I've been diving deep into a fascinating text called Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah—"138 Openings of Wisdom." (Though the title says 138, it’s often referred to as 135. Don't ask me why! Mystics do things their own way.) It's a real treasure trove of esoteric ideas, and one concept in particular has been bouncing around in my head.
It’s this idea of being "back-to-back" in the spiritual realms, and how that relates to our ultimate goal of facing each other, face-to-face. What does that even MEAN? Imagine two people standing back-to-back. They're connected, sure, maybe even supporting each other, but they're missing a vital piece: direct connection. They can't see each other's faces, share a smile, or truly understand each other's emotions.
The Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah uses this image to illustrate a certain stage in the relationship between different aspects of the divine. It suggests that, at a certain level of reality, some of these aspects are oriented "back-to-back." They’re related, intertwined, but not in direct communion.
Now, before your eyes glaze over, let’s bring this down to earth. What does this divine orientation have to do with us?
Everything, actually.
The text implies that our spiritual work, our very purpose, is to facilitate the shift from "back-to-back" to "face-to-face." We do this through acts of kindness, through prayer, through striving for justice. Each time we bridge a gap, heal a rift, or offer understanding, we're contributing to this cosmic realignment.
Think of moments when you've felt truly connected to someone—a deep conversation, a shared moment of joy, an act of empathy. In those moments, you're no longer back-to-back. You're face-to-face. You're seeing and being seen.
According to Kabbalistic thought, this concept isn't just about interpersonal relationships. It also touches upon our relationship with the divine. We often feel a sense of separation, a feeling that God is distant or unknowable. The idea of "back-to-back" suggests this distance isn't necessarily a permanent condition. It's a stage.
Our challenge, then, is to turn and face. To seek out the divine presence in our lives and in the world around us. To engage in practices that bring us closer to understanding and experiencing the divine.
The Zohar, the foundational text of Kabbalah, frequently uses metaphors of orientation and direction to describe spiritual states. This idea of turning, of shifting from one orientation to another, is a recurring theme. It's not about physically turning, of course, but about a shift in consciousness, a change in perspective.
The Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah doesn't give us a step-by-step guide to achieving this "face-to-face" encounter. But it does offer a powerful reminder that the potential for deeper connection is always there. It encourages us to actively participate in the process of unveiling, of revealing the hidden unity that underlies all of existence.
So, the next time you feel that sense of separation, that feeling of missing something, remember the image of being "back-to-back." Ask yourself: What can I do, in this moment, to turn and face? What small act of kindness, what moment of connection, can help to bridge the gap?
Maybe, just maybe, you'll catch a glimpse of something truly profound. Maybe you'll see, face-to-face, the divine spark that resides within us all. And maybe, just maybe, that's the whole point.