During this month of Virgo (Elul), the traditional practice of teshuvah asks us to reflect upon where we've been, where we are, and where we're going. While teshuvah is sometimes referred to as a practice of repentance, the word actually translates to the idea of "returning." The purpose of teshuvah is to help us recognize where we've made mistakes so that we can right ourselves for the year ahead.
Kabbalah clarifies the source of our missteps and errors is a result of a break in our connection with the Light of the Creator. But we can reclaim our best selves and repair those wrongs by restoring the Light at the places where the channel was broken. Rav Berg considered teshuvah a form of time travel–one that was practiced by kabbalists long before science (or science fiction) even entertained the notion!
Amending those lost or blocked connections invites more Light for us to share in the present and carry into the future.