The ‘Perfect’ Road to Rosh Hashanah

Before anything comes into existence there is a moment of perfection that precedes it. Kabbalist Rav Ashlag compares it to an architect who wants to build a beautiful house. Certainly he doesn’t begin to pour the foundation for a house that he hasn’t even thought of building yet! In those moments of inspiration when we have the idea of the house we would like to build, or the thought of any creation for that matter, included in those thoughts is the entire perfection of that structure even though it may take a year to build it. However imperfect that final house may be, the thought that preceded the beginning of the building was perfect. In the architect’s thoughts the roof did not pitch 5 degrees too flatly and water did not pool on the laundry room floor. Even through the imperfections, delays, problems with building, ultimately the house is somewhat as the architect imagined it.

The first day of the month of Libra is the anniversary of the day the world came into existence. Not coincidentally, the first day of Libra is also the first day of Rosh Hashanah which means ‘head of the year’. Kabbalists teach that on Rosh Hashanah everything of the physical world came into existence.

Virgo, the month we are in now precedes Rosh Hashanah, therefore, symbolically it precedes creation itself, which is how we can “return” to a time before any damage or negativity occurred. Just as the architect with his house, the Creator had a thought of creation and his thoughts were perfect. His thought included every soul that has come or ever will come into this world and his intention was not the state we are now, but rather the perfect version of ourselves, and because he thought it, that version of ourselves exists. We have to find it, to return to our perfect self and that is the work of t’shuvah, to return.

There is no other time in the year when we can connect so powerfully to that best version of ourselves. Our work isn’t to just erase past mistakes or strive to be a better (less-flawed) person, but in fact, to completely transform ourselves into our perfected self.

Most (all) of us are nowhere near our perfected self. It doesn’t matter! No matter where we are in our process, if we ask to be connected to our perfect self, we can consciously disconnect from our imperfections. The key is that we have to ask, which sounds simple but it is not. We don’t ask, because we don’t believe in our own perfection! It’s impossible to connect to something that you doubt even exists. Most of us don’t have any idea of our true potential and without that certainty we get lazy. We don’t push ourselves as much as we should because that level of perfection seems so unattainable. Believe in your power to manifest positive change in transforming yourself as the first step. Then make a conscious effort to disconnect from our imperfections.

There is a proverb that states ‘if you don’t know where you are going, you are never going to get there’. Rav Ashlag shared that of 1,000 people who begin their spiritual process only one completes it. Why? They didn’t know where they were going. They didn’t believe in their own power to transform and affect the world in a positive way.

Your perfected self is possible. Believe and work toward it. This is not the month for complacency. This is the month to push yourself.

 

THOUGHT INTO ACTION

Am I pushing myself beyond what I believe are my abilities?
Am I working and sharing in ways that are uncomfortable?