Kabbalah, also spelled Kabalah, Cabala, or Qabala, is an esoteric method, discipline, and school of thought in Jewish mysticism. It is a set of esoteric teachings meant to explain the relationship between the unchanging, eternal God, and the mortal, finite universe. Kabbalistic thought often is considered Jewish mysticism, and its practitioners tend to view the Creator and the Creation as a continuum, rather than as discrete entities. The definition of Kabbalah varies according to the tradition and aims of those following it, from its origin in medieval Judaism to its later adaptations in Western esotericism.

Kabbalah has three main traditions: Theosophical, Meditative-Ecstatic, and Practical. The Theosophical tradition in Kabbalah comprises both versions of Kabbalistic theory, the medieval-Zoharic and the early-modern Lurianic Kabbalah. The Meditative-Ecstatic Kabbalah incorporates a parallel inter-related Medieval tradition. A third tradition, related but more shunned, involves the magical aims of Practical Kabbalah.

Kabbalah involves rituals for gaining and exercising power to effect change in our world and in the celestial worlds beyond ours. This power is generated by performing commandments, summoning and controlling angelic and demonic forces, and otherwise tapping into the supernatural energies present in Creation. The practical aspect of Kabbalah furthers God’s intention in the world, advancing good, subduing evil, healing, and mending.

Kabbalah has been an accepted part of Jewish culture since the 12th century. Historians of Judaism identify many schools of Jewish esotericism across time, each with its own unique interests and beliefs. Technically, the term “Kabbalah” applies only to writings that emerged in medieval Spain and southern France beginning in the 13th century.

In recent years, Kabbalah has become popular among celebrities, and some have created their own versions of Kabbalah. However, traditional Kabbalah requires extensive study and is not a quick fix for personal problems.