Chaya - Soul Series pt. 4

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

All of us have had the experience of intuitive extra-sensory perception at some time in our lives. This can be a kind of knowing - a conviction that defies what our physical senses tell us. This is the subtle drifting of thoughts to a friend or family member a few seconds before they text you. Or, you may have found yourself attuned to someone's emotional state without them having said a word. These abilities are within the domain of Chaya, the fourth level of the human soul.

Chaya

Chaya means "life", and is often associated with a more holistic span of life energy than the previous levels of the soul. The first appearance of this word is seen upon the creation of humankind.

וַיִּ֩יצֶר֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֗ם עָפָר֙ מִן־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה וַיִּפַּ֥ח בְּאַפָּ֖יונִשְׁמַ֣ת חַיִּ֑ים וַֽיְהִ֥י הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְנֶ֥פֶשׁ חַיָּֽה׃
the LORD G_D formed man from the dust of the earth. He blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being. - Genesis 2:7

In this midrash¹, the commentators recognized this as a unique endowment of a higher level of soul, given to humankind, beyond the capacity given to animals.

Chaya is associated with the Sefirah of Chochmah (Wisdom), which is not to be understood as experiential wisdom [that we may gain from making mistakes, or through observation], but more of a supernatural flow.

As Chaya is a level above Neshama, Chaya is a more unified form of soul than the previous levels. Chaya is no longer bound by, or subject to the limitations and self-centeredness of the ego. As the next level down from Yechidah, which means 'unification' or, 'oneness', Chaya is a plane of existence that begins to see the unification in all things. Not so much focused on personal gain, Chaya recognizes that we are all one and all are connected.