Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 19 Adar, 5785

Good morning! As we continue our journey into the shadows this week – we learn about the importance of leadership.  It is one thing to dig into our shadows – to dive deep into them.  For wisdom, understanding, and compassion.

And? Who leads? Bezalel followed Moses. Moses was giving the directions. The shadow FOLLOWS the light. This is crucial.  And we see this in nature, don’t we?  Where the light moves? The shadow moves with it. Until the light is directly above, and then the shadow disappears fully within us.

So this is crucial for us to remember – it’s a cycle.

Expansion and contraction.

And learning acceptance of our shadows. Integrating them. Because when we ignore the shadow? We cannot see who we truly are. We cannot see where the light is leading.

When we see our shadow on the ground? When we focus and face it? What is our instinct?

As a child, I can remember seeing my shadow. And instead of backing up away from it? I wanted to jump or step ON IT.

This is our wiring. We want to dig INTO the shadow. We CHASE our shadow.

We are CURIOUS about our shadow.

As we grow older, we begin to understand the CAUSE of the shadow – the light passing through our bodies. Our bodies casting darkness on the ground. And we lose the wonder.  We move on and stop engaging.  We just accept the reality and let it go.

What if there was more? What if the lesson isn’t over? What if being curious about the LIGHT and how it integrates with the body is the move?

Can we see the light, and move where the light is? Towards our higher selves?

It might be a challenge because the light is always moving, isn’t it? Except? It isn’t moving. The sun is steady. WE are moving. If we want to follow the sun? We just need to recognize it is us that moves. And? The shadow points us in the direction to go.

Why?

Because we cannot run faster than the earth rotates. So if we move AWAY from the shadow? The light will catch us much SLOWER than if we run towards our shadow.  Because running TOWARDS the shadow? We meet the light when it hits us again.

Let this be the lesson. Run towards our shadow – we will see the light sooner than if we run away from it.

Those are my thoughts. What are yours?

Here’s my thoughts from a year ago:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 26 Adar 1, 5784
Parsha Va-Yakhel: (Exodus 35:1 – 38:20)
Fourth Portion: Exodus 36:8 – 36:19

Good morning! As we continue with Parsha Va-Yakhel, “and he assembled” we are gathering together in our spheres of influence the components we need to live our best lives!  We’ve been exploring generosity and wisdom, AND the idea of integrating wisdom and understanding within our hearts! Let’s dig in:

8Then all the wise hearted people of the performers of the work made the Mishkan out of ten curtains [consisting] of twisted fine linen, and blue, purple, and crimson wool. A cherubim design, the work of a master weaver he made them.

This is interesting, right? The “wise hearted people of the performers of the work” made the Mishkan (Tabernacle) out of 10 curtains. The design was made of the work of a master weaver – Bezalel (who we learned about in yesterday’s portion).

The name “Bazalel” means “in the shadow of God.” This resonates with the idea of protection.

In doing a lot of inner shadow work, this is where our protection lays. We are protected by the shadow of Hashem. This is not something to be afraid of.  The shadow is the one who BUILT the tabernacle. The shadow was the MASTER putting it all together.

How often are we SCARED of our shadows? Do we want them to just “go away.” How often do we see them, given them directions (as Moses did) and allow them to work.

The problem at times is our shadows take the seat of Moses – THEY lead us – instead of being led BY us. We don’t give our shadows the blueprint for success.

And here we see the process – Bezalel followed the directions of Moses perfectly:

9The length of one curtain [was] twenty eight cubits, and the width of one curtain [was] four cubits the same measure for all the curtains.

10And he joined five of these curtains to one another, and [the other] five curtains he [also] joined to one another.

11And he made loops of blue wool on the edge of one curtain [that is] at the edge of the [first] set, and he did the same on the edge of the outermost curtain of the second set.

12He made fifty loops on [the edge of] one curtain, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain in the second set; the loops corresponded to one another.

13And he made fifty golden clasps, and he fastened the curtains to one another with the clasps; so the Mishkan became one.

14And [then] he made curtains of goat hair for a tent over the Mishkan; he made them eleven curtains.

15The length of one curtain [was] thirty cubits, and the width of one curtain was four cubits; the same measure for the eleven curtains.

16And he joined the five curtains by themselves, and the [other] six curtains by themselves.

17And he made fifty loops on the edge of the outermost curtain of the [first] set, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the [outermost] curtain of the second set.

18And he made fifty copper clasps to fasten the tent together so that it became one.

19And he made a covering for the tent, of ram skins dyed red and a covering of tachash skins above.

This tells me – within us – who is leading? Is our shadows leading us, or is Moses leading us within? When we struggle to be emotionally regulated? Who is guiding us – the emotions which stem from our shadows? Or the mind and heart in full alignment, harmony and coherence?

This is the takeaway today, in my opinion.  What is yours?