Kabbalah and Sex Magic: A Mythical-Ritual Genealogy [Interview with Dr. Marla Segol]

TL;DR

Kabbalah and sex magic involve using sexuality to participate in the divine creation process and accessing divine power for good in the world.

Transcript

good day to one and all and welcome today we're going to be discussing kabbalah and sex magic a mythical ritual genealogy which is the brand new book recently released by dr marla seagal dr segal is an associate professor in the department of global gender and sexuality studies at the university of buffalo the current president of the societas magi... Read More

Key Insights

• 📕 The book "Kabbalah and Sex Magic: A Mythical Ritual Genealogy" by Dr. Marla Seagal explores the use of sexuality to participate in the divine creation process and access divine power for good in the world. (
• 🎓 Dr. Marla Seagal is an associate professor at the University of Buffalo and the current president of Societas Magicka. (
• 📘 The book is being released by Penn State University Press, the same press that published their edition of the Picatrix. (
• 💬 Sex magic is narrowly defined as using sexuality to participate in the divine creation process and access divine power for good in the world. (
• 💭 The initial idea behind the book was to discuss the relationship between the human body and the divine body in Jewish Kabbalah, but research led to the discovery of divine interactions and the manifestation of divine power through sex rituals. (
• 🌌 Modern Kabbalistic texts discuss human desire and how it can bring blessings to the world when directed correctly, including reuniting the feminine aspect of the divine with the masculine aspect. (
• 🌟 Different understandings of the divine nature exist in various religions, including ideas of transcendent and immanent divinity. These concepts are consistent with behaviors found in multiple religions. (
• 📖 Jewish tradition has a cumulative approach to interpreting texts, with every generation responsible for finding new meanings and interpretations of the Torah. Kabbalah is a participatory and open text. (

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the narrow definition of sex magic within the context of Kabbalah?

Sex magic, as defined in the book, refers to the use of sexuality to participate in the divine creation process and access divine power for good in the world. It is a specific manifestation of sex magic rather than covering all varieties of sex magic.

Q: How did the research for the book lead to surprising findings about the interaction between human and divine bodies?

The research revealed texts like the Shir HaKomah that depicted God as having two genders and engaging in sexual relationships with God's self. These texts also outlined how human participants could emulate these divine encounters to access divine power.

Q: How does Kabbalistic cosmology contribute to the understanding of sex magic within Kabbalah?

Kabbalistic cosmology, developed through interpretations of texts like the Shir HaKomah and Sepher Yetsirah, provided a framework for understanding the relationship between human desire and divine power. It emphasized the importance of directing desire in a specific way to bring blessings into the world.

Q: How did the evolution of Kabbalah involve the integration and interpretation of various texts?

From the early interpretations of the Song of Songs and the exploration of the divine body in texts like the Shir HaKomah, Kabbalistic cosmology began taking shape. Later texts like the Bahir and the Zohar further developed the understanding of divine aspects or "spheroth", eventually leading to a systematization of symbols and meanings in the Zohar.

Q: How does the book address the connection between Kabbalah and other religious and philosophical traditions?

The book recognizes the influence of Platonic philosophy, Christian mysticism, and Sufi practices on the development of Kabbalah. It explores how Kabbalistic rituals and concepts drew from and engaged with these traditions, resulting in a diverse tapestry of ideas and practices in Kabbalah.

Q: How has the understanding of Kabbalah evolved and been reinterpreted in the New Age movement?

The development of Kabbalah in the New Age movement involves a reimagining and reinterpretation of its rituals and concepts. While there may be a common ritual grammar, the meanings attributed to Kabbalistic symbols vary widely. This evolution is influenced by the cultural and social context of the New Age movement and its emphasis on individual experience and personal meaning-making.

Q: How has contemporary scholarship challenged the privileging of the incorporeal over the corporeal in the study of Kabbalah?

Contemporary scholarship, including the work of scholars like Gershom Scholem and Moshe Idel, has sought to challenge the traditional privileging of the incorporeal over the corporeal in the study of Kabbalah. There is a growing recognition of the embodied aspects of Kabbalistic practices and the rich interplay between corporeal and incorporeal dimensions found within the tradition.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Dr. Marla Segal's book explores the narrow definition of sex magic within the broader concept of Kabbalah, focusing on using sexuality to access divine power for positive impact in the world.

• The research for the book revealed surprising findings about the interaction between human and divine bodies, including a representation of God as having two genders and engaging in divine sexual relationships in texts like the Shir HaKomah.

• The development of Kabbalistic cosmology, including the interpretation and integration of texts like the Shir HaKomah and Sepher Yetsirah, played a significant role in the evolution of Kabbalah.