Kabbalah & The Mystical

I see a ball moving up and down on the screen--is it really rebounding against the bottom of the screen? Does the menu bar really have drop-down menus hidden behind it? To explain our world without examining its inner depth is as shallow as explaining the workings of a computer by describing the images viewed on its monitor...

There are ten types: Chayot Hakodesh, Ophanim, Erelim, Chashmalim, Seraphim, Malachim, Elokim, Bene Elokim, Cheruvim, and Ishim--ranked according to the degree of their understanding of G‑d.

What is the Jewish view of Satan?

The writings of Kabbalah and Chassidim speak of four worlds--Azilut, Beriah, Yetziah and Assiah. Where are these "worlds"? Why haven't any of them been discovered yet?

Why would G‑d have any name - let alone so many? When can and can't I use the names?

Kindness, Severity, Harmony, Perseverance, Humility, Foundation, Royalty--which defines your soul?

I was watching a news report the other day with Madonna (now known as Esther). She was discussing how Kabbalah has changed her life

A chassid is a mystic. A chassid is pious. A chassid is joyous. A chassid is selfless. A chassid is a revolutionary. What is the common denominator of all these traits? That a chassid lives life from the inside

For the body's perspective, the Talmud refers to sleep as 1/60th of death. From a soul perspective, it's a return to an "embryonic state" in which all its faculties exist in utter equality, as there is no above or below, earlier or later...

I always thought Mazel Tov meant “congratulations.” I recently heard that it actually means “good luck.” But I thought Jews don’t believe in luck . . . ?

G-d gives us things. G-d does not give others these same things. This can and does cause jealousy, an unvoiced "Why does she deserve it?," and somewhere on High that energy does not dissipate. It gravitates, and brings into question "Maybe she doesn’t deserve it after all?"

I was given a red string by a friend -- she called it a "Kabbalah bracelet", and says it brings success and protection and guards against the Evil Eye. Is this for real?

Predicting the future is big business, as newspaper astrologers and corporate consultants profit from our insatiable desire to know the unknown. Is there anything to it? Do the stars hold any power over our lives?

The Kabbalists explain that while we sleep, our souls leave our bodies and ascend to their heavenly source to replenish their energy . . .

The double triangle of the Star of David (Magen David) symbolizes the connection of both the inner and external dimensions of G‑d, Torah and Israel.

On the surface there do seem to be contradictory statements in the midrashic and kabbalistic texts with regard to how the world was created—with ten sefirot or only the final seven.

I am fascinated by a documentary I watched about astronomy and how many stars and galaxies there are. What is the Jewish view on this? Why did G‑d create so many galaxies? What purpose do they serve?

At times my mind wanders off and I imagine myself committing crimes. I’ve always felt that there is nothing wrong with these thoughts because I do not actually follow through and commit the crime. What do you think?