We are about to enter into a period known as Ben HaMetzarim or The Three Negative Weeks which begins on July 20, 2019. This will last us through Tisha b’Av (falling on August 11, 2019), which is believed to be the most negative day of the year. It marks the anniversary of several calamities throughout both biblical and modern history, most notably the destruction of both Holy Temples.
You may have already noticed that this is a time when our selfish nature tends to be awakened more than ever. It might be harder than usual for us not to react. Some days, the last thing we’ll want to do is go out of our comfort zone or share with others. Some of us will face challenges; our certainty will be tested and many will discover way more negativity within ourselves than we ever wanted to see.
Our initial reaction to this news might be that it sounds like a good three weeks to stay at home and hide under the covers! Who wants to get out of bed in the morning when adversity could be lurking behind every corner?
But the kabbalists teach a great lesson in regards to Ben HaMetzarim: There is actually more Light available during this time than usual. The most difficult moments in life are rare opportunities to transform.
This is a time when we can cleanse ourselves of any darkness, negativity and even disease. Rav Berg would often refer to Ben HaMetzarim not as a time of negativity, but of miracle making! Few other moments in our year can give us access to such an abundance of blessings. By focusing on transformation during these three weeks, when it’s most difficult to do so, we can potentially remove the negativity of our past, present, and potential future.
This period of time isn’t scary at all. Fear is just what the negative side would have us feel now when we’re so close to revealing great quantities of Light!
Ben HaMetzarim is an exciting vehicle that can take us to our next level by showing us the things we need to change most and giving us every opportunity to become the best version of ourselves.
It can be the most powerful 21 days we’ve ever experienced, if we choose it to be.
Our combined consciousness and actions of unconditional love, sharing, and restriction are perhaps more powerful right now than they’ve been in our entire lives. If we choose to take advantage by really tackling our negativity for just a few days, we can each grab the better life that belongs to us, and create a better world for mankind.
Click here to download kabbalistic mediations for the Three Weeks
