The Archetype of Balaam
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Last week I didn't get a chance to sit down and write on Parshat Balak (Num. 22). Therefore I wanted to take a moment and share some insights into Balaam.
Within each human being is an ability to tap into the higher awareness or life forc...e which is an intuitive aspect of our cognizance. Moses typically represents this as the image of the abstract mind. However, Balaam is the other side (sitra achra) of Moses and represents the misuse of this life force (shefa). He is ordered by Balak, the King of Moab, to curse to Israelites (higher spiritual self) to sufficiently weaken them so that Moab (external conditions of life) can attack and bring about their downfall.
Moses serves the higher self but Balaam serves only himself as indicated by his contract with Balak in exchange for gifts. Balaam misuses the powers of the life force in an attempt to curse Israel. This is akin to a person who attempts to garner power of the occult or psychic without developing themselves spiritually. Balaam represents the psychic without the spiritual which is extremely dangerous. Therefore in the end Balaam must be killed from the forces within- the Moabites and Israelites.
Notice that the narrative of Balaam's donkey refusing to carry him to the place where he can curse the Israelites or the higher faculties. An angel bars the road and since the angels are in charge of the life force they will always bar the road to those who misuse the life force. Baalam was to learn that he was using this force contrary to the will of God, who only wishes it to be used to bring children into the world and for the development of spirituality in the regenerative process.
Within each human being is an ability to tap into the higher awareness or life forc...e which is an intuitive aspect of our cognizance. Moses typically represents this as the image of the abstract mind. However, Balaam is the other side (sitra achra) of Moses and represents the misuse of this life force (shefa). He is ordered by Balak, the King of Moab, to curse to Israelites (higher spiritual self) to sufficiently weaken them so that Moab (external conditions of life) can attack and bring about their downfall.
Moses serves the higher self but Balaam serves only himself as indicated by his contract with Balak in exchange for gifts. Balaam misuses the powers of the life force in an attempt to curse Israel. This is akin to a person who attempts to garner power of the occult or psychic without developing themselves spiritually. Balaam represents the psychic without the spiritual which is extremely dangerous. Therefore in the end Balaam must be killed from the forces within- the Moabites and Israelites.
Notice that the narrative of Balaam's donkey refusing to carry him to the place where he can curse the Israelites or the higher faculties. An angel bars the road and since the angels are in charge of the life force they will always bar the road to those who misuse the life force. Baalam was to learn that he was using this force contrary to the will of God, who only wishes it to be used to bring children into the world and for the development of spirituality in the regenerative process.
