Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan
Month of THE FLOOD
Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan - Scorpio
The month of Cheshvan is the 8th month of the Hebrew calendar and is symbolized by the astrological sign of Scorpio. Following the holiday-packed month of Tishrei, Cheshvan is often considered to be a dark month, lacking holidays and meaningful cosmic openings. Kabbalists share, however, that the greatest potential for light comes from darkness and Cheshvan is a great example.
The name of the month, Marcheshvan, is an Aramaic word from Babylonia which literally means "eighth month". The prefix "Mar", which means bitter, was interpreted to allude to the lack of holidays during the month and to denote several bitter events that happened in Chesvan, most notably the great flood of Noach. In modern times, many communities removed the association to "bitter" and simply refer to the month as Cheshvan.
The Kabbalists reveal, however, that Mar also means “drop of water.” What was once seen as bitter can therefore be transformed into sweet — the drop of Divine mercy that purifies and renews. The same water that brought destruction also healed; it was the mikveh of the world. During Cheshvan, this element of water becomes a vessel for manifestation, channeling the Light revealed during the High Holidays into tangible blessings. The new moon of Cheshvan thus acts as a seed of protection, like the amniotic waters surrounding new life. Our spiritual work this month is to transform the “Mar” — bitterness — into the sweet waters of healing, cleansing, and renewal.
According to the Sefer Yetzirah, Abraham the Patriarch named the month Scorpio, or Akrav in Hebrew. Akrav is spelled Ayin, Kof, Resh, Bet. The outer letters, Ayin and Bet, have the numerical value of 72 - connecting us to the energy and protection of the 72 names of G-d. The inner letters, Kof and Resh, form Kar, meaning "cold". The 72 names thus surround and drive away spiritual coldness, just how the floodwaters of mercy drove away the negativity and corruption during the time of Noach.
Letters of the Month - Dalet & Nun
According to the Sepher Yetzirah, the Hebrew letters are spiritual frequencies that created the universe. A different Hebrew letter governs the constellation and planet of each month. By connecting to these letters through meditation, we can draw down specific energy to empower and enlighten us.
The letters for the month of Cheshvan are Dalet and Nun. Dalet created the Planet Mars and comes from the Hebrew word Dalut - poverty. When a person experiences lack, they often develop a powerful desire to achieve, transform and grow - qualities characteristic of those born under the sign of Scorpio.
The letter Nun created the constellation of Scorpio and connects to Nefilah - "falling". Yet every falls holds the seed of elevation. When taken together, Dalet and Nun form Din, which means judgment. When Din is infused with mercy - the energy of water and cleansing Light revealed through the flood of Noah - it transforms into protection and healing.
Days of Connection in Cheshvan
The month of Cheshvan has no holidays or fast days. In many writings it is called Mar Cheshvan, the bitter Cheshvan - connecting it to the disasters which occurred during the month including the great flood and the splitting of Solomon's kingdom. The key is to take the energy received during the holidays in the prior month of Tishrei and use that energy to maintain our certainty and our ability to achieve and accomplish whatever we desire, despite the "bitterness" and perceived lack of Light during the month of Cheshvan.
Have a great month and Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan! Convert the darkness and perceived bitterness of the month by infusing judgment with mercy - and by transforming water's cleansing power into Light, healing and renewal.
Resources & Credits
The Monthly Wisdom emails and the ideas presented herein are compiled from the following sources:
Kabbalisitc Astrology and the Meaning of our Lives - Kabbalist Rav Berg
Kabbalah Decoder - Janet Berensen-Perkins
Sefer Yetzirah
LiveKabbalah.org
The Books of customs: A Complate Handbook of the Jewish Year - Scott Martin Kosoksky Inspired by the Yiddish Minhoginbukh, Venice 1593
The First Jewish Catalog - Compiled and Edited by Richard Siegel, Michael Strassfeld and Sharon Strassfeld
The Zohar
Wikipedia