Tevet: Chaos, Judgment, and the Opportunity for Mastery

Tevet is not just another month on the calendar; it is a period defined by the energy of Din Kashe (harsh judgment). The Zohar describes it as a time when the forces of chaos are activated, a month in which things must go wrong if they are destined to. The Romans didn’t choose Tevet to begin their siege on Jerusalem by chance. This is the month where cracks begin to form, where protection weakens, and where chaos begins to manifest.

Tevet is the month of beginnings, but not in the way we typically think of beginnings. It is the month when the seed of chaos is planted, when destruction starts to take root. The breach of Jerusalem’s walls on the 10th of Tevet (Asarah B’Tevet) symbolizes the dismantling of the physical and spiritual barriers that once protected the city and the people. In our lives, it mirrors the times when the walls we’ve built—our sense of security, boundaries, and spiritual practices—are tested, leaving us exposed.

The forces at play during Tevet are not random; they are an integral part of the divine system. Just as we know the sun will rise or the rain will fall, chaos in Tevet is inevitable. But the Zohar does not leave us in despair. Tevet is a month of intense constriction, but within that constriction lies the opportunity for transformation.

The Chaos of Tevet and the Role of the Negative Forces

The Negative Forces take full advantage of this month, creating confusion, havoc, and misfortune. Its greatest weapon is not the chaos itself but our inability to understand why things happen. The Sitra Achra thrives when we are unable to connect the dots, when events feel sudden and unexplainable. This is the energy of Tevet—a time when people unknowingly make decisions at the worst possible moments, often compounding their challenges.

A marriage in Tevet, for instance, carries the weight of this energy. The Negative Forces ensure it happens at the most inopportune time, amplifying the potential for discord. Similarly, those who start new ventures during this month may find themselves trapped in cycles of failure, unable to understand why things went wrong.

Scaling Spiritual Peaks

The Zohar warns us not to fall victim to this confusion. Chaos may be inevitable in Tevet, but victimhood is not. The Creator, in a concealed way, has provided us with the tools to navigate this energy, to protect ourselves, and to align with the Light even in times of darkness.

The Hidden Light of Tevet

The parashah of Vayigash, which always begins in Tevet, is no coincidence. It is the Creator’s concealed system of protection, providing us with the spiritual tools to counteract the forces of chaos. Vayigash is the story of Yehudah stepping forward to take responsibility for Binyamin, a story of accountability, courage, and unity. These are not just moral lessons but spiritual codes, guiding us to align with divine Light and shield ourselves from the destructive energy of the month.

Tevet challenges us to take responsibility for our spiritual walls. Are they strong enough to withstand the breaches of judgment and chaos? The absence of the Shekhinah, the protective presence of divine Light, demands that we step into a role of self-accountability. It is not the time to sit passively and hope for protection; it is the time to actively rebuild and fortify.

Transforming Chaos into Growth

Tevet’s chaos is not a punishment; it is an opportunity. The energy of the month forces us to confront our vulnerabilities, to reflect on where we have allowed cracks to form in our spiritual and emotional defenses. The Zohar teaches us that even in the darkest moments, Light can be revealed. This is the essence of Tevet: the potential to transform destruction into reconstruction, confusion into clarity, and chaos into order.

The key is connection—connection to the wisdom of the Zohar, to the energy of Torah, and to the concealed systems of divine protection that Tevet offers. The Creator has not abandoned us in this month of judgment; rather, He has hidden the tools we need within the chaos itself. By seeking them out, by aligning ourselves with the concealed Light, we rise above the forces of the Other Side and reclaim control over our lives.

Tevet is not a month to fear, but a month to master. It calls for resilience, awareness, and action. Chaos may be inevitable, but it is also the catalyst for transformation. Through the wisdom of the Zohar, we turn the seed of disaster into the foundation for growth, revealing the Light that has been concealed all along.

Transcending Tevet Topology Method Meditation

🎶: Yehuda Ashkenazi