a universal symbol found in many spiritual and mythological traditions around the world. In various cultures it is known as the Cosmic Tree, the World Tree and the Holy Tree. The Tree of Life symbolizes many things, including wisdom, protection, strength, bounty, beauty, and redemption. This wise and holy Tree is like the Creator as it sustains creation with its abundant fruit, protection and generativity. The Tree is also like human beings, as we develop roots, strengthen our trunk and branch out to a wider vision of life as we grow.

Trees provide many analogies to human development. They are amazing microcosms of exchange and flow of water, nutrients and gases. With sustenance from the earth, cooling water, refreshing air and the light of the sun, they grow in stature and strength and eventually blossom into full flower and fruit. They are earth-bound and yet reach up toward the heavens, trying to touch back to the source. Their three main systems of roots, trunk and branches parallel human development of body, psyche and spirit.

The following are some examples of how the Great Tree is understood around the world and demonstrate why so many cultures use the Tree of Life to describe the Divine and our journey back to the Divine.

Kabbalah – In Kabbalah, the Jewish mystical tradition underlying Judaism and Christianity, two different Tree of Life symbols are used: one is upside-down and the other right-side-up. The original Tree of Life emanates out of the divine world of unity and is depicted as upside-down, with its roots flowing from the divine place of unity and infinite light. The trunk and branches reach down towards us, penetrating the worlds of spirit, psyche, and physical existence. This is said to be the Tree of Emanation, which flows downward from the source. The other Tree of Life symbol flows upward, back towards the source, with roots in the ground and branches growing up to the sky. This is the Tree that the initiate climbs to return to the source and is the Tree of evolution or initiation. It is the initiate’s responsibility to evolve and awaken, climbing the Tree and penetrating the worlds of psyche, spirit and divine unity, reconnecting with the divine source.

Depth Psychology – From a depth psychology perspective, the tree is seen as a powerful symbol of growth, as the tree is the only living thing that continues to grow throughout its lifetime. The tree is also a symbol for the true self and serves as a positive, healthy model for the unfolding development of both psyche and spirit. As we grow and develop, a larger and more mature personality emerges and begins to flower and fruit, providing its gifts and bounties to the wider world.

Christianity – In Christian art, Jesus is often depicted as standing in the branches of the Tree of Life, presented as the living fruit of the Tree. In this capacity he is the bridge between the Divine and humanity and between heaven and earth. He is a vision of enlightened humanity and our potential to bloom and bring forth abundant fruit. The image of Christ on the cross is another depiction of the World Savior on the Tree of Life, redeeming humanity through his death and subsequent rebirth.

Buddhism - It was beneath the great Bodhi tree, the great Tree of Enlightenment, that Buddha was said to redeem the whole universe under its protective branches. Under this World Tree, the Buddha transformed all negative temptations and energies and achieved perfect enlightenment. In this story, as in the Christ story, we have the archetypal World Savior and the World Tree themes together.

Nordic – In Nordic mythology, Odin is the god who rules all magic and guards the great well of wisdom and knowledge at the root of the World Tree Yggdrasill, whose strength supports the entire universe. Here, under the branches of Yggdrasill, Odin becomes an initiate magician and discovers a Shamanic vocation, obtaining inner sight and healing capacities.

Shamanic – In many Shamanic cosmologies, the Cosmic Tree is said to connect the Underworld, Middle world and Above world. During initiation, the Shaman learns to travel comfortably in all three realms. In some traditions the Underworld contains power animals and helper guides for healing. The Above world consists of ancestors, spirit guides and spirits of plants and diseases to whom the Shaman can speak and engage their help in healing others. During initiation, Shamans are often instructed to make and climb a ladder to symbolize their ability to access the three zones of the Cosmic Tree.

Minoan – From the ancient Minoan culture of Crete, the Tree of Life is connected to the Mysteries of the Labyrinth.  The Tree of Life is said to occupy the very center of the labyrinth. The goal of initiation is to claim your own self by winding into the center of the labyrinth, climb the Tree of Life and connect with your own divinity as well as the divine source. 

Rev. Dr. Megan Wagner

Let’s review the Tree of Life model with its 7 Stages of Initiation and discover some of the practical tools that can be used by metaphysical practitioners from a variety of disciplines and religious backgrounds.

For thousands of years, the Jewish mystical teachings of Kabbalah have provided the western spiritual tradition with a practical road map of self-discovery, a map called the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life leads us step by step towards psychological and spiritual health by guiding us through 7 Stages of Initiation. As we follow the map and awaken the centers of consciousness on our Tree, we can successfully work through and master each stage of development. The seven stages of initiation are:

1.    BODY

2.    INSTINCTS

3.    COMMUNITY

4.    IDENTITY

5.    TRUTH

6.    TRANSFORMATION

7.    WHOLENESS

In Stage 1 we connect to the body and earth to feel grounded and secure. Here we work energetically with the 1st chakra (“center of consciousness” in Kabbalistic language)

In Stage 2 we learn to trust our instincts and flow with our own natural rhythms. Here we work energetically with the 2nd chakra.

In Stage 3 we connect to the tribe to experience a deep sense of community belonging. Here we work energetically with the 3rd chakra.                                                                                                      

In Stage 4 we “leave home” to establish a separate identity and find our own path in life. Here we work energetically with the 4th chakra.

In Stage 5 we discover our personal power to creatively express our truth. Here we work energetically with the 5th chakra.

In Stage 6 we transform old patterns and open to Spirit to discover our higher purpose. Here we work energetically with the 6th chakra.

In Stage 7 we experience union with the Divine Source, realizing the divine mind within to receive healing and experience wholeness. Here we work energetically with the 7th chakra.

The Tree of Life initiation model provides a beautiful analogy to human development as the roots, trunk and branches of the Tree depict body, soul and spirit and our journey of emotional, individual and spiritual development. The aim of initiation is to complete the seven-stage journey and align all parts of the Tree into an integrated whole. This model of aligning the roots, trunk and branches offers a simple, powerful metaphor that we can quickly remember and easily apply to our life. For instance, some people want to heal their roots, resolving various family issues. Others want to strengthen their trunk, increasing their sense of personal power. Others work on the branches, deepening their commitment to a spiritual practice and exercising their creativity. In order to achieve optimum health, we must repair, rebalance and align all three systems of the Tree, consciously sinking down healthy roots, building a sturdy trunk and branching out to a spiritual perspective of life. This is what the journey of initiation is all about: discovering and creating the optimum conditions for our Tree of Life to thrive. 

Rev. Dr. Megan Wagner

As a Transpersonal Counselor, I have spent the the last 25 years helping my clients to “feel better”. Most people come to see me because something in their life is out of sorts; their relationships are broken, they feel stressed, overwhelmed, depressed, anxious or spiritually dry. Many of my western clients have turned to eastern methods of healing such as Yoga, Zen Buddhism, Hindu devotional chanting or eastern meditation. Most of them do not realize that there is a comprehensive western metaphysical system that can address their issues and concerns.

My clients are usually very surprised when I offer them a western alternative that provides psychological and spiritual techniques for healing – the tradition of Kabbalah with its teaching tool called the Tree of Life. Kabbalah offers the mystical teachings from Judaism and Christianity that address the particular afflictions that plague the western mind and heart. I have observed in my practice that western clients suffer more deeply than their eastern brothers and sisters from substance abuse, addictions, mental and emotional stress and lack of communal and familial support. It is crucial therefore, to utilize western metaphysical techniques to solve particular western psycho-spiritual dilemmas.

The Tree of Life model from Kabbalah offers a holistic Spiritual Psychology designed to heal the western mind and heart. In our workshop on the 7 Stages of Healing, students will be guided step-by-step through the 7 Stages of Initiation. This healing path integrates wisdom from Kabbalah, Jungian Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Family Systems Theory, Western Alchemy and Western Mythology. It also provides various meditation techniques and practicle tools for transformation.

In summary, the Tree of Life is a simple, organic, non-religious image that the average person can relate to. It consists of three basic systems of roots, trunk and branches, which correspond to the human body, soul and spirit. In order to develop our inner Tree and thrive with optimum health, we must be like a loving gardener, providing healthy soil for our roots, building a strong trunk and branching out to a wider, spiritual perspective of life as we grow and develop. But so often, one or more of the systems of the Tree are out of alignment, our Tree does not grow and thrive and the energy flow gets blocked. For most western seekers, their roots, trunk and branches are not working together as a healthy, holistic system.

In metaphysical language, the roots of the Tree represent our ego-consciousness. This is formed during our early childhood experiences, often filled with various traumas and ego-wounding. Early trauma creates negative vibrational patterns in the subconscious mind and keeps people stuck in negative karmic situations. It causes people to play negative tapes in their mind and hear negative self-talk, which attracts negative experiences into their life and the cycle continues.

The trunk represents our soul or individual identity and when developed, reflects our mature adult self-concept. If the soul or individual will has been damaged, a person may have great difficulty valuing their God-given gifts and difficulty giving themselves love and compassion. This weakens the trunk and causes people to fail to take full responsibility for their lives.

The branches represent our spiritual self, our divine nature. Without access to our most essential nature, we may be blocked from our wisdom and creativity. Our branches may feel stunted and our Tree may not be growing abundant fruit. When our branches are bearing healthy fruit, we can feed the collective with healthy spiritual food and revitalize our culture.

As westerners, it is crucial that we learn practical ways to align all three systems of our Tree so that we heal the roots, strengthen our trunk and gain access to the branches and realize our essential Divine nature. 

I have seen dramatic shifts in my clients over the years as I guide them through the 7 Stage Initiation process, healing their roots, helping them gain access to their trunk (their soul, gifts and their sense of free will) and helping them climb to the branches of their Tree, accessing God and the spiritual gifts of wisdom, understanding and knowledge. We look forward to sharing this wisdom with all of you. 

Rev. Dr. Megan Wagner

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