Gedale Fenster - Podcast Spiritual ups and downs is a sign that your on the right direction
Dec 17, 2025
Explore the idea that spiritual ups and downs signify progress. Discover how imagination can lead to dissatisfaction, especially through social media's lens. Gedale Fenster highlights the value of conscious presence over harmful imagination and encourages viewing resistance as a growth indicator. Learn about nurturing compassion to combat self-criticism during low moments. Ultimately, it's about aggressively pursuing your spiritual path while embracing the highs and lows as essential parts of your journey.
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Progress Comes Through Opposition
- Spiritual progress requires passing through oppositional illusions called klipot before reaching higher levels.
- Rabbi Nachman teaches that praising God and giving charity cuts through these barriers and kills the ego-driven opposition.
Respond To Setbacks With Praise
- When you hit resistance, shift into praise and gratitude instead of self-blame or anger.
- Use joy and prayer to dismantle negative imagination and draw down spiritual bounty (shefa).
Dating Was Like Hiroshima
- Gedale Fenster recounts chaotic early dating with his wife as an example of necessary klipot during new levels.
- He frames the turmoil as normal thorns before the rose of deeper relationship.