TIFERET
Tiferet is beauty and harmony.
It corresponds to the Sun in astrology. It also represents the Ruach, the
moral level of the soul. It is the culmination and synthesis of the activities
of Yesod (foundation, physical body), Hod (left brain), and Netzach (right
brain). From our foundation and the proper functioning of both brain hemispheres,
an ego emerges, a sense of personal identity. If we have built a good foundation
and balanced the functions of our left and right brain hemispheres, then
this sense of self is good and healthy. Tiferet represents this "I"
that arises from within us. Up until around age 13, we function more from
the level of Yesod and the Nefesh or vital level of the soul. Our independence
from our parents is limited, and the emphasis should be on the development
of good habits to guide us through the next stage of our evolution. Around
age 13, however, puberty is reached and profound changes begin to take place.
We gain a greater sense of individuality, and we develop a will of our own.
At this stage, we begin to cut the cord that binds us to our parents as
we develop our own ability to make moral choices and distinguish right from
wrong. If our training has been good and if we avoid making serious mistakes,
then this is a time when our own light begins to emerge and we can add our
own beauty to the community at large.
Physically, Tiferet corresponds to the heart. The last letter in the
Torah is Lamed and the first letter is Bet. Together, they spell lev which
is Hebrew for heart. The numerical value of lev is 32 which is also the
number of sefirot and paths on the Tree of Life. We also note that just
as the heart is connected to and nourishes every part body, so is Tiferet
the only sefirah that is connected to all the others. In the Talmud
it says that an angel teaches us the whole Torah right before we are born
and then makes us forget it when we enter into this world. Clearly, there
is no point in learning the whole Torah unless it is so that we will remember
it at a later date. Since the whole Torah is contained between Lamed and
Bet, this shows that the entire Torah is contained within our hearts. In
the Torah, we are told to circumcise our hearts (Deuteronomy 10:16. 30:6),
and in Jeremiah we are told that the time will come
when no one will need to ask a teacher about God because this knowledge
will be written in our hearts. Thus, open up your heart. Remember your purpose.
Be a good and moral person. Let your light and your gifts to this world
shine through.