Why do people step back three steps before the Amidah (as mentioned here in Mishnah Berurah, S'if Katan Gimmel) if the Gemarah only mentions stepping three steps forward? Is there a kabbalistic source or is it just practical and not really a requirement (as the Mishnah Berurah quotes from E.R.)?
Answer
Sefer Ben Ish Hai Year 1 Parashat B'Shallah Ot 3(Quoting from the translation by R' Shmuel Hiley under the auspices of R' Yaakov Hillel and published by Yeshivat Ahavat Shalom 5765):
There is a reason for taking three steps backwards in the Qabbalah, but the simple explanation for the custom is in order to recall the three miles which the Israelites retreated from Mount Sinai, (from fear, upon hearing G-d's voice), before they returned and were given the Torah.
So on account of popular demand, the Kabbalistic sources(though notably most simply discuss that actual Kavvanot). I am starting with the Shemen Sasson on the Siddur HaRaShaSh mostly because he lists all of the other sources in Kitvei HaAri, and books up to his point in time(there are only the Ben Ish Hai's works and the Simchat Kohen that discuss it after him). Another primary source is Sha'ar HaKavvanot starting toward the end of 28b. Then there is the way it all plays out in the Siddur HaRaShaSh(Rav Yedidiya Raphael Abulafia wrote this one but that is another story), and continued on the page after.
In short essentially our three steps back is symbolic(for lack of a better word) of drawing down various spiritual energies so that we can lift up(with our three steps forward) other spiritual energies from the lower worlds. It actually coincides nicely with the piece from Pri Eitz Haim I quoted in the earlier answer.
If all of this is very confusing(if its not you are an absolute genius) don't worry. It is precisely the study of this in all of its intricacies that keep Kabbalists so busy. Rav Kaduri used to say that it takes a person, at minimum, 15 years of study and practice through use of the Siddur before they truly understand it.
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