Twenty Days: Two weeks, Six days of the Omer. Yesod of Tiferet

Yesod, once again, is the sefira that corresponds to the second chakra — of sexual energy, generativity, and most importantly in Kabbalah, connectivity or bonding. This is an energy that is clearly physical in nature. And today the energy that we meditate on is that connection in beauty, as well as the bond forged in compassion. These may seem to be somewhat opposite at first. However, anyone who has been in a deep, long-term committed relationship knows the compassion partners have for each other — they see the true beauty in the fully vulnerable humanity in the lover, and have compassion for the ways the lover is broken.

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote "There is a crack in everything God has made." This is in alignment with the Kabbalistic view, and that it is our job to help repair the world. Part of the work of this repair is seeing the beauty in the brokenness and loving it. After all, the Divine love flows through all things. How can we love it any less? How can we feel anything less than compassion for all Creation, including ourselves? And how can we see it as anything less than beautiful?

One note about the image of the Nine of Pentacles, which captures some important information about the energy of Yesod. In this garden, the mistress holds a falcon that is hooded. It is a recognition of the animal nature of sexuality, and the fruits that come from understanding how to control this energy and channel it in ways that create connection and celebrate beauty and compassion. So may we all walk this path.

Comments

[Suzanne]

Hi! I came to your blog via Bhante Dhammika's Dhamma Musings and enjoy reading your blog as well. A lot of interesting things in this post, though I don't understand all the references (though I do have another friend with a blog who has done Counting the Omer). I thought of that style of Japanese pottery with the flaws--do you know what I mean? I've forgotten the name.
Okay, so maybe that takes us through the Jewish and Buddhist categories (not sure if there is really a link between that pottery style and Zen but think maybe)...for the Queer connection, I give you a link to an article by Stephen Fry I just read and liked very much:http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/apr/30/stephen-fry-letter-gay-rights

So...connectedness.
With best wishes, Suzanne

[Mark H]

Hi Suzanne,
Thank you for your comments. I have a feeling that the Japanese pottery you mean is Bizen-yaki, which is unglazed - the pots are stacked on dried rice sheaves, which on occasion, create a glaze effect that isn't supposed to be intentional. And the "accidental" imperfections that result are considered to be of great beauty.

And thank you for your link to the Stephen Fry. It was very poignant and hit me as true personally, since along with all the signatures with wishes I had in my high school yearbook, I wrote one to myself. As a teen with the not uncommon teen angst and low self esteem issues, I encouraged myself to take heart from all the other things people had written, and to believe them instead of feeling like an impostor. Unlike Fry, I hadn't thought of writing back!

I look forward to more comments and other interesting links from you.

Best,
Mark
aka
anotherqueerjubu