Today, we’re going to be learning, chilling but hopefully not too scary class, about strange paranormal phenomena surrounding the spiritual realms that sometimes manifest in the physical world.

Of course, the goal is not just to provide knowledge but also to offer tools to protect against the Sitra Achra, the side of evil. This might sound strange to some, so let’s first define Sitra Achra from a Kabbalistic standpoint.

Sometimes you need a bigger picture for everything to make sense. In Kabbalah, there is the concept of light and vessels. Simply put, the light must go into the vessel. To receive an idea or benefit, we need the proper vessel.

In spiritual terms, the vessel is the grosser part of the light. When Hashem created the world, He made many vessels for His light because the purpose of creation is for us to receive it. However, the vessels broke due to the excess of light.

This means that if we try to take on more than we can handle, like fasting for several days, we can break and abandon our efforts. Similarly, a student might be discouraged if the light they receive is too great for his capacity.

Hashem did this out of His own will and wisdom. The shards of these vessels fell to the lower spiritual worlds. Through Torah study, mitzvot, prayer, and good deeds, we elevate them back to their source, rectifying them. Each person does this according to their ability, and when enough tikkun (rectification) is achieved, Mashiach will come to complete the tikkun, fixing the spiritual worlds, and we’ll enter Olam Haba (the World to Come).

In essence, we are performing tikkunim, rectifying the fallen vessels. The Torah provides the framework for this, and Hashem did this so we may have free will and experience reward and punishment.

The fallen sparks and the reason for Creation

This basic condition is built into creation because, as the Ramchal says, without it, the ultimate purpose of life—to delight in Hashem and receive the ultimate good—would be nullified. If we received everything for free without working, it would cause great shame. We want to merit Olam Haba through our own efforts, proving our worth. This is why Hashem created the world in such a way that it is broken, giving us work to do.

The broken shards have a certain spark of energy, which is crucial as it gives them vitality, preventing them from dying. This spark is called the “nitzotz” in Hebrew, meaning “spark.” Because the shard (of the kli, the vessel) and the Nitzotz are waiting for rectification, they also end up empowering the Sitra Achra, the side of evil. Sitra Achra literally means “other side” in Hebrew.

The Sitra Achra is also called the “kelipot,” meaning “husks” in Hebrew. These husks prevent a person from reaching the spark, much like the peel of a fruit. We want to eat the fruit, and the peel is useless and even harmful if consumed. However, the peel also serves to protect the light inside the fragmented vessel until it is time for rectification.

It may seem complicated, but it makes sense once we understand how the system works. The lesson here is that everything has an appointed time, and every darkness has an end. This is a fundamental perspective to keep in mind. The Sitra Achra is empowered by a lack of tikkun (rectification). When we perform mitzvot and teshuva, we remove the sparks empowering evil and elevate them.

Rebbe Nachman of Breslov teaches that by doing this, we empower the “Malchut D’Kedushah” (the kingdom of holiness). By performing our duties, we effectively end evil. There is justice, and there is a Judge; nothing happens by chance. Many times, people are punished because they fail to perform their duties.

Some rabbis say that Hashem doesn’t want to punish, but in reality, when Hashem wants someone to suffer, He merely removes His constant protection, and the Sitra Achra does its job. This is a fundamental principle in Judaism and the Torah.

The four spiritual worlds

There are four main spiritual worlds: Atzilut, Beriah, Yetzirah, and Asiyah. Atzilut is the realm where Hashem and His Shekhinah are revealed. It is also the realm of true prophecy, but unfortunately, it is currently off-limits because we don’t have the Holy Temple or prophecy nowadays. However, there are revelations in the lower three spiritual worlds: Asiyah, Yetzirah, and Beriah. Asiyah, the lowest world, has both a spiritual and a physical counterpart where we reside.

Asiyah literally means “action.” Being the furthest from Atzilut, it has a lot of darkness, and the light is dimmed. The book “Etz Chaim” (The Tree of Life) teaches that Asiyah is inside the belly of the snake, dominated by evil. Despite the goodness in the world, the sad reality is that evil is very prevalent, as seen in the news and throughout history.

The higher we go, the less evil there is. Yetzirah, the world just above Asiyah, is 50-50. Beriah is mostly good, with very little evil. Atzilut has even less evil and is actually separated from the good. This concludes the first part of the webinar. There is a lot to study, so now let us define the spiritual realm and its dangers.

Paranormal phenomena

It’s important to remember that we live in a sea of spirituality. Our eyes can only perceive a tiny portion of the spiritual energy around us, and we can feel even less. This explains why we don’t see the spiritual worlds—they surround us, but we are blind to them. The spiritual worlds are energetic realms that can be reached by expanding our consciousness through meditation and certain exercises. The same is true for seeing spirits, which are eternal forms of energy that can be accessed and perceived by training spiritual skills.

Some people today can perform astral travel, which is essentially a trip to the spiritual worlds of Asiyah, Yetzirah, or Briah. Each of these worlds is subdivided into many planes and spheres. People create a temporary spiritual body with the force of the mind, called “Chalukah de Rabbanan” or the “vestment of the sages.” This body allows them to divest their consciousness from their physical body and enter the spiritual realms. In other cultures, this is known as the astral body, the eternal body, or the body of light, and it is related to lucid dreaming.

We won’t delve too deeply into these details now, but it’s important to understand that ascension and spiritual experiences are real. Many great Kabbalists can travel to spiritual worlds, seeing the future, retrieving information from distant places, receiving guidance from angels, and learning fascinating things. While this skill is difficult to learn, it is attainable with proper training because everyone has this inherent capability.

I’m not suggesting you should go astral traveling, as there are dangers involved. For example, Rab Chaim Vital, in Etz Chaim, warns about the world of Asiyah, where demons and souls that have not ascended to higher realms reside. These entities can be deceitful and may mislead people. A demon might disguise itself as a sage and lead someone astray, causing delusions of grandeur or even leading to idolatry, which is strictly forbidden by the Torah.

An example of these dangers is the story of Rabbi Yosef de la Reina, a great Kabbalist who sought to bring Mashiach and end the exile. Despite his purity and efforts, he was deceived by the angel Sa-mael (not to be pronounced), resulting in his downfall. This story highlights the need for grounding and caution in spiritual interactions.

Spiritual interactions can happen spontaneously, triggered by events like car accidents or life-changing experiences, which can unlock spiritual capabilities. These experiences might include hearing voices or receiving thoughts that are not one’s own, and they can be influenced by both good and bad spiritual beings. Rabbi Chaim Vital and Rabbi Yehuda Pataya wrote about their encounters with such entities in their works.

The spiritual worlds are reached through our consciousness, a form of energy. Strengthening the soul and its vestments, including the aura, is essential. Rabbi Chaim Vital teaches in Etz Chaim that the soul comprises five parts: Nefesh, Ruach, Neshama, Chaya, and Yechida. Most people can only access the Nefesh, which is divided into internal and surrounding parts. The surrounding part, or Makif, is known as the aura, an energetic field that protects and helps perceive spiritual surroundings.

A weak or breached aura can allow negative spiritual creatures to attach themselves, causing harm ranging from minor disturbances to full possession. Stories of such occurrences are documented by Rabbi Yehuda Pataya and Rabbi Chaim Vital.

The third part of this webinar focuses on protection. The best protection is Teshuva (repentance) and Devekut (bonding with Hashem). For men, going to the Mikvah (ritual bath) cleanses the energy field and aura. However, even holy people can be attacked by spirits. Rabbi Chaim Vital was warned by the Arizal not to visit cemeteries where wicked people are buried to avoid negative spiritual attachments.

To summarize, avoid cemeteries with wicked graves, and if visiting a holy cemetery, steer clear of the graves of the wicked. This advice helps maintain spiritual purity and protection.

Also, be aware of places of worship or locations where many people have died. Wicked souls and demons may have a strong attachment to the physical world and seek to continue enjoying it. This explains why many demons want to receive offerings, which the Torah strictly forbids as it constitutes idol worship. Offerings create a bond of servitude between the demon and the person making the offering. This is what happened in the story of Rabbi Yosef de la Reina when he gave herbs to Sa-mael, the master of evil angels, thus losing his divine protection.

The Torah in Masechet Avodah Zarah describes four ways of committing idolatry: libation, animal sacrifice, incense, and bowing down to an idol. These actions form a bond with demons, making a person subservient to them. Therefore, refuse any contact with demons, as they are deceitful and offer nothing of value. They often deny God and the Torah, using people to gain spiritual energy.

For example, a neighbor’s mother had a dream foretelling her father’s death. The voice in the dream instructed her not to observe the mourning period because the Messiah was coming soon. This contradicts Halacha, which mandates mourning to help the deceased reach their place in the afterlife. Such dreams are suspicious and likely demonic. If you ever encounter a spiritual being, ask for its name and if it believes in God and the Torah. Demons typically avoid revealing their names and deny God.

To protect against harmful spiritual entities, the practice of Yichudim (mystical meditations) that unite divine names for various purposes, bring protection. These meditations are taught in Sha’arei Ruach HaKodesh by the Arizal. Additionally, envisioning an energy shield around yourself can be effective. This technique utilizes the Sephira of Binah (understanding) of our soul and is strengthened by belief and repetition. Daily prayers, studying Torah, and reciting Tehillim (Psalms) are also powerful protections.

Remember, all precautions are useless if you give permission to negative spiritual entities to enter your life. This can happen through calling spirits, accepting cursed gifts, or committing serious sins. For instance, Rabbi Yehuda Petaya writes about a Jewish girl possessed after kissing a boy, considered a severe offense at the time. Giving permission, whether consciously or not, breaches your aura’s protection, making it difficult to remove the entity.

So, avoid inviting or allowing spirits into your life.

Final Thoughts and Precautions

It’s crucial to take proper precautions before engaging in spiritual practices or exploring spiritual realms. Negative emotions such as sadness, fear, jealousy, anger, or lust can weaken your aura, making you more susceptible to negative influences.

When you’re in such states, you may hear voices or have thoughts that seem to come from your soul but could actually be from a demon or a lost soul. Always remember that your soul will never tell you to harm yourself; it seeks life and well-being.

To summarize:

Protecting Yourself

1. Emotional Balance: Maintain emotional balance and mental health. Depressed or paranoid states can attract negative entities.
2. Spiritual Practices: Engage in positive spiritual practices like prayer, meditation, and studying Torah. These strengthen your aura and provide protection.
3. Yehudim: Practice mystical meditations (Yehudim) to unite divine names for protection and other spiritual benefits.
4. Energy Shield: Visualize an energy shield around yourself. This technique can be very effective if you believe in it and practice it regularly.
5. Daily Rituals: Consistent daily prayers and reciting Tehillim (Psalms) can help purge negative entities and reinforce your spiritual defenses.

Avoiding Negative Influences

1. No Contact with Demons: Refuse any contact with demons or negative entities. They offer nothing of value and can lead to spiritual and physical harm.
2. Beware of Deceptive Spirits: Spirits that deny God and the Torah are likely demonic. Always ask for a spirit’s name and its beliefs if you encounter one.
3. Cursed Objects: Avoid accepting gifts or objects that may be cursed or have negative attachments.

Staying Close to Hashem

The best protection against negative spiritual entities is to stay close to Hashem. By doing teshuva (repentance) and bonding with Hashem, you can protect yourself from harmful influences and find your true self.

Remember that Hashem is the source of life and blessings, and by keeping Him in your mind, you create a strong spiritual barrier against negativity.

Conclusion

The purpose of this webinar is not to scare you but to make you aware and conscious of spiritual realities. Always keep Hashem in your mind, and know that with His help, you can overcome any spiritual challenge. If you ever feel overwhelmed, turn to Him, and He will guide and protect you.

Have a wonderful and blessed week, and remember to always stay vigilant and spiritually aware.