We often think of God as… well, God. But the mystics paint a more nuanced picture. There's a whole cosmic ecosystem at play. And in this ecosystem, there's a powerful figure known as "the Queen."
Who is this Queen? According to the Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei_Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei Zohar, she is the mitzvah, the precept, of the King. More specifically, she is the embodiment of all the mitzvot, all the good deeds and commandments we perform. She’s the custodian, the keeper, of all those actions. Think of her as the advocate, the defense attorney, if you will.
And what does she do? She instructs merit before the King on behalf of those who stand in prayer. She stands before the King and says, "Master of the World! Here are those who stand before You in prayer. It is necessary to grant them their requests."
Pretty powerful, right?
It’s a beautiful image: our good deeds, our efforts to live a righteous life, coalescing into a powerful force that intercedes on our behalf. It suggests that our actions have cosmic weight, that they actively shape our relationship with the Divine.
But it doesn't stop there.
The Tikkunei Zohar continues, saying that at that time, a voice goes out towards the "masters of the feet." Now, who are the masters of the feet? Interpretations vary, but it generally refers to those grounded in earthly reality, those who are connected to the physical world. It’s us, down here, doing the work.
The voice says, quoting Ezekiel 2:1, "Son of man! Stand upon your feet and I shall speak with you..."
This is a call to action. It's a reminder that we have a role to play in this process. We can't just passively wait for our prayers to be answered. We need to stand firm in our faith, in our connection to the Divine.
So how do we engage? How do we ensure our prayers are heard?
The voice continues, "Speak with Me of your request, through the twelve intermediate blessings of prayer, and it shall be granted to you in the last three blessings!"
Here, the Tikkunei Zohar points to the structure of Jewish prayer, specifically the Amidah, the standing prayer. Within this prayer, there are thirteen blessings recited on weekdays and seven on Shabbat. The twelve intermediate blessings are where we pour out our specific needs and requests. And the promise is that if we truly engage with these blessings, our requests will be granted in the final three.
It’s a complex and layered teaching. It suggests that prayer is not just about uttering words, but about engaging in a deeper dialogue with the Divine, about aligning ourselves with the flow of cosmic energy. It is about remembering to "stand upon your feet," grounded in the world, connected to the Divine. It's a reminder that our actions matter, that our prayers have power, and that we are never truly alone in our struggles.