A closer look
Kabbalah is an ancient, highly complex tradition of Jewish mysticism that historically required decades of intense Torah study to even begin to understand. In the late twentieth century, the Kabbalah Centre in Los Angeles stripped away all the rigorous religious requirements and repackaged it as a trendy self-help philosophy for Hollywood celebrities. They famously sold red string bracelets for thirty dollars a pop, claiming the yarn would ward off the evil eye and bring mystical protection to whoever wore it. It is genuinely impressive how quickly a deeply revered, esoteric tradition was commodified into a fashion accessory for pop stars who just wanted a spiritual excuse to feel superior at industry parties
