The Ten Forms of Witchcraft in Leviticus: A Kabbalistic Examination and Their Modern Survival in Augur Cults

by Brandon Barthrop | Feb 14, 2025 | Anti-Augury, Anti-Lilith, Messianic Kabbalah

Introduction

The Torah explicitly warns against ten forms of witchcraft, sorcery, and augury, primarily in Leviticus 19:26, 31; 20:6, 27; and Deuteronomy 18:10-12. These prohibitions serve as an eternal safeguard against the infiltration of destructive spiritual forces into the lives of Israel. Kabbalah, particularly through the Zohar, elucidates the deeper esoteric mechanisms of these practices and their relationship to the Sitra Achra (Other Side)—the realm of impurity and demonic influence.

Yet, these ten branches have not disappeared from human society. Instead, they have transformed into organized systems of augury, particularly within Freemasonry and its esoteric offshoots, which still practice and preserve ancient rites originating in Babylon, Egypt, and Rome. The augur cult of Freemasonry, with its structured ranks, mystical symbols, and reliance on divination, follows the blueprint of forbidden occultism as described in the Torah.

THE TEN FORMS OF WITCHCRAFT IN LEVITICUS AND THEIR KABBALISTIC SIGNIFICANCE

The Talmud (Sanhedrin 65a) and various rabbinic commentaries identify these ten categories:

1. KOSEM (DIVINATION – קסם)

• Definition: The ability to predict the future through occult means.

• Kabbalistic Understanding: This draws down from the Klippot of Nogah (mixed light and darkness), allowing false light to mimic prophecy.

• Modern Parallel: The augur system of Masonic initiation rituals, where specific signs, symbols, and numerical alignments are used to ‘foresee’ spiritual outcomes.

2. ME’ONEN (OBSERVER OF TIMES – מעונן)

• Definition: Astrology or fixing fate to celestial alignments.

• Zoharic Warning: The Zohar (I:173a) warns that astral magic opens gateways to the Mazalot (astrological forces), which are part of the fallen angels’ dominion.

• Modern Parallel: Freemasonic lodges align their structures and rituals with solstices and planetary cycles.

3. MENACHESH (ENCHANTER – מנחש)

• Definition: Omens or interpreting signs in nature to determine future events.

• Zoharic Warning: The Zohar (II:238b) associates this with the Nachash (Serpent) who twisted divine speech into predictive omens.

• Modern Parallel: The use of sacred geometry and symbols within Masonic architecture, where building placement ‘harnesses’ spiritual energy.

4. MEKHASHEF (WITCH – מכשף)

• Definition: Actual manipulation of reality through demonic forces.

• Zoharic Warning: The Zohar (III:76a-b) explains that sorcery is the distortion of divine flow (Shefa) into the Sitra Achra.

• Modern Parallel: The secretive black-magic practices found in high-degree Freemasonry, particularly in Scottish Rite occultism.

5. CHOVER CHAVER (BINDER OF SPELLS – חבר חבר)

• Definition: Invoking spirits through incantations.

• Kabbalistic Understanding: Binding demons to servitude, often using angelic names inversely.

• Modern Parallel: Masonic rituals that require specific recitations that secretly evoke occult forces disguised as allegory.

6. SHOEL OV (SEEKER OF THE DEAD – שואל אוב)

• Definition: Necromancy or summoning spirits of the dead.

• Zoharic Warning: Zohar (I:206a) describes how Ov divination forces a spirit to answer through painful means.

• Modern Parallel: Skull-and-bones initiations in Freemasonry are directly linked to necromantic practices.

7. YID’ONI (FAMILIAR SPIRITS – ידעוני)

• Definition: Communication with spirits possessing an individual.

• Zoharic Warning: The Zohar (III:36b) warns that some spirits attach themselves to bloodlines.

• Modern Parallel: The deep ancestral veneration practices of elite Masonic bloodlines.

8. DORESH EL HAMETIM (CONSULTING THE DEAD – דורש אל המתים)

• Definition: Actively seeking advice from the deceased.

• Kabbalistic Understanding: A direct form of demon-worship that opens forbidden gates.

• Modern Parallel: The ritualistic elevation of past Masonic ‘masters’, seeking guidance from their spirits.

9. MA’AVIR B’NO U’VITO BA’ESH (PASSING CHILDREN THROUGH FIRE – מעביר בנו ובתו באש)

• Definition: A ritual sacrifice or dedication of children to Molech.

• Kabbalistic Understanding: The Klippah of Molech is dominant in societies of control and secrecy.

• Modern Parallel: Secret societies, including Freemasonry, have blood-oath rituals, some symbolically representing child sacrifice.

10. NACHASH (SNAKE CHARMING – נחש)

• Definition: Communing with the primordial Serpent’s knowledge.

• Zoharic Understanding: Zohar (I:36a) connects this to Cainite and Babylonian sorcery, which later became Roman augury.

• Modern Parallel: The hidden serpent symbolism in Freemasonry’s highest degrees, particularly in the 33rd degree.

FREEMASONRY AS THE MODERN AUGUR CULT

The augur cult of ancient Rome served as an intermediary between humanity and ‘divine’ forces through rituals, signs, and omens. This practice is still alive within Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism, and other secret societies that openly admit their use of ancient rites derived from Babylon and Egypt.

1. Freemasonry’s Augury Practices:

• Ritual magic and hidden Pythagorean theurgy (geometric magic).

• Oaths of secrecy to protect knowledge of divination.

• Aligning of lodges with celestial constellations and planetary movements.

1. Masonic Degrees as Esoteric Initiations into Witchcraft:

• The Scottish Rite degrees correspond to Babylonian and Kabbalistic numerology.

• The Royal Arch degree involves a “hidden word,” mirroring the Chaldean techniques of divine evocation.

CONCLUSION: THE WARNING OF THE ZOHAR

The Zoharic teachings reveal that organized augury always seeks to mimic divine providence but distorts it into an infernal system. The Torah warns against these practices because they subject human destiny to impure forces instead of the guidance of HaShem through holiness.

Modern secret societies have preserved these occult traditions, masquerading them as ‘mysteries’ or ‘philosophical enlightenment.’ Yet, the true Kabbalist knows that all power belongs to the Ein Sof, and any attempt to control destiny outside of divine law leads only to spiritual destruction.

As the Zohar (I:99a) states: “He who seeks knowledge from the Other Side shall be bound by it, for they that make a covenant with impurity shall become its slaves.”

By Apostle Brandon Barthrop

Red Letter Ministries, RLM TV

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