The Utterly Bewitched Talmud

ט' באייר תש"ע
Annwyn 10

In follow up to my previous post - Jump, The Ibbur And The Witch's Secret Tool - Pandora gave us her preferred interpretation of JT Kiddushin 4 (66c) and her prefered paraphrase of the word "best":

May I add that the full quote is in JT Kiddushin 4 (66c): "R. Simeon bar Yohai learned: "The best of heathens - kill him; the best of snakes - smash its skull; the best of women - is filled with witchcraft; praised be he who fulfills the will of the Place" (i.e., of God, who is omnipresent, or in every place at the same time).

The term "best" refers more to the "majority" of women, not that they were THE BEST! So, Shimeon bar Yochai was not necessarily singing the praises of women in this context.

Interestingly, we see that even using Pandora's own interpretation and paraphrase (which differs from my own), that the Talmud is completely and tellingly unable to "kill" or "smash" the "best of women" who is filled with witchcraft. Unlike with heathens and snakes, all the Talmud is able to utter in response to such a witchy woman is to sing the praises of the Divine. Consequently, we can see that, even using Pandora's interpretation and paraphrase, the Talmud is utterly bewitched! Contrary to Pandora's understanding, Shimeon bar Yochai is indeed singing the praises of witchy women!

Jump - The Ibbur And The Witch's Secret Tool

ט' באייר תש"ע
Annwyn 10

I received two comments today from Pandora. Pandora's first comment concerned an older entry, namely Sod Ha-Ibbur. Pandora wrote:

I as writing this as I am just now exploring the concept of ibbur... so I am a bit confused as to why you use the term sod ha-ibbur in the context of solar and lunar calenders, when sod ha-ibbur actually means secret (sod) of reincarnation/rebirth (ibbur).

Ibbur is when a righteous soul (tzaddik) comes into a body to help the existing soul on its path and help elevate that soul to a higher level.

This is in contrast to "gilgul" which is the reincarnation of a soul after a physical death, when a soul reincarnates/transmigrates in order to continue its elevation and correction process.

Ibbur helps an existing soul reach a higher level in its correction process without the need for a physical death to happen in between. It's a bit like a fast-track processing, or jumping to a higher level in a computer game by finding some secret tools!

As written within the context of the blogged entry, I answered her question:

The data suggest that there is advanced knowledge (sod ha-ibbur) embedded within these two particularly congruous ancient methods of timekeeping.

On my Content Credentials post, Pandora commented:

I see you use the quote "the best of women - is filled with witchcraft" as a strapline...

May I add that the full quote is in JT Kiddushin 4 (66c): "R. Simeon bar Yohai learned: "The best of heathens - kill him; the best of snakes - smash its skull; the best of women - is filled with witchcraft; praised be he who fulfills the will of the Place" (i.e., of God, who is omnipresent, or in every place at the same time).

The term "best" refers more to the "majority" of women, not that they were THE BEST! So, Shimeon bar Yochai was not necessarily singing the praises of women in this context.

Do also note Exodus 22:17 "You shall not suffer a witch to live", and there are other parts of the Tanach which are not happy with witches either.

While I appreciate Pandora's comment, I obviously do not hold by her point of view or interpretations of Hebrew. I don't think Ha-Ibbur does either given the immediate jump in my understanding - Beyond Holiness. I am not concerned that some are "not happy" with witches. I am happy being a witch and that counts.

Beyond Holiness

ט' באייר תש"ע
Annwyn 10

Commentary on Achrei Mot - Kedoshim from Garden of the Dark Moon Jubilee - Beyond Holiness.

A Portal Of Paradox

ד' באייר תש"ע
Annwyn 5

Reb Gutman Locks of Mystical Paths writes on the infinity symbol:

There is a lot of confusion regarding the concept of "infinite." For instance, most people believe that numbers are infinite. But numbers are endless in only two directions. They increase and decrease "forever," without end, but their endlessness only goes up and down. If "infinite" really means "endless," or "boundless," then numbers do not fit this definition.

The common symbol for "infinite" has the same problem. It goes on and on, even forever, but only on its one track.

The definition of infinite that we want is truly boundless. For something to be truly boundless, it must be endless in all directions, not just up and down or just on a single track. If something is really endless in all directions, then it is the true infinite. To qualify as boundless, It has to be all. There can be only one such infinite. If there were two of them, neither one would be really boundless.

This subject came up the other day with a professor of mathematics. When I tried to explain why numbers are not really infinite, it rubbed his scientific principles the wrong way.

There is no confusion in the minds of lovers who "tie the knot". The infinity symbol is itself finite as are the physical bodies of a handfasting couple. Just as hands joined together in a symbol of infinity is not the physical totality of a couple's united being, the symbol itself at that point in time represents a surface of physical and conceptual intersection and intrasection (like a double tzimtzum which makes the place) into which All comes together with complete alignment. Likewise, the couple's united souls form a 'place' of intersection and intrasection betwixt their individual spirits where Divinity coalesces their reality. The infinity symbol is a portal of paradox (where the infinite and the finite are inseparate) within the Infinite. Lovers know what some mathematicians apparently do not.

Related entry: Celtic Knot Handfasting Cord

The Lions' Den

ד' באייר תש"ע
Annwyn 5

This past week I've had two dreams where I've played the hero and killed killer lions loosed upon and hunting a group of people within which I am a part. In the dream last night, fearlessly I drove a spear through the mouth of one up through its head. Necessarily, it died and couldn't attack any of us anymore.

I feel like Daniel and Samson all rolled into one. Two lion dreams in one week. Wow.

The Circles Of Life And Light

כ״ז בניסן תש"ע
Raven 28

Commentary on Tazria-Metzora from Garden of the Dark Moon Jubilee - The Circles of Life and Light.

When The Goddess Ruled The Earth

כ״ז בניסן תש"ע
Raven 28

This is a trailer of a new documentary DVD I've acquired - When The Goddess Ruled The Earth.

Peaceful Nightmares

כ״ז בניסן תש"ע
Raven 28

Recently I've been having strange dreams. In some way the dreams could be considered nightmares, in that the content should be scary - but neither in the midst of the dream nor after I wake up am I the least bit afraid. For instance, one dream a few nights ago involved a plane crash and dripping acid in a fantastical landscape, but I walked away unharmed from amidst all the mountainous crashing tumbling debris and was never touched by any of the acid. It's as if I cannot be harmed and I know it, even in the dream and even though I go through all the 'normal' dream actions one might take to avoid being harmed. In other words, I don't do anything stupid like not even try to get out of the way of dangerous things. Nevertheless, I always walk through, not just fearlessly but rather serenely, and emerge from these dangerous situations unperturbed and unscathed. So, I'm having nightmares which really are not nightmares at all and leave me feeling peaceful. In fact, now that I think about it, even though I'm having these 'nightmares', my real life has been rather peaceful and calm - as if nothing can go wrong for me.

Peaceful nightmares - such a paradox.

Nadab and Abihu's Fashion Faux Pas

כ׳ בניסן תש"ע
Raven 21

Commentary on Shemini from Garden of the Dark Moon Jubilee - Nadab and Abihu's Fashion Faux Pas.

Related entries: witch wear