The origins of disease can be traced to the three foci of fear or core traumas in the human psyche, which according to the Talmud are symbolized by the wolf, the lion, and the snake.

While all of these fears are ultimately the fear of death, in particular each one fears death from another "angle." The first, the fear of the wolf, is associated in particular with the fear of rape or any form of sexual molestation.

In the Torah, we are taught that Divine punishment reflects the nature of the sin. Our sages liken the punishment of this sin to a wolf entering and devouring a flock of sheep, explicitly relating the wolf-image to "prostitution."

From this, we may understand that sexual lust as well as the fear of sexual abuse relates to the image of the wolf (threatening the sheep).

The Fear of the Wolf or the Fear of Rape

The fear of rape refers in an extended way to any compulsory invasion of oneself by something other than oneself. This fear of the other forcing himself upon oneself exists on all levels, both physically and psychologically. While primarily a feminine manifestation of fear, the fear of the wolf and all of its implications can also manifest itself in the male–a man can also possess to a certain degree the fear of rape. The labeling of this fear as feminine only refers to the fact that is more predominant and pronounced in women. Finally, the association of the wolf to the rapist is not restricted to the Talmud, but can be found in modern media as well where the rapist is often symbolized as a wolf.

The Fear of the Lion or the Fear of Death

The lion is linked to the primal fear of murder. A person who is faced with the attack of a lion will feel intense panic in his heart, fearing that he will be consumed by the lion who will devour his flesh.

The Fear of the Snake or the Fear of Insanity

The snake represents the fear of insanity, in which the venom of the snake goes directly to the brain. We find that (temporary) insanity is the cause of all sin–losing one's mind or a loss of attention to one's deeds opens up the possibility of sin, for if a person were truly to know what he was doing, would he be aware of the implications and

consequences of his act, he would never sin. In the words of our sages, "no one commits a sin unless he has been overtaken by temporary insanity [literally, 'a spirit of folly']."

This is alluded to in the Talmudic passage quoted above, in which the man on the journey forgets his previous traumas only when attacked by the snake (it is not stated that he forgets the story of the wolf when attacked by the lion); only the trauma of the snake directly affects the mind to the extent that all previous impressions are blotted out.

To summarize:

snake - fear of insanity

lion - fear of murder

wolf -fear of rape

Do you think you would benefit for a Personal Session with Rabbi Perets in order to address your fundamental Fear?