Finding Light in Ancient Wisdom
If you told me a few years ago that a book written over 200 years ago by a Hasidic rabbi would become part of my everyday life, I’d probably smile politely and change the subject.
I’m not particularly religious - I don’t follow every custom or rule - but I’ve always been drawn to things that make sense on a soul level. And that’s exactly what Tanya did for me.
It wasn’t about rituals or restrictions. It was about understanding myself - my thoughts, my emotions, my inner world - and finding a calm center in a busy, noisy life.
The Tanya has become more than a book on my shelf. It’s a companion, a mirror, and sometimes even a quiet voice reminding me to breathe, reset, and choose light.
What Is the Tanya (and Why Everyone Can Learn from It)
Let’s get this out of the way - what is the Tanya?
In short, it’s a spiritual guidebook written by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (the founder of Chabad Hasidism) in the late 18th century.
But it’s not “just” a religious text. Think of it as a timeless manual for understanding the human mind and soul - long before therapy, neuroscience, or self-help books existed.
Tanya explains that every person has two souls:
- One is divine - drawn to kindness, meaning, connection.
- The other is animal - impulsive, reactive, often self-centered.
These two sides aren’t at war. They’re in dialogue.
And when you start seeing life that way, even the hard moments - anxiety, guilt, anger, confusion - become opportunities to realign, not to judge yourself.
That, to me, was the shift. Tanya wasn’t asking me to become religious. It was asking me to become aware.
How Tanya Showed Up in My Daily Life
At first, I’d read a few lines before bed. Then I’d find myself thinking about them during the day.
When I felt frustrated, I’d remember: this is just my animal soul acting up - not who I truly am.
When I felt inspired, I’d smile knowing my divine soul was taking the lead.
Soon, the Tanya wasn’t something I read - it was something I lived.
In my home, it became a quiet influence:
- The way I spoke to my kids, pausing before reacting.
- The way I handled stress was by choosing to breathe instead of exploding.
- The way I saw others with more compassion, less comparison.
It’s like Tanya gave me a language for things I already felt but couldn’t name.
The Beauty of Non-Religious Connection
You don’t have to wear a certain hat, keep every custom, or even believe in the same way to feel Tanya’s power.
It’s not a “Chabad-only” thing. It’s a human thing.
The Tanya reminds us that:
We are all a mix of light and shadow. And that’s not a flaw, it’s the design.
Once you see yourself that way, judgment fades. You stop running from your struggles. You start working with them.
That’s what makes Tanya so modern - it’s basically spiritual psychology written centuries before psychology was a thing.
Why I Created BeShvilo
The word BeShvilo in Hebrew means both “for Him” and “in His path.”
But there’s also a hidden layer - it can mean “for yourself.”
That’s what this whole project is about - creating a space where spiritual ideas can live side by side with creativity, art, humor, and style.
A place where you don’t have to be religious to connect to holiness.
I wear Tanya on a T-shirt, not because I’m trying to preach - but because I want that reminder close to my heart:
To think, to do, to love, to move forward - בשבילו, for Him, and for me.
Tanya Is for Everyone
You don’t have to “study Tanya.”
You can simply open it, read one idea, and let it echo.
Maybe it changes how you talk to your child. Maybe it softens your tone. Maybe it just makes you breathe deeper.
That’s Tanya’s secret - it’s not about being holy. It’s about being whole.
So if you’ve ever felt drawn to something deeper - but didn’t know where to start - start here.
Start with one paragraph.
Start BeShvilo - for Him, for you, for the world around you.