Over the years, there've been some mighty powerful Kabbalists who've moved mountains. Moses, King David, The Baal Shem Tov, The Ari, and in our time, The Rav.

Why did so many people listen to these men? They spoke from their heart. Their intention was - and is - congruent with their words. Even if they had a stutter, like Moses, they still split seas and influenced nations.

At the same time, there have been men of seemingly equal intelligence whose words failed to move masses. That's what happens when words come from your head, and not your heart.

Where do you speak from?

Today, pay attention not just to what you say, but from where your words are coming from.

Giving others the evil eye [judgment and envy] indicate we're disconnected from the love of the Creator and feeling separated from others. But we know that the separation we feel is just an illusion. So what's the solution?

Remember, the golden rule of Kabbalah, which is also the Golden Rule we were taught in childhood, love thy neighbor as thyself. Do unto others as we would have others do unto us. In other words, treat others with human dignity, respect, and care, because that is what we would want to experience for ourselves.

We can't have a double standard. There is no loophole in the Universal Law that allows me to treat people selfishly, while the whole world gives me a break.

Today, show others love, respect, and acceptance - despite your desire to feel otherwise. This is one way to overcome the evil eye.

Over the years, students have come to me with their dilemmas, wanting to know what I think. Many times, I've answered, 'I don't have an opinion', 'What do you think?"

'You don't have an opinion?''

Of course I do. The Gemini in me has loads of opinions. But my opinions are not as important as your own.

We all get in the habit of running to our teachers, doctors, lawyers, parents, etc. for help, and it sucks our energy. We don't need to be running to people every time we have a question.

The Rav has always taught me that the process of working over a question in our mind, solving our own problem, is how we exercise our free will. Pursuing questions and figuring things out is how we connect our 1 percent lives to the 99 percent. Consciousness is the bridge.

When we sacrifice our free will for the sake of listening to others, we are severing our link to the spiritual side of life.

Today, I'm not telling you what I think you need to do. You figure it out.
 

When we react to something, we are tapping into our animal nature. As far as we know, animals are not able to access that split second before a response. Their desires are compulsive, and their reactions are as well; they go for the instant gratification.

When we pause first or restrict our response, however, we are tapping into our God nature. We are choosing to no longer be the effect of our desire. Instead, we are choosing to be the cause.

Restriction, by the way, doesn't mean that we won't decide to satiate that desire after all. It just means that we pause and make a conscious decision.

Today, do whatever it is you do. Just make sure you're doing it by choice, not habit.

The experience of the 99% Realm is like those hazy moments when we are half awake and half asleep, when we are aware we are dreaming and trying desperately to hang onto that thread that connects us to the dream, but we know that if we yank too hard on the thread, we will lose the dream altogether.

This is what it feels like when we lose even our brief connections to the Light.

Disconnecting from the Light is the source of our unhappiness. Whenever we feel depressed, unfulfilled, or anxious, it's because we have lost touch with the 99% Realm.

Today, strive to elevate above the fog of the 1% Realm. What seems real is not always so. Turn on your fog lights.

There was a time, before you were born, when people didn't make the connection between the dumping of toxic waste in the ocean and thousands of people becoming seriously ill from eating ocean fish.

It seemed as if a plague had hit. It was scary. People felt as if something awful was suddenly happening to them, something over which they had no control.

Eventually, through careful research and investigation, the connections between the toxic dumping, the fish, and the illnesses were made. Cleanup efforts began, and people stopped getting sick.

Chaos is the misperception that there are no connections. In fact, everything is connected. Everything.

Today, remember everything you do starts with you and ends with the world. Think before you speak or act. Your actions and words have everlasting effects.
Wednesday, August 6

Our spiritual work is to grow more connected to others around us. Our obstacle is stored hurt. When we don't resolve conflicts in our relationships, our lives can't move forward.

Today, tell your boyfriend or boss or brother exactly what you want, what you feel, what you think. You are going to worry about what they will say or think. And honestly, that's the work. Just expose yourself and be vulnerable. Ask the Light to give you the strength to stay open in the pain.

Your soul will love you for having the courage to speak up.

Judging from emails I've been getting from students, there are some of us who feel like we have never experienced 'the Light.'

Let me tell you that you have. We all have, even though it may be fleeting.

Think of the moment you put the final touches on a project that you fiercely believed in, one that took lots of time and effort to complete. That rush of a job well done is the Light.

Or how about that time you thought of someone and they called just at that moment. That too is the Light. Or when you get a great idea or answer. That too is the Light.

So you have touched the Light. The more you look for it, the more you will find it.

Today, find the Light in everything you are doing. It's there. Allow yourself to recognize it.

Have a delightful day.

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