The Tribes of Israel Reconsidered, The new way into the New Jerusalem - the way of Naphtali

​by Rev. Michaël Merle
​
In Chapter 21 of The Revelation to John (The Book of the Apocalypse: Revelation) we read part of the description of the New Jerusalem, a picture of a mighty vision experienced by John in the Spiritual World: “The city has a great and high wall and twelve gates. And on the gates twelve angels, and names were written on them: the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.” (verse 12)
 
This year we hope to uncover an understanding of the twelve ways in which we can enter the New Jerusalem.

The way of Naphtali

​In the blessing given by Jacob (Israel) to his sons we discover the characteristic and expression that is carried in the way of Naphtali: Naphtali is a doe running free, who delivers words of beauty. (Genesis 49:21)

Naphtali is the free spirit personality. Like a “doe running fee” – breaking out of the status quo – independence is a necessary component of growth. Yet, this free spiritedness must always take care to “deliver words of beauty”.  We should consider this way of independence and its relationship to development in terms of that which we identify as the feminine principle. The doe (the female deer) represents both the free spirit (in her running free) and the quality of development and intuition for what is needed (in her femininity). The way of Naphtali brings us into relationship with the independence we need to develop as adults in the world. This expression in freedom is found when we can communicate through our being the beauty of self-management. Here we have an indication of the free spiritedness and beauty of the I-organisation. This key component of our human constitution is captured in the blessing bestowed on Naphtali.