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Introduction to Merkavah Mysticism - 9 of X - The Myth-Scape of the Hekhalot

Welcome to our Summer seminar on Merkavah Mysticism Hundreds of years prior to the rise of the Kabbalah, shaman-like rabbinic mystics were described as having made the terrifying and awe-inspiring descent into the Divine Palaces. There they met with and bypassed fearsome angels with magical codes, gained control over angelic powers, became transformed into beings of fire, gained vast wisdom and mounted the very throne of G!d to carefully measure the vast dimensions of the divine body. These experiences and their praxes are recorded in about 50 manuscripts now known as the Hekhalot (lit. palaces) literature. Outside of specialists this late-classical form of (a)(de)scent mysticism is poorly understood and little appreciated. In this course, we will explore the foundations, social origins, myth-world, praxes and the afterlife of Merkavah Mysticism. Consider Supporting Esoterica! Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/esotericachannel One Time Donation Support - Paypal Donation - https://www.paypal.me/esotericachannel Merch - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoydhtfFSk1fZXNRnkGnneQ/store New to Studying Esotericism? Check out my Reading Guide here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1caKNlW7sogEF7lAeYNbOQF9pt5O5b70yAXa-icUJO3o/edit?usp=sharing Rare Occult Books - https://www.esotericaoccultbooks.com/ Course Syllabus: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1URUIb_AkZGM3hXzTnPFAwQYkZf_WgL0Q9wWWqSr2ug0/edit?usp=sharing Course Materials: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-93Z0g92p4xMTFRjk5KznFvh65oRjFAo

Comments

P. Sufenas Virius Lupus`

Very good! I was able to see almost the entire lecture on Sunday, and just finished up the last 15 minutes of it that I had to miss...excellent as always! I am hoping to be there on Friday, but in case I'm not, I will ask this question here: while you contrasted the Hekhalot literature to other ascent/descent texts of the ancient Near East in that in this literature, one is able to visit these places without dying, I wonder if that is actually the case (as Jeremy Naydler and others have argued with some of the Egyptian "afterlife" texts)...but that actually leads to the question: is it possible that these various ordeals are only because one is attempting to access these places while still alive/incarnate? If one were to actually die, would these same ordeals be before one (and would it be possible to have the "second death" if one didn't know the passwords, seals, and such), or would it just be smooth-sailing, so to speak? In comparing some of these matters to the medieval Irish afterlife visions/journeys, one tends to have to see (and even, in some cases, experience) certain pains of Hell or Purgatory before seeing Heaven, God and the Angels, etc.; but, in doing so, it is implied that such is the price for seeing these things while still alive. I wonder if something similar is operative in the Hekhalot situation without actually being stated plainly.

Keryl Kris

As per the decent to god. This feels like some some aspects of certain genres of modern (mostly American) Protestant christianity. Those in which one says the 'sinners prayer' or (a bit more work) and gets baptized and... that does it. Granted, one still has to wait to die, but the connection I'm making is that in those conceptions the active part is played by the human. PEOPLE pray. PEOPLE decide to get the water. It isn't 'worship god and see if you become his people'. It isn't There is no considered possibility that God/Jesus will say no. Granted not quite the same thing but... I see a connection.

Keryl Kris

Sorry. Clipped. I was going to say 'It isn't a website where you have to ask and wait for an invitation . (Which - yes - flippant and I blush.)

Gabriel Elliot

Descenders in the hands of a terrible old man. So busy

amir steklov

Amazing lesson, thank you Justin! Just one thing, I couldn't find the word חמס in 213-216 the word in Hebrew is actually הבל or חבל witch is more associated with the scroll of Ecclesiastes than the flood story in Genesis. Please correct me if I'm wrong, it's a little confusing read through Schafer - Synopse zur Hekhalot-Literatur

Alkemy Frost

Had to catch up, migraines have been in the way, love this series so much

Mark RENDINA

WHere else can we get this deep dive into Western mysticism?