For each thing that exists in time and space, says the ancient Book of Formation, there is a place within the human soul.

The seven nations that occupied Canaan exist within the human soul. They are the seven raw emotional modalities that every human being must conquer and transform—such as selfishness, anger, impatience and jealousy.

But before entering Canaan, the Israelites first had to battle with Midian.

Midian is the place in the human soul where there is no room for another. It is not rational, nor can it be reasoned with.

The holy Zohar connects Midian to the word “madon”—a quarrel. Midian is the womb of all quarrels, disputes, divisiveness and intolerance—the diametric opposite of the realm of holiness where all is oneness and harmony.

Midian sits at the core-essence of every maladaptive human quality. So that, once it is conquered, all the rest of a person’s character is opened to transformation.

But how can an unbounded irrationality be conquered?

The master Kabbalist, the Ari, taught that there is a holy Midian as well. It is the place in the human soul of unconditional love, love that has no reason other than it is divine to love one another.

With unconditional love, irrational hatred is conquered and transformed.

When human beings will treat one another with love, and respect their differences of opinion, all other ills will surrender before us.

Maamar Hechaltzu 5659, chapter 3.