Devekut-Bonding with G-d: The Ba'al Shem Tov's Insights into Receiving the Spirit of Prophecy

Translations from the Hebrew Text: Sefer Ba’al Shem Tov, the Teachings of Rabbi Yisrael Ben Eliezer, founder of the Hasidic Movement.

Rabbi Yisrael Ben Eliezer, the famed Ba'al Shem Tov has written (Igeret HaKodesh, Gimel), regarding his mystical ascents into Heaven:

"On Rosh HaShanah (the Jewish New Year of 5507 (1746), I performed the invocation for the ascension of the soul, as is known. I saw such wondrous things in my vision, the likes of which I've never seen before. . . I arose level upon level, until I entered the Palace of the Mashiah (the Messiah), where the Mashiah learns Torah with all the Tanaim (Talmudic teachers), and Tzadikim (Saints), even with the Seven Shepherds . . . I asked the Mashiah, when He will come? He answered me, by this shall you know. At the time when your teachings are famous, and revealed throughout the world, and what I have taught you, and what you have perceived has gone forth; when the masses are also able to recite yihudim (meditative prayers for spiritual unifications) and rise above, as you do, then shall the klipot (the powers of evil) be nullified. Then shall it be a good time for salvation."