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Magic of the Ordinary: Recovering the Shamanic in Judaism

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Rabbi Winkler is doing an amazing thing for Judaism. If it weren't for his writings on what the "Hebrews" really were/are/could be, I think I would have simply left my Judaism behind. But I am so thankful that this scholar and spirit has done the work he has done. In this book, he shows how Judaism is full of rituals, ideas, practices, and teachings that fit under the category "shamanic." He talks about how Judaism is a path very much in touch with the natural world around us, all creatures, the heavenly bodies, etc. He discusses how the Hebrew language is one based upon a shamanic (pantheistic?) interpretation of the universe.

I have studied Buddhism a lot, and shamanic traditions a little, and have always found these other traditions to be so much more grounded in real human experience than the Judaism I was raised with. What Rabbi Winkler does is show how Judaism, at its core and in its origin, was just as grounded as these other paths, just as open and responsive to human experience in all its manifestations. Rabbi Winkler is revitalizing Judaism. I highly suggest this book as well as any other by him.

This book can best be described as crazy-wise. Completely defying the historic trends within Judaism for the past several hundred years, trends toward more philosophical, rational modes of thinking, Winkler plunges back into Jewish tribal origins. While his re-reading of Jewish sources may seem eccentric at times, he is not making this stuff up, merely viewing them with an archly-shamanistic POV. His refusal to embrace Christian-derived "spirituality" that, overtly or covertly, devalues earthly physicality is perhaps the most powerful contribution to his unearthing (pardon the pun) authentic Jewish spiritual practice.

When he is being original, he even more interesting. Frankly, his interpretation of Ohr v'Choshek (the meaning of light and darkness) in Jewish mystical sources can most charitably be described as "strong." More bluntly, he turns the traditional mystical perspectives on light and darkness, unity and diversity, being and nothingness, completely inside-out. His interpretation also undermines much of Jewish tradition, both exoteric and esoteric, on messianism. I'd be curious to hear his thoughts on that. Still, it is provocative and compelling, and is well worth reading. I'd recommend strongly, in fact.

I don't see the majority of American middle-class Jews embracing shamanistic Judiasm, but this book will be interesting to anyone looking for compelling post-modern ways of being Jewish. It will be especially interesting to those who already know the sources and are looking to have their cherished assumptions shaken up a little. Fascinating.

First of all, I will say I am not Jewish. My background is Baptist. I enjoy reading books which give me a more thorough understanding of scripture, and this one does. Reading this book feels like a remembering of information I have known in my deepest heart. Winkler's explanation of scripture passages, interspersed with story and quotes from ancient rabbis is masterful and intriguing. My copy is now heavily underlined for study, and I recommend it heartily.

In the book Magic of the Ordinary: Recovering the Shamanic in Judaism, Rabbi Gershon Winkler shows shows how Judaism considers the Earth Mother as the keeper of all the gates to mystery and all the paths to spirituality. The Jewish Shaman takes a journey in order to pass through the Veil of Illusion and learn the dance of spirit and matter.

Judaism is one among the Shamanic religions of the world. Rabbi Winkler demonstrates that "Jewish spirituality has less to do with religion and more to do with direct, open, ecstatic free experience of wonderment through creation" and that the Judaic spirit path is about "the importance of the Divine experience through the magic of living in continual awe." He also shows that "while aboriginal [Shamanic] spirituality in general has been tucked safely underground for centuries, it is experiencing an unprecedented resurrection in our own time."

The Jewish Shamanic tradition is about experiencing the so-called ordinary, mundane material existence as the carrier of the very mystery we expend so much of our life quest seeking in other more transcendental realms. Unknown to most, the ancient Jewish tradition teaches prolifically about the Four Directions and the medicine attributes of animals, plants,and minerals. The earth is sacred and all beings, including the stars and planets, are imbued with Divine consciousness.

Gershon Winkler was a devout Jew living in New York with his several children and his wife. Then one day a change occurred. He is still a Jew and his spirituality is still Judaism, however , he has chosen to get closer to nature and live in New Mexico. He has since studied Native American Shamanism and I believe that it has strongly influenced this current book being examined.

Do not fool yourself into thinking that he has gone ahead and done a cheap combination and made up his own Native_American form of Judaism. Everything written in this book can be supported by such traditional texts as the Talmud, Tanach, Zohar and other books. This stuff is legitimate.

Many would never think of Judaism as being a Shamanistic religion. It used to be. Shamanistic religions are connected to the land. Judaism as practiced by the ancient Israelites was connected to the seasons and land of their kingdom. Being exiled away from their land has caused the Jewish people to lose their Shamanistic connection to the land and spirituality.

To find holiness or kedusha one need not astral travel to the heavenly realms in order to experience divinity. Divinity can be found in our every day lives right here in the earthly realm. In fact it is in the earthly realm that we are meant to find find God. Of course this has been long forgotten.

During their exile in Europe the Christian leaders oppressed those who followed shamanistic path. In fact if you were not Christian you would get killed or worse. As Shaman and witches and Jews were being persecuted the Jews silently shelved their mystical practices. Yet if one scours the Kabbalistic works and the Talmud carefully enough those mystical practices can be found.

In the succeeding chapters the author tells one how to make an altar with appropriate accouterments. Healing rituals are discussed and one is instructed on how too make their own circle. The author discusses the invocation of the four arch angels and it is different somewhat from the angel invocation of the Lesser Pentagram banishing ritual in Ceremonial magic.

Contained with in Judaism were totems and various symbology for different animals and their correspondences to the different tribes of Israel. Everything had a life force and everything could be used for healing including stones, herbs plants and animals. Judaism is replete with respect for animals and stressed numerous times the importance of treating animals in a humane fashion. Animals are holy.

According to the Kabballah there are four different world and we exist on those world simultaneously. The Worlds are as follows:
1. Atziluth ('''''''''), or World of Emanation. On this level the light of the Ein Sof (Infinite Divine or literally translated "without end") radiates and is still united with its source. This supernal revelation therefore precludes the souls and Divine emanations in Atzilus from sensing their own existence.
2. Beri'ah (''''''''' or alternatively[3] ''''''''') or World of Creation. On this level is the first concept of creatio ex nihilo however without any shape or form. This is also where the Highest Ranking Angels are to be found.[citation needed]
3. Yetzirah ('''''''') or World of Formation. On this level the created being assumes shape and form.
4. Assiah (''''''''') or World of Action. On this level the creation is complete; however, it is still on a spiritual level. At a later stage there is the 'physical Assiah' comprising our physical Universe with all its creatures.

Back in Medieval times Jews were known to be sorcerers par excellence with expertise in occult matters. The most obvious manifestation of Jewish Occult power is the creation of the Golem. Even back in Talmudical times these human like figure were created from clay but since they were not full humans they were unable to speak. They were created with incantations and the writing off the word emett on on their forehead which meant truth.Erase the aleph an the word became meant dead. The Golem would disintegrate after that. The most famous Golem was the Golem of Prague created by Rabbi Loewe to protect the Jewish people from persecutions.

Jewish occultism recognized that the spirits of the dead could be contacted and that there were obviously angels but what about demons? Most people think that shedim are demons. In reality they are half human and half spiritual. Some are good and some are bad. King Solomon harness them and used them for his own purposes. When working with shedim one had to be careful.

Chanting a mantra or even a different name of god or an animal using a vibrational tone was essential in unlocking the spiritual power of that name. Vibrations in geeneral unlock powers. This underscore the power of speech and words. Abracadabra means as I speak I create.

Read this book and enjoy creating your own spiritual harmony with God. The book is a good starter but certainly not the end of your journey. There were a couple of flaws with the book. One was the author's alternative translations of certain human words. I realize that he is trying to get us to think differently but he would have done well to include translations and meaning that most reader are familiar with. Some times it seems that he is trying to make a native American version of his faith. I would give it a good recommendation and a 7.5 out of 10.

I brought this book to work with me and read it on breaks. Everything was different. When I walked around the track I was in touch with the trees and birds.This is a book that will feed your soul.

This is an amazing book, that opens up ones mind to the root and core of Judaism. Much of what we are exposed to about this religion feels very dead, as if it has lost it's soul along the way; this book helps one connect to that soul. That soul that is waiting to be remembered.

I've been a student of shamanism for almost 20 years, and have recently been integrating the shamanic way of being and healing into my work as a massage therapist, and in my human relationships. In shamanic practice we've got to get our ancestors and helping spirits on board with our work in the world. My ancestors were Christian, and were highly critical of shamanic methods. Christianity is deeply rooted in Judaism, and Judaism has a rich tradition of shamanic practice which grew out of even older cultures in the world of its beginnings. Almost every theme in shamanism: journeying, divination, magic, healing, spirit helpers, ritual, mysticism, vision, prophecy and balance are alive in kabbalistic judaism. They were also alive for Jesus and his followers in his day. By connecting with the roots of my roots of my roots, I've brought everything full circle, gotten my ancestors more on board with my work, and found great peace. Magic of the Ordinary is well-grounded, intellectually respectable, inspiring and enjoyable. It is a shining jewel. Thank you Gershon Winkler!