Qabalah: Discover Powerful Tools to Explore Practical Magic and the Tree of Life (Hay House Basics) - David Wells 2017

The history of Qabalah
Symbolism and The Tree of Life

Perhaps it’s fitting that the origins of Qabalah are steeped in mystery. Some say the Archangel Michael, or Gabriel, Ratziel or Metatron, gave it to humanity, some put ancient Egypt at the centre of its arrival, and some have Moses bringing it to the Children of Israel. Legends all? One might be the truth; all might be the truth.

Using the Tree as a symbol is for some a reference to the fall from grace of Adam and Eve. In this scenario, God himself gave the teachings to a host of angels, who passed them to Adam, who in turn passed them to his children as a way of returning to the Garden of Eden. There is much symbolism in that sentence and as you continue your journey it will become clearer. Such is the way of learning Qabalah.

So, Adam taught Seth, who taught Noah, who taught Abraham, and then the teachings were taken to Egypt, and Moses, who learned even more from Metatron. Moses then passed Qabalah to the elders of the tribes. David and Solomon, Daniel and Ezekiel all had visions, teachings and rituals appearing to come from Qabalah — or is that a retrospective fit?

Whatever the exact history, there is a path from one teacher to another, a spoken tradition that’s learned through information given, exploration undertaken and experience gained, and these tales, or truths, extend into recent history, with many famous playwrights, architects, scientists and artists having their talents applauded and associated with Qabalah.

In a world that seeks more tangible evidence, perhaps the Sepher ha Zohar, or Zohar, helps narrow things down a bit. It’s the earliest form of written Qabalah. There are, however, some questions concerning when it was produced and by whom. Allegedly it was written by Rabbi Simeon ben Yochai, who lived around AD 100—190 in Israel, but some say Moses de Leon wrote it, in 13th-century Spain, from Rabbi Simeon ben Yochai’s teachings. Either way, the connection to Judaism is undeniable, but Qabalah is to be found in Christianity, Sufism and of course in western occultism too.

Its teachings moved through history, from the great Egyptian city of Alexandria, where many different spiritual teachers and philosophers met, debated and wove together a rich tapestry of vast wisdom, to France and Poland, gathering information from many sources along the way, and arriving in England in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Through the Hermetic Qabalah schools and the western esoteric tradition, the information was understood more, written about and worked with throughout the centuries. The Christian Church used it and so too did many other faiths and religions, as we have seen, but there is something very important to understand here: Qabalah does not seek to divide, it seeks to provide — provide a way to the highest realms of enlightenment through the experience of life and a connection to the spiritual worlds, whether you’re a celebrity or not! The knowledge and wisdom are there to be used for the greater good.

The history of Qabalah is intricate; by its very nature, veils are drawn over it, though much is hidden in plain sight too. But, no matter how it got to you today, here it is.