Like water artfully filling its vessel, the soul, too, adopts the contours of
its container -- the human body. It flows into each limb and organ, interfacing
with the biological machinery appropriately, allowing the body to express the
life force within. The soul animates the big toe no less than it does the brain,
but the spiritual energy of the big toe is limited to the function of this part
of the body, while the energy transmitted via the brain is of greater intensity
and amplitude. Through the brain, the life force of the soul spreads to the
other component parts of the body.
On a cosmic level, the cosmic "breath of creation" also fills and
expresses through its galactic parts, be these the physical phenomena of the
solar systems and space in general, or through the spiritual flora and fauna of
the higher realms.
A more subtle expression of the soul of creation is that of the dimension of
time. Time, like space, is punctuated by differences of shape, form, and
substance. But the shapes of time are not visible to the eye. These are sensed
by the aptitude of wisdom and insight.
Time too possesses a metaphorical head and body. The Hebrew month of Tishrei
is the "brain" through which the soul of time flows before spreading
its life force to the rest of the time-body.
Each of the Hebrew months is punctuated by a character -- a spiritual shape.
For example, the month of Nissan reveals the spiritual thrust of national
strength -- hence it is also the month of the exodus from Egypt. Sivan is
the month for acceptance of insight -- hence the Torah was given during this
month on Mt. Sinai. Tishrei is the head to the body of the other months
of the year. In the same way that we appreciate the wisdom of a great master and
look forward to sitting at the master’s feet, drinking from the fountain of
insight, so we sit at the feet of the month of Tishrei, seeking the
creative flow of time that this month brings.
But even a student sitting at the feet of a master must prepare first to be
worthy of absorbing the wisdom. So do we spend the month before, Elul,
preparing spiritually for the moment when the soul of creation flows anew,
embracing creation with the new garment of a new age.
Most potent in Tishrei is the beginning of this foremost of the
months. Just as the most creative moment of any thought is its beginning -- the
moment of consciousness when the spark of illumination becomes apparent for the
first time -- in like manner, the first two days of the first month are the most
creative days of the year.
These formative days of Tishrei are called Rosh HaShanah --
"the head of the year." And you and I spend the remainder of the year
accepting the new bounty of this "new-time" and work at becoming a
worthy co-creator of the yet unfinished symphony of creation.
May the flow of "new time" bring all of us the wisdom and insight
to carry out the processes of spiritual construction, the Mitzvot, and bring
about the realization of a new song of spiritual beauty that the world will sing
when our eyes are truly opened.
Exercises:
MASTERY: All events take place in the "vessel of time." They may
seem simply a string of meaningless unrelated occurrences. Yet you have the
capacity, through consciousness, to elevate these by drawing insight from them,
and raising them to a plane of meaning. Living consciously and deeply means
taking the moments of time and connecting them to your deepest awareness. Then
not only are the events elevated, but the time of "here and now"
becomes sacred as well.
MEDITATION: Sit quietly and observe the changes happening constantly around
you. These may be movement in the street, a fly buzzing at the window, or the
gentle motion of your chest and abdomen as you breathe. What do these random
events tell you? How do they speak to you? Find meaning in the way they might
inter-connect. Nothing occurs for no reason at all. The Baal Shem Tov taught
that even the seemingly random is filled with meaning for the observer. When you
really see, not just look, then the waves of uncertainty collapse into a moment
of true reality. Make your year truly real. Be conscious of ongoing creation.
Follow-up resources: Angels, Souls, and Dreams (audio); Awakening
To A New Dawn (audio); available at Rabbi Wolf's Website (see link below)
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