The
month of Tishrei connect us to the beginning of time, the beginning of
creation. This is not a moment of
the past or some spiritual history to plainly understand, it is a time to
connect with its very core essence. What is being given to all of us is a
powerful influx of energy, which gives us an opportunity of new creations. This
is a chance to be pro-active in our personal renewal and re-birth with the
direct help of the Divine Light. Every year we are given this month to
re-create who we are and become a stronger vessel to hold more celestial light.
The
time between Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement)
is related to Gevurah, the left column of the Sephirot (Tree of Life). This represents
strictness, judgment and pulling back. This is our time to look within and to cleanse
our personal filter of what we desire. This is the purification and letting go process
of what doesn’t work or support us anymore. A time of forgiveness, an honest
personal assessment and releasing any negativity that is blocking your true
purpose in life.
As
Yom Kippur comes to an end the energy transforms and moves to the right column
of the Sephirot. This is the force of Chessed (kindness), expansion and the
higher heart. According to the Arizal, this energy moves into our soul in
stages and is called the Or Penimi, the Inner Light. This Inner Light is who we
are, our very own essence that we created and strengthened through our personal
journey here. It is all that we have corrected and worked on in ourselves and
in this world.
As
we move into the Holiday of Sukkot (the Holiday of Huts), we enter the middle
column of the Sephirot, the strength of Tiferet (harmony/balance). This is
associated to the Or Makif, the Surrounding Light that begins to enter our soul
in this time. This light is the transcendence of mind and heart. It is directly
connected to our faith. It is what drives us to our greatest potential and moves
us forward in life. The Or Makif is also known as the “Cloud of Glory” that
protected the Jewish nation when wandering in the dessert. By sitting in the
Sukkah and connecting to this Holiday we draw this healing, protective light
around us.
After
all of this internalizing, honest self-examination, letting go of old patterns
and finally accepting the new you and your new direction, the only thing left
to do is to celebrate! The final Holiday of Tishrei is Shemini Atzeret (the
eighth day)/Simchat Torah (the celebration of receiving the Torah), these
represent the upper spiritual energies and the lower physical energies becoming
one, the marriage of these two worlds in harmony. Through this celebration we
are drawing down the last of this months Divine energies that will carry us
through the coming year.
The
fundamental element of this Holiday is true joyous dancing which is also the
core of Judaism. We are taught that being joyous breaks all barriers and
transcends all. The dancing is also a deep innate understanding that there is a
natural flow between G*d and us, the flow of coming closer and moving apart
from G*d, then coming closer again. This awareness is the knowing that our
light and shadow parts of ourselves, as well as all the blessings and
challenges we have in life are absolutely good, with this knowledge we are able
to stand in the Divine truth. We have now completed this cycle of filling our
vessel with Supernal light and begin anew. The end is never the end but always
a new beginning.
