Kabbalah Kool?
Quote de jour
"If you wish to strengthen a lie, mix a little truth into it."
the Zohar
I believe we can transmit negative or positive energy consciously or unconsciously. It's the negative energy that I'll be writing about to day. We all know the expressions, "if looks could kill" or shooting daggers." Well, I don't know about killing, but they sure can hurt. A dirty look. A envious stare. Ill will. Some call it, 'the evil eye". Superstitions in every culture have methods of dealing with it. Talismans, spells, charms. The idea of using some red string as a protection or good luck talisman, goes back thousands of years and embraces many cultures. I've loved good luck charms since early childhood. It's part of my attraction to Wicca. I figure, it can't hurt and often helps, so why not?
Wearing a red string bracelet on one's left wrist to avert the evil eye, is the latest talisman, made popular by Kabbalah devotees, including a dear friend of mine in London. She kindly sent me a Kabbalah bracelet recently. It came with a cute card saying," I LOVE YOU... but not everyone else does." Oops, Someone doesn't love me? Inside was the red string and the Ben Porat prayer with the 72 names of God. I pulled out the 'bracelet', a piece of red yarn and felt the love. Then, my inner skeptic went wild. Was I being superstitious if I wore it? Would some yahoo judge me and really give me something to worry about? Was it really blessed at the tomb of Rachel in Israel, or churned out at some factory in China? Would I turn into Madonna? Would it work? Were the bracelets a cash cow for the Kabbalah Center and other purveyors of the bracelets. What did I have to lose?
I needed to find out more. I wanted to see where they made these bracelets. The Kabbalah Centre had no video but they could sell me a book about the red string for $9.95. The only video I could find about making the bracelets was http://www.judaism.com/ The 50% off buy! buy! buy! banner kind of turned me off, but the video answered my questions. I like the idea of wearing something that reminds me to be a better person, but do I have to pay $20 for something that costs 20 cents? I won't be buying Kabbalah water any time soon, but I think I will crack open some old Kabbalah books I have. Ones I explored as as young spiritual seeker back in the 70's, before spirituality went Walmart. There is wisdom to be found everywhere and at the end of day, if someone recieves a measure of peace or insight from Kabbalah 'lite', so be be it. What's ironic is the comman thread between Kabbalah and other traditions including pagan, which takes the concept of intention followed by action. It's not enough to think good thoughts but we need to pay it forward with good deeds. The most important lesson I've learned is that spiritual teaching must be given freely. Buyer beware.
Okay, so I've been wearing it for over a week and can happily report no disasters. I feel my usual charming self except I can't get that Madonna song, Material Girl out of my head. Just kidding. The red string is supposed to last about three months before wearing away naturally. But, if it deflects a nasty jolt of evil eye, it will fall off instantly. Stay tuned... Oh, and can someone read my palm?
"If you wish to strengthen a lie, mix a little truth into it."
the Zohar
I believe we can transmit negative or positive energy consciously or unconsciously. It's the negative energy that I'll be writing about to day. We all know the expressions, "if looks could kill" or shooting daggers." Well, I don't know about killing, but they sure can hurt. A dirty look. A envious stare. Ill will. Some call it, 'the evil eye". Superstitions in every culture have methods of dealing with it. Talismans, spells, charms. The idea of using some red string as a protection or good luck talisman, goes back thousands of years and embraces many cultures. I've loved good luck charms since early childhood. It's part of my attraction to Wicca. I figure, it can't hurt and often helps, so why not?
Wearing a red string bracelet on one's left wrist to avert the evil eye, is the latest talisman, made popular by Kabbalah devotees, including a dear friend of mine in London. She kindly sent me a Kabbalah bracelet recently. It came with a cute card saying," I LOVE YOU... but not everyone else does." Oops, Someone doesn't love me? Inside was the red string and the Ben Porat prayer with the 72 names of God. I pulled out the 'bracelet', a piece of red yarn and felt the love. Then, my inner skeptic went wild. Was I being superstitious if I wore it? Would some yahoo judge me and really give me something to worry about? Was it really blessed at the tomb of Rachel in Israel, or churned out at some factory in China? Would I turn into Madonna? Would it work? Were the bracelets a cash cow for the Kabbalah Center and other purveyors of the bracelets. What did I have to lose?
I needed to find out more. I wanted to see where they made these bracelets. The Kabbalah Centre had no video but they could sell me a book about the red string for $9.95. The only video I could find about making the bracelets was http://www.judaism.com/ The 50% off buy! buy! buy! banner kind of turned me off, but the video answered my questions. I like the idea of wearing something that reminds me to be a better person, but do I have to pay $20 for something that costs 20 cents? I won't be buying Kabbalah water any time soon, but I think I will crack open some old Kabbalah books I have. Ones I explored as as young spiritual seeker back in the 70's, before spirituality went Walmart. There is wisdom to be found everywhere and at the end of day, if someone recieves a measure of peace or insight from Kabbalah 'lite', so be be it. What's ironic is the comman thread between Kabbalah and other traditions including pagan, which takes the concept of intention followed by action. It's not enough to think good thoughts but we need to pay it forward with good deeds. The most important lesson I've learned is that spiritual teaching must be given freely. Buyer beware.
Okay, so I've been wearing it for over a week and can happily report no disasters. I feel my usual charming self except I can't get that Madonna song, Material Girl out of my head. Just kidding. The red string is supposed to last about three months before wearing away naturally. But, if it deflects a nasty jolt of evil eye, it will fall off instantly. Stay tuned... Oh, and can someone read my palm?
I did not know all this about superstition, Wicca, the red string, about the Kabbalah, etc.I just either flash a smile and a wink or give the evil eye right back. I used to be a worry wart but I wore that out. So now I don't worry about anything much.
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