These "vessels" shattered, scattering sparks of holiness throughout creation. Think of it like a beautiful chandelier exploding, its gems falling into the dust.
That initial descent, that cataclysmic break, wasn't the only one. The Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah goes on to explain that there was "a further descent when the moon was made smaller." This refers to the mystical idea that the moon, originally as bright as the sun, was diminished in its light. And, of course, Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden? That, too, was a descent, a fall from grace.
But why all this falling? Was it just a one-way trip down? Not at all. The whole point, according to the Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, is that these descents are followed by ascents. The goal is that "they should ascend little by little until everything returns to the level of completeness as before the breakage." In other words, we're on a journey back to wholeness, back to that original state of unity.
And here's the crucial part: it's a gradual process. "Everything must be gradual and in stages." No overnight miracles, no instant enlightenment. It's about the slow, steady climb, the painstaking work of piecing together the shattered fragments. Think of it as slowly, meticulously, gathering those gems and putting the chandelier back together, piece by piece.
So, what does this mean for us, in our everyday lives? Well, the Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah tells us that "there are ascents and descents depending on the different times." Life isn't a straight line. There are moments when we feel closer to the divine, times when we feel further away. There are times of inspiration, times of doubt.
The key is to remember that "as long as the worlds have not reached their highest possible level they can still ascend and descend." We haven't reached the end of the story yet. We're still in the process of repair, of Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">tikkun olam, repairing the world. And as long as that's the case, we're going to experience both the ups and downs.
What's truly comforting is this: "No level is permanently attained through a one-time ascent." Just because you reach a high point doesn't mean you're guaranteed to stay there. But conversely, just because you fall doesn't mean you're doomed to stay down. These ascents and descents, this constant ebb and flow, are part of the process.
"Time factors play a large part in this." There's a rhythm to it all, a cosmic dance of rising and falling. And as long as our ascent isn't permanent, as long as we're still in this world of process, "it is possible to rise to and fall from it time after time." We have the opportunity to learn, to grow, to rebuild, again and again.
So, the next time you feel like you're backsliding, remember the breaking of the vessels. Remember that descent is part of the journey, and that the ultimate goal is ascent. The journey to wholeness, to shleimut, is not a sprint, it's a marathon…with plenty of hills along the way. And each climb, each fall, brings us closer to that final, glorious repair.