Customer Reviews

The Kabbalah Tree: A Journey of Balance & Growth

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4 star:		(1)
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Rachel Pollack has long been one of my favorite writers. I have admired her authorship in so many different categories: tarot books, tarot cards, Arthur C. Clarke award winning science fiction novels, comic books and a mystery novel. Now she turns her attention to the Jewish mystical tradition of Kabbalah. Kabbalah has filled many of her works for years. She had Kabbalist themes in her DOOM PATROL comic stories. In her first full book on the subject of Kabbalah she draws from many sources for inspiration: Judaism, shamanism, Jungian psychology and most intriguing the world of comic books. I read this magical book in one sitting and am still absorbing it's words. I intend to reread it again and again. I would heartely recommend this book to people of all spiritual traditions whether Jewish, Christian, wiccan, Buddhist, feminist spirituality or the unclassified. The faddish, cultish image of Hollywood 'kabbalah' disturbs me. This book has readdressed the balance for positive books on Kabbalah. And I endorse Rachel Pollack's wonderful tarot deck THE SHINING TRIBE TAROT. THE SHINING TRIBE TAROT is a continual source of inspiration to me.

Rachel Pollack is a wonderful human being who lets much love and truth into our planet. I agree with the other reviewer who called her a great rabbi. Her teachings transcend the boundaries of patriarchal thought. I find The Kabbalah Tree to be equal to the works of Rabbi Nachman of Bratislav. When I hear about kabbalah being called a fad and compared with Dianetics I really dispare. The teachings of Kabbalah are a great blessing from Judaism to the entire planet. One does not have to wear a kabbalah string on their wrist or drink socalled kabbalah water' as some snake oil salesmen are selling. Kabbalah is a truth which can have profound healing for Gaia. Thank you Ms. Pollack for writing this healing, inspiring fullfilling book. SHALOM.

This is my favorite work on the ancient Jewish mystical Kabbalah. Rachel Pollack has written a book that will appeal to people who have studied the Kabbalah for years and for newcomers to the subject. She has always put a unique take to the mystical tarot and does the same here on the Kabbalah. This book will make a superb Hannukah gift for Jews and a superb Christmas gift to metaphysical Christians. kabbalah is truly a life affirming philosophy drawn from Judaic traditions.

Rachel Pollack has written a book that I have read 5 times. I learn something new from this special Kabbalah book each time. I love it. I am Jewish and am proud of the Judaic system leading to kabbalahism.

Jewish sage and wise woman Rachel Pollack has written a wonderful book on Kabbalah. Let Rachel be your Rabbi as she takes you on a journey through the kabbalah tree. This book contains information that is ancient and new. It can appeal to long time students of kabbalah and to the person who wants to learn more. Rachel has coined the term 'justice and joy'. With the teaching in this book we can learn to bring justice and joy into our own lives and the world.

Rachel Pollack is to be admired. She is the world's expert on the subject of tarot. She is an award winning novelist and comic author. She writes mystery novels. She is active in the glbt movement. And now she writes her first full length book on the Jewish mystical Kabbalah. I savoured reading this gorgeous book. You will too. And it comes with a lovely poster too.

I've noticed a number of difficulties with some books about tarot and related subjects, and from writers I've learned to respect, even honor. Nevertheless and despite my cavill, this book is really, really wonderful - I just wish that copyeditors did better jobs these days.

If you can buy only one book on Kabbala, this might be the one. Pollack is very accepting of the ideas of others and I was tickled to see her mention Alan Moore's Promethea. I was particularly fond of his idea for Da'ath (you'll have to read the book now <G>).

Settling in nicely, I was, however, a little jolted by her reference to the apple connected with the tree of knowledge. There is no mention of an apple. The apple connection came into being - perhaps - via the Celts who called the Western Paradise, Avalon - Apple Land. There are numerous legends and mythologies dealing with apples, but let me get to the bottom line: The apple, when halved is a yoni symbol. And for someone such as Rachel Pollack with most impressive credentials, to have made this (common) error has some picky person, such as I(who doesn't know 1/1000th of what this adept knows)is distressing. The question is, what other errors are there that I couldn't possibly recognize?

I did recognize, however, that she and DuQuette believe in nine months for a human pregnancy and Pollack even calls it nine LUNAR months. The Gregorian calendar showed up in the late 16th Century, CE. It would seem to me that in the Old Days, the length of pregancies were gauged by the moon; a human pregnancy is 10 lunar months, or 40 weeks - a significant number, as well.

As for Haindl's artful and truly grand Tree of Life, sadly, even after I ironed the determined creases, the gloss on it prevents me (maybe it's just I) from truly enjoying the marvels I know are there for me to ponder.

Buy it anyway.

I have been a fan of the writings of Rachel Pollack for many years. I use her Shining Tribe tarot in my inspirational life. I love her fiction works such as 'Godmother Night' and 'Unquenchable Fire'. Her nonfiction is really inspiring to me. I love her study of the Jewish Kabbalah. This book is a great work for those not that familiar with the teachings of Kabbalah. We can all learn alot from the timeless wisdom of Kabbalah. And we can all learn alot from Rachel Pollack's books.

The Kabbalah Tree is a book I will always treasure. Ms. Pollack has written a book which touches your soul. She has reclaimed the tarot for women and all people. Her insights into tarot give an inovative perspective to the topic of kabbalah.

Rachel Pollack has written a book that makes the kabbalh understandable to a layperson like myself. The book is gorgeously written as one would of course expect of Rachel Pollack. I treasure this unique book of Jewish wisdom.