Sakranut: Curiosity

Exploring the mussar soul trait of sakranut | curiosity

Photo by Paul Volkmer on Unsplash

What is Mussar?

In this month of Tevet, we engage with the soul-trait (middah) of sakranut (סקרנות) curiosity.  In the Kesharim K’doshim cycle of soul-traits, sakranut (סקרנות)  lives between yirah (יראה) radical amazement/awe and ahavah (אהבה) love/beloved.  This is the key to why sakranut (סקרנות)  is an important soul-trait to cultivate and balance. When we encounter things that inspire awe – they can live in our bodies as “radical amazement” and reverence that lead to being a more loving person or they can easily be transformed into fear and cause us to become hardened.

Replace anger with tender curiosity and
re-experience the relationship.

In Search of the Holy Life: Rediscovering the Kabbalistic Roots of Mussar
by Ira Stone

This first turning of the seasons each year, is a perfect time to work with the soul-trait of sakranut (סקרנות) curiosity to explore and understand the state of the “nefesh” layer of the soul.  In Judaism, we are taught that there are five layers to the soul which are developed throughout our lives: