A personal journey into spirituality, astrology, and Kabbalah reveals why this New Year is for everyone. While religion never captured my interest, philosophy and semiotics have always been my passion. Kabbalah provided a wisdom I never knew I was seeking—practical and wondrous insights. Who would have guessed that nearly a decade of study would unfold? Saturn returns, am I right?!
Happy New Year, fellow humans! Wishing everyone a joyous, prosperous year full of blessings!
What Kabbalah Means
Kabbalah means “to receive.” According to Kabbalists, Rosh Hashanah is the New Year for every soul—a time when our lives are determined for the coming year. Sometimes, as I write or conduct an astrology reading, I can hardly believe it’s me talking about this stuff! When I began studying, I had no idea I would embrace the holidays let alone study astrology and the Zohar. Spirituality and religion weren’t part of my daily life growing up and it held no interest for me. In Kabbalah I discovered a unique wisdom that intertwines astrology, reincarnation, language, technology, dream analysis, health, the meaning of life and more—one that continues to enlighten and pique my interest. Most importantly, its values and essential teachings are the basics of life.
The Essence of Kabbalah
For me, studying Kabbalah is about exploring stories that guide us in our daily lives. It’s not about someone having all the answers or dictating what to do. Instead, it’s a wisdom unique to each person, reflecting our distinct roles in the world. The teachings often come in codes, integrating numerology, astrology, the Hebrew alphabet, and the Zohar to help us navigate life. It’s practical yet esoteric and emphasizes how we treat fellow humans, the planet, and animals. I find this focus enriching and reflective of the diversity of our paths and experiences.
“The teachings of the Zohar concern not only the collective experience of humanity but also the stories of individual human beings—parents and children, students and teachers, friends and antagonists. As above, so below is a tenet of Kabbalah. Though the Zohar’s stories were written thousands of years ago, your story is within them. The meaning of your life and the means to your spiritual growth are contained in these teachings.” – Philip S. Berg, The Essential Zohar: The Source of Kabbalistic Wisdom
One of the first people I met at the center taught me a vital lesson: while the teachings are magical, the people—being human—are flawed. This Scorpio caution reminded me not to miss learning opportunities because of personal disagreements. How often do we miss out on experiences due to the foibles of life? Don’t throw out the good with the bad. Learn to ride the waves without bailing. Gotta love that Scorpio care!
The Path Appears
I started studying in Los Angeles in that serendipitous way life often unfolds. I had just begun my Saturn return, which meant leaving my “dream” job at NBC Network News and moving to LA. At that time, I knew nothing about Saturn returns or astrology; all I wanted was to be happy and find myself again. After being a “successful” journalist I now valued depth and meaning, seeking more profound truth. A new friend suggested I check out the Kabbalah Center. At first, I dismissed it—Madonna made it popular, and I thought, “a cult? Really?” But curiosity led me to a free introductory lecture days later, and when the Aries teacher began speaking, it felt like he could have been a friend from New York. I didn’t expect that.
I remember a card on the table that read, “Everything that happens after the age of 25, you can’t blame on your parents.” I laughed and have been studying ever since.
Awakenings is one of my favorite movies; Oliver Sacks’ work has been incredibly influential. I’ve found my Kabbalah studies have beautifully complemented the greatest thinkers and ideas.
“The difficulty lies, not in the new ideas, but in escaping from the old ones.” — Oliver Sacks, Awakenings
Rosh Hashanah: The New Year
This week marks the last week of the Torah portion but also the New Year. The end is in the beginning. Each year, on the first day of Libra in the Hebrew calendar, the souls of the world are born—our New Year. This alignment with Libra, guided by Venus, emphasizes balance.
Rosh Hashanah is a new year and a holiday about judgment. We reflect on our actions and ask ourselves: Do we deserve another year of life? Can we take responsibility for our choices and strive to do better if granted another year? The preceding month of Virgo is about cleansing and repairing, especially internally. It’s a time for repentance, focusing on our relationship with ourselves and the Creator. While that may sound overwhelming, I believe taking stock of ourselves annually is valuable. It actually seems the like a most normal and responsible thing to do.
Socrates’ wise words “The unexamined life is not worth living” was a senior quote of mine. Kabbalah requires us to examine our lives – our thoughts, actions, intentions – to improve ourselves and our world. Your dreams, interests, and talents are meaningful—they should be embraced. Do you do that?
Rosh Hashanah invites us to reflect: What do we want in our lives? What will we do with another year? Are we appreciating this gift of life or sleeping through it?
The teachings are clear: our lives are in our hands. While this can be daunting or upsetting, it’s also empowering. Change is possible; it’s a choice. If we receive what we give, don’t we want mercy and second chances? It’s our duty to extend that to others as well.
What Are Your Intentions?
What do you want in this next year? Have you considered it? In relationships, career, health, learning, travel, and growth? These are crucial questions that deserve reflection—another reason I keep returning to this wisdom.
There is obviously so much more I could say on Kabbalah, the breadth of study is wonderful. So let me know if you want to talk about something in particular? Feel free to share any particular wisdoms or teachings that you study that aid you. I’ve also found Iyengar Yoga to improve my life as well. There are many ways to bettering ourself so let’s chat about them!
If you’re curious about studying, I recommend checking out the Kabbalah Center and in particular the books by Rav Berg. The Education of a Kabbalist is my favorite book. Also, follow Marcus Weston, David Ghiyam, and the Weekly Energy Boost on various socials for immediate practical insights as they are longtime teachers.
Happy New Year, mes amis! Here’s to a joyous year filled with blessings for all!
If you’d like an astrology reading with me to look at yourself to create a stronger year ahead you can book it here!
“People have forgotten what life is all about. They’ve forgotten what it is to be alive. They need to be reminded.” – Awakenings (film)
Wants to know. Has some questions. Very Sag. Always up for pizza. Planning several trips. Big fan of joy. Wants to talk about it. All of them. Is sure we can figure out this whole living thing. Is rooting for you.
