kabbalah katch-up

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4

Rav Ashlag taught that being around people with bigger desires for growth, transformation and Light helps us to reach beyond our own limited desires.

Today is the perfect day to look at the types of people you surround yourself with. Are they helping your growth? Or hindering it? What actions can you take to surround yourself with positive, spiritual people?

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3

The Zohar teaches there are three ways to learn our lessons in life:

Concealed – the voice within awakens us (least painful)
Friends – a friend awakens us (moderately painful)
Revealed – an external situation awakens us (most painful)

When a person is not hearing the warning voice from within, it is the responsibility of a friend to positively confront them with love. This prevents the other person from having to learn the lesson in a more painful manner.

In real relationships in our life we need to be able to awaken others - from a place of caring – and we need to be able to withstand it when they awaken us.

Focus on one of your close relationships today and find one area where the person needs awakening. The question to ask before saying a single word is:

“do I really want the other person to grow…or is this area just bothering me?”

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2

A great kabbalist once asked his students, "Where does God live?" They quickly answered, "God lives everywhere." But he would not accept their answer. He taught them, "God lives wherever man lets him in."

The Light created you so it could share with you. In other words, you are loved. All you need to do is open your heart, think about others, and do the uncomfortable. That's not too much to ask, is it? I know, I know, easier said than done.

Today, give out some love – and let the Light in.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1

Sarcasm, jitters, cigarettes, drugs, candy, tantrums, silent-treatment, yawning, yelling, obsessing, cheating – these are some of the wonderful ways we run from our pain.

As I wrote recently, the only to get to heaven is to go through hell. It means continuing to disengage from the delusion of the ego by facing the pain head on – whatever your pain may be. It's the only way to find reality underneath.

In what way are you hiding from reality?

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31

All giving is not good. Consider this statement from the Rav:

"We must investigate our motivations for sharing. For example, you want to give to your child, but you might want to do so for your own sake rather than hers. So you smother her with goodness. It's true that you are sharing your energy, but you are potentially destroying the child. Even though you are sharing something good, giving can have a bad side if there is an exaggerated discharge of energy.

Occasionally my ego may tell me that if I give to someone I will be able to control that person, and this becomes the solitary reason for giving. Then the person becomes dependent upon me. True sharing must be balanced."

Answer these questions today:

Is my sharing balanced?

With whom am I sharing selfishly?