Customer Reviews

Goddess Spirituality for the 21st Century: From Kabbalah to Quantum Physics

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Judith Laura deals in complex ideas and history, both in spirituality and science. She does so in such clear prose that the most difficult issues, usually impenetrable, become clear and direct. And she demonstrates the direct relevance of ancient mysticism and modern physics to people's lives today. I have learned more from this short book--more on Kabbalah, more on the history of suppressed female spirituality, more on quantum theory--than from many long and complicated volumes. Highly recommended.

I admit it. I"m a snob when it comes to books on Kabbalah and the spiritual side of quantum physics. So many authors writing about Kabbalah and the feminine divine are spouting ideas that traditional kabbalists would balk at, and present them right alongside unsound pop science, to boot. Oy vey, indeed.

Yet this book makes a delightful exception. I bought this book assuming that I wouldn't like it, yet I was drawn to her premise and wanted to give the book a chance. I"m very glad that I did. Her treatment of Kabbalah very obviously stems from a study in Traditional Kabbalah, which for me indicates scholarship, dediation, and true desire to help seekers understand the subject matter. It would have been easy for Ms. Laura to use entirely hermetic sources and views in her treatment of Kabbalah, but instead she teaches from the source, from the heart of Kabbalism, and for that alone, I applaud her.

I did have a few issues with some of her theories, most notably her feminization of the sephira Chokmah. I feel that this is a violation of the most baisc ideas of traditional Kabbalah, and while I understand why she did this and why she feels justified in doing so, this sat wrong with me. But it is the only major beef I have with this work.

I reserve my 5 star ratings for books that in some way change my world. This book didn't quite do that, but only because my own studies of Kabbalah have advanced beyond the level of study this book intended. Had I read it several years ago, it very well may have changed my world. As it is, it is a sound, well researched, opinionated and interesting look at Kabbalah through the lenses of feminist spirituality. Job well done.