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This is the continuation of an article on the underlying principle of Creation, so be sure to check it out beforehang.
Energy work encompasses a variety of practices aimed at understanding and manipulating the subtle energies that permeate Creation and human existence. In our case we are talking about vital energy that animates the human body, which throughout history has been called by many names.
In Japan it’s called Ki, in China it’s called Chi, in India it’s called Prana. In Kabbalah this would be called the “Ruach” as this is the original vitalizing energy that Hashem used to breathe into Adam HaRishon.
Energy is all around us and within us and many traditions use a variety of disciplines to balance and harmonize the body’s energy fields to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. And I have zero doubts our sages and prophets were masters of energy work, since they needed a strong energy body to sustain the powerful revelations they received. After all, the way to receive all that is by activating certain energy centers within the energy body (malbush) enabling one to access the upper parts of the soul.
In Kabbalah, the concept of energy is alluded subtly and indeed it’s not easy to see it in the writings of the Mekubalim. As I teach my students in my Executive Spiritual Coaching program, recognizing and applying the principles of energy work can lead to powerful personal transformation, healing, and a deeper connection to Hashem.
By aligning one’s intentions and actions with these principles, we can cultivate a harmonious flow of energy, fostering balance and spiritual growth.
The principle that “energy flows where attention goes” emphasizes the power of focused intention in directing energy. This might be obvious to many people here, but energy is controlled through intention. What you put your mind to will receive extra energy and grow.
In the context of energy work, this means that our thoughts, emotions, and conscious focus can influence the movement and quality of energy within and around us. For example, during meditation or prayer, directing attention to specific aspects of one’s life or body can facilitate healing and transformation in those areas. This is also the principle behind the Kavanot and Yichudim.
As one would expect, this idea also aligns with the concept sefirot, where each emanation corresponds to specific attributes and energies. By meditating on a particular sefira, one aims to internalize and manifest its qualities within themselves.
And this, by the way is another sub-principle (if you will) to keep in mind: we are much more sensitive to energy than we realize. Everything ends up affecting us one way or another, but this is the subject for another article.
In daily life, this shows a little about the importance of mindfulness and conscious intention in energy work. By focusing attention on positive thoughts and actions, we can cultivate a more harmonious and balanced energy field. Conversely, dwelling on negative thoughts or experiences can perpetuate discordant energies, leading to imbalance and disease.
Consistency in practice is fundamental to deepening the imprint of energy work.
Regular engagement in activities such as meditation, prayer, or energy healing techniques reinforces neural pathways and energetic patterns, leading to more profound and lasting effects. The benefits accumulate and one can begin to feel energy flowing.
This mirrors the Kabbalistic practice of regular use of Kavanot which depend on knowing the movement of light. For a simpler example, consistently meditating on Tiferet, the sefira associated with beauty and harmony, we can cultivate these qualities within oneself over time.
The change is real, but it depends on consistency. In fact, this might be a little stretch but more important than the technique or energy work system you use is the effort and frequency you put into it.
The nature of energy is that it is subtle, etheric and volatile.
The manipulation and mastery of subtle energies require patience and sustained effort. Two of the main ideas of “letting go” and “relaxed intention” are of paramount important when it comes to this discipline.
This might be surprising to many, but the study of Mussar and Halacha naturally contributes to improving the energy body since many of the laws and principles of Jewish life such as guarding your eyes, help conserve energy. Dancing, which is very much a part of Breslov tradition helps immensely in removing blockages from it.
It takes time, but this gradual approach aligns with the understanding that energy is subtle and requires a stable foundation for effective manipulation as new energy pathways are being built.
We find a parallel to this in Hasidic thought, where the soul’s powers (Kochot hanefesh) are developed through continuous practice and devotion, energy work also necessitates a commitment over time to achieve proficiency and meaningful results.
This is the principle of conservation of energy in Creation.
The principle that energy is neither lost nor created but transformed is central to the laws of physics.
Yet, Kabbalah teaches that while energy is never lost, it can be created. This is based on my understanding that creation is not a closed system and God is continuously pumping energy to it. Indeed, many of the Kavanot we use in prayer aim at bringing more and more new energy to the system of Partzufim of the spiritual worlds and then down to us. This is energy that never existed before.
However, I will agree in part that the process of creation itself is based on a series of transformations from the infinite (Ein Sof) to the finite, illustrating that energy continually changes form.
This principle shows that our actions and intentions can transform energy from one state to another. Negative emotions or experiences, when approached with awareness and intention, can be transmuted into opportunities for growth and healing.
This transformative approach is integral to energy work, and illustrates the potential to redirect and reshape energy towards positive outcomes.
An individual’s energetic field is a mirror of their internal condition. In Kabbalah, the Sephirot not only represent divine attributes but also correspond to aspects of the human soul. The alignment or imbalance of these internal sefirot influences one’s energy and overall well-being. For example, an excess of Gevurah (severity) without the balance of Chesed (kindness) can lead to rigidity and imbalance in one’s energy.
When we cultivate proper virtues such as compassion, humility, and wisdom, we harmonize our soul’s internal sefirotic structure, leading to a balanced and vibrant energy field. This internal harmony not only enhances personal well-being but also positively influences interactions with others and the environment.
Trauma and other negative imprints causes energy to be in disarray inside the body, reflecting outward. But, again, through energy it can released and transformed to positive ends.
The human body is like a big battery. We are continuously exchanging energies with our surroundings.
The energies present around us, including those from other individuals, environments, and objects, can significantly impact our personal energy fields. As surreal as this might seem, objects can also be charged with energy which will then be released toward a variety of purposes. This is the basis of the use of holy names and magical or enchanted (or cursed) objects.
There’s a book (not to be disclosed) in which we find that Eliyahu HaNavi had divine names in the scarf he later bequeathed to Elisha, and also on the weapons the Chashmonayim used against the Syrian-Greeks in their rebellion that we celebrate on Chanukkah.
It’s important to discern these external influences to maintain spiritual purity and balance. For instance, associating with Tzadikim who embody positive attributes can elevate one’s own energy, while exposure to negative influences (Reshaim, wicked people) may require protective measures, or just avoidance altogether.
In other words, not all energy is good. In fact, I believe energy can be neutral, or have kedusha or tumah in it but I haven’t found a proper source for this theory.
Either way, energy work practices that include meditation, prayer, and the observance of mitzvot (commandments) serve as methods to strengthen one’s energy field against detrimental external forces. One should also practice “energy discharge” techniques to remove unwanted attachments and the Mikvah is one such option.
The concept that collective consciousness influences reality is found in various spiritual traditions, including Kabbalah. If we think about it, this is the basis for the teaching by Hillel the Elder that “Whosoever destroys one soul, it is as though he had destroyed the entire world. And whosoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved the entire world“.
We see the world as ourselves, yet the sum total of perceptions is what shapes reality. This is also one of the conditions for performing miracles: one must be rectified from within and project that reality outward.
In Kabbalah, the entirety of Creation is a dependent upon the spiritual worlds, which serve as the blueprint for all physical reality and everything affects everything. This idea aligns with the principle that collective energy has the power to shape our shared reality.
This is why it’s so important to perform prayers or Mitzvot in groups, because each new person multiplies the potency by the next factor. As in Sefer Yetzirah “…3 stones build 6 houses [3x2x1], 4 stones build 24”. Each new individual multiplies the potency of the consciousness within the system.
The collective focus and intention of a community (or Minyan) can create a powerful energetic field, facilitating transformation and healing on a much broader scale, each being affected by the whole.
We mentioned before en passant, but the power of intention is a fundamental principle in energy work. In Kabbalistic practice, kavannah (focused intention) during prayer or ritual is critical for directing spiritual energy effectively. We know for a fact that the purity and clarity of one’s intention can influence the outcome of spiritual practices, making them more potent and transformative.
This is why setting clear and positive intentions aligns one’s energy with desired outcomes, facilitating the “manifestation of prayer”.
Everything in Creation has a rhythm and nothing is ever truly static and energy work takes that into consideration.
The cyclical nature of energy is recognized in many spiritual traditions, including Kabbalah. The concept of Tohu and Tikun, representing chaos and rectification, shows the cyclical process of destruction and renewal inherent in all aspects creation.
Nothing ever lasts forever and this cycle reflects the ongoing transformation and evolution of energy. This is why we have the very same festivals every year and the very same Mitzvot (though we strive to do better each time).
When we recognize that these cycles allow us to work in harmony with natural rhythms, this makes energy work a lot more powerful.
For example, understanding periods of spiritual expansion (ratzo = running to) and contraction (v’shov = and returning) can help us navigate challenges and growth phases more gracefully.
The Mazalot which are the sum total of a person’s spiritual resources at any given time, also follows a cyclical pattern. Meaning, when the time comes for a specific Tikkun or for a person to get money or health or a spouse, then it will happen.
Energy, like water, seeks the path of least resistance.
When there is blockage, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, energy cannot flow freely, leading to stagnation, discomfort, and even illness.
In Kabbalah, this concept is mirrored in the idea of klipot (husks or shells), which are layers of resistance that obstruct divine light. As we saw in many articles, these klipot are formed through negative emotions, limiting beliefs, and actions that disconnect a person from their higher self.
Overcoming them requires inner work, self-reflection, and conscious effort to align with divine will which are all topics we train in the Executive Spiritual Coaching program.
Releasing resistance is a process of surrender and trust. Just as the Israelites had to step into the Red Sea before it parted, sometimes we must take action in faith before energy can shift. It takes time, but it’s very much worth it since release can be empowering.
Meditation, breathwork, and teshuvah (spiritual return) help dissolve these blockages, and that in turn helps energy to move freely and realign with its intended path. Recognizing resistance and working through it is essential for anyone serious about energy work, as true transformation requires openness and flow.
Energy work is both an art and a science, requiring wisdom, discipline, and spiritual alignment.
By applying these principles, we become conscious architects of our reality. Many Kabbalists have hidden these ideas in their writings, but they remind us that energy ever present, flowing through the vessels of our thoughts, words, and actions. How we shape this energy determines not only our personal well-being but also the collective reality.
Mastery of energy does not happen overnight, nor is it reserved for mystics or sages. It is a practice available to anyone willing to develop awareness, patience, and consistency.
The more we align with these principles of energy work, the more we awaken to our true potential as co-creators with Hashem. Energy is always in motion, our role is to learn how to guide it wisely, for healing, growth, and transformation.
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The content expressed here is not meant as spiritual, medical or any other type of advice.
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