Yesod, the penultimate attribute on the Kabbalstic Tree of Life, is typically defined as “foundation,” but it has many complex nuances. When the Tree of Life is mapped to the body, Yesod is associated with the sexual organs. As such, it represents bonding, union, connection, pleasure, and our sexual/creative energy.
In The Kabbalah Sutras, author Marcus Freed explains that Yesod relates to all aspects of how we connect with others.
How we bond with others is as important as who we bond with.
Freed also states that on a practical level, Yesod is about communicating our ideas into the world:
We can have great ideas or create great projects, but if we do not share them with other people (the act of Yesod), then they do not reach their full potential.
Marcus Freed, The Kabbalah Sutras
At first glance, this might seem confusing:
Is Yesod about the foundation of relationships, or is it about communicating our ideas into the world?
The answer is that its both, because they are part of the same thing.
Warning: this is esoteric wisdom; it’s not linear.
The act of communication is bonding.
We connect through communication — whether verbal or non-verbal. If we aren’t connected, then no communication takes place. Our message cannot be received.
One cannot exist without the other.
As usual, the language we use can illustrate this in a more tangible way. For example, not “getting through” to someone reflects a deficiency of Yesod because there is no connection.
Communion. Connection. Communication — they all emerge from the same place.
Communion and communication both have the same prefix: com-, which means “with,” “together,” “in association” and “completely.” Spelling rules change com- to con- in connection.
The original meaning of communication is to make common.
According to the dictionary, communicate denotes giving to a person a share of something, even if it’s something immaterial, like an idea, knowledge, thoughts, hopes, qualities, values, or expressions of caring.
Communication can also mean to be joined or connected, as in “the rooms communicated by means of a hallway.” The rooms have a relationship with each other because of the hallway that they have in common.
In the same way, by sharing thoughts and ideas with others, we come into relationship with them.
So they are inextricably linked: we communicate with people to whom we are connected and we create (and strengthen) connection through communication.
It’s important to keep in mind that this link works for constructive and destructive ends: when our Yesod is not aligned, we might destroy connections through our communication. We see examples of this almost daily in the news and in our social media feeds.
When we are aligned, we use our words and our non-verbal communication to make things common, and we act with compassion and consideration, which strengthens connection and fosters community.
Being attuned to our communication is always important, and this week we get a boost from the planets, as Mercury — the messenger — enters Gemini, the sign of ideas and communication. Mercury helps us bring focus to how we’re communicating: what are the messages you’re giving and what are you receiving?
The quality of your life reflects the quality of your relationships.
The quality of your relationships reflects the quality of your communication.
The effectiveness of your communication reflects the quality of your connection.
To get clear, it always helps to connect within first.
Communication
emerges from connection
and also feeds it
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