Strength and Death

Strength and struggle are married, it is clear. There is something about "rising to the occasion" that brings this path to its mature stage. It is not force of violence, in my opinion, but rather courage. In a sense, Strength manifests at its most profound when we face into that which terrifies us the most. Fear is a good indicator. Turn towards it. Face, it. Hold. The term Hormesis refers to good stress which makes the body stronger. I think this path involves a Hormesis of the soul. It means the courage, sometimes, to admit a grievous fault and to make amends. It means the courage to buck popular opinion on something crucial, and to hold to a higher principle. The truly brave are often very unpopular. The truly strong are faced with Trials. Death and Strength are companions, after all - the snake and the fish, by allusion to the Hebrew.

Strength makes the badlands fertile - it turns the toxic into the golden. So who are we to say what it is? In a word - Character. Cultivate character, for that is what you will need to offer up in service. Cultivate strength, for that is how we craft the bridge.

Move towards discomfort. Don't rush it - but get close to it - explore its borders, be tempered by it. Find strength in the howling winds, the rushing waters, and the dispelling of ghosts. Find strength in repair, restitution, recovery.

Find strength in Tikkun.

Strength of Character is the Bridge Across Death.