Outside forces shake us
Want to make us cower
Restricting our movement, shrinking our kingdom
Trying to cause the earth to slip from under
Time to connect more deeply to the land
Time to renew our stance

Nissan is the time of our exodus from Egypt, the month of our freedom, In the background of this painting Yehuda's territory of Ein Gedi is depicted. This is the location where King David (a descendant of Yehuda) received inspiration for his psalms. A lion(ess)'s face (Yehuda is likened to a lion) is staring through the waterfall. She has successfully planted herself on the land and is looking back at the scene in the foreground which depicts the parting of the Red Sea and the drowning of the Egyptian symbols. They represent different aspects of the ego, illusions that are preventing us from connecting with the pure reality of this world.

The land itself and the waterfalls have the power to restore the vital life force within, to heal ourselves from the diseases of Egypt. Diseases basically come from the internal and external forces which are trying to destroy oneself. Through cultivating the attribute of humility which subjugates the ego and allows room for Divine light to enter, and by connecting with the land, true healing can take place.

Juxtaposed on this painting is the letter hei trough which the month of Nissan was formed. The hei, being the final letter in G-d's four lettered name (Yud Kay Vav Kay) is the revealed expression of Divinity in this world. The sense of this month, speech, is the revealed expression of the individual's soul. Speech (daber) also means "leadership". When Yehuda was born, his mother Leah exclaimed, "this time I will "hodeh" (praise) hashem." Yehuda, in relation to the incident with Tamar was able to "modeh" - (admit) his mistake. Both the ability to praise G-d and humbly admit one's mistakes are two proper usages of speech and are signs of true leadership. A Jewish king leads through the wisdom of words, not through force or coercion. The meditation of this dimension is the rectification of speech.

The shield-like symbol of the matzah surrounded by the four cups of wine hints to the Pesach seder which annually re-enforces and renews our relationship with G-d through this dimension. During the seder we speak of the story of our Exodus and offer praises of thanks for our redemption. As a result, we reclaim our strength by re-establishing our relationship with the true king.