The Kabbalah Magic Misconception
- Kabbalah is not magic or mysticism but a method that lets any person discover a higher reality.
- Amulets, charms, and rituals hold absolutely no spiritual power. Kabbalah teaches a method of inner change solely at the level of human perception and sensation.
- Miracles in Kabbalah are shifts in perception, overcoming egoistic human nature to align with the laws guiding reality.
Introduction to the Kabbalah Magic Misconception
Kabbalah is a method dating back nearly 6,000 years that describes the universe’s structure and how the universe is created and sustained by certain forces that guide human development to a specific goal: the discovery, harmony, and balance with those very forces. However, one of the most prevalent misconceptions about Kabbalah is its alleged connection to magic, mysticism, and supernatural forces. Contrary to the way Kabbalah has been misconceived over the generations, the authentic wisdom of Kabbalah has nothing to do with magic in the conventional sense—such as spells, charms, fortune-telling, or supernatural intervention. Instead, it is a structured system of wisdom that guides people’s understanding and alignment with the higher laws governing reality.
Throughout history, Kabbalah has been mistakenly associated with esoteric practices, leading to confusion between its genuine teachings and various mystical traditions. While many people seek so-called “magical” solutions to life’s myriad problems, the purpose of Kabbalah is not to provide supernatural shortcuts but to guide a process of inner transformation: from the human inborn egoistic state, where we each desire to enjoy for self-benefit alone, to a spiritual altruistic state, where we acquire an intention that aligns us with the spiritual forces of love, bestowal, and connection.
Inner change does not come from external rituals or objects. They are nothing but expressions of the egoistic desire to enjoy for self-benefit trying to find self-aimed fulfillment. By correcting this desire to enjoy so that the intention upon the desire aligns with the spiritual desire to bestow, we then undergo genuine inner change that leads us to discover the higher laws governing reality, laws of bestowal.
The wisdom of Kabbalah thus describes spiritual forces that formulate our world through a cause-and-effect series of roots and their branches, which weave into a single goal: the revelation of the upper force of love, bestowal, and connection to us people while we are alive in this world. Kabbalistic texts, such as The Book of Zohar and the writings of the ARI, describe a structured system through which the so-called “upper light,” another name for the upper force, flows into our reality. These writings do not promote the use of mystical symbols, talismans, or incantations as a means of influencing reality. Instead, they explain how we can develop a genuine connection with the upper spiritual forces influencing our lives by correcting our inner qualities from egoistic to their altruistic opposite, and elevate human consciousness by doing so.
Historically, the misuse of Kabbalistic terms and concepts led to the emergence of superstitions that falsely linked Kabbalah with magical practices. Kabbalists themselves, however, have always warned against these misconceptions. For example, the ARI, one of the greatest Kabbalists, explicitly prohibited the use of charms and amulets, emphasizing that they only offer psychological comfort and no spiritual benefit.
The Torah itself forbids sorcery and fortune-telling, reinforcing that humanity is meant to develop spiritually through direct connection with the upper force of love and bestowal, and not through external magical means. As Kabbalists explain, those who engage in such practices are not tapping into any genuine higher forces but rather psychological forces at the level of this world, which might indeed provide temporary relief or interest, but leads to no lasting transformation.
Ultimately, the wisdom of Kabbalah offers a structured path to spiritual ascent. It is a science that helps its practitioners rise above their egoistic desires and attain a higher perception and sensation of reality. Instead of seeking external magical solutions, the wisdom of Kabbalah teaches that true miracles take place through inner change, which lead to a spiritual connection with the upper force of love and bestowal that guides all of reality.
What Is Esoteric Kabbalah? Is There Such a Thing?
Kabbalah is a precise and structured methodology for attaining the hidden layers of reality. There is no esotericism involved in this method. “Esoteric Kabbalah” is a term that emerged out of the years of Kabbalah’s concealment when various people who had no spiritual attainment blended their incomplete understanding of Kabbalistic texts with mystical or supernatural teachings that they were learning, such as astrology, magic, and fortune-telling. There is thus no “Esoteric Kabbalah” as Kabbalah is a method of spiritual attainment through which we acquire a clear perception and sensation of the spiritual world.
Through the process of applying ourselves to the method of Kabbalah, we come to acquire what Kabbalists term a “screen” (“Masach”) that lets us discover the governing forces behind existence. This focus on clear attainment, perception, and sensation of the spiritual world distinguishes the wisdom of Kabbalah from esoteric teachings, which hold connections to either beliefs, mysticism, symbols, or ritualistic practices. Authentic Kabbalah, on the other hand, provides a step-by-step method for inner change. This process aligns our intention with the upper governing force that Kabbalists call “light” (“Ohr”), enabling us to transition from egoistic reception to altruistic bestowal. There is no speculation in such attainment. It is a time-tested experience described in the writings of authentic Kabbalists throughout history, which can be applied by anyone who so desires to attain what the Kabbalists attained.
What Is Hermetic Kabbalah? Is There Such a Thing?
Hermetic Kabbalah is not Kabbalah at all. It has no foundation in spiritual attainment, and it is thus just a figment of the human imagination. In other words, according to Kabbalists themselves, there is no such thing as “Hermetic Kabbalah.” Authentic Kabbalah, which Kabbalists themselves study, is a science that involves a clear attainment, perception, and sensation of the underlying laws of nature.
Humanity has made several philosophical endeavors to understand reality over the generations that are based not on research but solely on what seems to be our intellectual reasoning and making sense of reality at a certain period of our development. It “seems to be our intellectual reasoning” because behind our intellect and reason is simply an egoistic desire to enjoy for self-benefit alone, which drives every philosophical thought that people conjure up about themselves and reality.
Accordingly, philosophy met its dead end a long time ago. What we know of as “esoteric teachings” might provide some transient interest for some, but they are also waning in interest as humanity evolves to increasingly reveal their invalidity. Religions too, while they provide frameworks for living in our world, increasingly fall short of satisfying a greater need for the meaning and purpose of existence. Since there are no substantiations or verifications concerning the accuracy of these teachings. They are based on our reason and feelings, and as we know, feelings can be very diverse, which is why there are around 2,800 belief systems in the world, and we see them crumbling from one day to the next.
However, the wisdom of Kabbalah is neither for nor against any other teaching. It stands beside them, offering a method of attaining the laws of nature in a clear and tangible manner, similar to any regular science such as physics. Kabbalah’s leading principles are the investigation of how and why nature works, how human nature operates in contrast to nature outside of the person, and how we can attain resemblance with the deeper and higher forces of nature operating outside of our current perception and sensation.
Kabbalah is a very concrete science in directing us to such an objective. It makes no mention about the soul in the way religions do. A soul in Kabbalah signifies an extremely serious and profound attainment and understanding of the world in which we currently live. The purpose of this kind of realization is staying afloat and protecting ourselves from a major storm that approaches us in response to our ignorance and unwillingness to become congruent with the laws of nature.
Are There Amulets in Kabbalah?
As mentioned in relation to the so-called “Kabbalah magic misconception,” authentic Kabbalah involves no use of amulets, charms, or physical objects imbued with seemingly spiritual power. In the wisdom of Kabbalah, spirituality is a tangible reality that we attain through changing our inner qualities, and material items have absolutely no influence on this inner change.
Throughout history, many people who had no spiritual attainment exploited the word “Kabbalah” in order to commercialize and mystify it, offering amulets and talismans as supposed sources of protection, success, or divine favor. However, genuine Kabbalists strongly reject this practice. The great Kabbalist Yehuda Ashlag (Baal HaSulam) and his son and disciple, Kabbalist Baruch Shalom HaLevi Ashlag (RABASH), emphasized that Kabbalah is a method of inner spiritual development, not a system of superstitions or magical artifacts.
The misconception that amulets hold spiritual power arises also from a misunderstanding of Kabbalistic language. The terms and symbols used in Kabbalistic texts describe forces and processes within the soul, not physical objects or actions in the material world. Therefore, progress in the method of Kabbalah comes from studying and applying the wisdom correctly, by striving for a positive human connection with the spiritual forces of love and bestowal dwelling among people, and not by relying on external items.
Many frauds throughout history have exploited people’s fears and desires, selling amulets, red strings, and various charms while claiming they hold mystical or spiritual powers. This misuse of Kabbalah is precisely why the wisdom was concealed for centuries and only revealed to those with sincere spiritual aspirations. Today, however, the need to disclose Kabbalah has emerged due to the growing need throughout humanity to discover life’s genuine meaning and purpose, and its authentic teachings are available for anyone who feels such a desire scratching away at them.
Thus, while amulets can serve as psychological comforts for some, they have no connection to the wisdom of Kabbalah. “Protection” in Kabbalah comes not from external objects, but from aligning ourselves with the spiritual forces of love, bestowal, and connection by correcting ourselves from our inborn egoistic modus operandi to an opposite altruistic one that aligns with the altruistic and integral laws of nature.
Are There Miracles in Kabbalah?
A miracle is generally perceived as an event that defies natural law, something extraordinary that appears to come from a divine or supernatural force. However, in the wisdom of Kabbalah, miracles are understood quite differently. Kabbalah does not subscribe to the idea of supernatural occurrences that break the laws of nature. Instead, what we perceive as a miracle is simply an aspect of reality that we do not yet understand.
There are thus no miracles in the conventional corporeal understanding of the term. There are no magical forces, amulets, or supernatural interventions that change reality outside of its natural order. Everything, including what seems miraculous, is part of nature.
What Are Miracles?
In their spiritual context, miracles are not divine interventions that alter the world arbitrarily. Instead, they take place when we ascend from our current corporeal level of existence to a higher spiritual level. In Kabbalistic terms, a miracle is when we attain similarity with the laws of nature in a way that was previously unknown or inaccessible to us.
For instance, if a primitive person from the past were to witness modern technology—such as an airplane or a smartphone—it would seem to them like a miracle. However, this phenomenon is not supernatural; it is simply an advanced use of natural forces. Similarly, in Kabbalah, miracles arise from our expanded awareness and ability to harness spiritual laws that govern reality.
A Miracle Is an Inner Spiritual Transformation
We find mentions of miracles in various Kabbalistic texts, such as the splitting of the Red Sea or the burning bush in the story of Moses. The wisdom of Kabbalah relates to these stories through the lens of the Kabbalistic language of branches, which describes them in terms of inner spiritual processes rather than historical events or imaginary tales involving corporeal characters, objects, and imagery.
The various mentions of miracles in Kabbalistic texts point out inner transformations that take place within the person. More precisely, a miracle is when we overcome our egoistic nature and attain a higher level of bestowal and love, revealing a higher level of connection that exists in reality. The struggle between our lower, self-centered desires and the aspiration to connect with the higher quality of love and bestowal is the inner battlefield where miracles take place. The ability to rise above our egoistic desires and attain a genuine love and care for others cannot be achieved through ordinary effort alone—it requires a force beyond human capacity, which is why it is referred to as a miracle.
The Role of the Creator in Miracles
The Creator, i.e., the force of love and bestowal that created and sustains reality, does not perform miracles in ways that even our wildest imaginations can dream up. Instead of intervening to change the world, the Creator provides a system of spiritual development that lets us reach higher levels of consciousness. Kabbalists have described how miracles take place when we shift from spiritual exile, where the ego controls us, to spiritual redemption, where we begin to perceive and live according to reality’s higher laws.
A well-known example of such a miracle is the story of Hanukkah. According to tradition, a small amount of oil miraculously lit candles for eight days in the Temple. Kabbalistically, this symbolizes a spiritual transformation: the overcoming of darkness (egoistic desires) through the spiritual light of bestowal. The miracle was not the physical oil burning longer than expected but the ability of people to maintain their connection to the spiritual quality of love, bestowal, and connection despite the resistance of their egoistic desires.
The various mentions of miracles in Kabbalistic texts point out inner transformations that take place within the person. More precisely, a miracle is when we overcome our egoistic nature and attain a higher level of bestowal and love, revealing a higher level of connection that exists in reality. The struggle between our lower, self-centered desires and the aspiration to connect with the higher quality of love and bestowal is the inner battlefield where miracles take place. The ability to rise above our egoistic desires and attain a genuine love and care for others cannot be achieved through ordinary effort alone—it requires a force beyond human capacity, which is why it is referred to as a miracle.
The Path to Experiencing Miracles
Kabbalah teaches that anyone can experience miracles, not by expecting supernatural interventions, but by working to transform their inner egoistic nature. The study of authentic Kabbalistic texts, such as The Book of Zohar and the writings of the ARI, guides us to the attainment of higher levels of spiritual perception. When we begin to see reality through the lens of bestowal instead of reception, then the genuine quality of love and bestowal that once seemed completely out of reach becomes attained as a new nature.
Therefore, miracles in Kabbalah are not external events but changes in perception, sensation, and attainment of reality. A miracle happens when we are granted the ability to overcome our self-centered desires and connect with the upper system of laws of bestowal and love and govern reality.
RABASH on the Difference Between Corporeal and Spiritual Miracles
We should distinguish between a miracle that pertains to spirituality and a miracle that pertains to corporeality, and what is a miracle at all? It is known that something natural is not regarded as a miracle, but what is above nature, this is considered a miracle. Natural means something that man can do alone. This is called natural. But what man cannot do is already regarded as above nature.
For example, if someone is critically ill at a person’s home, and all the doctors have given up and said that they cannot help that patient, then a believing person says to the Creator, “Dear Lord, now no one can help me but You,” so he asks of the Creator, “Perform a miracle and heal this sick person.” And when the sick is healed, it is called a “miracle from heaven.”
By that we can understand the meaning of a miracle in spirituality. When a person is born, the evil inclination immediately connects to him, as it is written, “Sin crouches at the door,” and the good inclination comes after thirteen years. Our sages said, “It is a caution for a courthouse to not hear the words of the litigant before the defendant’s advocate comes,” since they will justify the argument of the plaintiff. Accordingly, when the evil inclination comes to a person with its arguments, he is compelled to listen to it. Later, when the good inclination comes, its words are not heard. It follows that the good inclination is in exile, and the evil inclination has full control over the body. This is regarded as spirituality in exile, under the corporeality.
A person cannot come out of this exile, and only the Creator can deliver him, as our sages said, “Man’s inclination overpowers him each day and seeks to put him to death. Were it not for the help of the Creator, he would not have prevailed over it.” From this we see that only the Creator can help, and this is why it is called a “miracle.”
-Kabbalist Baruch Ashlag (RABASH), “Letter No. 68.”
