Sometime in the mid-1990s, Bela bought a book for me, The Hebrew Alphabet—A Mystical Journey. She found it in the gift shop of a car wash in San Rafael, California, of all places. The Hebrew Alphabet is a wonderful guide to the meanings behind the Hebrew letters. When the author, Dr. Edward Hoffman, talked about the letter Lamed, he mentioned the Lamed Vav, the Thirty-Six Just Men and Women of Jewish folklore. Because I had already written my fantasy novel Quest for the 36, I reached out to Ed Hoffman. We became friends.
In 2009 Ed appeared as a subject matter expert in a short documentary Seeking the 36 that I made with writer/director Dennis Lanson.
Now Ed has a new book entirely devoted to the Lamed Vav, entitled Lamed Vav and the Power of Mystical Kindness: Awakening to the Presence of the 36 Hidden Messengers.
The book is divided into five parts:
- Foundations
- What is Lamed Vav Consciousness?
- Entering the Inner Realm
- Encountering the Lamed Vav Sparks
- Becoming a Lamed Vav
Each part contains several chapters. Many chapters include exercises to help people experience the mystical influence of the Lamed Vav.
I asked Ed a couple questions to elicit details about Lamed Vav and the Power of Mystical Kindness:
Why did you write this book?
Ever since childhood, I’ve been fascinated by the Kabbalistic tradition of the hidden 36 sages who sustain humanity at all times with their incalculable powers of kindness. Yet, surprisingly, no book had ever appeared on this ancient topic. In a time of lost community, growing loneliness, and faltering compassion in our culture, I felt that this mythos to be more timely than ever.
What did you learn while writing this book?
As I delved into the Kabbalistic and early Hasidic traditions, I was astounded to learn how the mythos of the Lamed Vav has flourished for more than 1,700 years. I was also surprised to see how much Carl Jung venerated these traditions–and passed on his respect to Erich Neumann and Marie-Louise von Franz, his two most brilliant proteges. Much of my book integrates their teachings on higher consciousness with Kabbalistic notions.
Lamed Vav and the Power of Mystical Kindness is available through the publisher at:
Lamed Vav and the Power of Mystical Kindness, on Barnes and Noble, and on Amazon.
You don’t have to be Jewish to appreciate the power of kindness in the world. Whether you are a Seeker or an ordinary human being, the power of the Lamed Vav to heal the world may speak to you.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Another of my haiku was accepted by the Haiku Challenge in Tricycle Magazine in February:
winter starlight born
many far-off kalpas past
reaches me just now
You can read more about the poem here.
SAVE THE DATE!
We’ll be hosting a book launch party for the publication of The Zen Time Traveler on Sunday, July 12th, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Engaged Mindfulness Institute (formerly the Shintaido Farm), 595B River Road in Deerfield, Massachusetts. Please mark your calendars. More information to follow.
Thanks!