Living the Mind Map Way: Shifting from Human to Humane (Part 1) 

This blog is a summary of the discussion between Dr. Judy and Avner Madar - a renowned teacher of the Kabbalah. Dr Judy was taught by Avner and, 10 years ago, developed her Mind Map system based on some of the key principles.

In essence, the Kabbalah is a pathway to Wisdom, to becoming humane and gives us a glimpse of the Mind Map through the lens of Spirituality. The Mind Map itself is a psycho-spiritual model at the core but some people don't wish to hear the word 'spiritual' and that is fine, we can use psychological terms instead. However, many would say that there is another level to life and a deeper knowing/yearning, that is particularly relevant in these times that we're living in as it appears that there is a lot of darkness.

Psychology can only take us so far and many now are in search of a higher wisdom and guidance in order to know how to continue to be the light in the darkness and not to react to what is going on in the world. Each of us has an option: to either crawl into our sadness and stay there or to be proactive in whatever way we can be. It is a choice to not add to the sadness but instead to add to the light.

For many this is a time of great darkness and people are divided more than ever. We are divided into politics, we're divided into religion, we're divided into socioeconomic classes, were divided on every single level and yet this division is really hurting us. The division is hurting us psychologically, it's hurting us spiritually and we cannot afford to allow it to continue nor to add to it because separation is the cause of all chaos and from the point of view of the Kabbalah, connection to life and others and the light is what we are here to do.

The word Kabbalah means to receive. It is an ancient spiritual wisdom that is teaching us how to receive long lasting fulfilment by learning the spiritual laws of the universe. The essence of Kabbalah is about connecting at the soul level where we are all connected and thus, separation comes from a place of not being able to connect with the big picture.

Religion creates separation, politics creates separation too but that is not to say that it is wrong to have different opinions but rather that the beauty of life is to be able to share different opinions which may be totally the opposite to our own but to still be able to have respect for the other and to treat each with human dignity.

In essence therefore, the Kabbalah is all about human dignity and kindness which resonates deeply with the heart of the Mind Map too.

The Kabbalah, is an ancient form of Jewish mysticism and offers a unique perspective on the interconnectedness of the spiritual and physical realms.

The Tree of Life:

At the heart of Kabbalistic teachings lies the symbolic representation known as the Tree of Life. This mystical diagram depicts ten interconnected areas, each corresponding to a different aspect of existence. These areas are connected by pathways, forming a cosmic map that symbolizes the journey of the soul toward enlightenment and spiritual ascension.

In the context of healing, the Tree of Life serves as a guide for understanding the holistic nature of well-being. The Kabbalah teaches that true healing occurs when all areas are in harmonious balance, aligning the individual with the divine source.

The Kabbalah encourages meditation that goes beyond the physical realm, addressing the spiritual and emotional aspects of healing. By engaging in these contemplative practices, individuals may gain insight into the root causes of their ailments and work towards holistic healing that encompasses the mind, body, and spirit, and by so doing, heal the world too!

If you take Panel 7 which promotes interconnection, we see how we are all interconnected as a global human race with the bubbles in the illustration hinting that although we are all different, when we come together to share and care about each other then we have the light in the center and that is what Dr Judy refers to as the 1 + 1 is greater than two effect!

It is not that you and I have to be the same, but rather just that the light we each bring is a different contribution. However, when lights meet, the illumination is even greater!

There is a famous story in the book of the Zohar, which is the ancient text of Kabbalah, about two people that are sailing on a boat that illustrates our dependence upon each other a human race.

One of the men in the boat decided to drill a hole inside the boat in the middle of the ocean and so his friend, distraught, shouts at him, demanding to know what he is doing.

The man who drilled the hole questions him back saying: 'Why do you care, it's on my side of the boat'! Kabbalah is a beautiful concept as it teaches us about how to become more proactive, how to look within and to make sure that we are growing spiritually because if we just approach everything from the perspective of the rational mind, we cannot really make any difference in our lives.

Why? Well the rational mind can tell you not to smoke and you can assess the research that shows you how bad it is, but that cannot really make a difference if there is no desire to  stop, if one is not willing to see the bigger picture or change the consciousness behind the desire to smoke.

Kabbalah teaches us that there is a spiritual method of transformation which causes us to really grow and take charge over our lives. Kabbalah encourages every person to understand their greatness, that we all have great a soul and that we have unlimited potential. However, if we are not aware of this, if a person has a very low self-esteem then the experience is one of limitedness and despair which has the potential to create hatred and judgment towards others.

One of the lessons in the Kabbalah teaches about the unexpressed light we all have to share with the world.  The assignment in this lesson is to take something that you have a lot of knowledge about and to bring it out so that it is no longer 'buried light' but shining light!

An example of this is when Dr Judy decided to go back and revise her stop smoking book that she wrote in 1984. She had progressed professionally since then to becoming a psychologist and learning a lot more psychological principles. She was comfortable and well versed in this knowledge so she decided to elevate the original book and spent the time going deeper on the subject although the original was already well written.

Dr Judy recalls how this experience of levelling up taught her an invaluable lesson: that we cannot sit on our light we've got to dig it up! We cannot sit on the fence, we actually have to dig it up. When we do this, often the most difficult thing we face is overcoming our reactive nature because our nature is to be a taker. We want to take and to receive: that's our essence, that's our nature and we are here to transform this into 'receiving for the sake of sharing'.

That is the whole purpose of why we are here. We have come as vessels but the aim is to become like the Creator, like God, which means to become a being of sharing. To become a being of sharing means that most of one's day will be spent sharing skills, time, resources and money.

There is no contradiction here though. It is not bad to want to receive too! You can desire and aim to make lots of money. You can be the most successful person on Earth but, for the sake of sharing. If you are not really paying attention to your own transformation,  if you are not paying attention to your own spiritual growth, then the ego is going to take charge and once the ego is in charge, we live in the darkness because the ego is covering the light of the Creator, the light of the soul.

Thus, spiritual wisdom is not for the sake of just meditating or being a nice person. The wisdom of Kabbalah is about really giving  practical tools to transform so that we can manifest our unlimited potential.

At the Psychological healing Center, we specialise in helping clients heal from narcissistic abuse. In light of all that we have been saying about sharing and using our gifts for the good of all,

Narcissism is particularly interesting as in essence it is an apathy. The narcissistic person is not thinking of the good for others but rather for themselves.  There is an inability to feel and an inability to share, so it is a taking system, or what is commonly known as a vampiring system.

This is why there is no movement spiritually with narcissistic persons because their aim is to suck everybody dry in order to fill the 'hole in their soul'. However, the energy/emotions/supply that the narcissistic person sucks from another human being is not processed or reflected upon and so there's no winner.

In other words, it is not as if by 'taking' that the narcissist becomes the winner nor because they have more of this or more of that, because the truth is, just like the song says, the narcissist (or the taker) cannot 'get no satisfaction' despite all they've taken! They keep trying and trying to find satisfaction to their hunger for supply but they cannot find any that lasts.

This places them in a Perpetual Darkness because there is no growth and personal growth IS what brings true satisfaction. Similarly, one of the most beautiful aspects of Kabbalah is that there is no judgment at all. We must not judge anyone for what they choose to do or how they choose to live their lives.

Everyone has the choice to be the most selfish person in the world if they wish, but it is not for anyone to judge them for this because we are all going through a divine process, facilitated by God. Likewise, the most negative person has the potential to eventually become the most positive person even though it might take some time. We are not here to judge nor to be the policeman of the Universe.

The Mind Map, provides us with a profound framework for understanding and pursuing healing and like the Kabbalah, offers a holistic approach to well-being. As we delve into the personal depths of the 9 panels, we find a timeless wisdom that transcends religious boundaries, inviting individuals on a journey toward wholeness and spiritual alignment, for the good of all. Are you ready to choose to be part of the light in our times and in our world? Well, the first step is to find the light within!

Bowlby, J. (1988) A Secure Base: Parent-Child Attachment and Healthy Human Development, New York, Basic Books. Bretherton, I.

Franck, A. (1973). The Kabbalah: The religious philosophy of the Hebrews. New York, Arno Press.

Kernberg, O.F. (2004) Borderline conditions and pathological narcissism. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

Rosenberg, J. (2015) Be the cause: Healing human disconnect. United States: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.