This painting is inspired by a meditation of the Ari z”l which corresponds to the days of the week.

It is explained in the Kabbalah, that in the way that our souls are enclothed in our bodies, so too is our soul enclothed within the garment of time. The Ari z”l brings a beautiful meditation which expresses a way in which the days of the week enclothe our spiritual essence:

“On day one (Sunday) meditate on the upper letter hey ה of the Divine name Shem Havaya י – ה – ו – ה. On the second day (Monday) meditate on the letter vav ו of Shem Havaya. And on the third day (Tuesday) meditate on the last letter hey ה of the same Shem Havaya. Afterwards, on the last three days, meditate from below to above. On the fourth day (Wednesday) meditate on the last letter hey ה of Shem Havaya. On the fifth day (Thursday) meditate on the letter vav ו of Shem Havaya. On the sixth day (Friday) meditate on the upper letter hey ה of Shem Havaya.” –Gate of Prophesy meditation #4

The Kabbalah explains how the Divine name Shem Havaya י-ה-ו-ה describes our spiritual reality. In one way of understanding, the 4 letters of the Divine name represent 4 aspects of our inner consciousness. The letter י represents the experience of the infinite Divine goodness we were created to experience. The letters ה-ו-ה represent the spiritual progression that enables us to experience this ultimate goodness.

In this meditation of the Ari z”l, the letter י of the Shem Havaya can be seen as associated with Shabbat שבת. Shabbat corresponds spiritually to the purpose of creation, the revelation and experience of the infinite אין סוף Divine goodness by all creation.

Sunday and Friday enclothe the י of Shabbat, and correspond to the upper ה of the Shem Havaya.

Monday and Thursday enclothe the upper ה and correspond to the ו of the Shem Havaya.

Tuesday and Wednesday enclothe the ו and correspond to the lower ה of the Shem Havaya.

The three days after Shabbat correspond to the spiritual essence of Shabbat becoming manifest in physical reality. The next three days correspond to our physical reality elevating to the spiritual essence of the coming Shabbat.

We learn in the Kabbalah that we are presently undergoing a spiritual transformation, which is preparing us to be able to experience all of the eternal goodness that we were created to experience. The root of this transformation is the elevation of our focusing on self concern, to attain the expanded consciousness of truly caring for others.

Our inner spiritual transformation finds expression in the realms of action, speech, and thought. Although we are always spiritually working towards elevating all 3 of these aspects of ourselves, this meditation shows how each day of the week has a particular relationship with one of these aspects. The lower ה of the Shem Havaya corresponds to action, the ו corresponds to speech, and the upper ה corresponds to thought. The 3 Hebrew words for thought מחשבה, speech דבור, and action מעשה are written near the bottom center of the painting. The line that each one of them is written on shows which letter of the Shem Havaya it is associated with as well as the corresponding days of the week.

The 4 letters of the Shem Havaya are described in greater detail as 10 aspects of consciousness called the 10 Sefirot or Tree of Life. A map of the 10 Sefirot is in the center of the painting.

The 10 Sefirot and one of many ways of translating their meaning and associated state of consciousness is:

Keter – Purpose of Creation / Infinite Goodness
Chochma Experience of Oneness
Bina – State-  of Unconditional Love
Chesed – Loving Kindness [ Sunday ]
Gevurah – Humility [ Monday ]
Tiferet – Harmony [ Tuesday ]
Netzach – Eternity [ Wednesday ]
Hod – Thankfulness [ Thursday ]
Yesod – Unity [ Friday ]
Malchut – Central Point in the Heart [ Shabbat ]

The 7 days of the week have associations with the 7 lower Sefirot.

Each Sefira has associations with various colors and sounds. The Sefirot do not have physical properties such as color or sound, but rather represent the spiritual roots of physical emanations. The Sefirot, as well as their associated colors and sounds, are used in Kabbalisitic meditations.

In this painting, the Hebrew letters א ב ג ד ה ו in the circle that surround the 10 Sefirot, represent the 6 days of the week surrounding Shabbat. By each day of the week is painted the name of the Sefira with which it is associated, within a color corresponding to that Sefira and day of the week. There is also depicted the Shem Havaya with the Hebrew vowel sound notation that corresponds with that day and Sefira. Each of the Hebrew vowel sound notations represent specific states of spiritual consciousness. These are used in spiritual meditations, although we do not pronounce the Shem Havaya with vowel sounds.

The meditation of the Ari z”l described in this painting can be used throughout the week, to help connect with the spiritual essence of Shabbat within every day. This meditation is only one of many intensely beautiful and powerful meditations connected to the days of the week, which are described in the Ari z”l’s Gate of Prophesy (Sha’ar Ruach HaKodesh).