We will now embark on a fuller discussion of the three periods of Pregnancy, Suckling and Mental Maturity.
The proposition divides into three parts. Part 1: From the outset… This presents the concepts of Pregnancy, Suckling and Mental Maturity. Part 2: To repair… This explains the duration of the periods of Pregnancy and Suckling. Part 3: Yet even so the initial purification… Significance of the twenty-four months of Suckling.
Part 1: From the outset Zeir Anpin was built as Ten Sefirot… Two apparently contradictory teachings are found in the writings of the ARI of blessed memory. In one place it states that during Pregnancy Netzach-Hod-Yesod are repaired, while Chessed-Gevurah-Tiferet are repaired during Suckling (Etz Chayim, Shaar Pirkey HaTzelem chs 1-3). Elsewhere, however, it states that during the Pregnancy it is Chochmah-Binah-Daat, Chessed-Gevurah-Tiferet and Netzach that are repaired – leaving Hod-Yesod-Malchut still to be cleansed (Etz Chayim, Shaar RaPaCh chs 5-6).