The phrase Arbeit Macht Frei, infamously displayed at the entrances of Nazi concentration camps during WWII and translated as Work Sets You Free, stands as a cynical and sinister pillar of cruelty. It exemplifies the Nazis' manipulative and deceptive practices, representing the perverse and inhumane nature of the concentration camp system. In this context, the promise of freedom through labor was a cruel psychological taunt to those imprisoned, most of whom were subsequently liquidated.
Similarly, the modern invocation of From the River to the Sea carries its own infamous connotations. While Arbeit Macht Frei was associated with the extermination of European Jewry, From the River to the Sea is interpreted as a call for the annihilation of the State of Israel and the extermination of Middle Eastern Jewry. Both phrases, in their respective historical contexts, have come to symbolize the horrifying depths of inhumanity, aggression and spiritual deprivation.
Both phrases also serve as stark manifestations of inflection points in spiritual warfare. Reverberations between the astral and the physical realms underscore their profound interconnectedness, where spiritual upheavals inevitably manifest as significant events and shifts in our tangible reality.
These two expressions are not merely words, but point to humanity’s deep-seated tribalistic tendencies toward murder, dishonesty and greed.
These instances exemplify the ancient principle of 'As above, so below,' where the spiritual warfare waged in the astral plane eventually reaches a tipping point. Once critical mass is surpassed, the turmoil and conflict spill over into the physical realm, manifesting as widespread chaos and violence.
This insinuates a cosmic feedback loop, where both positive and negative energies and emotions continuously oscillate between the astral and physical worlds. The spiritual undercurrents of human consciousness, along with the collective psyche, become palpably reflected in the physical events and ideologies that unfold, subsequently shaping the course of human history. We indeed create our own reality.
Many experts are on record saying they do not anticipate this Middle East conflict to devolve into World War III, but instead anticipate an amorphous regional war more intense and far ranging. That said, such a regional war, for instance one attaining the magnitude of the biblically prophesied Gog and Magog conflagration, could precipitate other dreaded consequences, ignite global economic dislocations, and spark greater social unrest and violent extremism.
Describing spiritual warfare in secular terms involves interpreting various societal challenges, emotional overloads and personal struggles as manifestations of the deeper conflicts that transcend mere physical or material explanations. Here are a few examples:
Mental Health Crises - A significant increase in mental health issues, including depression, anxiety and feelings of alienation, can be seen as a form of spiritual warfare. This perspective views these mental health challenges as reflecting a deeper struggle within individuals and society for meaning, purpose and inner peace.
Social and Political Polarization - The intensification of ideological divides and the erosion of common ground in political and social discourse can be understood as a form of spiritual warfare. It represents a battle over core values and beliefs, where the conflict is not just about policy differences but also about fundamental visions of truth, justice and the human condition.
Substance Abuse and Addiction - The increasing prevalence of substance abuse and addiction can be seen as a manifestation of spiritual warfare, symbolizing a struggle against forces that enslave and degrade the human spirit. In this context, addiction represents a deeper yearning for fulfillment or escape from pain, pointing to a spiritual void or deep seated conflict.
Economic Inequality and Exploitation - The widening gap between the rich and the poor, along with the exploitation of vulnerable populations, can be framed as a form of spiritual warfare. It highlights a struggle between greed and compassion, and between the forces that perpetuate inequality and those that strive for a more just and equitable society.
Rise in Violent Extremism and Hate - The surge in violent extremism and terrorism can be seen as a manifestation of spiritual warfare, where the battle is waged not just with weapons but also in the realm of beliefs, ideologies and the human psyche. It represents a struggle for the hearts and minds of people, often driven by a distorted quest for meaning or justice.
In each of these examples, spiritual warfare is framed as a battle for the soul of society and the individual, played out through various social and psychological challenges. This perspective seeks to understand these issues as symptoms of deeper spiritual or existential conflicts.
The phrase "As above, so below" is one of the key tenets of Hermeticism, a philosophical and religious tradition based primarily upon writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, a legendary Hellenistic figure who is a conflation of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth. This tradition has its roots in the early centuries of the Common Era, blending elements of Greek, Egyptian and possibly Jewish and early Christian mysticism.
In Hermetic thought, understanding this principle was key to understanding the nature of the universe and humanity's place within it. It was believed that by understanding the macrocosmic (divine, celestial) laws, one could learn to understand and master the microcosmic (human, terrestrial) realm.
This principle also implies the fundamental interconnectedness of all things, as proven by quantum physics. The macrocosm and microcosm are not separate, isolated realms but are intimately linked parts of a single, unified whole.
The Holocaust
I’ve alluded to parallels between the Nazis and Hamas, as well as between the current Middle East conflict and WWII. This is not hyperbole! In fact, the genocidal ideology of Hamas is in many ways worse.
At Germany’s death camps, the Nazi SS selected Sonderkommandos, Jewish prisoners, who under pain of death were forced to operate the crematoria and perform other repulsive genocidal tasks. These special (German: sonder) prisoners were segregated from the main prison population. They typically survived an average of 3 months before they themselves were exterminated.
There were two primary reasons for isolating the Sonderkommandos. The first was secrecy; by keeping them away from other Jewish prisoners, the authorities aimed to prevent the truth about the camps from leaking out.
The second reason is more telling. After only a few months of performing such horrific work, these prisoners often became mentally broken, physically spent and sometimes went insane, rendering them useless for other tasks.
Even the Nazi SS personnel who worked in the camps or murdered Jews directly were affected. Many, it is said, got drunk at night in order to remain sane. They were human.
October 7th
When exterminating Jews, Hamas took a different approach. They were animals.
On October 7th, Hamas’ death squads were celebratory and gleeful. One called his parents to relate the good news, “Dad, dad, I killed 10 Jews with my own hands, dad. Call Mom! Turn on Whatsapp. Your son is a hero. I’m calling you from the dead woman’s phone. I killed her, dad, and her husband, too. Call mom, I just killed 10 Jews, dad!” The transcript with exact wording, plus the phone call’s audio recording, can be found online.1
By the time Americans woke up on October 7, 2023, it was clear that what had unfolded while we slept was not like previous wars or battles Israel has fought in its 75-year history. This was a genocidal pogrom. It was a scene out of the many places Jews had fled—a scene from the history of the Nazi Holocaust and of the European pogroms before that and of the Farhud, the 1941 massacre of Jews in Baghdad, a city that, it’s hard to believe now, was 40 percent Jewish at the beginning of the twentieth century—all of which remind us of Israel’s necessity.
Bari Weiss speech to the Federalist Society2
As Kristallnacht once ominously foreshadowed the Holocaust for the Jewish people, let us hope and pray that the date, October 7th, does not presage a future of even more unimaginable horror for Israel. We bear a collective responsibility to actively work towards a future where understanding and compassion triumph over hate and violence.
God said to Abraham, The next step depends on you. You must create a future that I will fill with my spirit.
Bari Weiss