Kheshbon Hanefesh: A Personal Inventory

is A personal inventory Part of repairing the midnight hour is to take account of how well we know where we are. This is part of the goal of some of the confessional prayers. It concludes with acceptance of the covenant, takin_g of vows, and reciting of dedications. Section Taking a personal inventory is part of the order ofTikkun Hatzot, inasmuch as one can't grieve for what one doesn't accept, recognize or consider one's own issues. As the order of the davvenen is a developmental one, it makes sense to know where we are when we begin to establish a marker by which to identify and appreciate improvements. Notice that in the "Seftra" section the years are divided up into blocks of seven which are associated with the seven seflrot (See Sefirot section for some introduction to this method of character typology}. In addition. there is an association of every twelve years to a month, the first twelve years of one's life being January, and so on 1. This leads to the odd blending of terms such as Malkhut of April, for one's 28th (Saturn Return} year. I have found it interesting to first fill in the "marker year" column, and then notice the Seflra association which is sometimes remarkably suggestive. Therapeutic Objectives for the Four Worlds Characters ............ 163 This unique system blending therapy goals from several psychotherapeutic disciplines can be helpful in reminding us of important guidelines which are not to be neglected as we undertake to expand our consciousness, so that we avoid psychic inflation and stay humble as we explore the spiritual garden. 1Thanks aga.111to Reb Zalman ~"J