See, see their mark...

From

Journal 5: The Harbingers Are Come. See, see their mark…

The harbingers are come. See, see their mark;

White is their colour, and behold my head.

But must they have my brain? must they dispark 

Those sparkling notions, which therein were bred?

                 Must dulnesse turn me to a clod?

Yet have they left me, Thou art still my God.

Good men ye be, to leave me my best room,

Ev’n all my heart, and what is lodged there:

I passe not, I, what of the rest become,

So Thou art still my God, be out of fear.

              He will be pleased with that dittie;

And if I please him, I write fine and wittie.

Farewell sweet phrases, lovely metaphors. 

But will ye leave me thus?....~Herbert

………………….

Introduction: Torn Roots: Dark Forces

Reason, order and stability were replaced by tumultuous emotional storms and irrational conduct. 

Spiritual healing is required in such cases.  The roots from which stemmed these moments of irrational behavior and the consequent damage to intimacy must be explored. “

“Often these roots tend to be deeply engrained memories from one’s childhood. They include negative emotional experiences, often of a traumatic nature.  These memories are, more often than not, unconsciously repressed… He refers to these fierce emotional memories that serve as a basis for irrational behavior as the ‘dark forces.’  They are the real source of the person’s internal or external hell.  They reveal themselves when the person erupts from stress. “

“This behavior which seems to border on the insane (because the person loses control), is….not exceptional, or uncommon. 

What remains to be done is to sort, explain, demonstrate, emphasize and edit the tremendous amount of Wisdom that is our heritage. Perhaps, this function was not necessary in former generations.  Today, however, there seems to be a substantial need for simpler and more detailed descriptions of the Jewish approach to healing emotional disturbances… today…tremendous vacuum found…in the sphere of practical Jewish wisdom, especially concerning interpersonal relationships (“bein adam le’chaveiro”).  This vacuum begs to be filled, at least partially, for the sad fact that the mitzvos dealing with man’s behavior toward his fellow man are often neglected, if not trampled upon.  Too often we are reminded of the famous saying, “Jealousy, material desire and [the need for] respect push a man outside of the world.”  This state of affairs is so common that most people accept is as natural or disregard it completely.  Of course, many excuses are offered to legitimize this behavior ((sin)), passing it off as normal.  ~from Torah Therapy, Rabbi Yisrael of Salant, Rambam, Jesus Christ:  Parable of Washing One Anothers Feet