Wednesday, June 28, 2023

How Can we Overcome Susceptibility to Evil Eye, Witchcraft and Curses?

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Parashat Balak
How Can we Overcome Susceptibility to Evil Eye, Witchcraft and Curses? 


Developing Internal Rectified Vision During the Month of Tamuz
As we enter deeper into the midpoint of the month of Tamuz the power of the sense of the month, ‘vision’ intensifies. During the entire month of Tamuz the spies spied the land of Israel through external rather than internal vision and thus blemished the sense of seeing. Therefore, we have the opportunity to rectify the blemished ‘seeing’ of the spies specifically during the month of Tamuz. It is the time to ‘guard’ our eyes to see only what is good in the world and in others. The ability to guard and focus our eyesight correctly is the rectified ‘sense’ of sight. Superficial reality does not necessarily reflect inner truth. The challenge is to go beyond what appears to the eye externally and see the inner divine reality. That was what the spies lacked when they only looked at the outer might of the Canaanites and their own military weakness, forgetting that Hashem runs every show. Our yetzer hara (negative impulse) tempts us to follow our external vision, whether to judge others unfavorably or to be unsatisfied with our portion in life, rather than looking at the cup as being half full. We must emulate the ways of Hashem who looks at the good that we do, even if not all our actions are good. We learn this from the Torah verse in Parashat Balak, “He has seen no iniquity in Ya’acov” (Bamidbar 23:21). We need to give the benefit of the doubt even to a completely wicked person because it is impossible that no good point can be found in him. We must also find good points in ourselves. Even when we feel really bad about ourselves, we must look at ourselves in a kinder light and search for some good points from within all the negative, in order to revive ourselves (Rebbe Natan of Breslev, Likutei Halachot, Hilchot Techumin v’Aruvei Techumin 6:11).

Seeing the Whole Beyond the Broken Surface
The human eye is an energy center that can send out either negative or positive energy. The Jewish people are created in the “image and likeness” of Hashem (Bereishit 1:26). The צֶלֶם/tzelem – ‘image’ is masculine influencing, whereas the דְּמוּת/demut – ‘likeness’ is feminine receiving. Seeing a person can affect reality, as known regarding ayin hara, and ayin tovah, the latter always having the greater influence (Rav Tzaddok of Lublin, Takanat Hashavin 6). How do we look at the people we love? Our children, family, and our close friends? Do we notice the runny nose, the pimples, and the wrinkles? Or do we focus on the sparkle in their eyes, in their innate holiness, and their will to grow? We need to always look at the soul within a person, to empathize and see the bigger picture of each situation. To judge others favorably and to learn to constantly stand in another’s shoes. To hear what someone is really telling us between the lines, what their heart is crying out to us. We need to see on one hand the potential for true wholeness and rectification in every broken person and situation. Although beneath the superficial veneer of reality, there is a broken world all around us, our Sages taught: “There is no vessel as whole as a broken heart.” We need to be just broken enough to feel and relate to the pain in others, but not too broken to act positively and forcefully to heal, mend and fix wherever we can. It is the essence of walking the tightrope of life or as Rebbe Nachman said: “The whole world is a very narrow bridge – but the essential thing is not to be afraid.”

G-d Opened Bilam’s Evil Eye and Transformed it for Blessing
משנה מסכת אבות פרק ה משנה יט כָּל מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּיָדוֹ שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים הַלָּלוּ, מִתַּלְמִידָיו שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ. וּשְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים אֲחֵרִים, מִתַּלְמִידָיו שֶׁל בִּלְעָם הָרָשָׁע. עַיִן טוֹבָה, וְרוּחַ נְמוּכָה, וְנֶפֶשׁ שְׁפָלָה, מִתַּלְמִידָיו שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ. עַיִן רָעָה, וְרוּחַ גְּבוֹהָה, וְנֶפֶשׁ רְחָבָה, מִתַּלְמִידָיו שֶׁל בִּלְעָם הָרָשָׁע:
Whoever possesses the following three traits is of the disciples of our father Avraham, and whoever possesses the opposite three traits is of the disciples of the wicked Bilam. The disciples of our Father Avraham have a good eye, a meek spirit, and a humble soul. The disciples of the wicked Bilam have an evil eye, a haughty spirit, and a gross soul (Pirkei Avot 5:11).

A GOOD EYE – That is the first aspect with which to worship Hashem. This is through the character trait of rachamim (compassion) and by overcoming the evil eye manifested by the anger of Bilam (Kedushat HaLevi).

 ספר במדבר פרק כד פסוק ג וַיִּשָּׂא מְשָׁלוֹ וַיֹּאמַר נְאֻם בִּלְעָם בְּנוֹ בְעֹר וּנְאֻם הַגֶּבֶר שְׁתֻם הָעָיִן:
“He took up his parable and said, ‘The word of Bilam the son of Beor and the word of the man with שְׁתֻם הָעָיִן/she’tum ha’ayin – an open or blocked eye” (Bamidbar 24:3).

Bilam is described twice as ha’gever she’tum ha’ayin, which some translations render, “the man whose eye is opened” (Bamidbar 24:3,15). However, the same Hebrew root can be understood as meaning closed, not opened. Some sages therefore explained that Bilam was blind in one eye [since it is written in the singular eye not eyes]. Others said his prophetic capacity was defective until the moment when he “saw that it was right in the eyes of Hashem to bless Israel” (Bamidbar 23:1) and when he “lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling according to its tribes, the spirit of G-d came upon him” (Bamidbar 23:2). Hashem opened the eye of even the evil Bilam to see beyond the external human vision to the inner divine truth (based on Rabbi Raymond Apple). If this is true regarding the evil Bilam, who was a professional black magician, hired to look for the negative points of Israel in order to place a curse upon them, how much more so must we believe that with a bit of work, regular people can become trained to overcome our blocked vision and learn to open our eyes for blessing.  

Two Kinds of Seeing, with the Right or the Left Eye
Hashem created everything with wisdom. Therefore, he created two eyes to allude to the fact that there are two kinds of seeing, to the right or the left – the world-to-come or this world. Likewise, the heart has two chambers, “The heart of the wise to his right…” The vision of the eye depends on the heart, it is all one matter. Every average person looks with both of his eyes, but Moshe Rabbeinu had only one good eye as it states about him at his birth, “…that he was good” (Shemot 2:2). When his life came to an end, it states that “his eye had not dimmed (Devarim 34:7). “His eye” is written in singular language, for Moshe only had one special vision in his right eye. The Zohar explains that we cover the eyes of the dead, because, at the time of death, the dying sees the face of the Shechina. Therefore, he should no longer see in this world. Yet, Moshe Rabbeinu saw the Shechina with a clear vision even in this world. He only looked with inner vision; therefore, his eye did not dim. This is, “May you see your world in your lifetime!” (Babylonian Talmud, Berachot 17b). May you see with your right illuminated eye even in this world! (Based on Shem M’Shemuel). In contrast, about Bilam it is written שְׁתֻם הָעָיִן/she’tum ha’ayin – ‘a gouged-out eye’ (Bamidbar 24:3, 24:15) as he was blind in his right eye. Although he was a prophet, he could only see through his left eye – the eye related to the physical reality. This is why he was so preoccupied with the amount of money Balak would pay him for cursing Israel. “He was greedy and coveted other people’s money. He said, ‘Balak ought to give me all his silver and gold since he has to hire many armies, and even then, it is questionable whether he will be victorious or not, whereas I will certainly succeed’” [Mid. Tanchuma Balak; Bamidbar Rabbah 20:10]; (Rashi, Bamidbar 22:18).

To Believe or not to Believe in the Evil Eye
“Bilam raised his eyes and saw Israel dwelling according to its tribes, and the spirit of G-d rested upon him” (Bamidbar 24:2). Bilam sought to cast an evil eye upon them (Rashi ibid.). Ayin hara is energy that includes negative thoughts, jealousy, hatred, bad wishes, or curses sent from one person to another. Negative energy has a very low vibration, behind which is a desire to hurt someone else. Ayin hara or negative energy can damage spiritually, energetically, and physically. Some people do not believe in ayin hara, they claim: “I’m the master of my own destiny. Therefore, the thoughts of someone else cannot hurt me, except if I allow it to happen.” This claim has points of truth, but it is not the complete truth. Although we and our thoughts influence our lives, each person has a different level of spiritual protection. We do have free will, but so does the person who sends negative energy. Therefore, we may be susceptible to other people’s energy. On a spiritual energetic level, a thought becomes a vibration, which is transmitted from one person to the next. In case a person is susceptible, the vibration may penetrate his aura and damage his physical and emotional body. Although a thought creates reality, still we see people who more easily and quickly create their own reality, while others are more influenced by other people’s energy. Yet, there is truth to the statement, “ayin hara won’t harm you if you don’t believe in it,” because too much thought, preoccupation, and fear of ayin hara doesn’t place us in a positive place or in a high vibration. “We learn from Parashat Balak that negative energy has absolutely no power against the will of Hashem. Although Bilam wanted to do anything in his power to curse Israel, he was unable because Hashem did not let him, as it states, “How can I curse those whom G-d has not cursed, and how can I invoke wrath if Hashem has not been angered?” (Bamidbar 23:8). Since we are Hashem’s chosen people, we are protected against negative energy, sorcery, and witchcraft of any other nation. Bilam and Balak teach us to trust in Hashem and strengthen our connection with Him. When we rectify our own eyesight and learn to see the inner divine reality, we will rise above the evil eye. With Hashem on our side, any negative energy turns into blessing. Hashem will protect us from the evil eye, just as He transformed Bilam’s curse into a most exalting benediction!

EmunaHealing Exercise for Protection – The Light Bubble
It is recommended to create energy protections for ourselves every day/every morning.
1. Close your eyes and take several deep breaths, relax and center yourself.
2. Imagine a bubble of light surrounding you. In your mental eye visualize how the bubble of light surrounds your body and your auras. This light bubble is pure and clear and surrounds you completely from head to toe.
3. Breathe deeply a few times to bring the light into your body. Breathe the light into your forehead, eyebrows, eyes, nose, chin, and neck, and the back of your head. Visualize the protective light enveloping your entire head. Breathe the light of the bubble into your torso, chest, lungs, and heart, breathe it into your arms and fingers. Breathe the light into your stomach, intestines, hips, legs, and feet.
4. Keep breathing as you visualize the light bubble surrounding and protecting your entire body. Mentally draw an outline of light surrounding your body, starting with the top of your head and ending with your feet.
5. Ask Hashem that the bubble be completely sealed to protect you completely from all negative and low energy that comes your way from external sources.
6. Visualize the four protecting angels of Hashem protecting the outline of your light bubble, from all four sides: to your right, left, in front of you, and behind you. Take a slow breath as you visualize each of the archangels.
7. Recite:
בְּשֵׁם הָשֵם אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִימִינִי מִיכָאֵל וּמִשְּׂמֹאלִי גַּבְרִיאֵל וּמִלְּפָנַי אוּרִיאֵל וּמֵאֲחוֹרַי רְפָאֵל וְעַל רֹאשִׁי שְׁכִינַת אֵל:    
“In the name of Hashem, the G-d of Israel, at my right, Michael, at my left, Gavriel, before me, Uriel, behind me, Refael, and above my head, the Shechinah of G-d.”

It is possible to do step 7. by itself when you need protection as well as part of the bedtime Shema.


1 comment:

  1. thank you, Chana Bracha, for this beautiful visualization!

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