An Introduction to the Kabbalah

S. L. Mastros; Winter 2002

The western mysteries are based in three traditional foundations, the Greek, the Egyptian, and the Hebrew. The most esoteric of these foundations -- the one most explained and least understood -- lies at the heart of the Hebrew tradition. The Holy Kabbalah, apocryphally revealed to Moses at Sinai, is a rich and beautiful body of wisdom, strength, and splendour.

It is my goal in this class to share my love for the raw elegance of the kabbalistic metaphysic, as well as to impart a strong understanding of the fundamentals of the kabbalah to interested parties. I hope to provide a personal insight into a field where popular books and simplistic treatments seem ubiquitous but real teaching often hides in shadowed corners.

In the past, there have been restrictions on the dissemination of Kabbalah. I have been asked why it is that I appear to be so openly flouting these traditions. Read more here.

Please be aware that Kabbalah is, and always has been, inextricably tied to Judaism. I teach from a more hermetic position than many, but I am Jewish, and I believe the Holy Kabbalah has no place and no use outside of the Living Torah. My Judaism is unconventional and it's flavor is woven throughout my kabbalah. As with any teaching, I would always advise you to consult a number of sources and come to your own conclusions. I am not a Torah scholar, nor am I especially enlightened or wise. What I teach is only my part in the eternity of the Living Torah. I would highly suggest that anyone interested in pursuing studies with me read more about my beliefs here. I have no doubt that some people may disagree with them. I will attempt to teach anyonw who will learn, but please understnad that I do not believe your studies will come to fruition with me if we are not in some degree fo accord on these matters.

The material to be covered is divided into ten chapters. Until classes have begun, and I have had a chance to meet the people involved, I cannot offer a prediction on how long each chapter will take. However, it is my guess that there is 1-3 hours of lecture associated with each one. Please be aware that the final three lessons will not appear here, as I do not believe their content is appropriate for mass publication. At least, not by me. Additionally, there will be an evaluation following the 7th class (mercy) to determine whether each student is adequately prepared for the supernal (understanding, wisdom, and crown) lessons.

• Kingdom: What is the Kabbalah? History and Context
• Foundation: The Tree of Life, and the nature of symbol
• Splendour: The Sephiroth
• Victory: The Paths, and the
• Beauty: Ain Soph, Ayin, Da'ath and Whatnot
• Strength: Working the Kabbalah
• Mercy: Living the Kabbalah
• Understanding: Meditative Kabbalah
• Wisdom: Practical Kabbalah
• Crown: The Central Mystery

Currently, classes are scheduled for Sunday afternoons from 3 to 6 pm in my home in Squirrel Hill. Because of space limitations, class size is limited to 12 students. To register for class, it will be necessary to answer a few questions, so as to allow me to better have an understanding of what people expect. The questions are available here. It takes a great deal of time and effort to put together these classes, including a significant amount of money. (books, sadly, are not free) However, I feel very strongly that I could never turn anyone away who wanted to learn just becasue they couldn't afford it. Therefore, I ask everyone to please pay whatever they feel they can to help me keep teaching.

I have had a number of people ask me whether they can particaipate without coming to classes, as they have transportantion or schedule conflicts. This is ok with me. It will require one self addressed, stamped 9x12 envelope plus $5 per week. The money is simply to cover my photocopying expenses and the like. I would also recommend that people pursuing the class on their own acquire a few books, most are traditional and not uncommon, and should be available at any large library. I'll have a list soon (hopefully that links to an online retailer)

My Writing Style: I have received a few comments that my writing style is sort of dense. I am always more than happy to talk about anything I have written. Feel free to email me at sara@rtweb.net. However, if you simply need a dictionary (I certainly use them all the time) this will provide a live search at Merriam-Webster:

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