Life’s cycle is evident everywhere we look. The sun rises, the sun sets. Day turns to night, and night gives way to day. “הוֹלֵךְ אֶל־דָּרוֹם וְסוֹבֵב אֶל־צָפוֹן סוֹבֵב סֹבֵב הוֹלֵךְ הָרוּחַ וְעַל־סְבִיבֹתָיו שָׁב הָרֽוּחַ” — “It goes to the south and goes around to the north; the will goes around and around, and the will returns to its circuits.” What could be more ordinary than this eternal cycle? But behind nature’s familiar rhythm lies deep wisdom that we have yet to discover.
The Sun’s Path
The southern path of the sun is bright and noticeable. It generously gives warmth, illuminates the earth, awakens life. During the day, we see its power and glory. And then it turns northward, hiding in the darkness of night. We don’t see it, but we know — it continues its journey.
Time flows, the sun circles along its orbits. Day after day, season after season. In the height of summer, it follows straight paths, and in winter it chooses roundabout routes. And every morning it returns to familiar routes, never interrupting its dance.
The Breath of Life’s Cycle: Will and Movement
“הָרוּחַ” (ha-ruach) is not just wind or spirit. It is will, aspiration, the inner force of the sun that makes it move along predetermined paths. Ancient sages compared this to talent — an innate drive toward a certain path.
Just as the sun cannot help but follow its nature, each of us carries a unique will — an inner compass guiding our actions. Sometimes it leads us along straight roads of glory, sometimes along the winding paths of hardship.
Understanding Life’s Cycle in Human Destiny
What do the sun’s movement and human life have in common? More than appears at first glance:
- The inevitability of the cycle: As the sun returns to its routes, so we return to our origins
- Changing periods: Bright days are replaced by dark nights, just as periods of success and difficulty alternate in life
- Constant movement: Stopping is impossible for both the sun and the human soul
A Warning to the Proud Within Life’s Cycle
“No matter how high the wicked rise, no matter how bright their sun — it will surely set,” says ancient wisdom. No matter how much power they gain, they will eventually return to their origins.
This is not a curse, but a reminder of the natural order of things. From dust we came, to dust we shall return. Gold and power are merely temporary companions on our journey. As the sun descends from heavenly heights each evening, so too will the most powerful one day have to leave their high positions.
The Wisdom of Embracing Life’s Cycle
True wisdom is not in avoiding the cycle, but in accepting it. Understanding that our life is a circular movement, but with each turn we can rise a little higher, making our spiral more perfect.
As the sun never complains about its path, so should we accept both days of success and nights of trial. For after the darkest night, dawn will surely come.
Practical Steps
- Observe nature: Learn from the sun and seasons to accept natural cyclicity
- Value all periods: Every stage of life has its beauty and purpose
- Prepare for changes: Remember that descent always follows ascent
- Maintain your inner core: Let your “ha-ruach” (will) be your compass in any circumstance
We are like the sun — sometimes shining brightly and proudly, sometimes hiding in the shadows. But the main thing is to stay true to your path, your true nature, as the sun does, returning to its orbits day after day.
Source: Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) – Chapter 1, verse 6
Afterword: The text of this article has not been approved by any sage, Torah scholar, or rabbi and is merely a simplified adaptation of the sacred text for general understanding. For comprehension of true wisdom and a deeper understanding of the original text, you should refer to the sources.
This and all other article texts of the Mega-Charity.Org resource express only the personal opinions of the authors who compiled them. They are intended only for general and superficial understanding of the real sources of wisdom. References to which are provided.
