The kabbalists made the fantastic claim that their mystical teachings derived from the Garden of Eden. This suggests that Kabbalah conveys our original nature: the unbound awareness of Adam and Eve. We have lost this nature, the most ancient tradition, as the inevitable consequence of tasking the fruit of knowledge, the price of maturity and culture. The kabbalist yearns to recover that primordial tradition, to regain cosmic consciousness, without renouncing the world.”
“The Essential Kabbalah: the Heart of Jewish Mysticism,” by Daniel C. Matt
On October 5th, 2021, I wrote in my journal: “Jesus told me, ‘Come into the garden with me,’ but I don’t know what garden he’s talking about, nor how to get there. I guess it’ll come to me eventually.”
It was some time before I understood what Jesus had been referring to: when Jesus invites us to walk in the garden with him, he is inviting us to learn from him as he shows us how to apply our current understanding of Scripture to the esoteric understanding he teaches us.
Pardes is a Biblical Hebrew word of Persian etymology, meaning “orchard” or “garden”. It is used as a metaphor for divine secrets or Torah study.
According to Chabad.org, Pardes is a metaphorical acrostic (PaRDeS) used to refer to the four levels of Torah interpretation: peshat, the literal meaning; remez, the allusion or hint; drush, the homiletic; and sod, the underlying or esoteric.
In the article on Chabad.org titled, “Is Kabbalah for Everyone,” the author quotes Maimonides, saying:
“I maintain that it is not proper for a person to stroll in the Pardes (lit. “orchard,” referring to esoteric teachings) unless he has filled his belly with bread and meat. ‘Bread and meat’ refer to the knowledge of what is permitted and what is forbidden, and similar matters concerning other mitzvahs.”
In other words, one should not learn the mystical secrets of Torah until he has first mastered the revealed level of Torah.
I believe this is a general rule that is wise to apply to oneself no matter the religious path. There must be balance in all things, including the balance between religion (humankind’s attempt at reaching and understanding God) and mysticism (God’s revelation of Self to humankind).
See also: “Pardes and the Orchard of Kabbalah“
Diary of a Christian Mystic 
[…] took me by the hand and led me into the garden beside the house he built for me and showed me one of the trees there. He picked a fruit and I saw […]
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