Mirach

- the home of the practical kabbalist

The Ten Steps

Introduction

The practical kabbalist is striving to align his or herself with the influences that continually flow from the Godhead. While ritual, meditation and study undoubtedly help with this, the kabbalist should also endeavour to live with a constant awareness of the presence of the Deity.

Classical kabbalistic literature offers a step-by-step approach to achieving this aim. Rabbi Moshe Chayim Luzzatto (known as Ramchal), an 18th century Italian kabbalist, sets out a ten stage progression for the those seeking true knowledge in his book The Path of the Just. (Another 10 stage progression is offered by the 11th century Jewish author Rabbi Bachya ibn Paquda in his work The Duties of the Heart).

The following Steps are adapted from this book so as to be relevant to both non-Jews and Jews alike who are seeking to follow the path of the kabbalah.

As there are ten steps it is tempting to assign each step to one of the sephiroth of the Tree of Life. Mirach has not been able to establish whether this was the Ramchal's intention.