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The Ari teaches we decrease the Light flowing into our life when we hold onto grudges. Peek beneath the surface of your life and you'll likely find old ones that have not completely healed. It doesn't matter whether they're from far back or in the more recent past, these resentments are blocking your fulfillment, literally.

This is the week to root them out.

According to kabbalistic teaching, we are separated from God by a sequence of ten energy fields known as the sefirot (singular, sefirah). Together, arranged in right, left, and central columns, the ten make up what kabbalists call "the Tree of Life." As we increase our spiritual competency by ascending each sefirah, we simultaneously increase our spiritual capacity, giving us the ability to connect with and contain more and more Light. In other words, we are able to draw ever nearer to the Creator.

The Ari reveals when we hold grudges, the sefirot shrink, thereby narrowing our gateway to the Light. We begin to experience a shortage of Light, and we look for substitutes. In fact, the Kabbalists explain this as the source of all forms of addiction. It's our way of trying to get Light, but instead of getting the real thing, we get the sweet 'n' low version. We get a boost of Light that doesn't help grow our desire for more Light; it actually shrinks our desire.

Look at people who are full of grudges, it's like they live in a perpetual black hole. They have no energy. I am sure you have had your periods in life when you were bitter [hopefully they were short.] It's like life loses its luster and charm, and we become filled with, well, nothing. That is why during such times we are so needy. Our real need in life, the Light, isn't being met and we're on a quest to fill the void.

Kabbalah is teaching us to constantly expand our desire. The last thing we want to do is to shrink our vessel by allowing grudges and resentment to block us from attaining the amazing life we can have.

Why would we ever want to hold onto what is so bitter, when we could have what is so sweet?

Spend a couple of minutes every night this week reviewing your day. Look for those grudges you are still carrying around and ask the Light why they are in your movie. Forgive the people you need to forgive and send Light and ask to be forgiven by those whom you have hurt during the day.

By always connecting to the system of mercy, instead of judgment, you can ensure a steady connection to a huge amount of Light.

All the best,

Yehuda

72 Name of the Week