Balancing Polarity Through Modern & Ancient Lenses

Today, we start with understanding and feeling the balance of opposites with the notion of polarity. Let us think of balance as “dynamic tension” - an oscillating energy between opposing poles. Think of dynamic tension as an enlivened state, rather than as anxiety or tightness in the body: a plucked string, a resonant voice, a reverberant rhythm. We call this the art of holding polarity. There will be a guided meditation supported by original music created by Yuval Ron wherein we will experience holding polarity that values both poles and results in dynamically balanced, effective experiences.

In our first session, we sensed the enlivened tension that we call polarity. Now, let’s take a closer look at specific flow patterns. We’ll start by addressing the phenomenon of “polarity swings” - a pattern that, although often associated with mental health, applies to many subtle and unsubtle forms. First, let’s identify the poles - our opposing, interdependent imperatives. Today we will focus on stability and change. To varying degrees, each one of us has a preference for one pole, which we call our “dominant pole”. We each experience the poles differently depending on our values, experiences, and natures. We can readily see the benefits of our dominant pole and are sensitive to the negative consequences of the pole to which we are significantly less inclined. When we value both poles, we can expand and enlarge the pie for everyone, so to speak. In other words, we can experience more benefits and less damage, across the board, when both poles are included. There will be a guided meditation supported by original music created by Yuval Ron in which we will experience polarity dynamics.

In our previous session, we experienced the flow of polarity - exploring the negative consequences of polarity swings and recognizing the importance of holding polarity in dynamic tension. Today, we will look at specific strategies for holding polarity together, as a group, rather than splintering into opposing subgroups. Our first strategy is to help everyone involved develop a broader perspective beyond their individual positions by seeing the “whole picture”. A significant challenge is illuminating a blind spot created by our conditioning and pre-conceived notions. We do this by taking time to recognize values and fears held by both poles. Next is to engage the loyal opposition of opposing poles by identifying their shared purpose and empowering both poles. We then seek to develop what we call an “early warning system” for polarity swings and bifurcation. By seeing the polarity’s full picture, we are able to reframe and value folks at the fringe as “early warners”. In summation, we seek to broaden perspective, share purpose, and value the fringe. There will be a guided meditation supported by original music created by Yuval Ron in which we will experience polarity dynamics and resolution of what seemingly are conflicting energies.

Today let’s take a deeper look at the polarity between part and whole - a highly relevant, universal polarity - and explore how holding this polarity is integral to many aspects of our lives. Think of the individual and society. Both are imperative, yet sometimes we feel conflict between individual needs and social needs. Overemphasis on either leads to negative consequences. Too much focus on the individual leads to selfish fragmentation while too much focus on the society results in stifling conformity. Holding polarity empowers both the individual and society, energizing freedom and initiative, as well as caring and synergy. In today’s meditation, accompanied by Yuval’s music, we will take the time to allow personal exploration of where and how you experience this polarity in your own life experiences.

The first expression of duality within the Tree of Life is the two wisdom energies of Chochma (masculine wisdom energy which is like a seed of wisdom), and Bina (feminine wisdom energy enabling knowledge and understanding). Chochma can be described as the ability to invent a new device or a new concept. But these great initial sparks of concepts are undeveloped at the first stage of creation. Bina comes in with the wisdom and ability to patiently develop every little detail of the new concept or the new creation, and to nourish it into life. These two forces can fall into conflict, yet, must work in shared purpose to lead to wellbeing and balanced harmonious beauty. Yuval Ron will lead a guided meditation, chanting from the Kabbalistic tradition.

In order to become familiar with these wisdom energies, we will use our voice to chant sounds that the Kabbalists, the Hebrew mystics, associated with these two forces. The sound vibration the ancient Hebrews used as a name for the Creator, have been referred to as the Holy Name. This name they made up for the Divine Source of Life has a very peculiar sound, having no consonants, only vowels. Vowels are an expression of breath, the breath of Life. You will be guided to use your voices to invoke and experience these profound energies.

Today we will explore the next couple of seemingly opposing energies called Chessed (which is translated as loving kindness, or Divine Love), and Gvurah (which means heroism as expressed in Loving Judgment). In this lesson, we will explore these two dynamic energies both intellectually and experientially. We will move from an intellectual understanding of these spheres of energy and then, experience these forces, through guided meditative chanting practices.

The teaching of Kabbalah and the Tree of Life is all about balance of the Spheres, the dynamic balance of polarity. When we achieve the perfect balance of Chessed and Gvurah, we reach the Sphere of Tiferet, meaning splendor. This is the sphere of energy, right in the center of the Tree of Life, right in the center of our belly. Let’s move now from intellectual understanding of these fundamental principles, and begin to meditate on and feel the energies of these three spheres, and how Chessed and Gvurah balance beautifully in Tiferet. Yuval Ron will lead a guided meditation, chanting from the Kabbalistic tradition.

The ancient East Asian theory of yin and yang is the most important foundational element of East Asian philosophy, religion, architecture, agriculture, and traditional medicine. This is the principle that all things exist as inseparable and contradictory opposites, the dynamic balance of which creates harmony and the continued spark of life. Yin and yang are mutually dependent and contain at their core an element of their opposite. This is a dialectical logic that explains relationships, patterns, and change. Yin-yang theory is based on the philosophic construct of two polar complements. These complementary opposites are neither forces nor material entities. Nor are they mythical concepts that transcend rationality. Rather, they are functional labels used to describe how things function in relation to each other and to the Universe. They are utilized to explain the continuous process of natural change and evolution. Fundamental to this understanding is that the only unchanging aspect of the known universe is change itself. Our experiential experience of Yin-yang is based on the practice of healing sounds Qi Gong.

What previously might have seemed as situations of irreconcilable differences and oppositions, we now know and have experienced as polar opposites that need each other in order to create dynamic context and evolutionary energy. Through the exercises and meditations we have shared, we have sought to make this an embodied experience. Still, there is work to be done. In order for new information to be firmly grasped and to become an integral aspect of your perception and behavior, practice and repetition are required. Neuroscience research teaches us that a consistent practice of 40 days is required to make fundamental cognitive and behavioral changes. Therefore, we invite you to repeat this 10-day course three more times in a row to gain the utmost impact on your life and wellbeing. For today’s practice, we will have three meditations from the three different methods explored in this course, all done in a row, in one sitting.