Hidden Worlds

Beyond its unique complexity is the holiness of the soul, for the soul is no more than a thread stretching between myriad worlds, beyond the full grasp of imagination, from the upper, incomprehensible root of holiness downwards into the lowly, impure physical bodies. There, the influence of holiness glimmers as a spark of potential possibilities (and it is our mission to actualize them), and also as a source of vitality. Humanity has been endowed with the potential to participate in processes guiding creation towards its purpose.

 

To achieve this, one must bring the holy spark within from potential to actuality, actualizing the holiness so that it radiates outward, affecting all their actions with holiness. In doing so, a person positively influences themselves, their future, their surroundings, the entire world, and countless additional worlds. The connection between worlds and souls is the unique domain of the Kabbalists, whose principal tool is the power of pure thought and focused meditation.

Particularly among a select group of Kabbalists known as 'Mechavnim', who implement the Spanish Kabbalah methodology (we will elaborate in a chapter dedicated to different Kabbalah methods). This domain was referred to by our predecessors with names like 'The Work of Creation' and 'The Work of the Chariot' in the Talmud (such as Tractate Chagigah 11b); 'The Wisdom of the Secret'; 'Secrets of the Torah'; 'The Hidden Part'; 'Wisdom of the Hidden'; and more, leading to the term 'Kabbalah'. This wondrous wisdom is divided into three paths. A prominent Kabbalist of the last generations defined them (with a change and briefness) as follows: A) The Path of Perception - the knowledge of the system of worlds and Sephirot and their evolution from absolute spiritual purity to this material world. If one delves deeply and persists in purity, they may also achieve inner perception illuminating the Divine governance and stages of redemption.

 

This is the focus of books published by many great Sages of Israel, may their memory be a blessing. Yet, it is clear that knowledge alone is not enough, and the purpose is to lead to action, as will be discussed further. B) The Path of Ability - more internal and with hidden secrets, where the forms of the letters by which heaven and earth were created, holy names, and angels abound. One who is given its keys can achieve prophetic insight and perform wonders beyond nature. Due to human attraction, its dangers are significant because even a small error can lead to destruction rather than repair and death rather than healing, heaven forbid.

 

The Holy Ari, of blessed memory, prohibited engaging in this field in our time, even for the righteous and pure in his day, due to the absence of the red heifer's ashes for complete purification and other reasons. The danger here is both to the practitioner, who can descend into madness and suffer in other ways, and to those around them or who come into contact with them. C) The Path of Worship - this is the goal of all study, to understand the impact of a Jew's sacred service in the upper frameworks, and how the flow of divine abundance corresponds to the order of prayer and the specifics of mitzvah blessings.

 

This is the royal path, about which it is said of those who walk it in purity and holiness, 'You are children to Hashem, your God.' He who merits it, founded on the practical observance of commandments and revealed knowledge, will gain divine insight and come to great joy and remarkable zeal in serving the Creator, achieving true love of Israel and love of Hashem. It is evident that even here exists a dual danger: A. The risk of materializing the learned spiritual systems; this danger is especially pertinent to those not grounded in the revealed part of the Torah; and because of this fear exists the terrible curse of the Zohar regarding those who teach single men. B. The risk of pride, when the learner considers themselves a great individual, requires immense self-work and prayer to avoid these dangers. The writings of the Holy Ari and the Rashash focus almost exclusively on this last path.