The Months of Tishrei/Cheshvan
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Green Portals of
Divine Healing Energy
Lush green growth
greets us as we emerge from the holiday-incubator back into the greater world.
“Bar Sira said, G-d made remedies arise from the earth
through which the healer heals the wounded and the pharmacist makes his
herb-mixture” (Midrash Bereishit Rabbah 10:6). Hashem has blessed us
with His Presence through the portals of gentle greens that carries His healing
light into our inwards. Each and every herb has a desire and benefit for healing (Maharzav,
ibid). Even just taking a brisk stroll in the company of these healing herbs
and breathing in their scent refreshes and revitalizes our body and soul. “Hashem
prepares the healing before the wound” (Babylonian
Talmud, Megillah 13b), and the native plants that grows in our particular neighborhood are
blessed with the healing that we specifically need, during the time when they
mature. The vegetation of the Land of Israel that is imbued with the holiness
of the Land is bursting with both physical and spiritual nutrients most suited
for the Jewish people. Therefore, we will explore these plants in the sequence
of their ripening, in order to glean their healing properties while tuning into
to their timely spiritual messages.
The Heavenly Hosts Influence the
Herbs of the Earth
For every vegetable, tree, flower
and herb, Hashem appointed its own spiritual force that channels
Divine energy to make it grow. When we inhale the scent of the plants, gaze at
their healing color, listen to the gentle song of the herbs, touch and taste
them, we are infused with Divine spiritual energy. Rabbi Simon said, there is
no single herb, which does not have a constellation in heaven that strikes it
and says “grow!” As it states: “Do you know the ordinances of heaven? Can you
establish its dominion (משטרו/mistaro)
on earth?” Iyov 38:33); (Midrash Bereishit Rabbah 10:6).משטרו /mistaro is the language of ‘enforcement.’
Just as the enforcement officer (police) is appointed to enforce society to keep
the law of the judge, likewise the heavenly hosts are appointed to enforce and compel
the herbs to grow (Maharzav, ibid). The influence that
each constellation has on earth determines the level of coldness, heat,
moisture and dryness that affects each herb accordingly (Yafat Toar, ibid).
Allowing the Root to Illuminate the Branch
“I will cause you to increase like the plant of the
field” (Yechezkiel 16:7). Why are we humans compared to the plants of
the field? Every plant receives its power and root above. Each star is in
charge of a plant, and when the star reveals its light to the plant
corresponding to it on the earth, this plant immediately becomes excited and
filled with desire to cleave to its root. This is the power that motivates it
to rise above and grow from the earth. The growth of people is similar. Every
human being has a source and root above in the Creator of all the worlds.
Therefore, we must look above and contemplate in our heart, to allow our root to
illuminate its branch. It will then follow that when our soul sees the light of
its root; surely we will grow and become elevated… Just as the plant of the
field grows by means of the light of its root, also, we, human being will grow
until we cleave to our root (Ohev Yisrael, Parshat for Pesach).
Striking the Upper Light into Each Plant
Why is it necessary to strike the plant in order to make
it grow? Wouldn’t each plant naturally want to grow and express its individual
properties? The striking of the herbs is intended for striking the upper light
into this particular herb, by means of the angel who is like a channel to the
hidden light, in the secret of the World of Formation – the world of the
angels. This way the angel can illuminate the herb by means of its designated
constellation. For the constellations operate in the World of Action. They are
the servants of the powers of Formation. Therefore, they sometimes attribute
the growth of the herbs to an angel and sometimes to a star; it is all is part
of the same intention (Rabbi Avraham Azulai, Chesed L’Avraham 4:30)
Physical Enforcement for Spiritual Roots
Contrary to humans who are endowed with free choice,
plants must follow exact directives from Above. This is illustrated by the
heavenly constellations beating the respective plant under their dominion to
ensure that it performs the task it must do, which is to grow. Perhaps it is
also an indication of the resistance of the spiritual flow to be limited into
the boundaries of growing only within the physical world. It is as if the
spiritual essence of each plant needs to be stricken in order to lower itself
to the confines of physical growth. Moreover, the striking of the plant reminds
us of the striking of the baby at birth when it forgets all its in-vitro Torah
learning. Perhaps the plants, likewise, must let go of the spiritual knowledge
they possessed from their essence above in order to channel their energy into physical
growth below. Inversely, when we received Torah on Sinai, we needed to channel
our earthly tendencies to operate within the spiritual dimension. Perhaps this
is why Hashem put the mountain as a casket over our head to force us to receive
the Torah, although we had already accepted it through free will. The same
process of enforcement is necessary for the redirection of both the plants – in
order to grow on earth, and Israel – in order to receive the Torah of heaven.
Yet the enforcement has opposite directions. The plants – whose root are in
heaven – need to be forced to turn to the earth below, whereas the root of our
physical body – which is in the earth – needs to turn to heaven above. Yet, the
root of the Jewish soul is a part of the Divine from above. It never needs any
enforcement as the soul of Israel has already accepted the Torah with the
declaration, “We will do and we will hear!” (Shemot 24:7).
Unobstructed Pure Channels
Plants do not have the capacity to choose between good
and evil, because they do not have the יֵצֶר הָרָע /yetzer hara – ‘negative
inclination.’ They therefore become direct channels for Divine energy, without
the physical, emotional and spiritual blocks that humans have due to our yetzer
hara. Untainted by energy blocks, plants become the channels through which unobstructed
Divine energy flows freely through the agents of Hashem’s messengers – the
angels and stars – all the way down to the receptive earth. In this way the
growing plants are the connecting links between heaven and earth. Not only do
plants serve as conduits for the Divine flow emanating down to earth, they also
elevate the physical towards the Divine. Rabbi Avraham Azulai explains that the
soul of the herbs elevate the four elements to approach the more refined
material above their level, causing the higher material to shine through them.
When we sow different kinds of seeds we gather and mix the four elements and
facilitate their transformation into the higher life form of plants. This way
we elevate the elements to approach the upper light. What was previously under
the angels appointed over the elements, emerged from their dominion and rose to
draw from the influence of the higher light by means of the angel in charge of
this particular herb (Chesed L’Avraham 4:30). Since the plants bring
heaven down to earth while raising the earth towards heaven we can understand
why being in Nature in the company of plants is revitalizing and conducive to
become spiritually in tune with the Divine. Rambam explains that the path to
love and awe of G-d is by recognizing Hashem’s great wisdom through nature (Mishna
Torah, Foundations of Torah 2:2).
Healing Reflections
It is impossible to gaze directly at the brilliant sun.
Only the reflection of its rays can be tolerated and enjoyed by us. In the same
way it is impossible to grasp the abstract concept of G-d and connect directly
with His essence which has no physical manifestation. “G-d is consuming fire” (Devarim
4:24). However, like the rays to the sun, the plants each reflect a particular
heavenly aspect. They only reflect as much Divinity as the limits of their
confines can possible contain. Perhaps this is an additional reason why they
are stricken, because they cause the contraction of the Divine essence, which
flows through them. Each one’s ability to heal is in accordance to the
particular attribute of Divinity, which is expressed through it. When we view
the herbs as vehicles for the flow of Divine energy, they can become mediums
through which we can relate to G-d. Let us not forget that they are not Divine
themselves but only channels for Divine energy. Ultimately all healing takes
place through nothing but G-d.
Connecting Directly with the Light of Hashem
How can we receive the same healing from prayer and
Torah as from herbs?
Rebbe Nachman teaches us that when we are able to
release prayer from its exile there is no more need for medicine (Rabbi Avraham
Greenbaum, Wings of the Sun p. 89).This is because all medicines are
derived from plants, and every single plant receives its powers from its own
particular planet or star as we have just learned. Every planet and star
receives its power from the stars above it. The angels in turn receive from the
root of all things – from the Word of G-d, as it is written, “Through the word
of G-d the heavens were made and all their hosts by the breath of His mouth” (Tehillim
33:6). When we attain true prayer, we penetrate all the blocks and husks of our
earthly tendencies and connect directly with the highest heaven. When our words
rise and enter the heavenly gate, there is no need for medicine. The emissary
facilitation of the herbs and plants become unnecessary, as long as we have the
ability to connect directly with their Root, the Light of Hashem – the root of
all beings. However, today it is not easy to attain the level of true prayer
and receive the healing of Hashem’s life-giving light directly. Therefore, herbs
are great transmitters of divine energy for us. Without the energy blocks and
klipot (husks) that block Hashem’s life-giving energy from freely flowing
within the organs, emotions and psyche of human beings, plants are much closer
to the source of Hashem’s healing life force. They can also help us attain the
level of true prayer as Rabbi Nachman teaches, “Each and every herb has its own
song…The melody of the shepherd is made from the song of the herbs (Likutei Moharan, Mahadura
Batra 63).
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