Sexual Energy and Jewish Healing

What role, if any, does sexual energy play in Jewish healing? Does its proper cultivation bestow any benefit? If so, how can we best harness it?

It is interesting that Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of Homeopathy, mentions the therapeutic use of "animal magnetism," a term for the use of the body's own vitality to heal, in the use of energy healing to be derived by the proper abstention and negation of one's sexual desire. Hahnemann himself, a practicing energy healer (called a mesmer), comments in the magnus opus of Homeopathy, "Organan of medicine (6th ed)," that all the great mesmers "have only very slight sexual desire or none at all" (aphorism 288 note a). He says that it is this "peculiar characteristic" that has given them the strength and power to affect another person's energy, even from long distances.

One of the keys to immortality, according to the Chinese Daoists, is the proper cultivation and circulation of sexual energy throughout the body. This means that instead of one sharing his sexual energy with his partner, he keeps it within his own body, thereby increasing his vitality. Similarly, the Indian yogis harness and divert this sexual power (called Kundalini) from the base of the spine up into the head. Does Judaism have anything to say about cultivating sexual energy?

Well, to say the least, Judaism is rather detailed when it comes to sexual conduct. People usually just think of its halachas as just another religious practice. Yes, we do this because Hashem said so. But there are additional benefits including enhanced perception of Divinity and heightened spiritual and physical pleasure. By following the Jewish method we will enhance our healing power.

The Torah calls the Jewish nation a "Children of prophets." Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapira, zt"l (The Aish Kodesh) comments that the Jewish nation is called children of prophets because all Jews contain inside of them at least a glimmer of prophesy, even if it may be hidden so deep as to make it undistinguishable. As healing goes, it doesn't get any better than to visit a prophet. Could it be that the halachic compliance with sexual purity and its sublimation to the Divine soul bestow upon the Jewish people this extra spiritual gift of healing?

Rabbi Kaplan writes in "Innerspace" that the purpose of the bris mila (ritual circumcision) is to cut off the foreskin (orlah) which covers the "crown" of the sexual organ, thus the sexual organ becomes exposed. The meaning of this becomes clear when we analyze what a Jew does in the World to Come (heaven). In the World to come a Jew sits with all of what he has generated in the physical world with (as the Zohar says) "the crowns in the heads." What does this have to do with sexual energy and a bris mila? The bris mila is telling us that what we need to do is sublimate the sexuality within us. We see this when we bow during the recitation of modim in the shemonah esrei prayer. As the person bows their head they cause their keter (head, crown) to rule over their sexuality(this is because when a person rises from the bow, he lifts his head up first and then his body follows. In a sense, when he lifts his head, he is pumping Divine energy down his spine, into the sexual organs). We give up orlah (through the bris) which is lust, and thus, the sexual act itself becomes spiritual.

A Jew's job is to reveal Hashem everywhere, even in sexuality! This is why a bris exposes the "crown" of the sexual organ and why in heaven it says that the crowns [are] in the heads". We sublimate sexuality into us and expose Hashem even there. We don't squash or harness and circulate it. We sublimate it. We transform it into Divinity.

This Jewish idea of sublimating sexuality is a major difference between the Jewish view and the rest of the world. Kundalini and the Daoists, through their sophisticated techniques such as tantric yoga and Daoist sexual practices, bring sexuality into their consciousness, and according to Judaism this generates impure, evil energy. The Jewish method brings Divine Consciousness into our sexuality!

We view sexuality not as a tool to energize us, but rather as a holy gift which can connect us to Hashem in the most sublime and holy way.

They see sex as a body power to be tapped; we see it as the most sublime window to G-dliness! Through the act of sexual relations, a man and wife, together with Hashem, create another human being. This is the closest way for a human to emulate Hashem, for only Hashem can create something from nothing. Hashem has given a man and wife a chance to create.

In Judaism what is the connection between sexuality, vibrancy and healing? Yes. We do see sexuality as a power if it is strictly followed within the parameters of halacha. This is called "Tikkun habris." A person who is tahor (pure) and kadosh (holy) is not only able to have lower bodily pleasure but he is also able to have higher connections to spirituality, infinity, and much higher connections to Hashem (this heightened connection is fundamental to Jewish healing, where the healer is connecting to Hashem to help guide the patient and help the patient connect to Hashem).

A "Tikkun hayesod" person (one who sublimated his sexual energy into Divinity) is not only characterized by abstinence (though, that is what many people think), which is only one third of the process, but also by taking pleasure in life and holiness and enlisting all his spiritual, mental, emotional and physical energies.

This is similar to the sexual organ when it is active. As it is taught in the Kabbalah, when the Yesod (sexual) aspect of a person is active the rest of the body is "dead," meaning that the rest of the body is enlisted(enslaved) in serving it. This is why sexual pleasure is so intense, it calls forth and harness the complete person. This is also why sexual energy is so powerful. Sexual energy has the power to integrate all parts of a person and project it outward. This outward projection is what allows a person to interact and influence his surroundings. People with stronger sexual energy have stronger influences on their surroundings including healing abilities.

This is advantageous if used in the right way and in the right amounts, but if it is over used it will literally lead the body to act and become "dead." It will be unable to accomplish anything other than its own sexual self-gratification. Conversely, when the rest of the body is active the "yesod" (sexual organ) is dead. They are mutually exclusive.

As you can see, Judaism's approach to sexual energy is unique and powerful, elevating a person to spiritual heights almost unattainable otherwise. This is one of the reasons for all the halacha associated with it and why a Jew, especially a Jewish healer, should be scrupulous in following them. By simply following proper halacha, we derive this spiritual gift.

Yosef Hatzaddik is the archetypical healer in the Torah. He is also the only person in the Torah that has the title "Tzaddik." This appellation is due because he was able to control, conquer, and sublimate his sexual desire. It is this control and power over his sexual desire that gave him the ability to heal and interpret dreams.

As you can see Judaism is not prudish when it comes to sexuality, but rather has the most respect for it. It seems that the proper adherence of Halacha, when it comes to sexuality, confers many benefits to a person. The spiritual gifts that await a person who fully sublimates his sexual desire are many.

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