The Month of Shevat- Aquarius

The Kabbalah of Aquarius 

Beyond The Zodiac | Live Kabbalah - Rabbi Amichai Cohen

The month of Shevat is the 11th month of the year where it says that Moshe began to explain the entire Torah in 70 languages. Meaning that the wisdom of the Torah was brought down to the world in an understandable way so truth can be accessed by all nations for all times.

The number 11 represents the transformation of the other side called the Sitra Achra into the realm of Holiness. That is why the Ketoret - the incense had 11 spices. This is why verse of the acronym of the permutation of the name of G-d is “If he will exchange him, he and his replacement will be holy” (referring to tithing the tenth animal).

During this moth we have an ability to shift our negative consciousness to our higher potential.

This explanation is intertwined with the sign of the month the bucket דלי.

A bucket draws water and into it and then pours it out. The wisdom of the Torah is compared to water, as the Talmud says “just as water flows from a high place to a low place, so too one who seeks the wisdom of Torah needs humility”.

The role of a teacher is to draw that wisdom and to pour it into the “garden” of the student for them to grow and develop.

Moses our first teacher was the ultimate teacher who watered “the flock of Jacob”.

The story in Exodus recounts how Moses “sat by the well” and helped the daughters of Yitro from other shepherds. When they came home to their father Yitro they described him as “גם דלה     דלה לנו he drew water for us”. The wicked prophet Bialaam says regarding Moshiach “He will draw water from his bucket”.

The forefathers met their matches by the water and as in the case of Eliezer the servant of Avraham made a pact with G-d that the girl who will draw water for him and his flock is the one destined to marry Isaac.

Jacob as drew water for Rachel and it was by the well that their love began.

The Talmud says “Israel has no constellation”, the word for “no” is אין Ayin. Kabbalist explain that Ayin, nothingness, the Ayin Sof is the mazal of Israel. The one constellation which captures the Ayin is the bucket. That why this month gives us the ability to rise beyond our restrictions and past traumas and connect with our infinite soul.

The numerology for bucket when it is spelled out equals 8 times galgal גלגל-plant . There are 7 plants and then the number 8 represents rising above the limitation of the plants- Ayin.

The Sense

The sense of the month is eating and the body part is the intestines.

This relates to the explanation of Moses. Just as we can not swallow our food with out eating, we can not swallow wisdom chewing and digesting it properly.

On the 15th of Shevat we have the Holiday of Tu B’Shvat, the Rosh Hashanah of the trees. It is the day that the new tithes of the year are calculated . Tu B’Shvat is commemorated by eating fruit of the land of Israel, specifically of the seven species: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranate, olives and dates.

Fruit represents the extra amount of goodness which G-d gives us beyond our necessities, representing Kabbalah. The eating of fruit is a delightful and healthy experience which brings us the joy of feeling G-d’s infinite love.

Asher

This month is associated with the Tribe of Asher. It says about Asher “From Asher’s land will come rich food an he will provide royal delicacies” (Genesis 49, 20). 

Asher’s portion of the land of Israel is in the fertile and beautiful Upper Galilee. He has olive groves and produced olive oil for his brothers. Olive oil represents wisdom and it was the tribe of Asher the distributed this delightful wisdom to the rest of his brothers.

Olive oil is bitter and represents the potential of transforming the bitter into sweet. Olive oil gives the most clean light, showing how the bitter can become sweet.

In addition it says “he will be loved by his brothers”. The Talmud explained that the daughters of Asher will be exceedingly beautiful and will marry the Kohanim Gedolim - the High priests. who light the Menorah (candelabra) of olive oil. Their inner beuty shined outwards in their outward beauty both spiritually and physically. The most famous daughter of Asher was called Serach.

The Midrash says that Serach was the one who told Yaacov that Joseph was still alive in Egypt. Because of this Yaacov blessed Serach with a. a long life b.eternal life (2 opinions in the Midrash). It was Serach who knew the secret of the redemption, told Moshe where Yosef was buried and merited to enter the land of Israel. She is one of the most unique figures in the Tanach who defy death and hold the key to redemption. This special quality was the quality of Asher as well.

Asher comes from the word Osher, joy and Rosh - head. meaning we have really joy when we transform darkness to light and draw the Rosh - the head, our higher selves into our lives. This is why Asher is a part of every blessing “Asher Kiddishanu - for which G-d sanctified us”.