Kabbalah and Psychology Part 14

Understanding the Zodiac

It is important to note that while the zodiac concept appears in the Torah, the Torahs concept of the zodiac has nothing to do with secular astrology. The signs of the zodiac exist in reality and they have specific significance in Jewish teachings. Tishrei: scales Tishrei is the month of judgment which relates to the sign of the

scales. The scales represent a state of equilibrium, which is a principle of the middle line (in the sefirotic chart), the line that corresponds to air. The right side represents the power to descend and the left represents the power to ascend, while the middle line represents balance. In the Zohar, the term for scales refers to an abstract concept of balance, such as the psychological equilibrium of a balanced personality. Indeed, balance is a very significant factor in the rectification of all interpersonal relationships, as we are taught in the most profound part of the Zohar, the Sifrah Detzniutah (literally, The Book of Modesty):

Before there was balance, it was impossible to look at another person face to face.

In the initial world of Chaos, there is no balance or cooperation between the

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Rectification, which follows the world of Chaos, everything depends upon balance. A

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different parts of the psyche and this leads to psychological breakdown. In the world of

person with a balanced psyche is able to look at another soul eye to eye. A balanced soul is, therefore, one of the first things that a psychologist needs in order to treat his or her patients. Cheshvan: scorpion The sign of Cheshvan is the scorpion. At the end of the

festival of Succot, during the second half of Tishrei, we begin to ask for water in a unique prayer that is said on the festival of Shemini Atzeret. We hope and pray that the actual rainfall will begin in Cheshvan, the month that follows the festivals of Tishrei. The fact that Cheshvan is a month that relates to the element of water is clear from its biblical name, Bul, referring to the word , the Flood. Indeed, in the generation of Noah, the Flood both began and ended in the month of Cheshvan. Kislev: bow In the Torah, an arrow is a symbol for a lightning flash. A bow

represents the fire that strikes in a flash of lightning. Tevet: goat The symbol of Tevet is a goat, which is an earth symbol and relates

to the sefirah of Kingdom. Shevat: bucket The symbol of Shevat is a bucket, which is the second symbol

related to balance---the principle governed by the element of air. A water carrier carries two buckets that are balanced on his shoulders. In order to succeed, he has to maintain a constant state of balance. Adar: fish The symbol of the month of Adar is two fish swimming in the sea. Fish

clearly relates to the element of water. Nissan: lamb The symbol of Nissan is a lamb. It corresponds to the element of

fire, as the Passover lamb was the first sacrifice commanded to the Children of Israel when they were in Egypt.
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Iyar: ox goat. Sivan: twins

The symbol of Iyar is the ox, which is an earth symbol, like that of the

The symbol of Sivan is twins. It is the third and last symbol related

to balance. (The three symbols of balance, beautifully related, are first the scales, second, the buckets, and third, the twins.) Sivan, the third month of the year, is the time of the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai, and the twins represent the two Tablets of the Covenant (shnei luchot habrit). Tamuz: crab The symbol of Tamuz is a crab, which is a water animal, thus

corresponding to the element of water. Av: lion The symbol of the month of Av is a lion. A lion represents the sefirah of

might, which corresponds to the element of fire. Elul: virgin The symbol of Elul is a virgin. The feminine figure in general represents the earth principle: the woman, who receives and contains everything within her own potential.

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