The month of Av אב according to Kabbalah

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5773


The first suggestion we make is to read what we said last year about the month of Av. What will be said this year will build on what we said last year.

Below are the links to the last few years' Blogs about Av. Please press your back button to return to this location after you read last year's Blog.

Essence of Av אב

The month of Av is the fifth month of the Hebrew year. The number five has many different Sefirotic perceptions and these also apply to the month of Av.

The fifth month Av connects to the Sefirah of Hod (Starting from Chesed). This is hinted at by the meaning of the Hebrew word Av which in addition to "Father" also means "happening." Hod represents Malchut in the frame of the spiritual world. Malchut is manifestation which can be understood as relating to the English word "happening."

Five can also be considered connected to the Sefirah of Hod. As we will discuss below, Hod is considered the Malchut of the spiritual frame. Hod also represents appreciation and thankfulness. These are very good attributes to utilize during the month of Av.

The fifth Sefirot from below is Tiferet. Tiferet is also called Zeir Anpin by itself as it represents all of the six Sefirot of Zeir Anpin. Tiferet is embodies the energy of the sun. All of this is consistant with the energy of the Hebrew month of Av.

The months of the Hebrew year are connected to the Tetragrammaton. The Kabbalists teach that Tammuz, Av, and Elul are connected to the upper Hey. In Kabbalah the upper Hey represents Binah also called Ema or mother. The Mother gives birth to all of the six attributes of Zeir Anpin. She represents the seed level for these six attributes. The Kabbalists teach that these attributes are the emotive passions or emotions.

The name of the month Av is spelled Aleph Bet. In reverse order Bet Aleph is the shoresh of the shoresh Bet Vav Aleph. This three letter shoresh means to happen, to enter, or to come. It is clearly true that we are coming to the end of our year since there are seven Shabbats between the Shabbat after the Ninth of Av (see below) and Rosh Hashanah, the Day of Judgment. Due to this fact we enter the process of Teshuvah. Of course, the first Nine days culminating in all of these "less than perfect happenings" seem to be a different energy than the last 15 days of the month which seem to have the energy of Comfort. This is also why the month has given the nickname of Menachem Av. This phrase translates as either comforting the father or Father's comfort. The difference between these two translations is the difference in the energy between the first 10 days of Av (representing part of the negative three weeks) and the last 20 days bringing us to the comfort of our Father and His promises of the Redemption, the return from exile, and the coming of Mashiach. All of these things depend upon your and my level of Teshuvah. Teshuvah means "To Return to HaShem." Did you know that you had left HaShem? This is actually one of the purposes behind the energy of the month of Av.

Let me explain a little more. Kabbalah teaches a metaphor that when we do something wrong we separate the letters of the Name. This is also explained as "we are leaving HaShem" because we are related to the lower Hey which is the letter that is separated by our negative action. WE ALL LEAVE HASHEM AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. The dual energy of Av helps us realize that we are separated. This is one of the aspects called "Mourning for the destruction of the Temple" and also celebrating the fulfillment of the Building of the Third Temple.

Here are the Letters of the Month and the Tetragrammaton Permutation for the month of Av

כ ט הויה

The Tetragrammaton permutation comes from the first letters of four words in the Verse Devarim (Deuteronomy) Chapter 27 Verse 9. Here are the four words הסכת ושמע ישראל היום . The word for word translation is "listen," "hear," "Israel," and "this day." The two different words used to inform the Nation to hear and to listen indicate the two different energies of the month.

Now, let's look at the permutation of the Tetragrammaton for the month of Tammuz and what we can learn.

The Tetragrammaton is normally spelled יהוה. When the Yood is in the first position. The first position is normally considered the World of Atzilut (Emanation). The second position normally has a Hey and is considered the world of Brea (Creation). The third position normally has a Vav and is considered the World of Yetzirah (Formation). The fourth position normally has a Hey and is considered the World of Assiya (Action or Manifestation).

All of these worlds in the paragraph above relate to descriptions and teachings in Kabbalah. They are metaphors to help us understand and relate to these worlds that we do not see with our physical senses.

The word that is the Tetragrammaton is actually the Hebrew verb "to be" in a conjugated form. The Yood at the beginning of a Hebrew verb indicates action. Therefore, the Name of God translates into English as "Active Being." The ultimate essence of "Active Being" is transcendent power of love and compassion without regard to people's merit.

This normal permutation which is used in the month of Nissan puts the Name of God in its normal, proper, and optimal placement to provide for the maximum flow of the Beneficence of HaShem. In essence the Yood, in the World of Atzilut, allows for a concentrated point of connection to the World of Ain Sof or Endless World. The upper Hey in Beria expands to support actual Birthing and Creation. The Vav then channels this energy of Creation into the final Hey in the World of Malchut which is Manifestation.

When we look at the permutation for Av, we see the Tetragrammaton is in two different modes. The upper worlds (The Yood and Hey) are in the correct order yet in the wrong locations and the lower worlds (The Vav and Hey) are in the wrong locations and the wrong order. Both of these conditions indicate a frame of judgment. In Kabbalah Judgment comes in two forms-Soft judgment (the last 20 days) and Harsh Judgment (the first 10 days)

In essence the month of Av is a month that represents a duality. The first 10 days are part of the negative three weeks and there are many recommendations as to how to minimize this impact. Among them being neither to eat meat during this period nor to go to court during this period especially against a non spiritual person.

The last 20 days while still in a frame of judgment are less harsh (soft judgment). This is a period that brings us to contemplate our own mistakes and make amends so that we have the vessel to return to God or do Teshuvah.

The letters of the Month

The letter Caf created the sun and the letter Tet created the constellation we call Leo or "Lion." Caf represents the Crown, royalty, balance, and completeness. Tet represents the sexual organ. This is generally understood as a dual potential for either bliss or destruction, ecstasy or misery. The dual energy of this month comes from the letter Tet. Just as the sexual organ has two energies (sperm that brings life; urine that excretes waste), the month of Av has the two energies of the Harsh judgment of the first 10 days and the soft judgment of the process of Teshuvah - Returning to HaShem.

Leos receive their energy directly from the sun, and they are the only sign that falls under its influence. Because of this, Leos believe that the whole world revolves around them. Confident of their power and abilities, they broadcast their self-assurance to the whole world. They are hard to ignore. This energy will impact all of us during this month of Av, this month of Leo. Leos’ weak point is the heart, and thus are prone to cardiovascular disease. Kabbalah tells us that a Leo’s role in the world is comparable to the heart’s role in the body. Both have been given the responsibility of pumping out and distributing all the energy that they receive. This is a recommendation on how to behave during this month. Share what you receive!

The two letters Caf and Tet have a gematria of 29 and a small gematria of 11. The number Eleven represents the negative system since it is one more than the 10 Sefirot. A word that has the gematria of 29 is Cozav spelled כזב. This word has the meaning of binding together. This is a good practice to implement during the month. Perceive everything as bound together. Also try to bind everything together even when you perceive things as separated.

Of course this is easier said than done. One of the names for our physical world is the "world of separation." This is because this world is designed by HaShem to see everything as separate from everything else. I am separated from you, you are separated from other people, each animal and plant in the world is separated from every other plant and animal as well. This is of course an illusion. Even as we live in this physical world, we also live in the Ain Sof where everything is unified. By struggling to see everything unified instead of separated we achieve Tikune (correction). Here are two meditative exercises to help you with this process.

1. Meditate on the letter Pey which is formed by leaving a space that looks like the letter Bet in the middle. Try to see the letter Pey and the Letter Bet simultaneously.

2. Sit on a park bench and observe some children playing. Now close your eyes and imagine you are inside one of those children. Try to become one with the consciousness of that child.

Holidays in Av

There are two Holidays in Av. One is on the 9th day and is called Tisha B'Av and the other is on the 15th day (the full moon) and is called Tu B'Av. As is seen from above about the dual energies these holidays are opposite energies as well. Or perhaps more accurately they are days of less intense and more intense aspects of the same energy. Let's discuss this possibility.

Tisha B'Av is a fast day - a fast that lasts 25 hours. In the heat of the sun a fast is the most difficult and i suggest for those who do fast they do the ritual suggested by the link below. Tisha B'Av is thought to be a day of national mourning. What are we mourning? Some say the destruction of the Temples (both of them - destroyed on the same day)! Some teach that we are mourning the dead throughout the centuries who died just because they were spiritual and/or Jewish - especially the 6 million who died in the Holocaust. The Kabbalists teach a very unusual aspect of mourning. They teach that Tisha B'Av is the birthdate of the Mashiach and therefore we should be happy and excited over his coming and at the same time (unifying the two energies) we should be mourning the end of the opportunities presented to us by the Mitzvot.

The Mitzvot were created to help cleanse us so that we can reach a higher state of consciousness. A higher state of consciousness means being able to come closer to HaShem. When Mashiach comes this process of cleansing and elevating our consciousness will comes to an end also. In a sense that is sad (only if we have not achieved all that we can achieve). I know this is sometimes very hard to relate to. Remember we are not mourning something physical - even when we read the words that seem to imply a physical aspect to the mourning. This understanding will help you relate to the true dual essence of the Ninth of Av.

Rabbi Isaac Luria has given us a very important meditation so that we can handle the energy in the universe during these three weeks.

  • Here is the link to the 3 Weeks Meditation, please use it at least once per day (3 times daily is recommended) during these three weeks.
    • Please use this 3 Weeks Meditation up to and through the sundown on the end of your fast. This year that is Sunday the 10th of Av or July 15th in the evening and the day of July 16th 2013.

    Energy Days

    The Holiday of Tu B'Av is only 6 days later on the full moon day. It actually is the highest non Holiday energy of any day in the solar year. This is because the Sun created the month of Av and on the full moon is sharing completely the most energy that it can share. This represents the unification of the energy of the sun which is male with the energy of the moon which is female. The ultimate Zvug or connection. This is why the day is referred to as the Hebrew Valentine's Day.

    Historically the girls of Jerusalem and Sfat (Safed) would go out to the fields in borrowed clothing (so that they were all equal and not made to feel inferior in any way). The men of Jerusalem and Sfat would also go into the fields and ask each girl to for a betrothal. In the Book of Judges there is a story of the re-population of the Tribe of Benjamin on this day using exactly that ritual. It was not a happy time for the Nation; yet it was a happy time for the people involved who found a way around their vow. Let me explain briefly

    The story in the book of Judges says that 11 Tribes vowed not to give their daughters as wives to the Men of the Tribe of Benjamin for some action that Benjamin had done. These 11 Tribes went to war against Benjamin. After the war there were no more women from the Tribe of Benjamin as they had been killed during the battles. The 11 Tribes were repentant as they realized that they no longer had 12 Tribes which is necessary for the complete vessel of the Children of Israel. Yet they had vowed not to give their daughters as brides. So they devised the "Sadie Hawkins Day" ritual as described above. The nation was sad that they had killed their brothers and sisters of the Tribe of Benjamin and they rejoiced at being able to rebuild Benjamin through this ritual. Again the dual energies of Av.

    I hope you celebrate Tu B'Av. If you are single go to the fields (parks of your community - go in borrowed clothing- especially white clothing). You might be surprised at whom you meet. Of course as always with Kabbalistic rituals it is necessary to know it first and then you can experience it rather than the more traditional western value to need to see it in order to come to believe it.

    For couples it is a good day to renew your life commitment on a personal level and imitate the Zvug between HaShem and the Shechinah. In whatever way you find that appropriate.

    This year is an especially auspicious Tu B'Av as will be revealed in our Holiday connection on Sunday July 21st at 9 PM. I strongly suggest you listen to the Holiday connection on the telephone conference system. It is an exciting message that will be revealed.

    Tzadikim who Left in Av

    Our Tzadikim have given us a great tool. Themselves! Their Hilulah is the opportunity to utilize their connection to the Creator to make our connection easier. The method we use is to light a Yahrzeit candle (25 hour candle) and learn about the Sage. This strengthens our connection to the Tzadik and through that connection allows us to reach the Creator more easily.

    It is recommended that one mentions the Names of the Tzadikim every evening at the start of your evening prayer connection or just prior to going to sleep each evening.

    The fifth of Av is also a positive high energy day even when it is within the three week period. The ARI Rabbi Isaac Luria left this world on this day. He did so since this is the 5th day of the 5th month. This is Hod SheBe Hod in the frame of the months. The ARI left in the same Sefirah that Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai left on Hod She Be Hod in the frame of the Omer. We will be teaching an all night study of his teachings that night. Please check our weekly email for information about how to connect to this study.

    Tribe and Tribal Leader connected to Av

    Here are the connection to the Tribe for the month and the Leader of that Tribe from our website, with information about the Nasi and the attributes dealing with this month.

    The Tribe for the month of Av is the

  • Tribe of Shimon.
    • I suggest you spend some time during this month checking out the attributes of the name Shimon and the Name of the Nasi who gave the dedication and his consciousness of why he gave what he gave. Remember not all of these attributes are positive and with the tool of "Binding by Striking" we can correct them and transform them into positive aspects.

    Practical Tools to adopt in Av

    Here are strategies to adopt for this month of Av that will help keep you in control of your emotions. Yet remember the most effective tool to keep you in emotional control is Binding by Striking especially step one, STOPPING YOUR REACTION.

    1. Delay Interactions especially confrontations The month of Leo puts out an energy that makes people think they are Royalty. People MUST listen to them is how they feel. This is especially true during the first 10 days. That feeling is not always true, and it is best to delay interactions to give us the opportunity to diffuse those feelings.

    2. Review Relationships Starting after the 15th of Av (Full Moon Day) review the people we know. Who do we attempt to stay away from? Who have we had conflicts with that we still harbor grudges or anger? Who would we like to make up with? Do not do anything but make a list of these people and past actions so that we can review this list later. The energy of Av is conducive to making the list while the energy of Elul is conducive to the process of Teshuvah - Returning to HaShem.

    3. Do not Speak or Listen to Loshon Harah - Evil Speech Since the energy of Leo makes us feel that we are royalty, and we all know royalty is better than common people, we have a tendancy to speak Loshon Harah during Av. Evil Speech is TRUE. It is not a lie. EVIL SPEECH is TRUTH that makes another person lower. It is disparaging towards others. Let me give you an example that is very common and people do not think about it. You are standing at a cocktail party with two other people. You say to one of them "You really look great in these clothes. This is really your color." What you may not be aware is the other person feels hurt since you did not say anything about them. That hurt gets justified in an anger towards the person who is complimented. Even though you said the truth you created a conflict between two people. This is one of the things that you will be asked about on your judgment day. I strongly recommend that you read the rules of Loshon Harah. You can get it in your email for free from the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation.

    4. Share with People- This is a month that petty conflicts arise (soft judgment). The way to heal these is to go out of your comfort zone and share with people. Share your time. Share your strength. Share your efforts. And Share your resources. Share with people you normally share with and ALSO THOSE you do not normally share with. Write out your Tzedakah checks early even if you do not mail them. Make your intentions known to the universe. Share from a generous consciousness. Do not give to the point of being resentful. Share for the sake of sharing. Remember what Kabbalah teaches. The more you share the more you can permanently receive. In 2008 when the American economy went down, one of the reasons was people did not do these actions of sharing during Av and Elul. Do not think of this sharing as coming from Royalty to Commoners which is the way the energy will let you feel. Think of this sharing as being the commoners were created for you (the Royalty) to save your life.

    Expand your awareness of HaShem Since you will be thinking you are Royalty it is important to remember that HaShem created you. Look around you. What has HaShem shared with you in your life? How has HaShem blessed you? Study the words of Psalms and Proverbs. Read the book of Job. Learn to be magnanimous.

    The influence of the Aryeh, which means Leo in Hebrew, is on all of us during the month of Av.

    Our ego constantly convinces us that we know it all—that we alone are the architects of our own success. Humility is therefore the key word of the month. Go out and ask for help—from the Light and especially from people with whom you feel competitive. Be careful of false humility. Humility means know who you truly are and also what the other person in your life at this moment truly needs. This is the gift of Aryeh to each and every person this month. You just have to ask that question - Who am I? and What does HaShem want me to do? for the universe to try to give you the answer. Of course you must be open to receive the truthful answer the universe is showing you.

    The Tikune in Av

    If your lunar north node is in the Zodiac sign of, your Tikune is in Aryeh or Leo in Hebrew.

    If you do not know where your north node is within your astrological chart send me your birth date birth location and birth time to yeshshem@hotmail.com. I will send you information on how to find your north node and your personal Tikune.

    In the words of the Kabbalah Center:

    The person with a tikune in Leo carries the former life of an Aquarius into this life. You are an individual who is set apart. In your previous incarnation, you were considered important and unique, and you have brought tremendous inner power, ample creativity, and fierce ambition with you into this life. You were never a model of discipline, however, and you still seek originality at any cost. You are a rule breaker. As a result, you may have difficulty getting others to take you seriously.

    Although keeping yourself apart has strengthened you, you overcame doubts by confronting them. Relationships meant the world to you, but you were always afraid of being abandoned. You even tolerated abuse in order to maintain closeness, and you always had the feeling of not receiving in return for what you had given. You let relationships dominate you, and because of this, you never developed to your full spiritual potential.

    In your previous incarnation, you had the opportunity to rise from abject poverty to the heights of affluence, and these opportunities will present themselves again in your present incarnation—if you learn to exploit your inner strength. You have been severely scarred by your lack of discipline, which in previous incarnations prevented you from focusing on real goals. In your life as an Aquarius, you already had an acute sense of justice and equality. Your energy was utilized now and again for defending noble causes, but you preferred to deal with masses of people rather than with individual human beings. You see yourself in the future rather than in the present.  

    The tikune in Leo points you toward abandoning desire for superficial originality in favor of developing your capacity to serve humanity. You must pursue this path for yourself, not for the eyes of others. You have, in fact, more than one key from your previous incarnation to use in this one. Your ambition will help you find a true and noble cause through which you will share your gifts with humanity. Your tikune suggests that you will be given the opportunity to lead, provided that you do so in a selfless way. Along this path, you can use your inner strength, creativity, and originality to reveal new opportunities in the world around you.

    In conclusion

    Enjoy this month. You will feel like royalty because you are. Just don't look at everyone else as your servant. Realize that they are royalty too and you are there to serve them!

    Kol Tuuv

    chanoch