Is Madonna saying adios to Kabbalah?

By M&C News Jul 9, 2006, 16:08 GMT

Madonna and Kabbalah, a strange union that has lasted for years, may just be on the outs if reports from London and Material Girl insiders are to be believed.

The once obscure sect that the Swept Away siren has invested millions of dollars in appears to be on the verge of a separation.  According to reporter Anthony Barnes, “close friends say the singer has talked of loosening her red Kabbalah wristband and is wearying of the mystical Jewish belief system. She has decided to give it up, they say, having tired of the financial burden and the effect her strong beliefs have had on her relationship with husband Guy Ritchie.”

The reporter also outlines that Madonna is “concerned” that the practice of Kabbalah “separates her children from more conventional customs such as Christmas, which they do not currently celebrate.”

If these reports have any validity, it would be a crippling blow to the toney Kabbalah Centre. Madonna has single-handedly drawn many profile stars to the sect, most recently the troubled teen queen, now a ripe 20 years of age, Lindsey Lohan.  Recently the famous pop-let, Britney Spears, recently went on record saying she was through with the practice and returning to her Christian roots.

Reports also indicate that Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels Ritchie is said to be making a documentary about Kabbalah, but no words on the exact nature of its premise.

Yesterday a spokeswoman for Madonna, when asked about her support for Kabbalah waning, said: "As far as I am aware, it is completely untrue." The singer's links to the version of Kabbalah that she follows are so intimate now, personally and financially, that withdrawal would be difficult, complicated and initially kept very private.

Madonna was born and raised a Catholic but developed an interest in Kabbalah after being introduced to it by gay comic icon, Sandra Bernhard.  Madonna used Kabbalah teachings as the basis for her series of children's books.  Each of the kid tales has a morality lesson, warning about the ills of greed and envy.

Kabbalists wear a red string around their wrist to ward off the "evil eye," it has been described as a hybrid between orthodox Judaic laws (halaka), EST and bits of Tony Robbins-esque positive thinking mantras.  Kabbalah, Inc. also hawks their own line of “blessed water” which is more expensive than bottled Evian.