Tuesday September 16 day 36

Welcome to the thirty-sixth day of our journey through the 49 gates of Binah. This week we are focused on the Sefirah of Yesod (Foundation, Connection, and Manifestation). Today, we open the gate of Tiferet shebeYesod.

The Sefirah of Tiferet represents harmony, compassion, and truth. It is the central point of balance that reconciles and unifies opposing forces. When we combine this with Yesod, the Sefirah of foundation and blueprint, we learn that a strong foundation must be built on a sense of inner harmony and truth. Tiferet shebeYesod means "Harmony within Foundation." This gate teaches us that a stable life is not a rigid one but a balanced one, where our actions are rooted in a deep sense of integrity and compassion. It is the quality of a person whose life's blueprint is so aligned with their core values that it creates a beautiful, harmonious existence. This is the inner peace that comes from building a life that is true to yourself and your values.

In the traditional Jewish practice of counting the Omer, this day is about integrating our sense of truth and beauty with our personal foundation. Kabbalistic teachings view this day as a critical opportunity to repair imbalances where our personal blueprint is built on a lack of integrity or a need to be something we are not. We are called to develop a form of stability that is rooted in our authentic self, ensuring that our life's actions are a true reflection of our core being. This is the work of transforming our personal will into a reliable and trustworthy foundation for our life's work, a foundation built on quiet dignity.

Find a quiet place to sit comfortably. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Visualize a mighty oak tree, its branches reaching for the sky. Now, turn your attention to the roots of the tree, buried deep in the earth, the essence of Yesod. See these roots as vast, strong, and stable, anchoring the tree firmly in the ground. Now, feel a warm, golden light radiating from the core of the tree, the essence of Tiferet. This light illuminates the roots, making them glow with a sense of truth and harmony. Feel this synergy within you: a solid, unwavering core that is built not just on strength but on a sense of inner peace and authenticity.

For today's practice, choose a long-term goal or relationship that feels unstable or lacks a clear path forward.

The Challenge: Instead of focusing on the final outcome, apply the disciplined, foundational strength of Tiferet shebeYesod to a single, small, and manageable task that moves you forward. This could be spending just 15 minutes organizing your workspace for a project, completing one specific chapter of a book, or making a single, healthy meal for a long-term diet plan. The goal is to experience how consistency in small, foundational steps creates a powerful momentum for long-term victory.

• What is the true foundation of your long-term goals?
• How did it feel to focus on the "small" step today rather than the "big" outcome?
• In what ways can you make your will and ambition more consistent?

"My foundation is built on my truth."