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. Kabbalists reveal several interesting insights in connection with the month. First, the flood was actually a positive event, whereby the deluge of water served as a cleansing force of mercy and chesed - cleansing the earth of chaos and corruption which were rampant at the time. Water acts as conduit and during Cheshvan serves to manifest the Light revealed during the holidays in the previous month of Tishrei. Accordingly, the new moon of Cheshvan serves as a seed of protection, similar to water surrounding a fetus in the womb or the healing waters of a mikveh. We can convert the energy of "Mar" and the bitterness associated with the flood, into that of healing and protection. Secondly, according to the Sefer Yetzirah, Abraham the Patriarch named the month Scorpio, or Akrav in Hebrew. Akrav is spelled Ayin, Kof, Resh, Bet. In the spelling we see the letters Ayin and Bet literally surrounding the Kof and Resh in the word. Ayin Bet has the numerical value of 72 - connecting us to the energy and protection of the 72 names of G-d. Kof Resh or Kar, means cold. We see how the word for Scorpio, has the 72 names surrounding and driving away the cold, similar to how the flood of water and spiritual 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 controls or influences the constellation and planet of the 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 (see below).  Dalet created the Planet Mars and comes from the Hebrew word Dalut - or poverty. When a person feels lack or poverty, they have a tendency to have a hunger for power and desire to achieve and accomplish - qualities of those born under the sign of Scorpio in Cheshvan.

The letter Nun created the constellation of Scorpio and symbolizes falling, connecting to the word Nefilah - to fall. It is within the act of falling that we are able to rise again, letting us know we must always face challenges head on in life. When taken together, Dalet and Nun spell Din, which means judgment. When judgement is combined with the mercy and Light received through the water from the flood, we can experience great amounts of healing and protection. 

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.

Convert the darkness and perceived bitter attributes of the month by infusing judgment with mercy.