The Keys that open the Hebrew month of Kislev
Each Hebrew month has its own profound and soul penetrating message. The great mystic, called the Arizal, tells us that the spiritual force of each of the 12 months parallels one of the 12 tribes. For this month of December - Kislev, it is the tribe Benjamin, who was known for his unwavering faith in God and ability to battle evil.
How does knowing what Jewish tribal force affect our lives today?
Hovering over our world is war, not just the battling going on in the outside world, but at the same time the battling going on in our inner world. I find it interesting that the Torah portion this week, Vayishlach, portrays the inner and outer struggle of Jacob, who wrestles with the angel to overcome his personal darkness. Like Jacob, we too are internally battling the inner darkness and light, and deciphering between what constitutes good and evil.
This conflict is where we can draw strength from the energy of the tribe of Benjamin. Although imperfect, he is the unwavering warrior. He was the youngest child of Jacob, and his tribe was the smallest tribe. No matter how small we feel, we can defend our healthy soul, and stand up for our worth. Like Benjamin, in order to defend what is right, we must stay grounded in faith and stay true to our values. We can become warriors against bad habits, mis-information, depression, antisemitism, and people and situations that do not build us.
Are you afraid to let out the “warrior side” of yourself? How can you begin to embrace those qualities? What is one example that will make your life different?
Do you speak up for yourself when you feel taken for granted, or mistreated? Letting go of the fear that you may not be liked, will lead you to the victory of being a warrior for yourself.
What are other ways that you can be a warrior, inside and out?
The astral sign of this month of Kislev in the ancient moon calendar is Sagittarius, the sign of the Archer. The last time I held a bow and arrow I was a teenager at camp. But I do remember that drawing back that bow was hard, and the more I did it, the more successful the arrow was in reaching my target.
This month is the time of pulling back… into ourselves in a very deep and deliberate way. We are deciding on the direction we will take next year to become our best selves. Maybe we are aiming to be more financially sound? Deciding on the direction to take in relationships? What job will bring me to my highest self? How to direct myself to more fun, more love, more happiness.
When you draw back your bow and prepare to make decisions, your target is set and we take aim for this month and the coming year.
My prayer for you, and myself is that we will discover facets of ourselves that are longing to take aim; and that we will activate the warriors within. With this courage, letting go; we will catapult our arrow to hit the bullseye of our life’s purpose.