Magic of the Ordinary: Recovering the Shamanic in Judaism

In the book Magic of the Ordinary: Recovering the Shamanic in Judaism, Rabbi Gershon Winkler shows shows how Judaism considers the Earth Mother as the keeper of all the gates to mystery and all the paths to spirituality. The Jewish Shaman takes a journey in order to pass through the Veil of Illusion and learn the dance of spirit and matter.Judaism is one among the Shamanic religions of the world. Rabbi Winkler demonstrates that "Jewish spirituality has less to do with religion and more to do with direct, open, ecstatic free experience of wonderment through creation" and that the Judaic spirit path is about "the importance of the Divine experience through the magic of living in continual awe." He also shows that "while aboriginal [Shamanic] spirituality in general has been tucked safely underground for centuries, it is experiencing an unprecedented resurrection in our own time."The Jewish Shamanic tradition is about experiencing the so-called ordinary, mundane material existence as the carrier of the very mystery we expend so much of our life quest seeking in other more transcendental realms. Unknown to most, the ancient Jewish tradition teaches prolifically about the Four Directions and the medicine attributes of animals, plants,and minerals. The earth is sacred and all beings, including the stars and planets, are imbued with Divine consciousness.

If I had to choose whether or not this book had come into existence, I wouldn't be sure what to decide, so it's lucky for me that it has already been published. I decided to buy a copy while studying, at my Rabbi's guidance, some introductory works that outline the basics of Kabbalah and prior Jewish mysticism, as well as studying Chasidus. I planned to read this with a grain of salt, but I recommend a full salt shaker; further, I would recommend that Jews with little or no knowledge of Kabbalah or Jewish mysticism begin instead with Daniel C. Matt's The Essential Kabbalah, as this work "cherry picks" potential, loose translations consistently throughout, attempting to "indigenize" its presentation of Judaism aesthetically, and taking the easy route to doing so: changing the paint, and adding lots of turquoise, without actually offering any decolonial theory, politics, or spirituality for Judaism; it smacks of cultural appropriation, and frankly, of the brand of racism that paints Native and Indigenous peoples as the exotic "others" from some unimaginable "before-time," more truly in touch with "nature" than with the world they live in as much as any colonizer does. The author acts as if he has inherited a great wealth of Indigenous wisdom, and claims an inherent Jewish indigineity that conveniently enough is the equal sibling of Native and Indigenous peoples, who can, of course, reliably be universalized and generalized. Certainly, white settlers and white, white-coded, and non-Native or -Indigenous Jews must not need to do anything more than talk about spirits instead of angels to dip into indigineity at will, right? In fact, you can buy indigineity for the mere price of a softcover book! A neat way to resolve both the failures of institutional Jewish life as well as colonialism.If the author presents himself as a "shaman," it would be a plastic shaman, a mere figurine of true indigenous sciences and ways of knowing.While foreshortening the deeper theory and intention behind Jewish mysticism, this book also runs the risk of curtailing more radical Jewish religious (or secular) theory and practice. By claiming to put us in touch with "authentic" tradition and spirituality, without presenting a proper theory of Judaism -- let alone settler colonial society -- it offers a simple, misleading path that I would say could lead one to "cut the shoots"-- if it could lead them to pardes to begin with, a task that this work falls drastically short of.I find little point to this book, except for Jews who feel like they aren't "supposed" to learn the basics of actual Jewish wisdom, or aren't "religious" enough to consider actually studying Kabbalah in the appropriate manner. To them, I would only remind you of one simple thing: religion is not attendance at synagogue, or a preexisting custom of doing as many mitsvos as possible. Religion is about "religious" feeling, about encountering something of the sublime -- a deep, felt truth of the universe, of life -- and cleaving to it. Jewish "religion" is about love, one-ness, and joy as much as it is about Torah, Halachah, or which synagogue you'll never go to. If you are seriously considering this book, it is because you already feel in your heart some touch of something greater than yourself. And you are welcome to it! Judaism is not, despite what we may think, a set of institutions and hierarchies: it is the relationship between the Jew, Jewish community, the Torah (plain and hidden for those who study,) and Jewish practice in keeping with the Torah and the customs we have inherited.If you think: All things must somehow be deeply interconnected! or even -- The whole universe is filled with life!! -- that's not a teaching this author invented. Certainly, he capitalizes on it, he presents one particular take on it; but Kabbalah, Chasidus and neo-Chasidus, Jewish Renewal, and earth-centered Jewish groups like Kohenet already have a long line of inherited wisdom that speaks to the same spirit with far more of the "word" of Torah. Whatever you choose in your path of study, remember this: it has all been given to you, and you have a right to all of it. Find community, find a teacher, and find the wisdom of those who have studied and make study accessible; a foreshortened conclusion is not the greatest introduction to a deeper Judaism.A Jew is a Jew is a Jew. All of our tradition is yours to study and argue with: rote recital, simple acceptance of doctrine, and exactly one allowed sort of feeling or intention in Jewish practice are not the only way to do Judaism -- whether in a synagogue, or through this book. If you buy this book, argue with it as much as with anything else: then learn more, study more, argue more, and find your own heart and soul in due time. There is no need to rush, nor to dither. I hope you'll find what you're looking for, either way.PS:Unlike the author of this book -- so far as I remember -- I will note that I am exaggerating some things for effect, and not presenting all possible sources or interpretations. I do not feel that this book is entirely misleading, so much as it is a failure; it doesn't try to make you argue with it, or make your own arguments and conclusions about deeper Jewish theory and practice. It may even encourage you to only take the author's conclusions to heart: a great disappointment to me, indeed. I personally found the book only useful in comparing it with the works of Rabbis, tsadikim, and Jewish academics who hadn't dropped off-the-derech, and using this book as a sort of question: how can Judaism treat the Earth, and all people? -- to take to further study and practice. It will not "end your whole (Jewish) career," but it might not be exactly what you're hoping for, and it sort of sells itself as just that. For those who want to learn more about Native and Indigenous peoples, and whose land they are living on, you can go to native-land dot ca.

As a long time student of Aryeh Kaplan and Kabbalah, I found this book very interesting. The author does a lovely job of tying together the sources of beliefs, texts and practices as well as illuminates a lot of interesting material about the practice in the ancient world long before the Ten Commandments.

For where im holding this book is A M A Z I N G. Though, I could think that for those unprepared and less grounded, it could make them ditch frumkeit.

I've been a student of shamanism for almost 20 years, and have recently been integrating the shamanic way of being and healing into my work as a massage therapist, and in my human relationships. In shamanic practice we've got to get our ancestors and helping spirits on board with our work in the world. My ancestors were Christian, and were highly critical of shamanic methods. Christianity is deeply rooted in Judaism, and Judaism has a rich tradition of shamanic practice which grew out of even older cultures in the world of its beginnings. Almost every theme in shamanism: journeying, divination, magic, healing, spirit helpers, ritual, mysticism, vision, prophecy and balance are alive in kabbalistic judaism. They were also alive for Jesus and his followers in his day. By connecting with the roots of my roots of my roots, I've brought everything full circle, gotten my ancestors more on board with my work, and found great peace. Magic of the Ordinary is well-grounded, intellectually respectable, inspiring and enjoyable. It is a shining jewel. Thank you Gershon Winkler!

I know I have natural affinity with the topic of the book. I found the fundamental work for the Searchers! The book is highly recommended for people looking beyond the ‘organized’ religion and clear-cut-philosophies.

Interesting book gave me a new insight into both Shamanism and Judaic practices

Thanks for this! All good.

superb

I have not finished the book yet, but what I have read of it is excellent. It really speaks to me and I can see the Baal Shem Tov in these pages, as he was the one to ignite the renaissance of Shamanism and bring it back to Judaism. The simplicity of living in G-d's creation, and experiencin as Jews, the way we were meant to, close to nature and away from mega cities. Our connection with our spiritual surroundings has drifted away, and has been replaced by an almost purely intellectual or scholastic Judaism. Learning is important, but each at their level, and some more or less that others. To be removed from our relationship with our world, and the creatures and wonders that we share it with, is to be crippled as people and as Jews. This is 100% kosher stuff here, not avoda zara or osser; the sources in orthodox and traditionally accepted liturgy are all noted and present in this book. It is not a quick read, it seems simple and short, but as with the simple text of the Zohar, Bahir, Sefer Yetzirah etc., what looks simple isn't and puts your mind to interpreting and formulating concepts are are deeply rooted in our genetic memories, or subconscious, and fight to bring what was forgotten to the surface...