Kabbalah and Sex Magic: A Mythical-Ritual Genealogy

Marla Segol's book Kabbalah and Sex Magic explores the development of the kabbalistic cosmology underlying Western sex magic, drawing extensively on Jewish myth and ritual. It argues that in its fully developed medieval form, kabbalah operated by ritualizing a mythos of divine creation through sexual reproduction and that these rituals have a continuing life in contemporary Western sex magic.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 220 pages
Publication date: 01 November 2022
Publisher: Pennsylvania State University Press

In her thought-provoking book, Marla Segol delves into the intricate development of the kabbalistic cosmology that underpins Western sex magic. Drawing upon a wealth of Jewish myth and ritual, Segol weaves a compelling narrative that explores the profound relationship between the divine and the human body in late antique Jewish esotericism, medieval kabbalah, and contemporary New Age ritual practices.

Kabbalah and Sex Magic: Tracing the Evolution of a Hebrew Microcosm explores the intricate interplay between human and divine bodies at the core of both kabbalah and certain forms of Western sex magic. Segol's study focuses on Jewish esoteric and medical sources from the fifth to the twelfth century, originating from Byzantium, Persia, Iberia, and southern France. Through meticulous analysis, she argues that in its fully developed medieval form, kabbalah operated by ritualizing a mythos of divine creation through sexual reproduction.

Segol situates these cosmological models within cultural and historical contexts, highlighting their significance in conceptualizing both human and divine bodies and their interactions. She emphasizes that all these sources position the body and its senses as the locus of culture and the means of reproducing it. Segol delves into the rituals that operate on these models, particularly emphasizing their inherent erotic power. She then connects these rituals to contemporary Western sex magic, demonstrating that they continue to have a profound impact.

By raising questions about kabbalah's cosmology, myths, and rituals, Segol poses broader inquiries about the history of kabbalah, the evolving conceptions of the human-divine relationship, and the nature of religious innovation itself. This groundbreaking book appeals to students and scholars of Jewish studies, religion, sexuality, and magic, offering a profound exploration of these complex subjects.

Weight: 295g
Dimension: 235 x 156 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780271089614