Kabbalah has something to say about that.

We’re talking about levels of existence, here – specifically, how and why some things seem closer to the Divine, while others seem tragically cut off. The text Petichah LeChokhmat HaKabbalah – an introduction to the Wisdom of Kabbalah – dives deep into this, explaining that this separation isn't arbitrary. It's rooted in the very nature of receiving versus giving.

Think of the four spiritual realms: Atzilut (Emanation), Beria (Creation), Yetzira (Formation), and Asiya (Actualization). These aren't just abstract concepts; they are, in Kabbalistic thought, partzufim – divine personas or configurations. The text explains that within these holy partzufim, a fascinating process happens. The fourth level, the level most associated with the "will to receive," is actually tempered, softened, through a "fusion through collision." It’s like opposing forces meeting and, instead of destroying each other, creating something new. This allows for interaction and a flow of divine light.

But what about the things that don’t participate in this divine dance? What about the kelippot? The kelippot (literally "shells" or "husks") are often described as negative forces or impure realms. According to our text, the partzufim of the kelippot and even our own world, operate primarily (or even solely) on the fourth level – the will to receive. And that’s where the problem lies.

See, Kabbalah teaches that the Creator is, at His essence, pure giving. He has no need of receiving. So, when something is only about receiving, it creates a fundamental opposition, a difference in form from the Emanator. It’s like trying to force two magnets together on the wrong poles – the repelling force is inherent.

This difference, this inherent opposition, separates the kelippot from the supernal light. They are, in a sense, "dead" because they are cut off from the Source of Life. This idea echoes what we touched on earlier in section #13, where we talked about how the will to receive can actually become a barrier to connection. We really can't go into any further detail here, so please check out that section.

Now, it’s easy to see this as a bleak picture. But it’s also an invitation to examine ourselves. Are we operating primarily from a place of wanting to receive? Are we unknowingly building walls that keep us separated from the very thing we seek? It's a challenging question, but one worth asking. Because in understanding the dynamics of giving and receiving, we might just find the key to bridging the gap and letting the light in.