Kabbalah and Psych Tpsy14

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Kabbalah and Psychology

Part 14

Understanding the Zodiac

It is important to note that while the zodiac concept appears in the Torah, the

Torah’s concept of the zodiac has nothing to do with secular astrology. The signs of the

zodiac exist in reality and they have specific significance in Jewish teachings.

Tishrei: scales Tishrei is the month of judgment which relates to the sign of the

scales. The scales represent a state of equilibrium, which is a principle of the middle

line (in the sefirotic chart), the line that corresponds to air. The right side represents the

power to descend and the left represents the power to ascend, while the middle line

represents balance. In the Zohar, the term for scales refers to an abstract concept of

balance, such as the psychological equilibrium of a balanced personality. Indeed,

balance is a very significant factor in the rectification of all interpersonal relationships,

as we are taught in the most profound part of the Zohar, the Sifrah Detzniutah (literally,

The Book of Modesty):

“Before there was balance, it was impossible to look at another person

face to face.”

In the initial world of Chaos, there is no balance or cooperation between the

different parts of the psyche and this leads to psychological breakdown. In the world of

Rectification, which follows the world of Chaos, everything depends upon balance. A



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person with a balanced psyche is able to look at another soul eye to eye. A balanced

soul is, therefore, one of the first things that a psychologist needs in order to treat his or

her patients.

Cheshvan: scorpion The sign of Cheshvan is the scorpion. At the end of the

festival of Succot, during the second half of Tishrei, we begin to ask for water in a

unique prayer that is said on the festival of Shemini Atzeret. We hope and pray that the

actual rainfall will begin in Cheshvan, the month that follows the festivals of Tishrei.

The fact that Cheshvan is a month that relates to the element of water is clear from its

biblical name, Bul, referring to the word , the Flood. Indeed, in the generation of

Noah, the Flood both began and ended in the month of Cheshvan.

Kislev: bow In the Torah, an arrow is a symbol for a lightning flash. A bow

represents the fire that strikes in a flash of lightning.

Tevet: goat The symbol of Tevet is a goat, which is an earth symbol and relates

to the sefirah of Kingdom.

Shevat: bucket The symbol of Shevat is a bucket, which is the second symbol

related to balance---the principle governed by the element of air. A water carrier carries

two buckets that are balanced on his shoulders. In order to succeed, he has to maintain

a constant state of balance.

Adar: fish The symbol of the month of Adar is two fish swimming in the sea. Fish

clearly relates to the element of water.

Nissan: lamb The symbol of Nissan is a lamb. It corresponds to the element of

fire, as the Passover lamb was the first sacrifice commanded to the Children of Israel

when they were in Egypt.



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Iyar: ox The symbol of Iyar is the ox, which is an earth symbol, like that of the

goat.

Sivan: twins The symbol of Sivan is twins. It is the third and last symbol related

to balance. (The three symbols of balance, beautifully related, are first the scales,

second, the buckets, and third, the twins.) Sivan, the third month of the year, is the time

of the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai, and the twins represent the two Tablets of the

Covenant (shnei luchot ha’brit ).

Tamuz: crab The symbol of Tamuz is a crab, which is a water animal, thus

corresponding to the element of water.

Av: lion The symbol of the month of Av is a lion. A lion represents the sefirah of

might, which corresponds to the element of fire.

Elul: virgin The symbol of Elul is a virgin. The feminine figure in general represents

the earth principle: the woman, who receives and contains everything within her own

potential.

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Kabbalah and Psych Tpsy14