The Cathy Heller Podcast | "Ask the Kabbalist: Rabbi David Aaron on Unconditional Love, Spiritual Connection & Tiny Tasks that Transform the World"
September 22, 2025
Episode Overview
In this heart-centered and wisdom-packed episode, Cathy Heller welcomes her longtime mentor, Kabbalist and author Rabbi David Aaron, for an intimate Q&A on how Kabbalistic teaching can infuse our lives with purpose, love, and practical tools for spiritual growth. They explore the meaning of unconditional love, the ever-present connection to the divine, and how tiny acts of kindness can shift the world. Cathy and Rabbi Aaron exchange stories, practical exercises, and profound reminders, offering both guidance and tangible steps for listeners seeking spiritual alignment, deeper connection, and soul-level fulfillment.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. What is Kabbalah? The Grammar of Life
- Rabbi Aaron introduces Kabbalah as "the grammar of life," explaining it is the set of unwritten principles that reveal the “oneity of the universe,” not just unity (07:20).
“The goal of the teachings of Kabbalah is to reveal the...oneity of the universe, not the unity, because unity suggests that two are coming together and becoming one, when one of the—in my mind is one was always there, and we have to go back to becoming conscious of the one.” — Rabbi Aaron (07:20)
2. Daily Practice for Soul Alignment
- Morning Meditation: The Modah Ani prayer is recommended—expressing gratitude to the Creator for returning the soul each morning, focusing on being believed in by God (08:32).
“I grew up thinking that I'm supposed to believe in God, but that's actually not the goal here. The goal is to believe in a God that believes in me.” — Rabbi Aaron (09:27)
- Cathy highlights the game-changing power of connecting to this truth before starting the day and the shift from self-worth based on achievements to soul identity (11:31).
3. Story: The Power of Being Loved
- Rabbi Aaron's Homecoming: He shares a moving story about returning home to find photos of himself everywhere, realizing the depth of parental love he had taken for granted (14:00).
“There was a picture of me everywhere...I felt a tremendous shame. And the shame was My parents loved me so much, and I never really was aware of it...I see that as the ultimate judgment. I think the ultimate judgment is when we will realize that God loves us so much and only and always and forever loves us.” — Rabbi Aaron (15:14)
4. Unconditional Love & Receiving
- Cathy describes Rabbi Aaron as the embodiment of unconditional love, sharing how pivotal his message was for her: "You're so easy to love. There's nothing you have to do to earn it" (18:11).
- Rabbi Aaron reinforces that love is not earned or deserved; it is a divine gift.
“Love is a gift. It's a gift and it's unconditional. And it's important to understand that that doesn't mean you're not judged…if I really love you, then I want to help you and I want to enable you and I want to uplift you.” — Rabbi Aaron (20:59)
5. Spiritual Seasons: The “Gardener of Your Soul”
- Cathy and Rabbi Aaron discuss the significance of the Hebrew month of Elul and the spiritual opportunity to "pull weeds and plant seeds," returning to one's authentic essence before Rosh Hashanah (22:32).
- Rabbi Aaron reframes Rosh Hashanah as a “day of valuation,” highlighting the importance of self-assessment, compassion, and remembering our innate worth (24:09).
“You're okay. You made a mistake. You're not a mistake. That's the mistake people make. They think they are a mistake. You're never a mistake. You're a soul. You're a light... a masterpiece, a piece of the master.” — Rabbi Aaron (26:06)
6. Abundance & Purpose: Making a Life vs. Making a Living
- Rabbi Aaron stresses the difference between “making a living” and “making a life,” encouraging listeners to evaluate themselves by what they yearn for, not just what they earn (24:09, 44:38).
“Money supports the living that you should be making. You should be making a life and not making a living. A lot of people are judging themselves on how much they earn when I think we should evaluate ourselves on how much we yearn.” — Rabbi Aaron (28:04)
7. Tiny Tasks that Transform the World
- The transformative power of small acts—Rabbi Aaron shares a story of noticing and helping a man in a wheelchair, illustrating that God-consciousness is about seeing and healing what is broken (29:11).
- Cathy affirms that opportunities to be a blessing are ever-present, and “the best way to be at the right place at the right time is to know that you’re always in it” (31:00).
8. Staying Connected Amid Daily Challenges
- On Maintaining Connection: Rabbi Aaron normalizes losing the feeling of connection throughout the day, framing disconnection as an opportunity for deeper reconnection (32:40).
- Practical Advice: “Talk to yourself more than you listen to yourself.” Use compassionate, affirming inner dialogue and consciously “fake it until you awake it,” reconnecting to the truth of always being connected (33:24).
“You cannot not be connected. You are to God like a ray of light is to the sun…The question is not whether I'm connected or not. The question is whether I'm aware of my connection.” — Rabbi Aaron (34:46)
- Encourages listeners to ask themselves for forgiveness, too, as part of spiritual preparation (36:37).
9. Supporting Others Who Struggle
- For loved ones in pain or addiction, Rabbi Aaron says start with unconditional love—notifying them that "it's not okay" because they’re loved, thus reinforcing their worth (38:06).
10. Call to Action: Small Acts of Kindness
- Rabbi Aaron closes by inviting everyone to send a kind, loving message to one person—a simple act with world-changing ripple effects (42:49).
“If we could just do that. Wouldn't this world be already so much better? Just one soul at a time, one kind word at a time. Doesn't have to be big. It just has to come from the heart. It'll go into the heart, and that's a great place to start.” — Rabbi Aaron (43:08)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Belief: “The goal is to believe in a God that believes in me.” — Rabbi Aaron (09:27)
- On Identity: “You're a masterpiece, a piece of the Master.” — Rabbi Aaron (as remembered by Cathy, multiple times)
- On Mistakes: "You made a mistake. You're not a mistake. That's the mistake people make. They think they are a mistake. You're never a mistake." — Rabbi Aaron (26:06)
- On Contribution: “You should be making a life and not making a living.” — Rabbi Aaron (28:04)
- On Connection: “You cannot not be connected. You are to God like a ray of light is to the sun and it's always, always connected.” — Rabbi Aaron (34:46)
- On Tiny Tasks: “It's the tiny tasks that transform the world.” — Rabbi Aaron (11:11, 43:08)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [07:20] – Rabbi Aaron explains Kabbalah as the grammar of life
- [08:32] – The morning Modah Ani meditation and God believing in you
- [14:00] – Story of realizing parental (and divine) love
- [18:11] – Receiving unconditional love and learning not to earn it
- [22:32] – Spiritual significance of the month of Elul & preparation for Rosh Hashanah
- [24:09] – The concept of a “valuation” day and soul-based self-assessment
- [29:11] – A story about seeing and helping others—embodying light
- [32:40] – How to maintain connection throughout the day & the importance of self-talk
- [38:06] – Loving someone who doesn’t love themselves & addiction
- [42:49] – Call to action: send a loving message to someone
Core Takeaways
- You are a masterpiece, a piece of the Master.
- Believe in a God that believes in you.
- Give love and allow yourself (and others) to receive it.
- Love is not earned—it’s a gift.
- Focus on making a life, not just a living; focus on your yearning, not just your earning.
- Your connection to the Divine is unbreakable—you’re always connected, even if unaware.
- Small acts of genuine kindness can change the world—start with one soul at a time.
For more:
- Follow Rabbi David Aaron on Instagram: @davidaaron.613
- Get his book, "Endless Light," for deeper study.
Next Events:
- Cathy and Rabbi Aaron will hold monthly Kabbalah Q&A sessions.
- Cathy’s upcoming summit: details at kathyheller.com/party.
This episode radiates gentle, practical wisdom, weaving ancient Kabbalistic truths with day-to-day spiritual application in Cathy's familiar, uplifting voice. Whether you're seeking greater abundance, meaning, or simply a more open heart, Rabbi Aaron and Cathy offer both soul nourishment and actionable steps to help you realign with your highest purpose—one tiny, luminous task at a time.