(some other spellings, Cabala, Kabaka and Qabalah)
The kabbalah is a KEY to almost every kind of mysticism, magick, alchemy and also practical life in general.
"Kabbalah" means "that which is received" in Hebrew. This oral tradition is based on the Torah. Gnosticism and Neoplatonism may have influenced the Kabbalah as it developed from theosophical and mystical lore. The earliest writings in this tradition were by the Merkabah mystics about 100 B.C. to A.D. 1000.
The true historical (written) origin was with the Sefer Yetzirah (Book of Creation written by a former Jew several hundred years after Christ's death because he was convinced that it proved the existence of The Christ. This appears to be the first time this oral tradition was written down) that said God created the world with the 10 sephirot (numbers) and 22 sounds (letters) of the Hebrew alphabet. The sephirot became interpreted as emanations by which all reality is structured.
This evolved into a practical Kabbalism then into German Kabbalism (or early Hasidism) using gematria, notarikon and temura.
Classical Kabbalah was developed by French and Spanish Jews in thirteenth century based on Sefer ha-Zohar (Book of Splendor). The sephirot then became God's attributes described by God's names. This form of Kabbalistic meditation is the Tree of Life and can lead to kundalini-like awakenings.
The Kabbalah has had a profound impact on the development of Jewish life and folk customs as well as the development of Judaism and Christian mysticism.
If you're a Christian, and you haven't heard of kabbalah, the kabbalah of nine chambers, notarikon or gematria, them you should ask your minister, "Why not?".
See also: