It all comes down to the relationship between the sephirot – those divine emanations that make up the Tree of Life.
The Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei_Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei Zohar dives deep into the mystical meanings hidden within the Torah, and in the 116th Tikkun, we find a fascinating interpretation of Leviticus 19:36: "Righteous scales, righteous weights, a righteous ephah, and a righteous hin..." It's not just about honest business practices, you see. It's about the very fabric of reality.
The text tells us that all the sephirot, these aspects of the divine, are named after "Her." Who is "Her"? The Shekhinah, the divine feminine presence, the immanent aspect of God that dwells within creation. When Her "Husband," Who is mercy, meaning the sephirah of Ḥesed, becomes distant from Her, things start to go awry.
Think of it like this: when compassion and loving-kindness (Ḥesed) aren't present to balance the scales, the other sephirot become distorted. The "righteous scales," which represent the two arms of God, Ḥesed (loving-kindness) and Gevurah (strength/judgment), become unbalanced. The "righteous stones," symbolizing the pillars of truth, Netzaḥ (endurance) and Hod (splendor), lose their stability. And the "righteous hin," referring to Yesod, the Foundation, also known as the Tzaddik, the Righteous One, falters.
So, what happens when the Middle Pillar, the central channel of balance and harmony, becomes distant from the Shekhinah? We get mishpat – justice. But not necessarily in a good way. The Tikkunei Zohar quotes Psalm 75:8: "For ELQYM judges – this one He shall lower, and this one He shall raise." It's a powerful verse, but the Tikkunei Zohar gives it a very specific spin.
"This one He shall lower" refers to the one who causes the Shekhinah to be lowered from Her place, separating Her from the other sephirot. "This one He shall raise" refers to the one who causes Her to ascend, restoring balance and harmony.
In other words, our actions have cosmic consequences. When we act in ways that diminish the divine feminine presence, when we create separation and disharmony, we contribute to the lowering of the Shekhinah. But when we act with compassion, kindness, and a commitment to justice, we help to elevate Her, bringing healing and wholeness to the world.
It's a profound reminder that we're not just passive observers in this cosmic drama. We're active participants. Our choices, our actions, our very thoughts can either contribute to the imbalance or help to restore the divine harmony. What kind of scales are we creating today?