Tomer Devorah

האדם ראוי שיתדמה לקונו: הָאָדָם רָאוּי שֶׁיִּתְדַּמֶּה לְקוֹנוֹ וְאָז יִהְיֶה בְּסוֹד הַצּוּרָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה צֶלֶם וּדְמוּת, שֶׁאִלּוּ יְדֻמֶּה בְּגוּפוֹ וְלֹא בִּפְעֻלּוֹת הֲרֵי הוּא מַכְזִיב הַצּוּרָה וְיֹאמְרוּ עָלָיו צוּרָה נָאָה וּמַעֲשִׂים כְּעוּרִים. שֶׁהֲרֵי עִיקָר הַצֶּלֶם וְהַדְּמוּת הָעֶלְיוֹן הֵן פְּעֻלּוֹתָיו, וּמַה יוֹעִיל לוֹ הֱיוֹתוֹ כְּצוּרָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה דְּמוּת תַּבְנִית אֵבָרָיו וּבַפְּעֻלּוֹת לֹא יִתְדַמֶּה לְקוֹנוֹ. לְפִיכָךְ רָאוּי שֶׁיִּתְדַּמֶּה אֶל פְּעֻלּוֹת הַכֶּתֶר שֶׁהֵן י"ג מִדּוֹת שֶׁל רַחֲמִים עֶלְיוֹנוֹת. וּרְמוּזוֹת בְּסוֹד הַפְּסוּקִים (מיכה ז, יח) מִי אֵל כָּמוֹךָ. יָשׁוּב יְרַחֲמֵנוּ. תִּתֵּן אֱמֶת. אִם כֵּן רָאוּי שֶׁתִּמְצָאֶנָּה בוֹ י"ג מִדּוֹת אֵלּוּ. וְעַכְשָׁו נְפָרֵשׁ אוֹתָן הַפְּעֻלּוֹת י"ג שֶׁרָאוּי שֶׁתִּהְיֶינָה בוֹ:

Chapter 1 - That it is fitting for a person to resemble his Creator: It is fitting for a person to resemble his Creator and then he will be [configured] in the secret of the Highest Form, [both] in image and likeness. As if he is alike in his body but not in his actions, he betrays the Form; and they will say about him, "A lovely form, but ugly deeds." As behold, the essence of the Highest Image and Likeness is His actions. And what will it benefit him to have the structure of his limbs like the Highest Form, but not resemble his Creator in his actions? Therefore it is fitting that he should [make his actions] resemble the actions of the Crown (Keter), which are the thirteen highest traits of mercy. And they are hinted to in the secret of the verses (Michah 7:18-20), "Who is a power like You; He will again have mercy on us; You shall give truth." If so, it is fitting that these thirteen traits [also] be found in man. And now we will explain these thirteen actions that are fitting to be with him.

Tomer Devorah 1:1 · Tomer Devorah, translated by R. Francis Nataf, Sefaria 2019

כמה גופי פעולות שהם עיקר ההנהגה: עוֹד, לִהְיוֹת הָאָדָם דּוֹמֶה לְקוֹנוֹ בְּסוֹד מִדַּת הַכֶּתֶר צָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּהְיוּ בוֹ כַּמָּה גּוּפֵי פְּעֻלּוֹת שֶׁהֵם עִיקָר הַהַנְהָגָה:

Chapter 2 - Some major activities that are the main governance: Further for a person to resemble his Creator from the secret of the trait of the Crown (Keter), he must [do] some major activities - which are the main governance.

Tomer Devorah 2:1 · Tomer Devorah, translated by R. Francis Nataf, Sefaria 2019

האיך ירגיל האדם עצמו במדת החכמה: הִנֵּה הַחָכְמָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה פְּרוּשָׂה עַל כָּל הַנִּמְצָאִים כֻּלָּם, עִם הֱיוֹתָהּ נֶעֱלֶמֶת וְנִשְׂגָּבָה מְאֹד, וְעָלֶיהָ נֶאֱמַר (תְּהִלִּים קד, כד): "מָה רַבּוּ מַעֲשֶׂיךָ ה' כֻּלָּם בְּחָכְמָה עָשִׂיתָ". כָּךְ רָאוּי לְאָדָם שֶׁתִּהְיֶה חָכְמָתוֹ מְצוּיָה בַּכֹּל וְיִהְיֶה מְלַמֵּד לְהוֹעִיל לִבְנֵי אָדָם לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד כְּפִי כֹחוֹ כָּל מַה שֶׁיּוּכַל לְהַשְׁפִּיעַ עָלָיו מֵחָכְמָתוֹ יַשְׁפִּיעֵהוּ וְלֹא תַטְרִידֵהוּ סִבָּה כְּלָל.

Chapter 3 - How a person can accustom himself with the trait of wisdom (chokhmah): Behold, the Highest Wisdom is completely spread over all things that exist, even as It is very concealed and sublime. About It is it stated (Psalms 104:24), "How many are Your creations, Lord; You made all of them with wisdom." So [too,] is it fitting for a person's wisdom to be found in everything; and he [should] 'teach to benefit' people - he [should] endow each and every one according to his ability, that which he can endow from his wisdom. And no cause [should] disturb him [in this] at all.

Tomer Devorah 3:1 · Tomer Devorah, translated by R. Francis Nataf, Sefaria 2019

האיך ירגיל האדם עצמו במדת הבינה: בינה היא תשובה: וְהוּא לָשׁוּב בִּתְשׁוּבָה שֶּׁאֵין דָּבָר חָשׁוּב כָּמוֹהָ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא מְתַקֶּנֶת כָּל פְּגַם, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁדֶּרֶךְ הַבִּינָה לְמַתֵּק כָּל הַדִּינִים וּלְבַטֵּל מְרִירוּתָם, כָּךְ הָאָדָם יָשׁוּב בִּתְשׁוּבָה וִיתַקֵּן כָּל פְּגָם. וּמִי שֶׁמְּהַרְהֵר תְּשׁוּבָה כָּל יָמָיו גּוֹרֵם שֶׁתָּאִיר הַבִּינָה בְּכָל יָמָיו וְנִמְצְאוּ כָּל יָמָיו בִּתְשׁוּבָה דְּהַיְנוּ לִכְלֹל עַצְמוֹ בְּבִינָה שֶׁהִיא תְּשׁוּבָה וִימֵי חַיָּיו מְעֻטָּרִים בְּסוֹד הַתְּשׁוּבָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה. וּרְאֵה כִּי כְמוֹ שֶׁהַתְּשׁוּבָה יֵשׁ בָּהּ שֹׁרֶשׁ כָּל הַנִּמְצָאוֹת בְּסוֹד הַיּוֹבֵל וַהֲרֵי שֹׁרֶשׁ הַחִצוֹנִים סוֹד נְהַר דִּינוּר הַנִּכְלָל בִּקְדֻשָּׁה בְּסוֹד הַגְּבוּרוֹת נִשְׁרַשׁ שָׁם וְיִתְפַּשֵּׁט מִשָּׁם וְיִקָּרֵא הִתְפַּשְּׁטוּת חֲרוֹן אַף וּבְסוֹד "וַיָּרַח ה' אֶת רֵיחַ הַנִּיחֹחַ" (בְּרֵאשִׁית ח, כא) יַחְזֹר הַהִתְפַּשְּׁטוּת הַהוּא אֶל מְקוֹרוֹ וְיֻמְתְּקוּ הַדִּינִים וְיִשְׁקֹט הֶחָרוֹן וְיִנָּחֵם ה׳ עַל הָרָעָה, כָּךְ הָאָדָם בְּסוֹד תְּשׁוּבָתוֹ עוֹשֶׂה סוֹד זֶה.

Chapter 4 - How a person can accustom himself with the trait of understanding (binah): Understanding is repentance. And this is that one [should] repent - as there is nothing as important as it, since it repairs every defect. And like it is the way of Understanding to sweeten all of the judgments and to nullify their bitterness, so [should] a person repent and fix every defect. And one who ponders repentance all of his days causes Understanding to shine upon him all of his days. 'And it comes out that all of his days are in repentance' - which is [to say that he] is including himself in Understanding, which is Repentance. And [so] the days of his life are crowned with the secret of the Highest Repentance. And see, that [just] like Repentance has the root of all that is in existence in it through the secret of the Jubilee, and behold the root of the external forces - [which] is the secret of the River Dinur which is included in the holiness of the secret of the severities - is [also] rooted There and extends from There and this extension is called the extension of the burning fury, but the extension returns to its Source in the secret of "And the Lord smelled the pleasant smell" (Genesis 8:21), and the judgments are sweetened and the fury is stilled, 'and the Lord relents of the evil'; so [too] does a person do this secret with the secret of his repentance.

Tomer Devorah 4:1 · Tomer Devorah, translated by R. Francis Nataf, Sefaria 2019

כיצד ירגיל האדם עצמו במדת החסד: העקר - אהבת ה': עִיקָר כְּנִיסַת הָאָדָם אֶל סוֹד הַחֶסֶד הוּא לֶאֱהֹב אֶת ה' תַּכְלִית אַהֲבָה שֶׁלֹּא יַנִיחַ עֲבוֹדָתוֹ לְשׁוּם סִבָּה מִפְּנֵי שֶּׁאֵין דָּבָר נֶאֱהָב אֶצְלוֹ כְּלָל לְעֵרֶךְ אַהֲבָתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ, וְלָזֶה יְתַקֵּן תְּחִלָּה צָרְכֵי עֲבוֹדָתוֹ וְאַחַר כָּךְ הַמּוֹתָר יִהְיֶה לִשְׁאָר הַצְּרָכִים, וְתִהְיֶה הָאַהֲבָה הַזֹּאת תְּקוּעָה בְּלִבּוֹ בֵּין יְקַבֵּל טוֹבוֹת מֵאֵת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וּבֵין יְקַבֵּל יִסּוּרִין וְתוֹכָחוֹת יַחְשְּׁבֵם לְאַהֲבָה לוֹ כְּדִכְתִיב (מִשְׁלֵי כז, ו): "נֶאֱמָנִים פִּצְעֵי אוֹהֵב", וּכְדִכְתִיב (דְּבָרִים ו, ה): "וּבְכָל מְאֹדֶךָ" וּפֵרְשׁוּ (בְּרָכוֹת נד.) "בְּכָל מִדָּה וּמִדָּה וְכוּ'" כְּדֵי לִכְלֹל כָּל הַמִּדּוֹת בְּחֶסֶד וְנִמְצָא סוֹד הַנְהָגָתוֹ מֵהַמַּלְכוּת וְעִם הֱיוֹת שֶׁהִיא פוֹעֶלֶת דִּין הִיא קְשׁוּרָה בְּחֶסֶד, וְהַיְּנוּ מִדַּת נַחוּם אִישׁ גַם זוֹ שֶׁהָיָה אוֹמֵר "גַם זוֹ לְטוֹבָה", רָצָה לְקָשְׁרָה תָּמִיד בְּצַד הַחֶסֶד הַנִּקְרָא טוֹב וְהָיָה אוֹמֵר גַּם זוֹ שֶׁנִּרְאֶה שֶׁהִיא בִּשְׂמֹאל קְשׁוּרָה בַּגְּבוּרָה אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא לְטוֹבָה הִיא קְשׁוּרָה בְּחֶסֶד וְהָיָה שָׂם דַּעְתּוֹ אֶל צַד הַטּוֹב בַּמִּדָּה הַהִיא וּמַסְתִּיר דִּינֶיהָ. וְזוֹ הִיא הַנְהָגָה גְּדוֹלָה לְהִקָּשֵׁר בְּחֶסֶד תָּמִיד.

Chapter 5 - How a person can accustom himself with the trait of kindness (chesed): [Its] essence is love of God - the main entrance for a person to the secret of kindness is to love God with the fullest love, such that he will not leave His service for any reason. [This is] on account of there being nothing at all as beloved to him, relative to his love of Him, may He be blessed. And so, he [should] first fix all the needs of His service; and what remains afterwards will be for other needs. And this love [should] be fixed in his heart. Whether he receives goodnesses from the Holy One, blessed be He, or whether he receives afflictions and upbraidings, he [should] consider them [to be products of His] love for him, as it is written (Proverbs 27:6), "Faithful are the wounds of a friend." And it is as it is [also] written (Deuteronomy 6:5), "and with all your might (meodecah)" - and they explained (Berakhot 54a), "With each and every trait (midah), etc., so as to include all of the traits in Kindness. And it comes out that the secret of His governance is from Kingship (Malkhut); and even as it acts with judgement, it is connected to Kindness. And this is the trait of Nachum, the man of Gamzo, who would say, "This too (Gam zo) is for the good." He wanted to always connect [occurrences] to the side of Kindness that is called good, and [so] he would say, "This too," that appears to be with the 'left' that is connected to Severity (Gevurah), "is" nothing but "for the good," [which is] connected to Kindness. And he would put his mind to the side of the good with this trait and hide its judgments. And this is a great practice, always to connect with Kindness.

Tomer Devorah 5:1 · Tomer Devorah, translated by R. Francis Nataf, Sefaria 2019

היאך ירגיל אדם עצמו במדת הגבורה: דַּע כִּי כָל פְּעֻלּוֹת הִתְעוֹרְרוּת יֵצֶר הָרַע הֵם מַמָּשׁ מְעוֹרְרוֹת הַגְּבוּרוֹת הַחֲזָקוֹת, לְכָךְ לֹא יִתְנוֹעֵעַ יֵצֶר הָרַע שֶׁלֹּא יְעוֹרֵר גְּבוּרָה. וְהַטַּעַם שֶׁהָאָדָם נוֹצָר בִּשְׁתֵּי יְצִירוֹת יֵצֶר טוֹב וְיֵצֶר הָרָע, זֶה חֶסֶד וְזֶה גְבוּרָה, אָמְנָם פֵּרְשׁוּ בַּזֹּהַר בְּפָרָשַׁת בְּרֵאשִׁית (דַּף מט.) שֶׁיֵּצֶר טוֹב נִבְרָא לָאָדָם עַצְמוֹ לְצָרְכּוֹ, וְיֵצֶר הָרַע לְצֹרֶךְ אִשְׁתּוֹ. רְאֵה כַּמָּה מְתוּקִים דְּבָרָיו הֲרֵי הַתִּפְאֶרֶת בַּעַל הַחֶסֶד נוֹטֶה אֶל הַיְּמִין, וְכָל הַנְהָגוֹתָיו בַּיָּמִין - יֵצֶר טוֹב. וְהַנְּקֵבָה שְׂמָאלִית וְכָל הַנְהָגוֹתֶיהָ בַּגְּבוּרָה אִם כֵּן רָאוּי שֶׁלֹּא יִתְעוֹרֵר יֵצֶר הָרַע לְתוֹעֶלֶת עַצְמוֹ שֶׁהֲרֵי מְעוֹרֵר אָדָם הָעֶלְיוֹן בַּגְּבוּרָה וּמְאַבֵּד הָעוֹלָם. אִם כֵּן כָּל מִדּוֹת שֶׁיְּעוֹרֵר הָאָדָם לְעַצְמוֹ לְצַד הַגְּבוּרָה וְיֵצֶר הָרַע פּוֹגֵם הָאָדָם הָעֶלְיוֹן, וּמִכָּאן יִרְאֶה כַּמָּה מְגֻנֶּה הַכַּעַס וְכָל כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ שֶׁהוּא מַגְבִּיר הַגְּבוּרוֹת הַקָּשׁוֹת, אָמְנָם יֵצֶר הָרַע צָרִיךְ לִהְיוֹת קָשׁוּר וְאָסוּר לְבִלְתִּי יִתְעוֹרֵר לְשׁוּם פְּעֻלָּה שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם מִפְּעֻלּוֹת גּוּפוֹ לֹא לְחִמּוּד בִּיאָה וְלֹא לְחֶמְדַּת מָמוֹן וְלֹא לְצַד כַּעַס וְלֹא לְצַד כָּבוֹד כְּלָל.

Chapter 6 - How a person can accustom himself with the trait of severity (gevurah): Know that all actions of the arousal of the evil impulse truly arouse the strong severities. Hence he should not activate his evil impulse, so that he not arouse Severity. And the explanation is that a man is created with two impulses - the good impulse and the evil impulse, this is Kindness and that is Severity. However they explained in the Zohar in Parshat Bereishit (p. 49a) that the good impulse was created for the man himself for his need, and the evil impulse was created for the need of his wife. See how sweet are its words - Splendor, which is the husband of Kindness inclines to the right; and all of His actions are with the right, the good impulse. And the Female (Kingship) is to the left and all of Its actions are with Severity. If so, it is fitting not to arouse the evil impulse for his own sake; as he so arouses the Highest Man in Severity and destroys the world. If so, any traits that a man arouses for himself that are from the side of severity harms the Highest Man. And from this, he should see how disgraceful anger and anything like it is - as it intensifies the harsh severities. Indeed, the evil impulse must be tied and bound, that it not arouse any action in the world, from the actions of his body - not for the desire for intercourse, nor for the desire for money, and not from the angle of anger and the angle of honor at all.

Tomer Devorah 6:1 · Tomer Devorah, translated by R. Francis Nataf, Sefaria 2019

היאך ירגיל האדם עצמו במדות התפארת: אֵין סָפֵק שֶׁמִּדַּת הַתִּפְאֶרֶת הוּא הָעֵסֶק בַּתּוֹרָה, אָמְנָם צָרִיךְ זְהִירוּת גָּדוֹל שֶׁלֹּא יִתְגָּאֶה אָדָם בְּדִבְרֵי תוֹרָה שֶׁלֹּא יִגְרֹם רָעָה גְּדוֹלָה, שֶׁהֲרֵי כְּמוֹ שֶׁהוּא מִתְגָּאֶה כָּךְ גּוֹרֵם שֶׁמִּדַּת הַתִּפְאֶרֶת שֶׁהִיא הַתּוֹרָה תִּתְגָּאֶה וְתִסְתַּלֵּק לְמַעְלָה חַס וְשָׁלוֹם אֶלָּא כָּל הַמַּשְׁפִּיל עַצְמוֹ בְּדִבְרֵי תוֹרָה גּוֹרֵם אֶל הַתִּפְאֶרֶת שֶׁתֵּרֵד וְתַשְׁפִּיל עַצְמָהּ לְהַשְׁפִּיעַ לַמַּלְכוּת. וַהֲרֵי לְמַטָּה מֵהַתִּפְאֶרֶת אַרְבַּע סְפִירוֹת וְלָהֶן שָׁלֹשׁ מִדּוֹת:

Chapter 7 - How a person can accustom himself with the trait of splendor (tiferet): There is no doubt that the trait of Splendor is involvement in Torah. However, a person needs great care not to become haughty with words of Torah, that he not cause great evil. As behold, [just] like he becomes haughty, so does he cause the trait of Splendor - which is the Torah - to become haughty and withdraw Above, God forbid. Rather anyone that lowers himself with words of Torah causes Splendor to descend and lower itself, to flow to Kingship. And behold, there are four Sefirot below Splendor and they have three traits.

Tomer Devorah 7:1 · Tomer Devorah, translated by R. Francis Nataf, Sefaria 2019

היאך ירגיל האדם עצמו במדות נצח הוד יסוד: תקוני הנצח וההוד בכללות: וְאוּלָם בְּתִקּוּנֵי הַנֵּצַח וְהַהוֹד, קְצָתָם מְשֻׁתָּפִים לִשְׁנֵיהֶם וּקְצָתָם מְיֻחָדִים כָּל אֶחָד לְעַצְמוֹ.

Chapter 8 - How a person can accustom himself with the traits of victory (netsach), majesty (hod) and foundation (yesod): The reparations of Victory, Majesty in Their Commonality - [as with] the reparations of Victory and Majesty, some of them are common to both of them and some of them are unique, each one to itself - [are as follows].

Tomer Devorah 8:1 · Tomer Devorah, translated by R. Francis Nataf, Sefaria 2019

היאך ירגיל האדם עצמו במדות המלכות: להשפיל את עצמו: רִאשׁוֹנָה לְכֻלָּן שֶׁלֹּא יִתְגָּאֶה לִבּוֹ בְּכָל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ, וְיָשִׂים עַצְמוֹ תָּמִיד כְּעָנִי וְיַעֲמִיד עַצְמוֹ לִפְנֵי קוֹנוֹ כְּדַל שׁוֹאֵל וּמִתְחַנֵּן. וּלְהַרְגִּיל עַצְמוֹ בְּמִדָּה זוֹ אֲפִלּוּ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה עָשִׁיר יַחְשֹׁב שֶּׁאֵין דָּבֵק עִמּוֹ מִכָּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ מְאוּמָה וְהוּא נֶעֱזָב צָרִיךְ לְרַחֲמֵי הַבּוֹרֵא תָמִיד, שֶּׁאֵין לוֹ כָּל דָּבָר אֶלָּא הַלֶּחֶם אֲשֶׁר אֹכֵל, וְיַכְנִיעַ לְבָבוֹ וְיֵעָנִי עַצְמוֹ, וּמַה גַּם בְּעֵת תְּפִלּוֹתָיו שֶׁזּוֹ סְגֻלָּה נִפְלָאָה, וּלְהֵפֶךְ מִזֶּה נֶאֱמַר (דְּבָרִים ח, יד): "וְרָם לְבָבֶךָ וְשָׁכַחְתָּ" שֶׁהַשִּׁכְחָה הַחִצוֹנִית מְצוּיָה שָׁם. וְדָוִד הִתְנַהֵג בְּמִדָּה זוֹ הַרְבֵּה שֶׁאָמַר (תְּהִלִּים כה, טז): "כִּי יָחִיד וְעָנִי אָנִי", שֶׁהֲרֵי כָּל אַנְשֵׁי בֵיתוֹ כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד צָרִיךְ לְהֵעָזֵר לְעַצְמוֹ, מַה כֻלָּם אֵלָיו אֲפִלּוּ אִשְׁתּוֹ וּבָנָיו מַה יֹּעִילוּהוּ בִּהְיוֹתוֹ נִשְׁפָּט לִפְנֵי הַבּוֹרֵא אוֹ בְּעֵת סִלּוּק נִשְׁמָתוֹ, כְּלוּם יְלַוּוּהוּ אֶלָּא עַד קִבְרוֹ. מָה הֵם לוֹ בְּעֵת דִּינָיו מִפֶּתַח הַקֶּבֶר וְאֵילָךְ, לְפִיכָךְ יַשְׁפִּיל וִיתַקֵּן עַצְמוֹ בְּסוֹד הַמִּדָּה הַזֹּאת.

Chapter 9 - How a person can accustom himself with the trait of kingship (malkhut): To lower himself - that his heart not become haughty, he [should] first of all always make himself like a poor person in front of his Maker, like an indigent requesting and begging. To accustom himself to this trait - even if he is rich - he [should] think that there is not a thing that is attached to him from all that he has; and he [is] forsaken and always needs the mercy of the Creator, since he has nothing besides the bread that he eats. And he [should] subdue his heart and afflict himself. And even more so at the time of his prayers, as it is a wonderful device. And [about] the opposite of this is it stated (Deuteronomy 8:14), "And your heart will rise and you will forget" - as external forgetfulness is found there. And David supplicated with this trait much, as he stated (Psalms 25:16), "for I am alone and poor." As behold, each and every one of the people of his household needs to help himself - what are they [then] to him? And even his wife and children, what will they help him when he is judged in front of the Creator or at the time that his soul is withdrawn? Will they accompany him any [further] than to his grave? What are they for him at the time of his judgments from the opening of the grave and beyond? Hence, he [should] lower and refine himself with the secret of this trait.

Tomer Devorah 9:1 · Tomer Devorah, translated by R. Francis Nataf, Sefaria 2019

להתחבר עם הספירות לפי הזמן: פֵּרֵשׁ רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בְּפָרָשַׁת בְּרֵאשִׁית (דַּף יא.) עֵצָה רַבָּה וּגְדוֹלָה מִן הַתּוֹרָה הֵיאַךְ יִתְקַשֵּׁר הָאָדָם בִּקְדֻשָּׁה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה וְיִתְנַהֵג בָּהּ, וְלֹא יִפָּרֵד מִן הַסְּפִירוֹת הָעֶלְיוֹנוֹת תָּדִיר, וְצָרִיךְ הָאָדָם בָּזֶה לְהִתְנַהֵג כְּפִי הַזְּמַן, רוֹצֶה לוֹמַר לָדַעַת אֵיזוֹ סְפִירָה שׁוֹלֶטֶת וּלְהִתְקַשֵּׁר בָּהּ וְלַעֲשׂוֹת הַתִּקּוּן הַמִּתְיַחֵס אֶל הַמִּדָּה הַשּׁוֹלֶטֶת.

Chapter 10 - To connect with the Sefirot according to the time period: Rabbi Shimon explained in [the Zohar,] Parshat Bereishit (p. 11a) a big and great counsel from the Torah, how a person is to connect to the Highest Holiness, act with It, and never separate from the Highest Sefirot. And in it, a man must act according to the time; meaning to say to know what Sefirah is ruling [at that time], connect to it and do the reparation that relates to the trait that is [therefore] ruling.

Tomer Devorah 10:1 · Tomer Devorah, translated by R. Francis Nataf, Sefaria 2019