Light of spirit or light of pocket?

THE tatty red cotton bracelet around the wrist is a dead giveaway. It is not, as some might suspect, a fashion blunder. It is, in fact, an indication of deep spiritual enlightenment. It also shows the wearer has £17 to spend on a tatty bit of red cotton.

Worn with pride by the likes of Madonna, David Beckham, Britney Spears, Barbra Streisand and Mick Jagger, the bracelet is the mark of Kabbalah and is said to protect the wearer from evil spirits.

Kabbalah, Hebrew for "received tradition", first emerged in medieval times as an ancient form of Jewish mysticism based on sacred texts.

Orthodox rabbis would study for 20 years before even approaching its almost impenetrable central text, the Zohar, or Book of Splendour.

Today you can attain enlightenment in ten easy lessons at a Kabbalah centre for about £180.

You can also treat yourself to some Kabbalah water (£3.50 a bottle); a Tree of Life necklace (£39); an astrological chart (£170); or a baby crib with Hebrew lettering (£152).

Kabbalah was rebranded into the commercial success it is today by American rabbi, Philip Berg. The 75-year-old former Brooklyn insurance salesman reinvented himself as a spiritual leader and opened his first Kabbalah centre in Jerusalem in 1969.

There are now 50 centres worldwide all teaching the same message: "Share the Light".

Sharing, whether it is light or cash, is a central tenet of modern Kabbalism. Model and actress Jerry Hall recently left a centre after being asked for money, saying: "I didn't realise that to go through a door of miracles, you had to give ten per cent of your income."

Cases such as this prompted Dr Jonathan Sacks, the British chief rabbi, to issue a public warning about the movement, distancing it from mainstream Judaism.

But is Kabbalah a con, a cult or a genuine calling?

"Labelling a group as a cult gives it dark connotations," says Pauline Kollontai, a lecturer in world religion at York St John College.

"I don't think Kabbalism has a dark side. It does, however, have a highly commercial side, and that's what worries me."

Dr Sacks' suspicions about Kabbalah are not without precedent. It seems mainstream Judaism has always been sceptical, even fearful, about this extreme form of Jewish mysticism.

"In medieval times, Kabbalistic masters claimed they could transcend different realms and literally be in two places at once," explains Ms Kollontai, who is Jewish. "It was this mystical dimension, bordering on magical, that traditionally caused unease.

"If you promote a mystical force you are, in effect, challenging traditional teachings. This inevitably becomes a power struggle."

While the original Kabbalah texts, believed to date back at least nine centuries, are said to unravel the deepest mysteries of existence, Rabbi Berg's modern version is more user-friendly.

With "speed meditations", astrology and numerology packaged in easy-to-read books, and lectures with titles such as Making Love Last and Overcoming Our Hidden Addictions, contemporary Kabbalism is aimed at a money and time-rich market.

People are looking for something spiritual rather then religious in their lives - and willing to pay for it.

"Money did not originally play a part in Kabbalism," says Ms Kollontai. "Kabbalistic masters would impart their knowledge freely to their disciples.

"But Kabbalism is not alone in making money from people's spiritual beliefs. If you go somewhere such as Lourdes you can buy a souvenir Madonna. A student of mine even gave me a rabbi glove puppet.

"We live in a materialistic society. Even when it comes to religion we want to have something, a symbol or idol, in our home."

It seems our idols - our sports and pop idols - are particularly receptive to the teachings of Kabbalah.

David Beckham took to wearing the protective bracelet earlier this year, for all the good it did him in Euro 2004.

Madonna, who reports suggest has changed her name to Esther in honour of her faith, recently donated a substantial amount towards the development of a £3.75 million Kabbalah headquarters near her West London home.

She is also known to give courses in the religion to her friends; actively encouraged her husband, the film director Guy Ritchie, to convert and is believed to be raising her children in line with Kabbalistic beliefs.

Her three-year-old son, Rocco, recently had his previously unruly locks cut off in accordance with the traditions of his parents' faith.

According to the tenets of the religion, a boy's hair must remain uncut until he reaches the age of three.

The first cut can take place on the child's birthday or, as in the case of Rocco, whose third birthday was last August, on the anniversary of the death of one of the movement's founders, the 16th century rabbi Simeon bar Yohai, on May 9.

It is customary for Kabbalah followers to gather round and each cut a lock from the boy's head before throwing it on a fire.

The Zohar doesn't say whether the followers in question have to be celebrity stylists, but surely nothing less would do for Madonna - sorry Esther's - little boy.

"Celebrities may be rich and famous but they are not necessarily happy," says Ms Kollontai, referring to the increasingly long line of famous Kabbalah followers.

"They are looking for something else, some justification, in their lives.

"They don't all find it in Kabbalism. Richard Gere, for example, is one of the celebrity Buddhists.

"The difference is that you don't tend to find Buddhists selling bits and bobs on the Internet for £17 apiece."

Spiritualism and the stars

Scientology

Followers: Tom Cruise, John Travolta, left, Demi Moore.

The Church of Scientology was founded by science fiction writer L Ron Hubbard, and followers try to rid themselves of painful memories with the help of a spiritual being inside themselves. John Travolta tried to persuade President Clinton to sign up to help him past the Monica Lewinsky affair

Ayurveda

Followers: Madonna, Goldie Hawn, left.

To keep healthy, this ancient Indian philosophy insists you balance your three doshas, or parts of your constitution. Eating right helps to get the right mix.

Faith healing

Followers: Michael Jackson, Dave Stewart, Glenn Hoddle, left.

Faith healers say they can use homeopathic remedies and techniques to remove blockages in their clients' bodies. Famously Glenn Hoddle brought healer Eileen Drewery into the England dressing room before World Cup 1998. She was as much help then as Kabbalah was to Beckham in Euro 2004...

Ashtanga yoga

Followers: Sting, Geri Halliwell, left, Warren Beatty.

Traditionally performed by warriors before battle, it is faster than normal yoga. It involves synchronising your breathing with quick movements. Ex-Spice Girl Geri attributed her lean look to ashtanga yoga and Mr and Mrs Sting say it is responsible for their stamina and well being.

Updated: 09:31 Wednesday, June 30, 2004