In this meditation, we look at the story of the daughters of Tzelafchad and consider the courage that it took to stand up and say their piece. We feel into our own conditioning into silence and the possibility of stepping forward and of God’s great rejoicing when we do, tasting the resounding “yes” that God […]
MEDITATION: God Says Yes To You (Parashat Pinchas) Read More »
In this meditation we look at the difference between God’s vision of how to get water from a rock and Moshe’s vision, the one being relational and honoring, allowing a process to unfold, and the other using aggression and force (Numbers 20:7-13). We consider how these processes apply to us internally and externally in our
MEDITATION: Not Forcing (Parashat Chukat) Read More »
In this meditation we explore the mentality of comparison and evaluation that leads to Korach’s envy and our own, and then we look to the much earlier Yaakov’s yesh li kol, “I have all,” meaning “I have everything I need” as an alternative orientation that allows the divine to fill us up and help us
MEDITATION: Knowing Our Own Wholeness (Parashat Korach) Read More »
In this meditation, we look at the mitzvah of tzitzit as a symbol of our “tie” to God and as a reminder of who we really are in our divine essence and of the loving way in which God continually gazes upon us. Sources:Numbers 15:38-39Sefat Emet, Shelach 5635 (4:6)Psalms 97:11Midrash Tanchuma Shelach 15:1Rashi on Numbers
MEDITATION: Tzitzit: Remembering Who We are (Parashat Shelach) Read More »
In this meditation, we look at the passage of vayehi beneso’a ha’aron as offering a healing mode in two parts. The first part, kumah — arising, involves empowering and separating from the difficult forces around us, the “haters” that are scattered by God’s power. The second part — shuvah — returning, involves turning back in
MEDITATION: The Twin Powers of Arising and Returning (Parashat Beha’alotecha) Read More »
In this meditation, we consider the possibility that God is not in the thunder and lightning, but in the “still small voice” as Elijah discovered, or in our narrative, in the arafel, the thick cloud of fog that Moshe entered, and in the silent alef of the divine revelation. We explore the loud voices within
MEDITATION: Is God In the Thunder and Lightning? (Shavu’ot) Read More »
This fifth week of the Omer is associated with the divine attribute of Hod, which is understood as both “splendor” and “humility” and is represented by the left leg in the human body schema. In this meditation, we consider how leaning in to our weaker leg — acknowledging our limitations — opens us up to
MEDITATION: Hod: The Humility That Opens Us To Divine Splendor (sefirat HaOmer) Read More »
In this meditation, we explore the divine attribute associated with this fourth week of the Omer, Netzach, which means eternity or endurance. We look at it as the capacity to put one foot in front of the other on our journeys, neither harried in urgency nor collapsed in despair, but, with God’s unflagging support, staying
MEDITATION: Netzach: The Endurance to Keep Going (Sefirat HaOmer) Read More »
This meditation focuses on the divine attribute associated with this third week of the Omer, תפארת, Tiferet, which means Beauty or Harmony. Tiferet lies at our center as a capacity to hold, include and integrate polarized and contrasting energies on our right and our left. We practice making this motion flexibly, learning to move freely
MEDITATION: Tiferet and Our Both/and Capacity (Sefirat HaOmer) Read More »
This week, the second week of the Omer, is traditionally associated with the divine attribute of Gevurah, strength. In this meditation, we look at this attribute as our internal capacity for strong self leadership, taking back — from forces like the inner critic — the power to choose our own direction and live into our