Zain (ז)

In this alphabet art series I explore biblical and Jewish-spiritual ideas, as they reflect through the shapes or associated meaning of each letter.

This project is based on my personal musing and not on any Jewish teachings. Any connection to other teachings is unintentional.

My hope is that through this art we get a deeper glimpse into our realities, our worlds illusions and the hope that can be found in the power of the Hebrew letters.

Zain (ז) is the 7th letter in the Hebrew Alphabet.

Zain represents the seventh letter, and the seventh day of creation; the day of rest.

In a state of rest, like Shabbat offers us, we get to 'pause time' - to stand in place and find the time to both admire all the purity and divinity around us, as well as go inwards to reconnect to our internal spark. The 'leg' of the letter is in the shape of lightning - representing the power we all have to ignite a fire in ourselves and in others.

Behind, is our shadow; our hard toil, the six days of the week, our difficult past, whatever causes us stress. Even though it is part of us and our experience, we do not need to chain ourselves to the heaviness of these shadows. Our capacity to disconnect from our shadow is represented in the small lines at the 'head' of the letter; the chains might be there, but on the seventh day we remember ( zehor - זכור) - we have the power to unhook ourselves from any shadow pulling us down or holding us back.

This is the letter that guides us to let go of what no longer serves us and stand tall and proud as we look towards a bright future, as we allow our inner lightning to ignite our sparks.