Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot” (37): Hence, until this day there has indeed been a fortified wall around this wisdom. Many have tried to begin to study, but could not continue for lack of understanding and because of the corporeal appellations. This is why I have labored with the interpretation, Panim Meirot and Panim Masbirot, to interpret the great book, The Tree of Life, by the Ari, to make the corporeal forms abstract and to establish them as spiritual laws, above time and place. Thus, any novice can understand the matters, their reasons, and explanations with a clear mind and great simplicity…

It becomes a real problem if people perceive the teaching of Kabbalah in its external sense and assign material meaning to spiritual forces. There is a commandment that prohibits creating idols and images. This is exactly what triggered Abraham to exit the material realm and rise to the spiritual world.

There still is a danger of going back to worshiping idols if we happen to allocate any spiritual essence to material subjects or actions. Many people think that certain objects possess spiritual power: red strings, holy water, icons, etc. On numerous occasions, people used to bring such objects to my teacher Rabash, and I always gave them away to those who wanted to have them since he never kept them for himself.

People are inclined to assign spiritual properties to letters, pictures, objects, animals, and other people. There are many objects of worship. A spiritual aura is ascribed to various actions as well. In fact, there is no spiritual force in materiality whatsoever. It hides only within the intention of a person when he interacts with the reforming Light.
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From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/15/12, “Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot”

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