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The Confluence of Sevens

Just about a month ago, right in this very same space, I exclaimed something to the effect that egads, it was June, already! And now here it is July.

Half the year is gone, the beginning of 2002 is nearer than the beginning of 2001. Summer Solstice came and went, 4th of July occurred, and I didnít do any of those promised weblog updates.

Funny how this stuff happens.

Explanations and excuses abound. Iíd written about a planned trip to Dallas. That got scratched, too. But missing out on Dallas in June for business at one of the worst hotels in the country was no heartbreaker. We werenít even sure if the hapless, hopeless, starting-pitcherless Rangers would be home during the planned trip. The only possible discernable merits of Dallas in June worth looking forward to were twofold:

1. Potentially attending a Rangers home game to see live and in person how the team blew enormous googobs of money on A-Rod, yet spent no money on pitching. People in Texas canít be that stupid about the game! This is Nolan Ryanís home state! Texans know that good pitching wins games.

2. Dinner at Royal Tokyo. Manager Benjamin Black is one of those restaurant world people who seems committed to making your dining experience a total pleasure. Heís quite a character, and the sushi at this restaurant is superb. Who woulda thunk thereíd be great sushi in Dallas? (thatíll get me some hate mail, no doubt) This is an excellent place, and that comes from a guy often described as a ìNew York Food Snob.î

Right this moment, for me, it like being in a Muddy Waters song. (Or was it Willie Dixon? Among Blues enthusiasts, this is a never-ending battle/debate/discussion as to origination of the phrase!). He sang about being the 7th Son.

This is the seventh day of the seventh month. My age has me in the seventh of the seven year cycles [of life].

A few years back I studied Talmud for quite some time with a group of Orthodox rabbis. One of them, a very learned man (and a friend, to this day, although there are some aspects of my life and the choices I make that break his heart) (here I am, typing and using a PC on Saturday. Oi vey!) spoke with me about the mystical existence of cycles of sevens. We go through these periods, he said, cycles of seven years, which have great impact on our lives, our very person, our souls.

I believe he may be onto something there.

Talmud study is a dynamic and exhilarating practice. It is like calisthenics for the mind. Challenging, thought-provoking, and philosophical, one of the wonderful aspects of doing Talmud Study is that the Talmud is a hyperlinked document, open to interpretation.

In keeping with the 7 theme, there is a seven year cycle of Talmud Study. When completed, there is a big celebration. Some Orthodox Jewish men devote a full seven years to day in, day out Talmud Study. That means their lives are devoted to learning. Of course, that also means there must be some alternative method of putting food on the table and providing clothing and shelter for the familyÖone doesnít earn a living doing the seven year study cycle!

Ancient Chinese medicines took into account the Seven Sentiments. It is a Yin/Yang, Chíi thing. Before those Chinese medicines could be prescribed, the subjectís moods had to be carefully taken into account. It was considered crucial to maintain a balance of joy, anger, sadness, happiness, worry, pensiveness, and fear. This fine balance is known as the Seven Sentiments.

As part of the celebration of Chinese New Year (not this month!) the Chinese give Ang-Pow or red packages with seven gold coins to bring luck to the children and elderly.

A Japanese tradition holds that there are Seven Gods of Good Fortune. Curiously, three of the seven are Chinese! Go figure.

1. Ebisu - Shinto god of fishing. He carries a lucky sea bream.
2. Daikoku - Shinto-Buddhist god of wealth and agriculture He has a bag of rice and a wooden hammer that grants wishes.
3. Bishamonten - Buddhist guardian and good luck deity who dresses in armor.
4. Benzaiten/Benten - Buddhist goddess of water, music, wealth, and plays a lute.
5. Hotei - Chinese Zen monk with a nice big belly and bringer of good luck
6. Fukurokuju - Chinese immortal who has a largish head and grants longevity
7. JurÙjin - Chinese sage and god of long life, accompanied by a deer.

In Taoist (or is that Daoist?) Culture, there are the Seven Stars. More on that here.

And, of course, thereís always Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs!

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Yo, Jish, I know this isn't how it should look, but hey, I must be technically challenged, eh?

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Maybe it should look like this:

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Whatever....check it out!