which became a main element in esoteric and magical societies and teachings. As separate traditions of development outside Judaism, drawing from, syncretically adapting, and different in nature and aims from Judaic mysticism, they are not listed on this page. Three aims The Kabbalistic form of Jewish mysticism itself is divided into three general streams: the Theosophical/Speculative Kabbalah (seeking to understand and describe the divine realm), the Meditative/Ecstatic Kabbalah (seeking to achieve a mystical union with God), and the Practical/Magical Kabbalah (seeking to theurgically alter the divine realms and the World). These three different, but inter-relating, methods or aims of mystical involvement are also found throughout the other pre-Kabbalistic and post-Kabbalistic stages in Jewish mystical development, as three general typologies. As in Kabbalah, the same text can contain aspects of all three approaches, though the three streams often distill into three separate literatures under the influence of particular exponents or eras. Within Kabbalah, the theosophical tradition is distinguished from many forms of mysticism in other religions by its doctrinal form as a mystical "philosophy" of Gnosis esoteric knowledge. Instead, the tradition of Meditative Kabbalah has similarity of aim, if not form, with usual traditions of general mysticism; to unite the individual intuitively with God. The tradition of theurgic Practical Kabbalah in Judaism, censored and restricted by mainstream Jewish Kabbalists, has similarities with non-Jewish Hermetic Qabalah magical Western Esotericism. However, as understood by Jewish Kabbalists, it is censored and forgotten in contemporary times because without the requisite purity and holy motive, it would degenerate into impure and forbidden magic. Consequently, it has formed a minor tradition in Jewish mystical history. Historical forms See also Aggadah Gnosticism Jewish mythology Angels in Judaism Jewish mystical exegesis Kabbalah: Primary texts List of Jewish Kabbalists List of Jewish mysticism scholars Mandaeism Notes References Biale, David Gershom Scholem: Kabbalah and counter-history, Harvard University Press Biale, David Not in the Heavens: The Tradition of Jewish Secular Thought, Princeton University Press (secularised jewish adaptions of Kabbalah) Brenner, Michael Prophets of the Past: Interpreters of Jewish History, Princeton University Press (mystical and other historiographies of judaism) Dan, Joseph Gershom Scholem and the Mystical Dimension of Jewish History, NYU Press Dennis, Geoffrey W, The Encyclopedia of Jewish Myth, Magic & Mysticism, Llewellyn Publications 2nd edition illustrated 2016 Heschel, Abraham Joshua Heavenly Torah: As Refracted through the Generations, edited and translated by Gordon Tucker, Bloomsbury Academic 2006 (existential-mystical exploration of revelation) Idel,