Advanced Reincarnation Class 27

Shaarai Gilgulim - Gate of Reincarnations

As taught to Rabbi Chaim Vital by Rabbi Isaac Luria and Amended by Rabbi Chaim's Son Shemuel.

Translated from Sha'ar Hagilgulim by Yitzchok bar Chaim; commentary by Shabtai Teicher of Blessed Memory and Completed by Rabbi Perets Aurback.

Published online with commentary by Kabbala online.com

This version will not have all of the commentary.

Please note: The publisher explains that the Study of Kabbalistic Texts usually recommends that one review the material many times until they are familiar with the vocabulary at a minimum.

Also Note: Bold Text represents the translation of the original Text. Regular text represents the commentary and explanation of the translator. Chanoch's comments will be identified separately.

Cross-Gender Soul Migration

Chapter Nine, Section 2

Translation from Sha'ar Hagilgulim by Yitzchok bar Chaim; commentary by Shabtai Teicher

Because of sins such as homosexuality a male soul might reincarnate into a woman's body, and such a woman will not be able to give birth without great merit and the entry of a feminine soul into her as an ibur.

Although women do not reincarnate, they can sometimes come as an ibur into women, together with sparks of new, feminine souls.

There is another possibility when they come as an ibur in some other woman. If that woman conceives, becomes pregnant and gives birth to a girl, then the one that came as an ibur might reincarnate as an actual gilgul in that daughter who was just born.

The Ari will return to this phenomenon further in this section.

Sometimes a man may reincarnate into the body of a woman because of a sin such as homosexuality…

Sometimes a man may reincarnate into the body of a woman because of a sin such as homosexuality or something similar. This woman who has received the soul of a man will not be able to conceive and become pregnant.

This is a serious punishment. Barren women usually suffer tremendously.

This is because she lacks [the ability] to raise Mayin Nukvin, and she cannot receive Mayin Duchrin.

The concept of Mayin Nukvin (M"N), "Female Waters," was explained somewhat in Chapter 3:8. Its counterpart is Mayin Duchrin (M"D), "Male Waters" or juices that flow from above to below, such as the sperm that is emitted during marital intimacy. In Kabbala, this term refers to all the light and blessing that flow downward from Above.

Obviously, the physical bodies of the partners must be able to function normally in order for procreation to happen. The Ari is adding here that some similar function must also take place in the soul bodies. Souls have masculine and feminine aspects, as it is written, "…He created them male and female" (Gen. 1:27). Furthermore, the rule in the Kabbala is that This World is a sort of reflection of what is contained in the spiritual roots (despite the anomaly under consideration here). Thus, the female soul must also be able to emit juices of M"N and lubrications that draw downward to herself the M"D of the masculine soul.

The male soul that is within her cannot…become pregnant or give birth…

In this anomalous case, however, as a result of sin, the soul that is within the female body is not feminine, but male. The female body in this case will be able to function normally in a biological sense, to emit female juices and lubrications. However, the male soul that is within her cannot do so. The consequence will be that this woman cannot become pregnant or give birth.

This woman will need great merit to enable her to become pregnant and give birth. The only way it can be done is that some other feminine soul must enter her as an ibur. In partnership they can raise M"N, conceive and give birth.

One has a female body; the other is a female soul. She cannot give birth to boys, but only to girls…

However, she cannot give birth to sons for two reasons. The first is [as follows:] There is a verse that says, "…If a woman puts forth seed, and a male child is born" (Lev. 12:2).

In the Talmud (Berachot 60a, also Nidda) it is said, "If a woman 'puts forth seed' first, then a boy will be born. If the man puts forth seed first, then a girl will be born."

In this case, the woman is a male, just like her husband.

In this case, whichever one biologically "puts forth seed" first, in the spiritual realm both partners are masculine souls, and it will always be the male who puts forth seed first. Therefore, the child must be female.

She cannot give birth to boys, but only to girls. At the time that she gives birth, that feminine soul enters into the fetus…

The second reason is that the feminine soul that has entered her does so only as an ibur in order to help her become pregnant and give birth. Once this woman gives birth, that soul does not need to stay there any longer for no reason. At the time that she gives birth, that [feminine] soul enters into the fetus as an actual gilgul, and not as an ibur, like it was at first. That is why the child that is born must be female and not male.

The child that is born will be the gilgul of the feminine soul that entered the mother as an ibur. Since the feminine soul is not itself tainted with any sin of illicit sexual relations, she must enter a feminine body. Therefore, the child will be a female.

In summary, any woman whose soul is a masculine soul, as explained beforehand, cannot give birth to a male, but only to a female. The female child that is born will be the same feminine soul that originally entered to help out.

In Chapter 38, the Ari will actually relate that the first wife of Rabbi Chaim Vital was the gilgul of a soul of the type discussed here in this section. That is why she could not give birth to a son. Rabbi Shmuel Vital, the son of Rabbi Chaim, through whom the Lurianic tradition was transmitted, was the son of Rabbi Chaim's second wife, who was actually his soul mate.

[Commentary by Shabtai Teicher.]

chanoch's Commentary

Homosexuality is considered an abomination. What is homosexuality? If one reads the verses associated with this it is referring solely to sodomy. Although orthodox and kabbalistic Judaism indicate that it applies to the wasting of seed in any way between a man and a women. Er and Onan died due to the wasting of seed with a women (Tamar).

There is also a teaching in the religion to follow the customs of the people. In this area the custom appears to be changing although that may only be in the US or in the Western world.

Male Souls and Male Sons

Chapter 9 Section 3

Translation from Sha'ar Hagilgulim by Yitzchok bar Chaim; commentary by Shabtai Teicher

This section continues the previous one, where a masculine soul reincarnated as a woman because of a sin, such as homosexuality, and this woman cannot give birth unless a feminine soul comes to be an ibur within her.

In the last section we learned that in this case of a feminine soul being an ibur within a woman whose soul is masculine, the child that will be born will be a girl. The feminine soul that came as an ibur will become the soul of that daughter in a full-fledged gilgul.

If there is surprisingly great merit, then it is sometimes possible that at the time that child is born, the feminine soul that was there as an ibur will depart and go on its way. A masculine soul will then enter the fetus and the child will be a male.

Afterwards, it will be impossible for this woman to give birth another time, unless that same feminine soul returns to be an ibur within the woman as at first.

Whether the child that is born is male or female, it will be impossible for that woman to give birth another time. Her soul is masculine, and she cannot give birth without the feminine soul that comes to assist her as an ibur. However, that feminine ibur is no longer together with her. If the child that was born is a girl, then the feminine ibur has become the child's soul as a gilgul. If the child is a boy, then the feminine ibur has gone on her way to allow the child to be born as a male.

The woman can only become pregnant again if that feminine soul leaves the daughter to become once again an ibur in the mother…

In either case, it will be impossible for this woman to give birth another time, unless that same feminine soul returns to be an ibur within the woman once again as at first. However, this presents a serious difficulty if the child that was born was a girl and the feminine ibur has become the child's soul.

Therefore, if the first child was a daughter, then this girl will have to die, and maybe the feminine soul will return to be an ibur within the woman, as it was beforehand.

If this woman whose soul is really masculine is going to have any other pregnancy after the birth of a daughter, then that girl will die first. This is because the feminine ibur that makes possible this woman's pregnancies has become the soul of the daughter. The woman can only become pregnant again if that feminine soul leaves the daughter to become once again an ibur in the mother.

Then she will conceive, become pregnant and give birth to a daughter whose soul will be the feminine soul that was there as an ibur. This sequence of ibur and gilgul can go on many times, and the laws applicable to it will always be the same.

However, if she gave birth to a boy, then the child does not need to die. The feminine soul that was an ibur within her has gone on her way at the time of birth, as mentioned previously. That [feminine soul that was an ibur] must return a second time to be an ibur within her [the woman] in order that she will conceive and give birth to a girl.

The feminine soul that was an ibur needs to return again to this woman to help her become pregnant again because the feminine soul needs to enter a gilgul in a feminine body. The first time a boy was born; maybe the second time a girl will be born.

This also needs great merit!

It is also sometimes possible, although a girl is born first, that the daughter does not need to die.

Even though there will be another pregnancy, it is also possible that the first daughter does not need to die.

It is possible that a different feminine soul will come to be an ibur within that woman, and she will conceive and give birth to a girl, and this soul will reincarnate within her as a full-fledged gilgul. No soul enters the body of a man or a woman in their lifetime, unless there is a great affinity between them…

This woman with a masculine soul had an ibur of a feminine soul. Consequently, she conceived and gave birth to a girl. The feminine soul that was an ibur becomes the soul of the daughter. Then a different, second feminine soul becomes a second ibur within the woman whose soul is masculine. She becomes pregnant and gives birth a second time. The second child is also a girl. The second feminine soul that was the second ibur becomes the soul of the second child.

It is possible that these elements can interchange in this way pregnancy after pregnancy whenever this woman conceives. However, this phenomenon also needs great merit and a powerful miracle. This is because of a fundamental lesson that we have concerning the secret of ibur.

No soul enters the body of a man or a woman in their lifetime, unless there is a great affinity between them. This woman whose root is a masculine soul needs an ibur of a feminine soul. This feminine soul must contain all the qualities that are needed for this ibur. In addition, it has to have an affinity or similarity to her. Consequently, this requires great merit, and all the more so if she has to come in ibur several times, as explained. And it is an even greater [miracle] to find many feminine souls with the right conditions, and they will also come as an ibur, each one at a different time! This needs much merit and great miracles!

[Commentary by Shabtai Teicher.]