Infinity Eyes:
Connecting to a
Higher Knowing
Open my eyes so I may behold 
75
This practice makes use of the poetry of midrash, traditional interpretations of the Torah. The images invoked are symbolic yet personal. Energy techniques and kabbalistic visualizations unify the letters of the Name. The light created by the unification can then illuminate inward to the self and outward as far as the imagination allows. Be sure to stay grounded whenever you practice.
Kabbalistic Background
In the Tree of Life, the Partzufim of Abba and Ema—the Father and Mother—are responsible for the passage of ideas into consciousness.76 In the imagery of Kabbalah, a spark, the seed of an idea, is transmitted from Abba to Ema. Ema becomes “pregnant” with the spark which can then be birthed down the Tree into the physical world of manifestation.
If placed on the body of Adam Kadmon, the original enlightened human, these archetypes represent the right and left brain. Abba and Ema are also represented by the first two letters of the Name, YHVH/
.
Abba is represented by the Yud/
and
Ema by the first Hei/
Abba and Ema are always together, and they can be visualized as connecting back-to-back or face-to-face. Back-to-back is a superficial union requiring no effort, although a union nonetheless. Our everyday thoughts and ideas are brought into manifestation through the back-to-back relationship. The face-to-face union on the other hand, is a deep, intimate, intertwined marriage that, according to Kabbalah, brings in the lights of higher consciousness.
As previously discussed, the Israelites carried the Ten Commandments with them in a portable sanctuary, the Mishkan, throughout their desert journey. Inside the Mishkan, the Ten Commandments were secured in the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark was guarded by the images of two golden cherubs said to have been entwined face-to-face in a loving embrace.77 In the Book of Numbers (7:89) it is written that God’s voice, the divine presence of the Shechina, emanated from between the cherubs. When the ancient Temple in Jerusalem was built by King Solomon, the Ark was transferred to the Holy of Holies. According to midrash, the embracing cherubs remained there guarding the Ark until the Temple was destroyed. When the Shechina went into exile with the conquered Jews, the cherubs no longer faced each other. Instead, they sat back-to-back, awaiting Her return.
According to the Torah, humans were created in the image of God. Like the Mishkan, our bodies are sanctuaries, personal dwelling places for the divine presence. Often we lose sight of our divine inner light, the presence of the Shechina in ourselves and others. One way to reconnect to the divine presence is to visualize the marriage of Abba and Ema, opposites forming a unity. The symbolic marriage of Abba and Ema creates a sacred space for the cherubs to reunite in face-to-face embrace. When the cherubs reunite in our personal Mishkan, the light of higher consciousness can flow from between them.
This idea is symbolized by Abba and Ema as first two letters of YHVH.
The process of reuniting the cherubs involves a deep archetypal healing of the Mother/hei/ with the Father/yud/. According to legend, when the Shechina returns, the first hei/, the Mother/Ema, will turn to face the yud/, the Father/Abba. The will fill in the open space in the creating the letter chet/
, representing a chuppah, wedding canopy.
The cherubs then reunite in this sacred space, under the chuppah created by the face-to-face union of Abba and Ema. The chuppa, in this practice, rests at the third eye, which here represents the “quasi sefira” of Da’at, literally “knowing.”
Da’at
Da’at lies between Abba on the right and Ema on the left in the central column of the Tree, directly below Keter. Keter, the crown, is the most direct link to the infinite light of Source. This level is unfathomable to us. Whatever light is revealed to us is channeled through Da’at.78 Da’at is the sefira of transformation. Da’at is not only the link between Abba and Ema, the higher masculine and feminine archetypes, but also contains the full complement of the masculine and feminine forces of the Tree within it. It has the potential to hold, balance, and integrate the tension of all opposites and paradoxes, as symbolized here by the infinity sign. The verb form of da’at “to know,” la’da’at, is used in the Torah to describe intimate sexual relationships. The masculine/feminine unifications envisioned by this practice are total and equal: metaphorically face to face, aligned from head to toe. According to the Zohar, such unions create the highest possibility of tikun olam, repair of the world through the light of higher consciousness. Da’at is the doorway to this light.
Da’at also creates the path of connection between mind and heart. Most of us are Da’at challenged in the sense that we live mainly in our heads rather than our hearts. Part of this practice is an opening and healing of Da’at, creating a clear path for Ruach Hakodesh, divine inspiration, to enter our hearts and provide clarity for our lives.
Infinity Eyes as Devekut
Devekut, cleaving to the Name to bring in Ruach Hakodesh, was a well-known kabbalistic practice (introduced in Chapter 21). The thirteenth-century kabbalist, Isaac of Acco, wrote that the secret to devekut was to cleave to God not just with the mind but with the body as well. To this end he advised seeing the Name over the eyes. Infinity Eyes is this form of devekut: the Name YHVH/ is visualized as infinity signs, horizontal eights, drawn around the eyes.79
In Summary
Imagine that you, like the Mishkan of old, have cherubs guarding the sanctuary of your body and soul. When the union of Abba and Ema creates the chuppa at Da’at, your personal cherubs reunite under it in a face-to-face embrace. From between them flows the letters of the most sacred Name YHVH. The four letters entwine, creating frames of golden spectacles, a devekut of divine light with which to view inward to the self and outward as far as the imagination allows. This is an act of self-healing, and a tikun that can impact repair of the world.
Energy Background
In order for the energy body to function with maximum vitality, energies need to be communicating and connected in a balanced way. Figure eights/infinity signs serve to both connect and balance energies. Tracing eights over the energy body in any direction encourages the body’s innate healing wisdom at every level. The more infinity patterns there are in the energy field, the greater the power of the life force energy.
The foundational energy practice presented here is called “eighting the eyes.” It brings balance to the energy body in several ways.
- Slowly circling the eyes in horizontal figure eight/infinity sign patterns creates long-lasting connections between all the body’s energies. Eighting the eyes can replace the repatterning exercise called the homolateral cross-crawl 80 which may be physically challenging or even ineffective in certain people.
- Eighting the eyes can help to reverse brain scramble, improve focus, and balance the right and left hemispheres of the brain.81
- Eighting the eyes is part of a daily energy routine to strengthen the eyesight.
How
Use the left index finger to slowly trace large horizontal eights, infinity patterns, around the eyes. It may be helpful to imagine that you are drawing the frames of very large glasses. Keep the eyes closed throughout. Remember to breathe deeply and slowly. Repeat six to eight times or more. There is no need to reverse direction. When you feel comfortable with the physical movements continue to the kabbalistic visualizations.
Kabbalistic Symbolism and Visualization
Unification, also called Yichud/Oneness, is the spiritual essence of Da’at. Because Da’at has the capacity to bear the tension of opposites, it acts as the center of the infinity sign, between Abba and Ema at the third eye.
The unification of the letters of YHVH takes place in two steps. First the V and H, representing Heaven and Earth, come together at the heart. They form the foundation for the union of Y and H, Abba and Ema. The marriage of Abba and Ema creates the chuppa at Da’at under which the cherubs embrace. There, at the third eye, the four letters of the Name emerge in golden light from between the cherubs.
Unification of the Letters of the Name
- Heaven and Earth: Vav/
with Hei/ YHVH/
in the name YHVH:
In Kabbalah, these letters of the Name can be symbolized in several other ways:
- Soul and Body
- K”BH and Shechina,
- Z”A and NOK,
- 6 masculine + 7 feminine = 13/ahava/love.
Choose a pair of symbols that resonates with you. In the practice, visualize those symbols coming together, balancing, dancing, and filling the heart.
- Yud/ and hei//Abba and Ema/YHVH/
In this special coupling the h(ei)/
of Ema turns to face the y(ud)/ of Abba. Together as equals, face to face, they form the letter chet/ and create a golden chuppa at Da’at. Visualize this golden chuppa between your eyebrows.
- The hands connect the four letters of the Name at Da’at: Y/ and H/ from the third eye and V/ and H/ from the heart.
- Surrounded by the harmonious unification of the letters, the cherubs of your personal Mishkan are called to reunite under the chuppa. In the intimacy of Da’at, a higher knowing, they turn to face each other once again in a heart-to-heart, loving and equal embrace.
- The golden letters of the name YHVH/
flow out from between the cherubs. - As you trace big eights around the eyes, the four letters,
, dance and intertwine in the path, creating dynamic golden YHVH spectacles. Your eyes are framed by moving letters of the Name. - Stop at this point and experience the sensations. When you are ready, continue with one or more of the suggested meditations.
The Kabbalah/Energy Practice
First Union: Heaven and Earth/V and H
- Grounding to the Earth
Place both hands over the heart and take several deep breaths. Imagine the bottoms of the feet opening to receive the nurturing energy of Earth, Malchut/Shechina.82 Feel this grounding energy rise easily up the legs and belly. Let the energy open any places that are blocked as it flows up the body and fills the heart. During the rest of the practice, periodically reconnect with this stabilizing flow.83
- Connecting to Heaven: Heaven Rushing In
Inhale deeply. Maintain connection with the flow of earth energy. Open your arms wide, extending them overhead. Imagine divine radiance entering your head, fingers, and hands. It may help to imagine this radiance as beautiful feelings such as gratitude, hope, faith, compassion, joy, etc. Your hands may start to tingle or get warm. When you are ready, gather this energy from above and bring it into the heart to meet the earth energy.84
Visualize the symbols you chose balancing, dancing, and filling the heart. Maintain awareness of their unification in your heart and when you feel ready, continue.
- Second Union: Ema and Abba/Y and H
Place the palms gently on the temples as the fingers lie flat over the right and left side of the head. Inhale and exhale normally but consciously.
Image 73—Smooth Behind the Ears
With your fingers, smooth slowly behind the ears several times, from the temple to the jaw. With respect and gratitude, invite the Mother/Ema and Father/Abba aspects of your higher self to the practice. For example, Ema may embody such qualities as softness, gentleness, self-acceptance and nurturing. Abba may embody strength in a protective embrace.
Return your palms to the side of the head as before. As you hold your fingers there, visualize the hei/ of Ema turning to face the yud/ of Abba.
See the creation of a letter chet/ by the alignment of Ema and Abba in a total face-to-face connection. Take several deep breaths in through the nose and out the mouth. Visualize the chet/ slowly turning gold. The sits right over the third eye, between the eyebrows, at Da’at. Rest the left middle finger on Da’at/the union of Y and H/
, and the right hand on the heart/the union of V and H/
.
Image 76—Fingers at Third Eye and Heart
Visualize the connection of all the letters of the Name through the connection of mind and heart.
Invite the cherubs to enter the golden chuppa. See them there in Da’at, entwined once more in loving embrace. The powerful love85 generated by their reunion can be visualized as the unified name YHVH/
emanating from beneath the chuppa.
Accessing the Flow of Light
Start and end with the left index finger in Da’at at the third eye and the right hand over the heart. Close the eyes. Imagine the letters of the Name 
emanating through the chuppah in a stream of golden light. With the left index finger trace infinity loops of this golden light around the eyes. Imagine the letters intertwining, joyfully weaving around and through each other as you trace their path of light.
The letters continue to pour out as you trace. The golden light grows stronger and stronger as you add more layers of letters. The letters frame the eyes and illuminate the vision with a higher consciousness.
If desired, continue with one or more of the following.
Meditation 1: Looking Inward
Place the left hand on the forehead over Da’at and the right hand over the heart.
The entwined golden letters 
continue to circle the eyes. With your eyes framed by the letters, focus your vision into the body through the portal of Da’at. See your deepest self illuminated by the divine light that projects inward. Your inner vision may take you to a place of shadow, a dark place that longs to be brought into awareness. Use the light and power of the Name to heal this place by revealing what is concealed and then freeing the sparks of insight hidden there. When you have finished, journal if desired.
Meditation 2: Higher Guidance
Place the left hand on the forehead over Da’at and the right hand over the heart.
This meditation can also be used to make difficult choices from a level of higher consciousness. Hold your question under the chuppa. The golden light of the letters emanating from Da’at can open a channel to divinely-inspired inner knowing. Set an intention to being guided at the highest levels.
Receive the answers with confidence.
Meditation 3: The Shiviti Spectacles of Equanimity
It is a practice, especially in the Sephardic tradition to embody the words of King David (Psalms 6:8):
Shiviti Hashem l’negdi Tamid.
I have placed God before me always.
Plaques inscribed with this verse, called shivitis (shee vee tees) for short, are used as a reminder of this intention.
The Ba’al Shem Tov, founder of the Chassidic movement, interpreted this verse to mean:
I have equanimity: YHVH is before me always.
Equanimity is the attribute of mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in challenging situations. Equanimity, according to Chaim Vital in Shaa’rei Kedusha, The Gates of Holiness, is necessary in order to attain the influx of divine light, the enlightenment of Ruach Hakodesh.
Use the visualization of the intertwined letters: as shiviti spectacles. As you imagine the letters actively surrounding the eyes, experience their impact when your eyes are open. Practice seeing the Name before you like a visual mantra of equanimity. In everyday life, there are many opportunities to use the shiviti spectacles. The golden letters will surround anyone and anything you project them onto. They are a constant reminder of God’s omnipresence.
Meditation 4: Surrounded by the Love of YHVH
Continue to trace large eights of the intertwined golden letters around the eyes. As the letters flow from between the cherubs, they spill forth and begin to surround the head and then the whole body. With both hands, continue spreading and intertwining the letters by tracing golden infinity signs of any size in any direction all around the body. The eights fill the aura, spiraling and dancing. Feel yourself surrounded by the golden light of YHVH/
in the form of infinity signs of love and oneness. You are safe and protected. Take a few moments to experience the sensations. This visualization can also be added to the aura boundary protection exercise (KAP) presented in Chapter 17. Stay grounded. Offer thanks.
Meditation 5: Expanding the Vision
Seeing through the Divine Name can transform both your internal life and external reality.
The entwined eights of YHVH/ continue to generate from between the cherubs under the chuppa. As the letters frame the eyes they begin to spill forth. They fill the aura as in Meditation 4 and extend out beyond it. The eights connect to the eights of others creating a web of balance and harmony. The ancient flower of life symbol (see page 77) is a helpful way to visualize the interconnection of all beings. Because the eights are made of the Name YHVH, each eight has a gematria of twenty-six. Each segment of the infinity sign therefore has a value of thirteen, love. The connections are golden infinity signs of YHVH = love + love.
No matter how many loops and connections there are, they are all love and they always add to ONE.
13 + 13 = 26 ~ YHVH
YHVH is ONE
75 Psalm 119.
76 The sefirot of Chochma and Bina, make up the Partzufim of Abba and Ema. See chapter 4.
77 Although there are many interpretations as to the appearance of cherubs, the sages of the Talmud state that the cherubs of the Ark had the faces of children (Chagiga 13b, Sukah 5ab). The symbolism of love comes from the Talmudic writings of Rav Katina in B. Yoma 74. Rav Katina wrote that when the Israelites would come to the Temple, they would see the cherubs intertwined with each other. They were told “Behold, the love of you before God is like the love between man and woman.”
78 There are two aspects of Da’at—the lower form, Da’at Tachton, connects the mind and heart. The higher form, Da’at Elyon, balances the left and right hemispheres of the brain.
79 Remember that the letter , standing for chuppa, is also the number eight and the shape of the infinity sign.
80 Described in Donna Eden’s book, Energy Medicine.
81 Similar to Wayne Cook Posture and Cook's Hook-Up described in Donna Eden's book Energy Medicine. This is an observation from my work with clients.
82 For a grounding review, see chapter 14.
83 If you would like to add conscious breathing, inhale from earth (Malchut) and heaven (Keter), simultaneously. Exhale through Da’at at the third eye as the letters are released. The inhale is similar to aleph breath.
84 There is an energy vortex at the heart called “heaven rushing in” waiting to receive this beautiful gift of infinite love and connection.
85 Recall the gematria of ahava/love = 13. Two cherubs = love + love = 13 + 13 = 26. The gematria of YHVH is 26. The letters of YHVH flow from between the cherubs.