Jewish mystical thought, especially in the Kabbalah, grapples with these moments of growth, these ascents of the soul. Let's talk about one of those moments: Second Maturity.
Now, when we talk about Second Maturity, we aren't talking about getting your driver's license. We're diving into a deeper, spiritual kind of growth. The Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, a key text in Kabbalistic study, explains that Second Maturity is all about receiving mental powers. Think of it as an upgrade to your spiritual operating system.
But where do these powers come from? Initially, they come from Israel Sabba-Tevunah. Think of this as the foundational wisdom, the basic operating instructions. But the Second Maturity takes it a step further. Now, the powers are conferred by Abba and Imma, the archetypal Father and Mother, representing wisdom and understanding, respectively. So, it's like moving from learning the basics to receiving advanced training from the ultimate experts.
But here's the crucial point: receiving isn't the same as ascending. Just because you’re given these mental powers doesn't mean you've truly ascended. True ascent, according to the Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, happens when you no longer depend on Abba and Imma to give you what you need. They've already equipped you. Now, it's up to Zeir Anpin – often understood as the "Small Face" or the "Son," representing our active engagement with the world – to take the reins and ascend.
So, what does this ascent actually look like? The text tells us that everything that comes after Second Maturity is considered an ascent. It's a continuous climb, a constant striving for something higher.
And to really understand this, the Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah uses the example of Shabbat. On Shabbat night, Zeir Anpin receives encompassing levels within, attaining that initial Second Maturity. It's a potent moment of connection and reception. But it’s not fully complete until the morning. As Pitchey Chochmah VaDaat (ch. 56) teaches, the Second Maturity is altogether complete in the morning, "after which he literally ascends to Netzach-Hod-Yesod of Imma during the Morning Prayer."
Netzach, Hod, and Yesod are Sefirot – divine attributes – representing endurance, splendor, and foundation, respectively. So, this ascent involves integrating these qualities, grounding ourselves in these divine attributes that stem from Imma, from Understanding.
What does this mean for us? Perhaps it's a reminder that true growth isn't just about receiving knowledge or power. It's about internalizing it, integrating it into our being, and using it to ascend to something greater. It's a process that requires both reception and active engagement, a dance between receiving from the source and striving to embody those qualities in our own lives. So, the next time you feel like you've leveled up, remember that the real journey has just begun. It's time to ascend.