Welcome to the week of Sukkot! The holiday begins on the 15th of Tishrei, which is September 29th this year. It’s one of my favorite holidays because the energy of mercy pours out with abundance; it is truly a time of great joy. Lasting seven days, no other holiday is as strong an expression of connection with the Creator. Indeed, the sukkah is a spiritual vessel we build to attract the Creator’s Light that exists in the universe.
Rav Berg explained that during the first ten days of Tishrei, we consciously transform our Desire to Receive for the Self Alone into a Desire to Receive for the Sake of Sharing. This transformation creates circuitry of energy. On Sukkot, we connect to the kind of energy we want to keep alive for the coming year. From Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, we work through a difficult spiritual process. Our efforts earn us positive energy through transformation.
Astrologically speaking, the planet Jupiter—energy of luck, faith, growth, expansion, and mercy—goes retrograde during this period. When any planet goes retrograde, we’re encouraged to reflect on the energies represented by that planet and how they play out in our lives at the time. Jupiter retrogrades are annual. This year, it will last until December 30th. It’s a time to reflect on your relationship with growth. Are you growing spiritually and emotionally? Or are you only growing in practical matters, such as career advancement or finances? And, are you expanding in the right direction? Are you aligned with your soul’s purpose?
This year, Jupiter makes a positive aspect that can bring many opportunities. There is only one problem: this energy will only last for a couple of weeks. So use it while you can. With the energy of Sukkot and Jupiter retrograde, we are invited to cleanse our lives, to recharge our batteries with the Light of mercy and compassion. We are invited to bring order to what feels messy, unblock what feels stagnant, and bring fulfillment to our daily lives.
