 The 72 Names of God: Technology for the Soul by Yehudah Berg (Hardcover) $13.57 Buy From Amazon  Interesting, March 24, 2004
Its very difficult to review a book like this. Personal opinion comes into play more than if I was reviewing a cd or a dvd! Followers of Kabbalah believe that each of the 72 names of G-d relates specifically to an area of your life. (The names were hidden in code in the Torah). It is said that Hebrew / Aramaic was the orginal language spoken by all of mankind (until the Tower of Babel) and whilst we cannot understand the 'names', our souls recognize the letters. (Kabbalah believes strongly in re-incarnation.) Therefore, by meditating on the names, you soul connects with the 'light' and dependant on the name you 'scanned', depends on the improvement you will make in your life.
This book is essentially a 'tool' to enable you to make the connection.
The book is presented beautifully, more like a fashionable coffee table book than a 'spiritual' tool. Some people will have problems with this, but the reality is, this is the 21st Century, and its no doubt a necesesity~in this day and age. How do you want it presented?
A introduction to Kabbalah is included, an explanation of what you are doing, a description of each letter (one name per page) and what to 'think' about whilst meditating on each letter. (Which is important to me as I have difificulty relaxing my mind and trying not to plan my shopping list whilst trying!) But.... does it actually work?
Well, I am a student of Kabbalah, and I do scan the letters on a regualr basis. Since doing so, I have certainly become more succesful in work, more positive, and happier. Is it as a direct result of this book? I dont know. Is it a result of Kabbalah - yes, definately. Thats either because it's real, or simply because the tools I have learnt have made me a more positive person, like self-help. (What I believe isn't important here)
Whatever reason YOU think, either way its a good thing. So what have you got to lose!!!
 Unleashing the Power of the God Code by Gregg Braden [AUDIOBOOK] [CD] $16.29 Buy From Amazon  Incredible!, November 25, 2005
I cannot recommend this CD set more highly. It is an incredible work, both in it's content and in it's presentation. Gregg Braden is a brilliant man who has presented his years of research in a format that is as easily understood as he could possibly make it for those of us of average intelligence. It goes into DNA and the stuff we're all made of, along with numeric equivalents and the deciphering of ancient texts and languages to arrive at the conclusion that every cell in our bodies is encoded with God's name. We are here on purpose and we are all One! This information spoke directly to my soul! If you have an open mind at all, it will speak to yours as well.
 The God Code by Gregg Braden (Paperback) $9.72 Buy From Amazon A Wonderful Book!, December 28, 2003 If ever there is a modern day prophet alive today it is Gregg Braden. I can only describe his latest book, The God Code, in one glorious word: "WOW!" I received my copy of the book on Christmas Eve from Amazon.com and what a great holiday gift it is. I've read Gregg's previous books, Awakening to Zero Point, Walking Between the Worlds and The Isaiah Effect, and loved them. But, in my opinion, The God Code is his greatest achievement. Within the pages of the book, Gregg reveals a coded message which has been found within the molecules of life, deep within the DNA in each cell of our bodies. He compares the DNA and chemical elements within our bodies with the ancient Hebrew letters for God and deciphers an equation of life that reveals a hidden code which shows that God exists in our bodies and that God's essence is written within our own DNA molecules. According to Gregg, the code of God that is written in our DNA supports, sustains and brings us hope "when the events of our lives test us beyond reason. The message within our cells stands as a living and immutable symbol, a touchstone reminding us that we are not alone; we are here 'on purpose', as the result of an intentional act of creation; we are inextricably linked to one another and all life; and we share a unique trait - the essence of God - in a way that sets us apart from all other life on Earth." This astounding discovery, if understood and accepted fully, can be a catalyst that can resolve conflicts and wars within families and nations and could possibly usher in a world of peace and unity. The God Code within ourselves is the living miracle which can create a better world for all mankind. The book combines both science and spirituality and is an easy as well as an enjoyable read. I highly recommend it!
 The Power of Kabbalah: Technology for the Soul (Hardcover) by Yehuda Berg $12.21 Buy From Amazon  How to use magic to improve your life (and I like it), February 19, 2006
I am a spiritual person who enjoys new age subjects. So I was pleasantly surprised when I picked up this book at our club and read it. I had expected it to be dumb but I found that it talked about some deep truths I had only realized through years of meditation. This includes the idea that 99% of the universe is unseen. That is, we are only aware of about one percent of things and the rest is hidden from us. And this other part we can't see is where God lives, and it is beautiful and problem free. The book refers to this place as the "light".
This book went on to talk about how we can tap into this magnificent unseen world and use it to make wonderful things happen in our lives. I don't think it is quite as easy as the book makes it sound to put this unseen world to use to better our lives in the here and now. But it is certainly on the right track. It describes a certain method of listening to the small quiet voice in our heads and ignoring the loud clear voice that tells us what to do, since that small quiet voice is the voice coming from the "light". The main message of this book is to not "react". Simply do not react to anything that would ordinarily cause some action on our part. This way we stop being reactive and start being Pro-Active. It seems that Satan is constantly getting us to react to things. When we stop reacting to things, good things can happen in our lives, things sent from the "light."
There, I've given you the main points of the book in a nutshell. It seems like good advice and I am trying to remember to not react to anything to see if it works.
Kabbalah seems to be all about using certain tricks to allow the "light" to enter our lives so that we will reap the benefits here and now in this life. I have to admire the pure pragmatism of it.
I must mention that in the latter part of the book there are Hebrew letters in groups of three that supposedly spell the name of God in various ways. You can meditate on each of these sets of letters to bring wealth, or heal illness, etc. It seems shocking to use the name of God for personal ends this way. I have not figured out yet if it is right or wrong, to use the name of God spelled in different ways to bring about positive results. And yet I admit to having tried it. So far it has not "paid off" but I do have some amazingly beautiful mediations on the nature of God when I try this. And I find this Hebrew galligraphy strangely beautiful. It is resonating with something inside me.
This book was much better than I thought it would be and it lays out the main premise of Kabbalah in a very direct and to the point way. If you are a seeker of the truth, you may very well find that this is the starting place to finding it.
 Tree Of Life by Israel Regardie (Paperback) $12.97 Buy From Amazon
best intro to magic i've ever read... theoretical and practical, February 21, 2006
This book is absolutely amazing, after reading it I went out and bought several of Regardie's books. This is definitely the best introduction to magic that I have read, and it definitely seems to be a major source that many contemporary introductions to magic are based on. I would, nevertheless, recommend people approach this book with: 1) a bit of familiarity with the basic premises of the Qabalah and Tree of Life (Dion Forutne's "The Mystical Qabalah" is a great place to start), and 2) an ability to decipher long and wordy sentences.
Other reviewers have complained about Regardie's writing style. I definitely agree the first chapter is a bit over the top, but throughout the rest of the book I fell in love with his style. It makes readers use conscious effort in order to gain understanding, because Regardie wraps many layers of meaning into what he writes. After the first chapter, I found the writing style extremely poetic and beautiful, although I definitely feel it could be simplified. Regardless of the writing style, Regardie's treatment of the topic is straightforward and clear... especially considering the veil of secrecy that cloaked discussion of magic in previous centuries.
The book is divided into two major sections. The first is basically more theoretical, covering the theory of the Tree of Life... a topic that perpetually reveals more and more depth intricate layers. The second (and much larger) part is more practical, though it really deals with the theory behind magical practices. This section really helps to demystify the meanings behind magical practice, and has helped give me a more clear direction in my own path.
Particularly valuable are the treatments of WILL and IMAGINATION, the two key ingredients in practical magic... many exercises are weaved into the text, and the reasons as to why these and other elements are essential is very clearly covered. The best part of this book was definitely the chapter on the astral plane and exercises to develop abilities for astral projection... I would have paid for this chapter alone!
This book has immense benefit for both the "armchair magician" (stuck in theory with no practice) and the practicing magician. It is a great overview for aspiring magicians, and I sense it would only reveal more as readers become more experienced. I will come back to it again and again...
Regarding the connection with Crowley... I was wary of Regardie for a while, because of the association with Crowley, but after reading this book I realize the extreme importance Regardie placed on spiritual aspiration. I actually find he has a lot in common with Samael Aun Weor (look him up), which really surprises me. Definitely, it seems Regardie is on the side of "white magic", and now that I am rereading Crowley I am sensing that his reputation is skewed. Parts of his writing seem to really glorify self indulgence, but I think there is more spiritual value to his work than he is often given credit for by his detractors.
Despite all of this, doing a bit of research suggests their connection was thinner than it may at first appear... Regardie was only Crowley's secretary, Crowley refused to give him any practical teaching in magic. And, later in life Regardie seemed a bit pissed off about his association with Crowley, because he considered himself a Golden Dawn member and not a Thelemite. Although the back of my edition says the book is "the most comprehensive introduction to the... writings of Aleister Crowley", I find this insulting almost. The publisher probably put it on to increase sales, because the book really has very little to do with Crowley.
At the very least, reading The Tree of Life helped expand my perspective and open my mind. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
 The Art of True Healing: The Unlimited Power of Prayer and Visualization by Israel Regardie, Mark Allen (Editor) (Paperback) $8.43 Buy From Amazon Powerful, Beautyful and effective, February 25, 2003 This book is an extraordinary beautiful classic, one that I hope stays in print for a very long time. This is a book of not only healing but of spiritual wholeness. This is suitable for any one whether you are a Wiccan, a New Age Christian, A spiritualist, Ceremonial Magician, shaman, atheist no matter what you will find that this book is spiritual but in no way static. The Middle Pillar ritual is discussed here. The author and editor even state that you can alter it as long as it stays within the principle of the ritual. Meaning you can chant the English translations. Example instead of vibrating Eheih for the crown galgal (Sefirah) you can chant "I am", I see, I speak instead of YHVH Elohim. I love instead of YHVH Eloah ve-d'ath. I create instead of Shaddai El Chai. and I bless instead of Adonai Ha-Aretz. Also you can do a silent vibration for the God names as well. The color scale they use for the MP here is the elemental scale instead of the Briatic colors of the Tree of Life. For Wiccan you can change it to your traditional colors of the elements. But the suggestion here is when you first begin is to see each galgal gold or white and to actually vibrate the god names. Also there is a variation of using the chakras instead of just using the galgals. (They are different in ways, too many authors confuse the galgals with the chakras). This is a very easy to read and easy to understand and is suitable for the beginner. Also they give out the basic associations of the planetary powers and colors. The positive color is given out as well as the negative color. This is not to be confused as good or bad. The Sun positive color is orange the negative color is yellow. The moon the positive color is blue the negative color is puce. Mercury the positive color is yellow the negative color is orange. Venus the positive and negative color is both emerald green. Mars the positive and negative color is both red. Jupiter the positive color is purple the negative color is blue. Saturn the positive color is Indigo the negative color is black. Now when visualizing something for yourself and using color you use the negative colors. Why? Because the negative colors are receptive and bring in. You want to attract these thing to yourself. You want to be a magnet to these forces. When using color visualizations for someone else you would use the positive colors and direct the energy you have built up using the MP to send the energy. This way the active energy is being sent to that person or animal. Its practical and makes total sense. This book will give you the preliminary guide in healing yourself and then others. It is important to heal yourself so that the energy you send out is balanced. If you are mentally stressed or drained or tired how can you heal anyone else? In the afterward of this book Marc Allen gives a few variations of the Middle Pillar and gives a basic lesson (very, very basic) on Tree Of Life and shows how the the sign of Venus or the Ankh can be formed from the Sephiroth on the Tree this shows the power of love, life and healing that this system can give you if you work at it. The introduction by Marc Allen in very interesting and nice, those who get this book should read the intro first before jumping into this book as it will give you a grip on what you will be learning and experiencing. This book is only 110 pages long and is a true work of beauty that will help in achieving the Great Work.
 Mystical Qabalah by Dion Fortune (Paperback) $11.02 Buy From Amazon Indispensible guide to Qabalah in Western Occultism, April 19, 2003 First: you need to know that the Qabalah as it is used by Western Occultists bears little resemblance to Qabalah as it is practiced by Chasidic and Orthodox Jews. (Dion Fortune says as much in this book, but many miss this distinction). The Qabalah of the Occultists should be judged as a thing in itself, not as an outgrowth of Judaism... in fact, you'll find that efforts to link the two will only get you confused. As a thing in itself, the Western Qabalah is a fine system for organizing the mind; it can provide a wonderful framework for structuring rituals, and it is a powerful mandala for meditation. And Dion Fortune's book is unquestionably the best introduction to the Qabalah of the Occultists. Her writing is clear and concise and her examples are easy to grasp. In connection with Crowley's *777*, this provides you with everything you need to create your own rituals in the Western Ceremonial tradition. (If you're going to do this, you should also [a] read Fortune's *Psychic Self-Defense* and [b] avoid slavishly following Crowley's suggestions: remember, the Qabalah is essentially an empty filing cabinet, to be organized in the way which suits your needs best... although some will hop up and down and scream "blasphemy" because I dared to say that).
 The Essential Zohar by Rav P.S. Berg $15.00 Buy From Amazon
 Fresh insights into Kabbalistic wisdom, March 21, 2004
I enjoyed Berg's fresh perspective, which gave me a lot to think about. Definitely thinking outside the box. Commenting on Adam's fall, the feminine aspect of the Creator, Noah, the story of Jacob and Rachel, David's struggles, and much more; Berg delineates substantive Kabbalistic interpretations of sin, God in the world, desire, soulmates, and testing. The book is brimming over with fresh insights into Kabbalistic wisdom. Check out Berg's interpretation of the fear of God as a source of strength, the importance of the "as above, so below" dynamic in life, the encounter with every stranger as a possible catalytic moment for transformation, the ideal of judging all persons favorably, repentance as one of the most rewarding activities of the human heart, and midnight as the best time for study and prayer. At the core of the Zohar is the spiritual ideal of transformation. Berg writes: "Each of us came into this world to achieve specific spiritual goals that will culminate in our achieving oneness with God. In this endeavor, there is no such thing as failure. Our transformation is ordained and assured by the Creator. How long it takes depends entirely on us." This cogent and inspired overview of the essential Zohar is one of the best interpretations of Kabbalah available.
 Rider Waite Tarot by Arthur Edward Waite $11.70 Buy From Amazon
the Alpha and the Omega, March 21, 2001
Things that deeply touch people are the things that survive the test of time and are well known. The Mona Lisa, for example, is considered a pivotal piece of art and is universally recognized, even though there are thousands of portraits that are both more realistic and completely finished. Somehow, this piece resonates with people in some way so that it's appeal and visceral attraction never fades. The same is true of the Rider Deck. As noted in other reviews, there are quite literally hundreds of decks ranging from everything from baseball to vampires to dragons to unicorns. Many people collect Tarot cards, but most everyone starts here with the Rider Deck. Indeed, of the hundreds of books published on the Tarot, almost every book I've seen for the beginner to the advanced uses the Rider deck as an example. Most decks are based in the symbolism of the Rider deck as well and if they don't work as well, it's because they've glossed over the symbolism so pivotal in the Rider. Why, then has the Rider not only survived but evolved to be an archetype of the tarot itself? I think because it speaks to us and it's the easiest to understand even at a quick glance. The symbolism is so strong that the beginner can easily remember what any given card represents (no mean feat when there are 72 cards to remember and read!) The symbolism is also so detailed and deep that the advanced caster is always able to find deeper meaning, make more and more connections between cards during a casting. Drawn almost like an illuminated manuscript in solid colors with clear, black outlines before the age of airbrush or computer 3D rendering, there is something timeless about it that connects us to it's rich and deep history. It's not flashy or zippy, but yet it's imagery is everywhere if we choose to look for it (didn't Led Zepplin even put the tarot of The Hermit on one of their album covers??) While there's certainly nothing wrong with exploring other decks, the Rider-Waite is the perfect place for the beginner, ESPECIALLY because any good book on the tarot will use this very deck to explain the symbolism of the cards. Learn on the Rider, become proficient at it, then, if you like, branch out into something different like Egyptian tarot or the Halloween tarot (my other favorite for it's playful holiday symbolism). Beginning with a different deck and working with it right away will not be as satisfying or as easy to understand as the Rider. Like great art, it's timeless because it resonates with us in deep and profound ways. It may not have been the first, but in many ways, it may well be the BEST.
 Guide to the Tarot of the Sephiroth by Josephine Mori (Paperback) $18.27 Buy From Amazon
 A Very Good Deck for Ceremonial Magicians and others, August 18, 2004
I am a bit of a traditionalist, very picky about my tarot decks, and do not like all the silly "novelty" decks that seem to come out every year. My favourite decks are the Rider-Waite deck for sheer clarity, tradition, and class; but as a student of Ceremonial Magick, the Thoth Deck is my favorite for its art as well as for knowledgable Kabbalistic symbolism. Too often, though, I find the energies of the Thoth deck are not conducive to effective meditation and pathworking for me. It can simply be too much for me. I have been researching decks for years, and listed this one as a contender a few years back. Well, I finally bought the deck, half afraid that I'd be disappointed. Lo and behold - I wasn't disappointed. The Tarot of the Sephiroth strikes me as a very workable and serious deck somewhere between the Rider-Waite and Thoth decks. Clear illustrations that are still dynamic and energetic though without being overpowering. The art isn't the best I've ever seen, but it is far from the worst and definitely better than most. The deck isn't froo-froo and could teach the practising Kabbalist alot about the relationship between the Tarot and the Tree.
 The Tarot: A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages (Paperback) by Paul Foster Case $9.72 Buy From Amazon An Occult Classic, November 23, 2004 This book, explaining the symbolism of the B.O.T.A. Tarot Keys, is significant for a number of reasons. This was one of the first works in which several Occult secrets about the Tarot-- secrets which, until then, had been closely-guarded by a handful of secret Orders and Fraternities-- were revealed to the general public for the first time.
Perhaps most importantly, this was the first book that openly published the correct Hebrew letter attributions of each Key-- publicly linking Qabala and Tarot for the first time. Previous books on the subject had either employed blinds or blatant falsehoods to conceal the correct attributions. Publishing these correct Hebrew letter attributions was a bold step, and although it's hard to imagine today, Case's decision to go public with this information was extremely controversial among Occultists at the time.
This book also revealed the Tarot tableau, a pattern for laying out all of the Tarot Keys which reveals certain relationships and dissimilarities between them-- relationships which might not otherwise be apparent to the casual reader. This tableau was used by the American branch of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn when Case was Praemonstrator of that Order, and like the correct Hebrew letter attributions of each Key, it had never been openly published before.
Last, but certainly not least, this was the first published book to reveal ALMOST ALL of the Tarot attributions on the Qabalistic "Cube of Space" diagram. Until the publication of this book, most Occultists had never even heard of the Cube of Space, had no idea what its attributions were, and couldn't have guessed about how it related to the much better-known "Tree of Life" diagram. (To give you an idea about just how esoteric this subject really is, consider that until the mid-1990's there were almost no other books in print that even mentioned the Cube of Space!)
One of the things that I really like about this book is that it includes Paul Foster Case's only public commentary about his own "Pattern on the Trestleboard," which is sort of like a Qabalistic catechism. Granted, Case's comments are pointedly brief, but they also place "The Pattern on the Trestleboard" firmly in the public domain, where they can be openly discussed with people who aren't members of Case's organization, Builders of the Adytum (B.O.T.A.).
Older editions of this work also include the B.O.T.A. method for Tarot divination-- something that many of its members would be surprised to learn about, since B.O.T.A. repeatedly emphasizes that Tarot is primarily a tool for meditation, not divination! The truth is that Tarot works rather well in either capacity, but using the Keys for divination might distract from a beginning student's more important task of discovering his or her own "Inner Self" through meditation. Case's method of divination is similar in many respects to various Golden Dawn and Crowleyan methods that I've seen printed elsewhere-- but with some interesting, and perhaps not insignificant, differences.
As if this weren't enough to entice the serious Occultist, however, Case's analysis of each of the twenty-two Tarot Keys is nothing short of masterly. This is really the one area in which Paul Foster Case's book towers above almost any other book about the Tarot! Each Key is considered in light of its imagery, the Hebrew letter to which it is assigned, that letter's attribution of the Tree of Life, that letter's mode of Intelligence from the BOOK OF FORMATION, that letter's numerological significance, the Key's astrological associations... and on and on and on. This isn't the sort of book that can be lightly read once and then set it aside-- this is a reference work which should be consulted frequently!
The Keys themselves are lovely. Although B.O.T.A. as an organization resisted printing colored versions of these Keys for many years (Paul Foster Case insisted that coloring your own Keys was an important step in memorizing their exact details), newer editions of this book depict each Key in full glorious color! Even the black and white editions of this book are lovely, however, emphasizing details which might be missed in colorized versions. Based rather closely on A.E. Waite's Tarot, the B.O.T.A. deck departs radically from Waite's designs on a few of the Keys.
If Qabala is the Key to Western Occultism, Tarot is surely the Key to Qabala! This is one of the best available works on Tarot, and Paul Foster Case's masterly analysis of the Tarot Keys can't lead you in the wrong direction. Highly recommended for any Tarot enthusiast!
For more information about B.O.T.A., see http://www.bota.org.
SHALOM!
 The Astrologer's Handbook (Paperback) by Frances Sakoian $11.20 Buy From Amazon The Basic Textbook, September 8, 2005 This was the book which actually introduced me to astrology, and it remains by far the best I have seen after all these years, both in that category, as well as a general book on the topic for the whole spectrum of those acquainted with the field from beginners to scholars. It is a serious, easy to read, no-nonsense primer, which at the same time acquaints the novice with the actual philiosophy behind the subject in the form of concise delineations, and that is what is really important. More than that, it is also devoid of the mumbo-jumbo which many use to try and "spice up" and mystify an otherwise very real art, and which has ended up in discrediting it and making it a laughing stock. I will say no further, suggesting to the reader that it should be read directly instead to form an opinion about it, rather than reading its reviews. |
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