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Dear
Dater,
Welcome to
our new newsletter format. Marin Documentation Group is
now the backdrop for Kabbalah-Dating. These timely
newsletters (about 1 per month) will explain how to
add practical Kabbalah values to dating and relating.
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Romantic
Beauty, September, 2009
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 Elul
is the month of intense inner reflection in the Jewish
calendar. Notably, the first two weeks of the month are
recommended for both weddings and beginning new
relationships, perhaps showing that relationships
are important reflections of ourselves. If you are ready to
commit to your beloved, now is a good time to say "I do." If you
want to meet someone new, but haven't had much luck in the usual
singles scene, try focusing on activities that you enjoy. One
time, a potential date and I hit it off at a break-the-fast meal after
Yom Kippur services. |
| What's Your Letter? |
 According
to Isaac Luria, a Kabbalist of the mid-1500's, a person "wears" one of
the Hebrew letters, Yod-Hay-Vav-Hay, (the tetragram for God's
name) invisibly on their forehead. Luria had the ability to
decipher a person's letter and understand their
personality. Yod-Hay-Vav-Hay also depicts the four Kabbalastic
worlds that occur from the top of the Tree to the bottom: Intuition (Yod),
Knowing (Hay), Feeling (Vav), and
Doing (Hay). |
| The Qualities
of Romantic Beauty |
 How are the qualities of
Romantic Beauty displayed? What would Isaac Luria say
about someone who wears either Devotion or Pride on their
forehead?
Romantic Beauty is located in the
world of feeling, (Vav) and is associated with formation,
the heart, and water. If the beginning of a
relationship shows promise, we feel exuberance. Some
people seek this sensation repeatedly and never
become Devoted to one person. In other words, this type of
relationship only goes so far.
"Puppy-love" feelings in the first
month are also different from mature Lovingkindness, which
grows over time. Allow yourself to enjoy the wonderful
feelings of the first month of a new relationship. Later on, challenges
are more than likely to occur.
What is
the quality of healthy Devotion? Is it shown by
calling someone regularly, but playing around on the side,
or, by bowing down to someone, and subverting your own needs?
Spiritual
Devotion is shown by acting humbly
towards all, because we all have the same ten Leaves (with
different amounts of virtues and vices). True respect reverberates
in our soul.
Romantic Beauty's vice,
Pride, is easy to detect. A little extra may
be outweighed with virtues in other Leaves (which we
will explore over the next few months). This month, determine
whether your partner can be spiritually Devoted to you, or is too Proud
to do so. The Kabbalah-Dating
Workbook has practical
exercises to aid your contemplations, and you can also add your ideas
to our blog.
If
you sense mutual respect this month, weave this into
your Romantic Foundation. (The Physical Foundation begins next month.)
Giving and receiving gifts, cards, or chocolate (I am putting in a
personal plug here) creates joy, and sharing favorite animals
or sports creates enduring meaning. You can both become Devoted to
Koala Bears, for example.
Dieting and Devotion
When I thought about
Devotion and Pride on my spiritual path, I related them
to dieting. I am realizing that dieting is as much a spiritual
challenge as a psychological or behavioral one. When I overeat,
I display Pride by ignoring the consequences of my
actions (however, my hips don't!). Becoming more Devoted
to my diet, and getting that skinny Vav of Beauty to
shine on my forehead, is my goal for this month.
If you are single
If you
are single, you can always work on your relationships.
Spiritually, the most intimate relationship is with God and
nature. This month's giant harvest
moon, overflowing with the light, reminds us of its
Devotion to the sun. If your are not too Proud to look
within, you can shine your inner beauty on the world,
too. This month, may your Romantic Beauty Leaf grow
as large as a sunflower, one of its representative plants.
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My method of interpreting the Tree of
Life is called, "p'shat," which in Hebrew means, "a simple
explanation of the text." I am an English teacher who
enjoys writing, not a scholar or religious leader. I encourage you
to interpret the Tree of Life in a way that makes sense to you, and
to find a teacher if you are interested in deeper
study. Please visit our blog to share your experiences if you are so inclined.
Shalom,
Malka Faden
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See Newsletter 2, Physical
Foundation
Creating the Spiritual Foundation of
a Relationship |
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Dating is the
time to consciously build the three Foundations of a healthy
relationship: Romantic, Physical, and Spritual. Most of us know how to
create the the first two, for example, by sending flowers and wearing
attractive clothing. Creating the Spiritual Foundation is
more elusive.
Kabbalah-Dating
shows you how to weave spirituality into relationships.
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| The Leaf of Romantic Beauty |
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What
are "spiritual inclinations"?
Kabbalah
assigns many qualities to the ten Leaves on the Tree of Life, such
as colors and foods. The static qualities don't appear
exceptionally relevant in relationships, but the dynamic
virtues and vices do. I call the level of virtues and vices
in a person their "spiritual inclination."
When one adds
spiritual strength to the virtues in their Leaves, their
corresponding vices are reduced. This gives them a "unique
vitality," according to noted Kabbalist, Dion Fortune.
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| Want to
give or receive
Kabbalah-Dating
Lessons?
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You can
hold Kabbalah-Dating talks, which are a great way
to connect with like-minded people in your area.
Conact me about lesson plans. I am also available to
make presentations to your group. Contact malkabay@gmail.com for more information.
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| Would you like to be listed on our Resource page? |
You are invited to add your organization to the Resource page on our website!
Contact malkabay@gmail.com
for details. |
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