Mazal Tov. Shnas Hatzlacha begashmius and Ruchnius
There is a Maamar in Melukat Beis where the Rebbe explains the special nature of R' Shimon Bar Yochai
He happened to be one of the few people who were involved both in Nigla and Kabbalah (in that time)
We find people who learned mostly Niglah
some (R' Nechunya? ben Hakana IIRC) that learned mostly Kabbalah
yet few who were active in both
R' Shimon Bar Yochai was active in Kabbalah (the Zohar!)
and yet was active in Nigla (every stam R' Shimon in the Gemara is R' Shimon Bar Yochai)
But more, he learned Niglah in a manner similar to Kabbalah.
The Alter Rebbe explains in Lo Sashbis Melach that there are two approaches to Torah learning. One is the approach of "Mikrah" - reading
One who just reads Chumash fulfills an obligation of Talmud Torah (so even one who doesn't know Hebrew says a Bracha in the morning) since one doesn't really understand Chumash, he just brings it into the world
On the other hand, one who learns Gemara cannot do that. He must toil in this world to actually understand it.
IIRC it compares it to the difference between Binah and Chochma. Chochma is a revelation of Hashem's wisdom
Bina is one trying to understand it in a seicheldik (intellectual manner)
The Alter Rebbe says that Kabbalah is something one cannot understand - therefore it belongs as a part of Mikrah
(small haa'ra - the Alter Rebbe writes in Hilchos Talmud Torah that Kabbala is a part of Midrash [as in 1/3 Mikra 1/3 Midrash 1/3 Talmud])
Which is why Kabbala is compared to salt - it doesn't have a taste (one doesn't understand it) yet it brings taste into Niglah
But R' Shimon Bar Yochai's Niglah was of a different form - he brought was he saw in the source
(Haa'ra - though there is a klal that the Halacha doesn't follow R' Shimon against [almost] anyone! How could it be? The Halacha doesn't follow someone who learned Niglah in the greatest way - seeing it in the source?
Rather, we see this concept in a few places - Talmud Yerushalmi is from a higher source than Talmud Bavli, and yet the Halacha doesn't follow it. Because Hashem wants a dwelling place in the lower world - that Hashem's essence is specifically found in the lower place
When one learns Torah from a lower place, Hashem's essence is there. Therefore, the Halacha follows it).
Either way, Lechaim Velivracha
@HodofHod we're waiting :)