Sfirot, Chakras, Anahatha and Tiferet

Sfirot, Chakras, Anahatha  and Tiferet!!

It was studying and attempting to teach the Kabbalistic concepts  of “The Sfirot” - The 10 Divine Energies - that brought me to train as a yoga teacher.

The Kabbalah speaks of 10 different energies, Sfirot, shared by us and G-d Himself, that lie at the root of all Creation. These energies exist primarily as a vehicle for G-d to imprint Himself into our world, but they are also to be found within each one of us, reminiscent of the Chakra system.

It says in the book of Job (Iyov) "And from my flesh I shall see G-d." (19:26.) Because we are created in the image of G-d,  we can study ourselves and our own nature and thereby come to know Him. So, if I posses capacities that can be identified with G-d, and I can become familiar with those capacities within myself, I have a point of departure from which to begin to understand and thereby relate to  G-d Himself.

There  are 10 sfirot, intellectual  and emotional manifestations, and each one corresponds to a part of the human body. By relating to how a particular body part works and how it fulfills its function, I can also gather information not just about myself but about G-d and His Creation as well.

I found that in teaching the theory of the sfirot, using the physical body as an example of how the sfirot were manifest was most helpful … and thus my desire to teach yoga was conceived.

The first sfirah is not always counted as one of the 10.

Keter

Crown

Above the  head

Seventh Chakra

The Intellectual Sfirot

Chochmah	Wisdom(Inspired insight)	Right Side of the Brain	Sixth Chakra
Bina	Developed Understanding	Left Side of the Brain	Sixth Chakra
Daat	Integrated Knowledge		Fifth Chakra

The Emotional Sfirot

Chesed	Expansive Kindness	Right Arm	Fourth Chakra
Gevurah	Contracting Boundary  Maker/Severity	Left Arm	Fourth Chakra
Tiferet	Compassion/Harmony/Beauty	Heart Center	Fourth /Heart Chakra
Netzach	Victory/Endurance/ Determination	Right Leg	Third Chakra
Hod	Acknowledgement/Splendor/ Surrender	Left Leg	Third Chakra
Yesod	Foundation	Genital Region	Second  Chakra
Malchut	Royalty/Mastery	Mouth/Base of Spine/Feet	First  Chakra

As we learn in all mind-body practice, by moving in a particular way we  influence the psyche and the soul as well as the body. Thus learning about the soul can help us understand our own body from a deeper perspective, and understanding how the body moves and works can help us access  our connection to our  soul and by extension to the  entire (spiritual ) world in general, which is itself created according to the principles of the Sfirot.   

And thus we come to how I came up with the name for my yoga studio: Tiferet Movement.

The Sfirah corresponding to the heart center  (which corresponds to the 4th Chakra, or “Anahatha”) is called Tiferet,  which is difficult to translate into English but means:

Beauty

Balance

Integration

Compassion and Adornment

all rolled into one!

Well, who wouldn’t want that??

The meanings that I most identify with are those that describe the beauty of Tiferet as coming about because of the balance and integration of the preceding two qualities of Chesed and Gevurah.

Unlike the chakra system with follows the energy up and down the central line of the person, the Sfirotic system, whose illustration is the logo for Tiferet Movement, is the constant  balancing and play of polar opposite energies.

Tiferet, being in the heart center of all the sfirot , balances all the different opposite energies….but most specifically, it balances the masculine and expansive giving of Chesed with the feminine and contractive focus of Gevurah. It is my understanding that the practice of yoga helps us bring our bodies and psyche into alignment through the physical moving of the left and right sides of the body, in very much the same way as the learning of Torah ( and the practice of its commandments)  with its principles based in Kabbalistic truths, bring the soul into a place of balance.

It is my hope and intention that the practice of Yoga at Tiferet Movement will be a practice that will bring its participants into a place of balance and integration, MInd, Body and Soul!

For comments or questions,give me a call (917- 821- 0694) or email me at brachame@gmail.com, check out our website  at  TiferetMovement.com.

We move to come into balance Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Please join us!

With blessings,

Bracha