http://www.target.com/gp/...gogl623-20

oh fer fucks sake...

cant people just go buy some red string....and do it for free??? i mean 25 bucks? gimme a break....do people really think that buying the red string makes them part of the kaballah thing thats so in right now?


[This message was edited Thu Jul 29 11:29:06 2004 by violett]

$25.00 for a piece of red string!? Target is losing it's mind!

, Next.....

Talk about co-opting culture!

This is what Italians use to keep away the malocchio (evil eye) everyone in my family as one (but in silver or gold on a pendant.) If I saw that shit in Target I would just die!

applekisses said:

I'm sure they'd try to charge $25.00 for that too!

LittlePill said:

Actually, it's more like 25 cents in the gumball machine outside the store... That one is pretty cheezy looking. I've got a hand-carved sterling silver one. My mom's is gold.

Hmmm....

I've been wearing the Red String for about 4 years. When I lived in Denver, I would wait until I visited L.A. to go to the Kabbalah Centre to pick one up. The string from the Centre is long enough that it can be used 3 - 5 times. It also lasts for the duration of protection it provides. I can typically wear it for about 3 months before it breaks.

When I first read this thread title, it did gross me out. It still kinda does. But not completely. The aim of the Kabbalah Centre is definitely to get their word out to as many people as possible. Having the string at Target does open it up even moreso to be used as a fashion accessory rather than used for the intended nature. But it also helps create an awareness of Kabblah for a large group of people who may not otherwise be exposed.

They sell crucifixes at the jewelry counter, don't they?

So I guess it doesn't bother me so much after all.

I never wore a crucifix,,, a cross yes,,crucifix? no

I wanna kaballah string!

This is so faddish.... To bad.

TheRealFiness said:

You must not be Catholic, then.

applekisses said:

actually..i stopped wearing a cross at 16... just didnt see the point of "Organized religion" i believe the creator hears u even when u dont speak

I tie a piece of kabala string around my finger to remind me to buy more Buddhist rubber bands.

Target is also selling the company I work for. That means DOOK might be jobless. BOO!!!!!

katinababi said:

Because the string at Michael's isn't imbued with the essence of Rachel the Matriarch:

A centuries-old spiritual tool used by Kabbalists, this red string is believed to protect against the evil eye, a negative energy source. What makes this particular piece of string so special is, in part, the fact that it has traveled to Israel, to the ancient tomb of Rachel the Matriarch, and returned, imbued with the essence of protection. The string is tied to the left wrist—the left being the body and soul's receiving side—and worn to essentially deflect the negative energy brought forth by unfriendly and envious stares, unkind glances and looks of ill will. A feeling we've all experienced, the evil eye is considered by Kabbalah to be a powerful force and an influential factor in regards to achieving goals and everyday well-being. The string draws upon the connection to and awareness of Rachel and must be tied on by a loved one and sealed with Rachel's protective energy by reciting the Ben Porat prayer (included on a card). From The Kabbalah Centre. 72L".

I have a Kabbalah string.....I ripped it from an old red top that had loose strings

Smooches;)

Coming soon to Wal-Mart: Holy Water!! Yes, now you too can perform last rights, blessings, or the casting out of demonic spirits possessing your loved ones!!

JediMaster said:

I hear what madartista is trying to say, but it kinda all goes out the window when you see it's Target - and it's selling for $25.99. I think that for something this "Holy" would be only sold from the church or center itself to ensure it's authenticity. For all you know you're purchasing a plain ol' piece of string. Then again, you could still be doing that at the centers.

Kissmequick said:

The price from the Kabbalah Centre directly is $26.00. Good to see there's no mark-up.
And the packaging is the same.

So will they actually have it in stores? Or only through the website?

Here's a more detailed explanation of The Red String:

Red String Kabbalah Bracelet: Protection against the Evil Eye
A person possessed of an evil eye carries with him the eye of the destroying negative force; hence it is called "destroyer of the world," and people should be on their guard against them and not come near them so that they should not be injured by them! [Zohar I, p.68b]

The Evil Eye
The Red String protects us from the influences of the Evil Eye. Evil eye is a very powerful negative force. It refers to the unfriendly stare and unkind glances we sometimes get from people around us. Envious eyes and looks of ill will affect us, stopping us from realizing our full potential in every area of our life.

According to Kabbalah, the critical need to confront the problem of negative influences cannot be underestimated. People who fail to understand this and activate a protective shield through positive and proactive behavior will eventually become victims. Kabbalah teaches us that we can remove intrusive negative influences and, more importantly, that we have the potential to eradicate negativity forever! The power of the eye, when understood from a Kabbalistic perspective, becomes as powerful a healing instrument as it can be a devastating channel of destruction.


Rachel and The Red String
The Red String has been used as a tool of protection for centuries. The practice, developed by the sages, involves winding the red string around the tomb of the great Matriarch, Rachel located in the Land of Israel. The string is then cut it into pieces and worn on the left wrist. The left hand is considered by Kabbalah to be the receiving side for the body and soul. By wearing The Red String on our left wrist, we can receive a vital connection to the protective energies surrounding the tomb of Rachel. It also allows us to take Rachel's powerful protective energy with us and draw from it anytime.

Kabbalists believe that by seeking the Light of holy persons, such as Rachel, we can use their powerful influence to assist us. According to Kabbalah, Rachel represents the physical world in which we live. Her greatest desire is to protect and defend all of her children from evil. When we tie The Red String to our left wrist, while reciting the powerful Ana Be'Co'ach prayer on this card, we seal her powerful protective energy within as it intercepts negative influences intended to cause us harm.

Instructions
Have someone you love to tie the Red String to your left wrist. First, have them tie the string closely around your wrist with a simple knot. Repeat by knotting the string six more times for a total of seven knots. Now make a promise to yourself that you will refrain from negative thoughts or talk about others. This harmful behavior will interfere with your effort to gain personal fulfillment and protection. Then have the person finish by saying the Ben Porat Prayer (read from right to left) which prevents others from giving us the evil eye.



Anyone who dons The Red String with the awareness of Rachel the Matriarch and these powerful meditations is surrounded by the full force of protection she manifested in our physical world.

Tis ashame that they turn something spiritual into a marketing ploy.

sag10 said:

Enough, sag.

sag10 said:

It didn't start with Target...

RipHer2Shreds said:

Exactly..

sag10 said:

Yes! I wonder how many people who buy it will have a genuine interest in Kabbalah or just wear it as a fashion statement, as in people who may wear crosses but are not christians etc.

Lleena said:

I'd say Madonna fans will be the first in line.

DiminutiveRocker said:

That's what I was thinking!

Lleena said:

I have a cross that I wear on occasion and I'm not Christian. I just think it's pretty.