The Blueprint to Life
“By means of the twenty two letters, by giving them a form and shape, by mixing them and combining them in different ways, God made the soul of all that which has been created and all of that which will be. It is upon these same letters that the Holy One (blessed be he) has founded his high and holy name.” – The Sefer Yetsirah
What are these 22 letters? The Hebrew alphabet, of coarse. Each letter can have multiple written forms, and with those forms separate meanings. The letters also have numeric values that have spiritual significance, and when the values are broken down mathematically the meanings are multiplied as well.
Take the 21st character of the Hebrew alphabet, for instance, the Shin (pronounced Sin). Shin can be written four ways. Each form adds layers and depth of meaning.
To begin skimming the surface of its meaning, the three-line shin can represent the dimensions that make up a human being the Kesser (or will and pleasure of the King), the intellect, and the emotion.
As the Shin form is written differently, “this” human being is changed or acted upon. For example, in the second uploaded Shin picture, you see a dot above the right column. This dot emphases God acting in lovingkindness, but if the dot is placed on the left column this shows God acting in severity and discipline. In the first uploaded picture, of the Shin, you see the three-line form and the four-line form superimposed on each other. The meaning behind each of these forms proves necessary in the growth of child.
The Reshimos, documents that the three-letter shin represents the father teaching from a position of austerity and strictness while the four-line Shin represents the mother teaching from a posture of love and compassion, reflecting the light of the Word. The luchos, the Ten Commandments, are etched on stone, and in like manner, the love and compassion reflected from the mother is etched onto the child’s heart, whereas the father’s education is likened to the letters of the Torah as ink on parchment. While the four- line is in the background, as the relief image of the etched stone, the three-line and the four-line both are vital in building faith. Together these bring a release of fears, a steadfastness of faith, a transformed new man.
Shin is a character/letter in God’s name, Shaddai. The Shin carries with it energy, and is full of potential and benevolence, seemingly, giving energy to God to act upon us for our good in mercy. As such, Shin is also known as King of Fire, and the Head of the Soul.
The Shin character by itself, can mean:
Appointed Time
Steadfastness in one’s faith
To change for the good
To return
Year
Teeth, chomp, devour, chew on, destroy, tongues of fire, press, eat, consume
When added to the other characters in the name Shaddai, the complete meaning of the name of God becomes Nurturer and Destroyer.
Christians see the Shin as the Light of God, the Word, Jesus. You can either grow as a plant with the Light as your source or the Light can burn you up and wither you away. In the same way you can chew on the Word and digest it for your nourishment, or it can devour you in judgement. If we allow the Word to become our Source of Life, then God Appears. The numeric value of Sheen is 300, and means, God Appears.
To give even more clarity on what I see here as the process of building faith and becoming more holy, look at the second image of the Shin. It looks like three lines with balloons attached. The balloons signify three Revelations that are also announced in the heavens through the planets.
The first balloon represents Mercury, the Law. With the Law comes judgement because it condemns sin. The Law points to our need for a Savior because we are helpless to carry out the Law.
The second Balloon represents Venus, and the Prophets who announce in the fullness of time that, He, the Savior will come or appear.
The third balloon represents the Earth on which the Messiah was glorified, bringing men Grace, the forgiveness of sins. The bottom Sun stroke on the Shin harnesses the lines and their balloons together. This Sun stroke represents the Holy Spirit that reveals to us Jesus, the Son of God, our High Priest, through whom we can approach God because of His blood sacrifice of His own body for our sins. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Our very life depends on our acknowledgment and submission to walk in the ways depicted by the three-line Shin, love and apply yourself to these three: the Word, prayer, and good deeds. The Word will keep you, guard you, and guide you. Keep steadfast. He lights the Way. Stand in the fire with the only One who can keep you from getting burned.