This struggle is a central theme in many mystical traditions, including the Kabbalah, and it's beautifully illustrated in a passage from the Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei_Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei Zohar.
The Tikkunei Zohar, a later and particularly profound section of the Zohar, dives deep into the mysteries of creation and the divine. Here, in Tikkunei Zohar 110, we find ourselves contemplating the delicate balance between opposing forces and the path to harmony – a concept often represented by the Middle Pillar.
The text states that the Torah was given from this Middle Pillar. But what does that even mean?
Imagine a pillar of smoke rising. According to this passage, at a specific time – a moment of spiritual significance – smoke is aroused toward the left. This smoke is meant to "remove Samael from there." Samael, often seen as a figure representing negativity or the adversarial force, needs to be cleared away. It's like clearing away the debris to create space for something new.
Immediately after, another smoke ascends – the smoke of incense. Now, this isn't just any incense; it represents the totality of the Torah, specifically the positive commandments. It's the binding force, the glue that holds everything together. This incense smoke binds and brings together the right and the left, love and fear. The pillar of smoke is the Middle Pillar. It’s the path of love, balancing the negative precepts (the "don'ts") that arise from a place of fear.
So, what is His incense?
Here’s where it gets really interesting. The text identifies the incense as the Lower Shekhinah. The Shekhinah (שכינה) is the divine feminine presence, the immanent aspect of God that dwells within creation. The Lower Shekhinah, in particular, ascends in "many good odours and perfumes." Think of it as the collective prayers, good deeds, and positive intentions of humanity rising up to meet the Divine.
And when She ascends, the verse from Song of Songs (3:6) is invoked: "Who is this ascending from the desert?" Or, as the text puts it: "Who is this – that ascends through them?" This "who," this ascending entity, is identified as the lower Hei (ה), the final letter of God's name (יהוה, YHWH). The text then makes an intriguing connection, stating that zot (זאת), meaning "this one," ascends in MiY (מי), meaning "who."
It’s a beautiful image, isn’t it? The divine feminine, the Shekhinah, rising like fragrant incense, bridging the gap between the earthly and the divine. The text suggests that the path to balance, the Middle Pillar, isn't about eliminating one side or the other, but about harmonizing them.
This passage, drawing on both the Zohar and the Song of Songs, invites us to consider how we can create our own Middle Pillar in our lives. How can we find the balance between opposing forces within ourselves and in the world around us? How can we cultivate the "incense" of positive actions and intentions to elevate ourselves and draw closer to the Divine? Perhaps the answer lies in recognizing the inherent value of both sides, the "left" and the "right," and striving to bring them together in a harmonious whole. Just like the incense rising, maybe our efforts can contribute to the ongoing work of creation, of tikkun olam (repairing the world).