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The Kabbalah Tree |
What Rachel Pollack did for the cards of the Tarot in "Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom", she now does for the Kabbalah. She takes a very dense and intellectual topic and brings it down to earth using simple terms, anecdotes and humor. I have read a number of books on the Kabbalah, but none take this complex topic in such baby steps that you can soak in all of the wisdom being conveyed.
Ms. Pollack's brilliant gender correspondences offer enough thought provoking material to keep any student of the Tree of Life ruminating for months. Some of the most original insights I have encountered are offered in this small, but potent book.
As the book begins, we are introduced to the structure of the tree and its history. The image used as reference throughout this book is a beautiful painting by Hermann Haindl, creator of the Haindl Tarot. The intriguing beauty of this painting is that the entire tree has vague images surrounding it and embedded in it. You can't always tell what the images are, but once Ms. Pollack discusses them and their meaning, you can't not see them. It is one of the most beautiful representations of the Tree of Life I have ever seen. The 16"X24" poster is included with the book. I would encourage any teacher of the Kabbalah to grab this book just to have this poster as a teaching tool.
Every technical aspect of the Kabbalah is covered in simple detail in this book - the four worlds, Jacob's ladder, the Tarot correspondences, the Hebrew alphabet (and the cute little man they create), colors, astrology and, last but not least, an in depth study of the male/female aspects of each sephirah. The insights and new associations made in these chapters alone are insightful and understandable, even to the newest Kabbalah student.
Ms. Pollack then takes each sephirah and each path and explains them alone and in groups to give an accessible map to the tree. Adding to Ms. Pollack's wonderful interpretations is Mr. Haindl's own symbolism found in his painting. Vague ideas become clear. Obscure Hebrew alphabet images take life. As I finished reading the final path description, I felt totally embraced by the painting and all its intriguing detail. To quote Ms. Pollock's closing sentence, "In the deepest way, Hermann Haindl's art reminds us that we cannot just study Kabbalah, we must live it, with commitment and love."
The Kabbalah Tree by Rachel Pollack (ISBN 0-7387-0507-1) is a wonderful
text for new students of the Kabbalah and seasoned travelers along the
paths. Don't be misled by the size of this book. There is no filler here.
Every word is of value and offers new insights and discoveries.