Spiritual "Coronavirus"

Israel is one of the growing number of countries on this planet plagued with the new coronavirus (COVID-19) that are enforcing a nationwide lockdown that is growing in its severity day by day to combat the spread of this pandemic inside their respective national borders.

I've decided to take this opportunity of external darkness to increase my inner light by transforming my spiritual "coronavirus" into something positive. The main spiritual "coronavirus" I've identified that has been bothering me is my judgmentalism, and I'd like to transform it into compassion.

By sheer chance I've just been given a precious opportunity to be coached in the next ten weeks as part of the coach training program I participate in this academic year which is based on the teachings of Chabad Hasidism, especially those of the Book of Tanya.

I hope you'll also be to take advantage of this period of external darkness to (re)discover your inner light and reclaim your true self.

Preparing for a New "Journey"

The most important milestone in this present "journey" of mine that started about two years and a half ago must be the restoration of my sobriety. Since then I remain sober, breaking my personal record of sobriety every day.

Recently I started thinking about a new "journey" I had been recommended by one spiritual teacher. So I consulted someone I got acquainted with recently who experienced both "journeys". I was recommended to complete the present "journey" before embarking on a new one. I was also warned that the worst thing than can happen to me is not relapse but the collapse of a new life based on a shaky ground before completing the present "journey".

What I was recommended to do in order to complete the present "journey" is to let go of the root issue that caused my alcoholism in the first place. I was also warned that as long as this root issue has not been thoroughly taken care of, I will remain a "dry alcoholic" though I may remain physically sober. This made perfect sense after my illusion that the ground I'm basing my new life is solid enough was shattered in a series of incidents I experienced recently during some "retreat".

I don't know how long it will take me to prepare for this new, even more life-changing, "journey". I'm preparing right now for this preparation, which will consist of many steps and be accompanied by an experienced mentor who has already passed all the steps successfully.