Tzimtzum, Hitpashtut: Contraction-Expansion

Hitpa htut Contraction- Expansion T imt um- h vira- Tikkun- it'pashtut Contract-Break-Repair-Expand 1. In Habad literature, the dynamics of creation are elementalised as just two forces- Tzimtzum and Hit'pashtut- the expansion and contraction of every pulse, every breath. I like the simplicity of Habad's formulation, just two Divine dynamics, as if all change happens because of God's breathing. I also like to think that Tzimtzum-Shevira-Tikkun is a ubiquitous dynamic, a cycle of creation showing up in many dimensions, as hinted on the previous page. Merging these two ideas is possible. 2. Imagine that Tzimtzum-Shevira-Tikkun (contract, break apart, heal) can all be summarized as just Tzimtzum (the dynamics of contraction setting the stage for a healing synthesis). Tzimtzum and Shevira are both diminishing dynamics, and differ only in degree. Tikkun is in relationship to Shevira, for you cannot fix what ain't broken. These three dynamics can then be summarised as all arising out of Tzimtzum. The expanded pattern, then, is Tzimtzum-(Shevira-Tikkun)-Hit'pashtut. Hit' pashtut represents a new force, that of the posthealed world, beyond the world of the last Tzimtzum?" 3. This answers the question "What happens after Tikkun which causes the following Tzimtzum?" Hit'pashtut, of course, follows Tikkun and is sandwiched in before the subsequent Tzimtzum. It makes sense that Hit'pashtut (as celebration and reveling) was purposely left out of the Lurianic triad, because we wouldn't want to proclaim Hit'pashtut (a function of Tikkun) until after a real Tikkun, lest we go into Hit'pashtut prematurely. 4. And so we have concepts folded into other concepts, Shevira and Tikkun folded into Tzimtzum and Hit'pashtut folded into Tikkun.