That movement, the Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah suggests, isn't random. It’s a direct reflection of how the divine attributes are influencing the world at any given moment. : sometimes the world feels like it's governed by chesed (kindness and mercy), and other times by din (strict justice). It's not static. These shifts, these changes in the way the world is governed, are mirrored in the movements of that light.
The text explains that the various powers involved in governing the worlds are not fixed. They change according to the time. And it's not just a broad shift between kindness and judgment. Even within each individual attribute, there are subtle fluctuations, tiny adjustments that are expressed in the movements of the light.
So, how do we see this? How do we decipher the cosmic weather report? Well, the Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah suggests that prophets can perceive these movements. They see the shifts in the Sefirot – the ten emanations of God's divine energy – and understand what they signify.
It's all about understanding the influence of each attribute on the government of the worlds at that specific time. These lights make themselves visible, according to the text, because of the desire of the Supreme Will to reveal to His creatures how He governs the world. The Divine is not hidden, but actively seeks to show us the way the universe functions.
But what does this mean for us, everyday people who aren't prophets? Perhaps it's an invitation to be more attuned to the subtle shifts around us. To notice the ebb and flow of kindness and justice, mercy and strength, in our own lives and in the world at large. To understand that everything is interconnected, and that even the smallest movements can have profound meaning.
It invites us to look deeper, to pay attention, and to recognize that the universe is constantly speaking to us, if only we know how to listen. Are we ready to start learning the language?