Judgment is born of the ego; we take pride in our discernment and tastes. Yet, the power of Geburah can slice many ways, and create danger, just like a sword. From our own perspective, our left-armed sword protects us from harm. However, we may be using it to keep others away or misguidedly harm them. Viewing another person’s Geburah, their armor may be so strong as to alienate us. Their use of discernment may cause us to be afraid and stay away.
We distance ourselves from others when their behavior doesn’t resonate with our values. We may use it to protect inherent prejudices, including discriminating against overweight people, drinkers, smokers, smelly panhandler, certain races, or certain performers. The great number of people that enter our lives–in reality or virtually–may be overwhelming, so we choose to take out the sword. Sometimes we neglect to hone the sword of judgment.
Do you use Geburah to isolate yourself from intimacy? Do you hold it up as a grudge against family members who you believe wronged you in the past? Do you merely parade a shiny object to the world, or show that you are using discernment with Chochmat, Wisdom? How long do you hold grudges? Posing with a shining sword in the sunlight might look heroic, however, are you refining your God-given ability to improve the world, or wasting time?
Judaism sometimes calls God vengeful, as if God is using his Geburah to deny us of something we deserve. This projection is a transference of our own ego on nature. Universal laws are so great that they are unfathomable to us. Our science presents a basic flavor. To say that God is unmerciful misses the point of the balance of the universe. Sometimes it is day, and sometimes night. Sometimes good things happen to us and sometimes not. Sometimes there are floods and others droughts. Interpreting God using his sword of Geburah against us is misguided. We cannot know the reason things happen. They just do; the best remedy for our fear of nature is to look for its balance. Then, we will see that God is equally as angry and vengeful as he is just and merciful. (However, I believe God is more just and merciful in balance, but that is the story of another Leaf!)
In Kabbalah-Dating, we use the effective sword of Geburah to evaluate the other Leaves, incrementally nudging the negative energies within them toward the light. Using discernment in evaluating other’s Leaf energies is more rational than judging a person as a whole. Seeing ourselves, our partners, and the world in balance is an effective use of your Geburah. Neglecting to use its true power to heal the world is not.
