The Letter Zayin – One of the Letters of Kingship

Since the spiritual illumination of the letter Zayin is the spirituality within matter, it creates the form and composition of the matter according to the way it acts in dividing and flowing its particles, until the shape in which they are fixed. Every embryo cell can develop into a bone, a tissue, a hair, an eye, an ear, or a heart... because the genetic code of the entire body is hidden in every cell. So what causes this cell to lock all other possibilities and develop specifically into a bone, and what causes another cell to develop into tissue? Scientists have no answer. However, according to the mystical teachings, the structure of the body develops according to the form and activity of the spiritual entity within the matter, which constitutes its true essence, while the matter is merely a "garment" tailored according to its form and functionality. Thus, in the books of the ancient Kabbalists, the terms "matter and form" appear, where the word "form" refers to the spiritual dimension within matter.

This active spiritual dimension is inherent in the letter Zayin.

Therefore, one who understands the secret of the letter Zayin in its deep layers can change the appearance of matter and perform wonders like turning a rigid staff into a slithering serpent, healthy and beautiful skin into leprous and covered, and clear water to red blood. The secret of this letter was given to Moshe Rabbeinu when he was sent to redeem Israel and needed to perform these miracles. It is hinted at in the verse "And this shall be the sign," as if to say: "And Zayin shall be the sign for you," with which you will perform the miracles.

The Letter of Sustenance and Aspiration for Life

As the Midrash of the "Letters of Rabbi Akiva" states: "Provider [in certain places, the letter Zayin is called Zayen. This is how it is pronounced by Yemenites], this is the name of Hashem who provides and sustains all creations from the horns of the reemim to lice eggs, as it is said 'He waters the mountains from His upper chambers; from the fruit of Your works, the earth is satisfied' and 'You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.'" The two verses mentioned here indicate the two kinds of sustenance provided by the Creator:

A. Physical sustenance

B. The will to live

For if one is missing, man cannot survive in this world. Both of them have their roots in the letter Zayin. The first in the pronunciation of the letter, Zayin, from the word sustenance. The second, in the numerical value of the letter, seven, representing the seventh dimension surrounded by the six sides of matter. And this is: "and satisfy the will of every living thing" - and satisfy every living being with the will to live. This is also hinted at in the number of words in the verse "You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing" - totaling seven words. And indeed, as known, a patient's chances of recovery are much greater when they have the will to live versus someone who has lost that desire.

The Letter Zayin – One of the Letters of Kingship

Zayin is one of the letters of SHaATNeZ GaTZ which require crowning with three crowns. For one who sanctifies every material action in this world by infusing it with spirituality, until all his physical deeds like eating and drinking and other bodily needs become for the purpose of serving his Creator, he merits the crown of kingship, for he is a mighty hero who conquers his inclination and rules over his body with his soul. For a true king is one who rules over all his body's limbs and controls them to conduct themselves according to the guidance of the Torah. Thus 'king' is an acronym: brain (mind), heart, liver. The brain (soul), where the wisdom of the Torah resides, rules over the heart (spirit), the source of emotions, and the liver, the source of desires (soul). Hence, man walks upright, with his brain above his heart, and the liver below them. While in an animal, which does not possess the power of choice, all three are in the same line and height.

From the negative side, the letter Zayin is the force of movement and deviation strongly after the inclination, for which we are commanded in the Torah "And do not wander... after which you go astray." The choice is in man’s hands whether to follow the straight path and reach the aspect of kingship, or to deviate from the path, to the point of spiritual and physical degradation.

The Letter Zayin According to Kabbalah

The letter Zayin, being the seventh letter and expressing the eternal spirituality in the perishable matter, is the letter of struggle and victory, aligning with the seventh Sephira, the Sephira of Netzach.

The letter Zayin also aligns with the Sephira of Yesod. As written by the Ramak in "Pardes Rimonim" that the letter Vav, which resembles the body itself in shape, is the Sephira of Tiferet (including Vav Kaf, as explained above in the letter Vav). The letter Zayin following it is its continuation, which is the Yesod. Therefore, at the top of the letter Zayin, there is a crown, like the crown on the Yesod of the letter Vav's body. It is the secret of the seventh day, Shabbat, crowning the six days of creation and bestowing abundant blessing upon its keepers, like the crown of the Yesod. Similarly, the illumination of the Sephira of Yesod provides great abundance to the keeper of the covenant, as per the verse "and the righteous is the foundation of the world," and merits kingship like Joseph the Righteous, hinted at by the crown of the crowns on the letter of the Yesod, the letter Zayin. From the Yesod, the abundance flows down to the letter Chet, which is the Sephira of Malchut, feminine in its matter and shape. Further elaboration is unnecessary.

Sequence of Letters Vav Zayin in Simplicity

The letter Zayin follows the letter Vav because only after the combination and unity of the particles of matter (Vav), can the illumination of the letter Zayin enter and move it. This is manifested in the internal movement of matter, such as the motion of atomic particles, the development and motion of plants, the walking and running of man and animals, and all other movements.

Therefore, it is a natural law embedded in every field of our world; the ability to act and move with strength is achieved only after unity. Unity (Vav) creates power (Zayin).

The Significance of the First Seven Letters in Sequence

The one Creator (letter Aleph) created a creation (Bet), built (Bet) from parts (Bet) that constitute two opposites (Bet); giving abundance, in the aspect of Gemilut (Gimel), and receiving, in the aspect of Dalet (Dalet).

This activity (of division, giving, and receiving) led to the formation and appearance of the universe (He) in the aspect of 'birth' (He) from the spiritual world above it. This process occurred over six days (Vav), during which the physical world was created, limited by the six sides (Vav) and containing a spiritual connection that mercifully unites its parts (Vav).

After the combination and unity of matter, an active internal spirituality was created within it causing motion (Zayin), as per the verse "and He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life." It is the secret of initiative (Zayin), motion (Zayin), and struggle (Zayin) in the world.

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In conclusion, the matter limited by six directions contains within it the seventh dimension, which moves it and activates it by the power of the illumination of the letter Zayin. It is the letter of movement, motion, and struggle.

From the positive side, the letter Zayin represents fruitful activity and initiative for the benefit of the community and the individual. Also, a just struggle against injustice, crime, and wickedness. From the negative side, deviation towards wrongdoing and the struggle of evil against good.

The Letter Zayin in a Person's Name

Therefore, when the letter Zayin appears in a person's name, especially if it is at the beginning of the name, the person receives, through its three channels of spiritual flow (its shape, number, and pronunciation), the trait of rapid movement and expressive communication ability that incites admiration, activating and motivating others. This person finds it difficult to remain in a fixed state and seeks change and novelty that provide the joy of movement and new creation. Thus, he loves to move his thoughts and spread across many fields that will enrich him and give him expansive thinking. Generally, his physical movement is also fast and agile. This person will enjoy working in an occupation that involves movement, thinking, and reasonable conversation. In the battle of inclination in any field, this person can be easily victorious through the power of the letter of struggle and victory in his name, if he so chooses.

Precisely because of the movement trait inherent in the letter Zayin, he tends to change his opinion easily based on others' suggestions, even though in many cases, his intuition is more accurate than their views.

He must primarily guard against instability, especially emotional, which could express itself as insensitivity and a significant lack of consideration and expression of closeness and feelings towards his loved and trusted ones, and in extreme cases, even disloyalty towards them. His faith, mainly based on intellectual understanding, needs to incorporate emotion and love as per the Torah's command: "And you shall love Hashem your God." Then, the love in the heart and the understanding in the mind will lead him to a high spiritual peak, which will add another dimension to all his service for Hashem and bring upon him a joyous and refreshed life.

Since man is given the power of choice, he can use the illumination of the letter for the positive or the negative. Therefore, he should strengthen himself with enlightening moral lessons and books dealing with character traits' rectification and shaping proper perspectives according to the Torah, investing much in extensive study of halacha with profound understanding, besides learning Mishnah and Talmud from a God-fearing scholar. At the same time, he should strive to express his appreciation and love to his loved ones, through inner work on developing feelings of appreciation, love, and affection towards them. For indeed, every spiritual root of each letter in a person’s name has the potential to bring forth positive actions and, conversely, negative actions, according to his choice, as extensively explained in the chapter dealing with a person's name.

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