It’s another gorgeous day in Santa Barbara. Absent are the feelings of guilt that usually accompany me for not wanting to go outside. My current mood is to shut out the world, which puts me in a ‘Catch-22’ situation. On the one hand closing off helps me to concentrate on my mystical pursuits. On the other, I’m in the middle of marketing my memoir. It’s an occasion for self-promotion and public relations.
At the best of times, PR stuff is not my strong suit. I’m a loner by nature and not into selling myself. Aloneness builds inner strength and confidence. It’s a belief of mine that probably stems from being a twin. My current desire to disengage from our everyday work-world is due, in part, to Trump’s corruption. If allowed, his immoral and criminal conduct can drain us. His compassionless worldview, and cruel and self-serving policies can exhaust us. He will suck out our spirit and empty us. His is the kind of charismatic power consumed with the evil inclination. If unprepared, Trump will eat your soul.
All those who seek the light and the good know that first you must heal yourself. Only then you can help fix the world. In the spirit of self-help, the Zohar calls to me. This fundamental Kabalistic text tugs at my soul to become hermetic and study Torah through its ancient mystical teachings. I use the recently published Pritzker edition of the Zohar, translation from Aramaic and commentary by Daniel Matt. A few other gems aid my spiritual endeavor. I rely on ‘The Torah – A Modern Commentary’ in Hebrew with English translation and edited by Rabbi W. Gunther Plaut. Finally, there is the ‘The Jerusalem Bible – Reader’s Edition’ with commentary edited by Alexander Jones.
We cannot let Trump and his crowd win. The kids in cages at our Southern border cry out to us. I can hardly breathe! Now is the time to learn, to prepare myself, and receive the knowledge for the spiritual battle ahead. The fight is about good vs. evil, the lovers of light vs. the vampires of darkness.
