Baal HaSulam, “Shamati #59,” “About the Rod and the Serpent”: The reason is, as we have said, that He has placed His Shechina on trees and rocks. Hence, if one throws the discernment of the rod to the ground, and raises oneself to work with a higher attribute, this is already a serpent. There is no middle; it is either a serpent, or Kedusha, since all the Torah and the work that one had from the discernment of a rod, all has now entered the discernment of serpent.

It turns out that if I demand a reward for my actions and say that I cannot advance if I don’t see why and how, it’s better to lie down and do nothing and wait until I am given an awakening from Above, the energy to see that it’s worthwhile to work. If something illuminates in front of me, I agree to advance, but if nothing illuminates for me, if nothing attracts me, how can I advance? If the Creator has created me this way, then He should do something and until then I will lie. This means that I don’t precede His help with a prayer from a point where I can ignore the lack of attraction and actually feel glad that I have an opportunity to remain without egoistic fuel, and to ask the Creator to help me advance with altruistic fuel.

A state that seems like a descent to us is actually a very special place from which we can determine our step into spirituality. I don’t know how to do it; my body is dead, and I cannot do anything, and feel that I am in total darkness, but it’s actually from this state that I have to wake up to bestowal.

I need an infusion and fuel. I cannot find the fuel to advance inside me, but I can ask for fuel that is not egoistic so that the attribute of bestowal will pull me and that I will see myself in others, act in them and rejoice at their success.

This is how we should relate to the states of descent. Then we will see them as a special, wonderful opportunity to ascend to the spiritual level, which means to bestowal. Then, instead of cursing ourselves and the whole world in such moments, we will bless them.
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From the 2^nd part of Daily Kabbalah Lesson 4/20/14, Shamati #59 “About the Rod and Serpent”

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