This week’s portion speaks about unity and how Moses gathered the Israelites in the desert. According to Michael Berg, the kabbalists teach us that during the 49 days between leaving Egypt and receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai, the Israelites made an enormous effort to strengthen their desire to share, awaken their love, and unite with each other. This understanding summons the energy of this week as we wrap up the last month of the astrological year (Pisces) and begin the first month of the astrological year (Aries).
In the beginning of this week, the Sunconjunct Neptune in Pisces. Neptune transits can feel either very confusing or very inspiring. The sun represents our identity. Neptune represents our desire to dissolve that identity and connect to greater realms. Sun conjunct Neptune is an opportunity to leave behind the old definition of who you are and meet the timeless, infinite self that you really are.
A new beginning can only unfold when we make peace with the past. This is what the New Moon of Aries, the sign of identity, offers. To grow, evolve, and become the best version of ourselves, we need to make an effort to share and connect to that higher version. This is the power of this week's portion: unity. To be united with the physical and spiritual—the higher version of ourselves and the lower version of ourselves. To grow love for ourselves and for others.
I read something recently that reminded me of the movie “The Wizard of Oz.” The Tinman was the one without the heart, without love. When the Wizard gave him a heart, he told the Tinman something very profound, “A heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.”
Count your blessings this week.
Chodesh tov!