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The Birthing of a New Energy Cycle + the
Origin of April Fool’s Day
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According to Talmud, the birth
(of New Energy) happens this coming month, the Hebrew month of Nissan. This
birthing comes as a result of the conception of the earlier part of the year.
But unlike the Fall/Winter season of conception, Nissan initiates a different
energy dynamic.
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On Passover a person must be an
open vessel to receive this blessing of Divine Flow. In preparation, we rid
ourselves of chametz, all the vanity, the inflated ego, and the
resistances for change. On Passover we must remove all the false exteriors, we
must be free of obstructions, and open ourselves to receive G-d's blessing of
new beginnings.
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The English month April is when a
new energy cycle begins. The word “April” comes from the Latin verb “Abrir”
which means to open, to release. The term itself implies the energetic work
we must do – opening and releasing – to clean house for the New Energy to
enter and stimulate a change in us. “Spring cleaning” is a beginning point to
host a Divine visitation.
Origin of
April Fool’s Day
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Just as Nissan is the first of
the Hebrew months according to the Torah, April was the New Year in the Old
World calendar. Ancient cultures, including those as varied as the Romans and
the Hindus, celebrated New Year's Day on April 1st. Even the Zodiac wheel
begins with the constellation of Aries (April). But in the year 1582 this
natural in-sync resonance with the cycles of nature changed, at least with a
new Church mandated calendar. In 1582 Pope Gregory XIII ordered a new
calendar (the Gregorian Calendar) to replace the old Julian Calendar. The new
calendar called for New Year's Day to be celebrated Jan.1st. Many countries,
however, resisted the change. In fact, some European countries held out for
centuries (Scotland until 1660; Germany, Denmark, and Norway until 1700; and
England until 1752). But the first to resist the new calendar changes were in
France. Still keeping their traditional calendar (celebrating April 1st as
their New Year) they were labeled “April’s fools” and it became local custom
to pull pranks on those people.
“Foolish” Connections
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Ironically, the word “Fool” is
actually an appropriate term to describe the nature of the month of April.
For just as Aries is the beginning of the Zodiac, the Fool card is the
beginning point of the archetypes of the Tarot Deck.
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The Zodiac sign Aries that
corresponds to April is represented by a Ram’s head, a symbol of “energy
bursting forth, the creative force of Spirit”, much like the Tarot’s
symbolism, it is the beginning of a journey.
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On the Hebrew Calendar, the
Jewish holiday of Purim - where one is expected to increase their joy, light
heartedness and foolishness – comes before Passover. “This is no
coincidence”, my rebbe R. Shlomo Carlebach explained. “Purim comes before
Pesach (Passover) because Purim prepares us for Pesach. I need to get
in touch with my joy, before I can even begin to think of leaving my Egypt”.
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Court Jester as Enlightened Fool
– Historically, the court jester was a state-sponsored mischief maker who was
not only permitted, but hired to speak his mind--often in jokes, riddles or
songs-- when others were forbidden in the presence of power. The jester was
the only acceptable form of deviation in the King’s courts, expected to poke
fun at all the cultural taboos, to puncture the ruler's ego and publicly break
rules, thereby allowing an outlet for otherwise “forbidden” insights,
behaviors and feelings.
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The ability to poke fun at the
current norms and standards we set for ourselves, or imposed upon us by
society is an important part of growth for it allows us to "unlearn".
Unlearning is as important for growth as learning. Some of our present
knowledge, beliefs, and assumptions about how the world is may no longer be
serving our highest interest. The jester allows us to hold a mirror to
ourselves and examine our own shortcomings. When we can do this with genuine
humor and honesty, we can open ourselves to transformation.
Embracing the Paradox of the Season –
Introspection and Foolishness
There are two main points which serve as our duality of Spring:
First, that a spring cleaning and personal inventory is necessary to receive the
influx of Divine Light showered upon Creation during the Spring season. Second,
that we must have an almost naïve, foolish surrender into the uncertainty of our
own personal journey. In a sense this is a duality in that one requires careful
introspection owning all of our parts, which is no easy task. The other
requires a detached involvement from the woes of the world, and a conscious
“lightness of being”. This dual task of living is the key to our liberation.
It is when we can embrace both polarities and honor each as they arise, that we
are in a better position to “spring forth”.
It is when we can be the ALL that we are, our light and our shadow, that
the Divine is able to find us at our home address. When we are not living at
our home address, it is much harder for G-d to reach us. A spring cleaning may
not be sufficient by itself. But a deliberate decision to return home and
actually live there, will make a better chance for the transformation.
Why is it important to “own our darkness” as well as our light?
Simply put, because the darkness we don’t own, owns us.
This Spring, we must accept that we are all here to learn how to navigate this
human trip. Therefore, honor yourself and your path. Give yourself a break.
Don't be so hard on yourself, yet don’t forget yourself either. Celebrate
this Spring with a good cleansing, and getting rid of what is no longer
necessary, while always remembering to play.
It is this season that the Divine comes to not only fill our vessel with
Light, but to also give us the strength to create that vessel, especially
if we don’t have the strength to do it by ourselves.
A Simple Fool’s Final Prayer
May we give each other the strength to cast out of our minds, all the thoughts
that are not of our highest and most noble nature. Please G-d, may we not be
tempted to doubt the light that lights up the entire world. And through this
light, may we become more familiar with the depths and power that we are, when
we share in our Divine Inheritance together.
Preparing for the Exodus,
Michael Ozair
Los Angeles, CA
Michael Ozair is a
spiritual life coach, counselor and consultant. He can be reached at
coach@kabbalahcoach.com
or by visiting his site at
KabbalahCoach.com
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The Talmud records: Conception of
the world is in Tishrei (Autumn); Birth of the world is in Nissan (Spring).