Welcome to the New Moon of Gemini. We are embarking on a very exciting and important month. Kabbalists call it the month of Sivan, and its gift is the ability to bring two separate and opposing forces together as one in an effort to bring peace to the world.

Gemini is symbolized by Twins, which represent two aspects of one thing, like two sides of the same coin, which are ultimately one in the same. Gemini is ruled by the smallest and closest planet to the sun, Mercury, who is aptly named after the messenger of the Roman Gods. Mercury’s influence over us this month assists us in our ability to communicate and integrate our duality, and our diversity.

Geminis are quick-thinking, alert, bright, fast-talking, and charmingly persuasive.  Geminis are renowned for their impatience, and in part this is because of Mercury’s influence. The two aspects of the twins might well explain why Geminis fluctuate between two different sides of their personality – the Jekyll and Hyde element some of you may be acquainted with. They tend to be non-committal, they rarely finish what they start, they dislike routine, and they are bored easily. But the flipside of this is they have a penchant for information and practicality.  A Gemini will grasp all sides of a question. Their minds are like little fastballs, not unlike Mercury, which is known as the fastest planet in our solar system. They love sharing ideas, and communication is tantamount to these intellectual-ninjas.  And although Geminis are friendly and lovable, they are also easily influenced. It’s easy for them to agree with everybody, often taking opposite sides in the same discussion.

During the month of Gemini, there is an energy present that can create harmony and unity in the universe, no matter how disparate they may seem. This energy is what kabbalists call, restriction, and by recognizing and including it in our daily undertakings, we can transform the quality of life for ourselves and the world. The means to obtaining this is through restriction.

I often find that people unintentionally confuse restriction with repression. Restriction is the ability to not be reactive in a challenging situation, to not lash out in anger, or speak unkindly when confronted with adverse behavior. Repression on the other hand is keeping silent, ignoring and pushing aside your thoughts and feelings, and not standing up for yourself or your beliefs. For the most part, repression is a sense of denial, which can be very damaging.

Although it seems clear when I define them side-by-side, when it comes to expression, we may think we are being non-reactive by being completely non-expressive. The kabbalists use a great example to explain restriction: if you need to boil some water, would you turn the stove on, crank up the flame, and then toss a bucket of water at it? That would be silly. We need something between these two elements of fire and water; we need an aid, a vessel, into which we place the water. The vessel in between these two elements – the steel pot –restricts the water and fire thereby allowing the two disparate forces together to work as one. And that is the power of restriction.

I suggested that the month of Sivan gives us an opportunity to create unity, but how is that achieved? How do we remove darkness and negativity? And how do we apply that in our lives? The answer is restriction. When somebody does something to you that you don’t like, or somebody hurts you, restrict.  Rav Berg says, “Restriction is the secret of fusion, as well the secret of peace in our world.” This month it is of our greatest benefit to love when we feel anger, to show compassion when we feel affronted, and to practice intolerance in the face of hatred and bigotry.

Kabbalists teach that there are two forces in our world – there is Light and there is darkness. There is the spiritual and there is the physical. And as long as these two forces remain separate, darkness prevails. Rav Berg has taught us that darkness is not really its own force, but rather that it is simply a lack of Light, and this month, we have the power to infuse that Light into our lives and the world.

Our job in this world, both personally and globally, is to bring enough Light so that there are no remnants of darkness. As Rav Berg makes clear, we, every single one of us, influence what occurs in the world. When we create peace with our restriction in our lives, we bring one more element of peace into our world.

What is it that creates separation, fighting, and arguments between people? The ego, and its incessant need to be right. The question is: do you want to be right or do you want to be happy?

We must understand that the root of all of these problems is the inability to bring about unity, from the troubles in your relationship and at work, to strife between countries. The gift of this month, the meaning in this month, is that we have the ability to create, to awaken, to draw into our lives and into the world the power of unity through practicing restriction.

THOUGHT INTO ACTION:

Make a commitment this month as of right now: conflict and anger have no place in your life. In moments of tension, seek out the peaceful solution. Pay attention to what sets you off and take steps to avoid these triggers. When you do react, take a few deep breaths, remind yourself that anger and judgment come only to create separation and chaos. Your awareness and restriction will go a long way this month towards creating unity in the world.