Genesis: A Roadmap for Human Flourishing?
In Jewish mysticism, there exists the concept of ‘Adam Kadmon’, the Primordial Adam. This Adam is not just the creature of the Creation Story of Genesis but is a cosmic template both for the Divine and for humanity. Since the earthling of Genesis was created in God’s Image, the Kabbalists infer that there must be an elevated essence of Adam, in Platonic form, that shows us truth about both the nature of God and the nature of human beings. God must be like Adam, and so must we.
This idea is worked out further into esoteric schemas that map the Kabbalistic ‘Tree of Life’, in which Divine aspects flow from the Source into grounded Reality, onto a humanoid figure. It sounds strange, and it is, but it identifies the higher order permutations (‘sefirot’) with the head, chest and arms, and the lower order sefirot with the groin, legs and feet. These metaphors were clearly attempts to go beyond meeting the Torah at face value; to probe hidden depths and to break away from the reductionism of the literal.
In this understanding, Adam – the earthling, the human – is a fractal, and along the edges of that fractal, we find deep truth.
How about if we tweak this idea a little, and instead of finding Adam Kadmon in the first chapters of Genesis, we see simple but enduring codes for a life well-lived in the story of Creation. We read the text not to say that the world is 5786 years old, contravening evidence-based science, but rather to infer how we can live a life of purpose, meaning, ethics and beauty according to the Torah. Instead of seeing the Creation of the first humans as a warning, let’s view them as an invitation. An invitation to live courageously and expansively.
With this premise in mind, here are some core principles from the narrative that invite us to examine our lives and hearts in fruitful ways.
‘And there was light’, God creates light: Have a vision – ‘illuminate’ the path of your life and where you think you want to go.
‘For it is good’: Gratitude – even God expresses gratitude and wonder for God’s own creation. All the more so, should we!
‘Ensoul yourself’ – Shabbat: Get rest – God compassionately models rest for us, so that we cannot argue by any other authority that we are not worthy of this gift of grace.
‘From all trees, you may eat’: Eat nourishing food – with our consumption comes delight, responsibility and gratitude. The rest is commentary.
‘Walk the garden’: Enjoy nature – just as God strolled the Garden of Eden, paying attention to the texture, sensation and experience of nature, so can we.
‘It is not good for the human to be alone’: Don’t go at it alone, we need friendship and connection. It’s how we are wired.
‘Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh’: Find a well-matched companion opposite you – whether it is for a romantic or platonic purpose, find your Special Someone who challenges you and who knows you like no-one else.
‘To enlighten the eyes’: Be curious – Eve was not a traitor but a scientist. Cultivate curiosity, seek knowledge, ask questions, use responsibly.
‘By the sweat of the brow’” Come to terms with hardship. Take pride in your labor, find dignity in your challenges. Both will help you grow in unexpected ways.
‘Dressed in garments of light’ – Practice compassion. Even as God exiled Adam and Eve, God dressed them in skins (or garments) of light. We can show up with compassion in so many ways.
‘The spinning, burning sword’: Move forward, don’t get stuck in the past. Adam and Eve knew that the past was the past and they needed to maintain their momentum. Don’t be afraid to close chapters in life so that you can see others open.
‘Why has your face fallen?’: Don’t be jealous, be generous of heart – the demise of the first sibling pair was caused by a scarcity mindset. Don’t be jealous; there is enough for all of us.
‘Am I my brother’s keeper’? Yes you are – Protect your fellow human beings.
‘Wanderer of the Earth’: Be willing to wander – Cain had to find a new purpose and destiny in the consequence of error and loss; he went on a journey to make it so. Do not be afraid to ‘wander in the wilderness’ of your life for a while.
‘A new creation’: Start over. Even God wanted second-chances. We are entitled to them too!
Each of these is worth pondering and examining. Perhaps if we read the Genesis story not merely as a mystical map for the human condition but as a road map for human flourishing, we can learn and grow in surprising ways, and make the Torah new again in our own hearts.
Shabbat shalom!
