Shadows and Soul Mates

Zohar Parashat Tazria P.43a

Come and see. At the hour when the soul descends [from the treasury of souls in malchut of Atzilut] to enter into this world [dressed in the body of a person] she first descends to the Garden of Eden, which is [connected with] this world. She sees the honor of the spirits of the righteous that stand, row upon row, [and sees the extent of their reward]. Next, she goes to Hell to see the [punishment of] the wicked who yell "Voi, voi!" [Why, why?!], and no mercy is shown to them. At each place she witnesses the evidence [of reward for each mitzvah and punishment for each sin] and this holy shadow stands over her until she issues forth in this world.

When [the body] issues forth into the world this shadow is immediately present with it and participates with it, and they grow together. This is as said: "Surely every man walks in his shadow" (Tehillim 39:7). All the days of the life of a person are present in this shadow.

This is as is written, "For we are as [though born] yesterday, and know nothing [about how long we will live], because our days on earth are a shadow" (Iyov 8:9). And we don't know how long we will be in this world because the days of our life depend on this shadow.

From the day that a woman becomes pregnant until the day she gives birth, people don't understand how wondrous and how exalted are the works of the Holy One Blessed be He [in the formation and growth of the fetus], as is written,
"O Hashem, how numerous are your works! You have made them all in Your wisdom" (Tehillim 104:24).

Come and see. All souls that are in the world include both male and female.

And when the souls issue forth [from the treasury of souls in malchut], they emerge as male and female, and after [they have descended to the physical world] each separates and goes its own way.

[The male part manifests in a male body and the female part in a female body]. If a person merits [through behavior worthy of his soul] they join together [again] as one unit. His wife is his true soul mate [meaning they actually are the male and female aspects of the one soul]. They join together as one unit in everything, in spirit and in body.

This is as is written, "And G-d said, 'Let the earth bring forth a live Nefesh in its type'" (Bereishit 1:24). What does "in its type" mean? This is the spirit of that person that came into his soul mate who is of the same type as he is. And what is "the earth"? This is as in the verse, "My essence was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and finely wrought in the depths of the earth." (Tehillim 139:15). And this we have explained.

The [Nefesh] certainly issues forth from "the earth" [malchut] because it is from her that it comes out in this world. 
 

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