Monday, April 30, 2012
Day 24 of the Omer
Today we mark 24 days of counting the Omer, and we search in our hearts for the Divine Attributes of Tiferet in Netzach. Tiferet means refers to Balance and Harmony, but also can mean Beauty or Splendor, and today we think of all of these in relation to Endurance.
I envision the tiny bluish white bluets blooming in clumps in open meadows at this time of year, visible from a distance only when they occur in large numbers, like waves. I also think of the Jack-in-the-pulpits, their distinctive curved shape rather than their green color causing them stand out. And soon to come, the lady slippers - pink or yellow are the ones I've seen growing in the wild, their color a contrast to the browns and greens of the forest floor, yet it is their slipper-like shape and their rarity that make them a treasure to find.
Seeing native wildflowers on a walk through the woods and fields brings a sense of peace, of the world and the universe being in balance. They are a bright spot of color; they are a sign of ecological well-being; they are a reminder that the world is continuing into the future.
We, too, can be a bright spot, when we show to the world our native colors and shapes, our unique characteristics, to help our planet and our species stay in balance and endure into the future, with peace and harmony and well-being.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is twenty-four days which is three weeks and three days of the Omer.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Day 23 of the Omer
Tonight, as the second day of the fourth week of counting begins, we consider the Divine Attributes of Gevurah in Netzach, Restraint or Discipline in Endurance.
I think of the marsh marigolds, harbingers of spring in New England, blooming this year, like everything else, so much earlier than usual. These flowers are bright and shining yellow, like large buttercups, with rounded glossy green flowers. The plants emerge from shallow water or grow on small mounds that hold the plant just above the water level, with the roots constantly moistened by standing or slow-moving water. A marsh not far from my home is blanketed with marsh marigolds every spring. What a delight to come around the corner and see dozens and dozens of cheerful green plants, each with a dozen or more large yellow flowers.
Marsh marigolds cannot survive if the water is drained away. They need to keep their feet wet all the time in order to grown and bloom afresh each spring.
We too, need certain things in order to keep blooming. Our needs are not as clear cut as are those of the marsh marigolds, and far more choices confront us. Do we need that extra cookie? Do we need that extra gift - either given or received? Do we need foods that are not good for our bodies? Do we need all the material items in our homes? The chances are that the answer in most if not all cases is NO. In order to keep going as an individual, in order for our communities, both human and ecological, to survive, in order for our planet to endure as a place that is suitable for life as we know, we may need to exercise restraint more often than we do. We may need to distinguish more clearly between our wants and our needs.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is twenty-three days which is three weeks and two days of the Omer.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is twenty-three days which is three weeks and two days of the Omer.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Day 22 of the Omer
As we come to the end of Shabbat, we being the fourth week of the Omer, during which the focus is on Netzach - Endurance, Longevity, Hanging in There. On this 22nd day, we consider the Divine Attributes of Chesed in Netzach - Lovingkindness in Endurance.
During this fourth week, images of and meditations on flowers will frame our consideration of the Divine Attributes.
I remember from my childhood the pasque flower. In dry prairies of the Upper Midwest and the West, the pasque flower is the first to bloom in the spring, its purple flowers sometimes poking up through early spring snow. My father knew where to find the pasque flowers, and when, and it was a rite of spring in my family to go in search of them. We always found them, along with the admonition to be alert, for rattlesnakes liked the same kind of territory, and the warm sunny days that brought the pasque flowers into bloom were the same kind of days that the rattlesnakes liked to be out sunning themselves.
We never saw a rattlesnake, but we always found the pasque flowers, one, two, three, and then another and another, delicate, exquisite - spring was truly on its way.
Endurance, keeping on going, hanging in there despite the difficulties of the moment. Every year, the pasque flowers were there. We didn't have to go in search of them, but we did. We sought out the beauty, we sought out the wonder. That search is how we transform endurance from a heavy burden to something light, something filled with love and kindness and joy.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is twenty-two days which is three weeks and one day of the Omer.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is twenty-two days which is three weeks and one day of the Omer.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Day 21 of the Omer
On this last day of the second week of the Omer we experience Malchut in Tiferet, Sovereignty or Leadership in Balance.
Water has unique properties - it is in its solid, liquid, and gaseous states at some place on Earth all at the same time.It is known as the universal solvent because so many chemicals dissolve in it. It is critical for life, which evolved in and around and in need of water. These and other properties make water an unsuspecting leader. We cannot live without water. Wars have been fought over it, and in some places it is more precious than oil because we need it so badly.
As long as the amount of available fresh clean water is in balance, all is well. Water maintains its leadership position.
Our unique qualities make us leaders, as well, in our families, our communities, and our world. As long as we are in balance, we too, can maintain our leadership. Keeping the leader qualities of ourselves in balance is critical to our ability to lead others, whether physically, morally, politically, economically, spiritually, or in any other way.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is twenty-one days which is three weeks of the Omer.
Water has unique properties - it is in its solid, liquid, and gaseous states at some place on Earth all at the same time.It is known as the universal solvent because so many chemicals dissolve in it. It is critical for life, which evolved in and around and in need of water. These and other properties make water an unsuspecting leader. We cannot live without water. Wars have been fought over it, and in some places it is more precious than oil because we need it so badly.
As long as the amount of available fresh clean water is in balance, all is well. Water maintains its leadership position.
Our unique qualities make us leaders, as well, in our families, our communities, and our world. As long as we are in balance, we too, can maintain our leadership. Keeping the leader qualities of ourselves in balance is critical to our ability to lead others, whether physically, morally, politically, economically, spiritually, or in any other way.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is twenty-one days which is three weeks of the Omer.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Day 20 of the Omer
On this twentieth day of the Omer, we experience Y'sod in Tiferet, or Bonding in Balance.
Molecules form when atoms bond to each other. An ionic bond forms when atoms are bound together by the attraction between oppositely charged ions. There is a complete exchange of electrons. A covalent bond forms when the atoms are bound by shared electrons. Sometimes the electron is shared equally by the two atoms, and sometimes the electron is attracted more to one atom in the molecule than the other. This latter, which is the case with the water molecule, is a polar covalent bond.
We have emotional bonds that hold us together within ourselves and attach us to others. The strength of these bonds varies, some bonds involve more give and take, some bring us strength and joy and gratitude, some drain us, some force us to find our deepest wells of strength. Keeping ourselves bound together and bound to those we love in healthy and meaningful ways brings balance and brings harmony into our lives. May we find ourselves attracted to meaningful bonding.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is twenty days which is two weeks and six days of the Omer.
Molecules form when atoms bond to each other. An ionic bond forms when atoms are bound together by the attraction between oppositely charged ions. There is a complete exchange of electrons. A covalent bond forms when the atoms are bound by shared electrons. Sometimes the electron is shared equally by the two atoms, and sometimes the electron is attracted more to one atom in the molecule than the other. This latter, which is the case with the water molecule, is a polar covalent bond.
We have emotional bonds that hold us together within ourselves and attach us to others. The strength of these bonds varies, some bonds involve more give and take, some bring us strength and joy and gratitude, some drain us, some force us to find our deepest wells of strength. Keeping ourselves bound together and bound to those we love in healthy and meaningful ways brings balance and brings harmony into our lives. May we find ourselves attracted to meaningful bonding.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is twenty days which is two weeks and six days of the Omer.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Day 19 of the Omer
Today we celebrate the Divine Attributes of Hod in Tiferet, Humility in Harmony, as we count this fifth day of the second week of the Omer.
Ice crystals form on the slow-moving water of the stream; the temperature drops and ice forms even on the rocks of a rushing mountain brook. Delicate, exquisite, a sight to take away my breath. Water falling over the edge of a cliff forms a thundering waterfall - spectacular it is. The water vapor in the air - I cannot see it. It is invisible. Yet from it forms rain and snow and hail and sleet, all the forms of precipitation that bring water back to the ground and to the flowers and bushes and trees.
We need to know when to be seen and when to be invisible, when to be forth-coming and when to step back in humility. In order to be seen at some moments, we must first be invisible. We need to keep the appropriate balance between being seen and being invisible in order to maintain the harmony and the balance in our lives.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is nineteen days which is two weeks and five days of the Omer.
Ice crystals form on the slow-moving water of the stream; the temperature drops and ice forms even on the rocks of a rushing mountain brook. Delicate, exquisite, a sight to take away my breath. Water falling over the edge of a cliff forms a thundering waterfall - spectacular it is. The water vapor in the air - I cannot see it. It is invisible. Yet from it forms rain and snow and hail and sleet, all the forms of precipitation that bring water back to the ground and to the flowers and bushes and trees.
We need to know when to be seen and when to be invisible, when to be forth-coming and when to step back in humility. In order to be seen at some moments, we must first be invisible. We need to keep the appropriate balance between being seen and being invisible in order to maintain the harmony and the balance in our lives.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is nineteen days which is two weeks and five days of the Omer.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Day 18 of the Omer
Netzach of Tiferet - Endurance of Harmony, these are the Divine Attributes we consider on this fourth day of the second week of counting the Omer.
Raindrops fall on the mountainside. They slide off the leaves and drip onto the forest floor. The rain continues, and the water forms rivulets that trickle into a mountain stream. The stream tumbles downward, over rocks and boulders, ever closer to the sea. It meets up with another mountain stream, and another, and then the landscape begins to flatten, and the water slows its speed, still bubbling and tumbling over rocks, but wider and slower now. More streams come together; they form rivers. Rivers meet other rivers and grow ever wider. And then at last the river meets the sea, the fresh water mixes with the salt water, until it, too becomes salty.
The sun beats down on the oceans and the seas, water molecules evaporate and enter the air as water vapor. They are carried upward, condense to form water droplets, are carried through the atmosphere by the winds, and then fall as raindrops on the mountainside. They slide off the leaves and drip onto the forest floor.
The cycle continues, steady, constant, never-ending, keeping the balance.
Steady, constant, keeping the balance - these are messages for us as well. We, too, go through cycles and return to places where we have been before. How changed are we when we return? Are we keeping apace with all we meet along the way? Are we tumbling over the rocks in our path, always headed toward the sea, toward the One toward which we must always be moving? Are we constant, enduring in our efforts to stay connected to the One who can keep us in balance? We are one drop of water in the sea, and yet the sea without its many drops of water would not be.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is eighteen days which is two weeks and four days of the Omer.
Raindrops fall on the mountainside. They slide off the leaves and drip onto the forest floor. The rain continues, and the water forms rivulets that trickle into a mountain stream. The stream tumbles downward, over rocks and boulders, ever closer to the sea. It meets up with another mountain stream, and another, and then the landscape begins to flatten, and the water slows its speed, still bubbling and tumbling over rocks, but wider and slower now. More streams come together; they form rivers. Rivers meet other rivers and grow ever wider. And then at last the river meets the sea, the fresh water mixes with the salt water, until it, too becomes salty.
The sun beats down on the oceans and the seas, water molecules evaporate and enter the air as water vapor. They are carried upward, condense to form water droplets, are carried through the atmosphere by the winds, and then fall as raindrops on the mountainside. They slide off the leaves and drip onto the forest floor.
The cycle continues, steady, constant, never-ending, keeping the balance.
Steady, constant, keeping the balance - these are messages for us as well. We, too, go through cycles and return to places where we have been before. How changed are we when we return? Are we keeping apace with all we meet along the way? Are we tumbling over the rocks in our path, always headed toward the sea, toward the One toward which we must always be moving? Are we constant, enduring in our efforts to stay connected to the One who can keep us in balance? We are one drop of water in the sea, and yet the sea without its many drops of water would not be.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is eighteen days which is two weeks and four days of the Omer.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Day 17 of the Omer
As we continue through the third week of counting the Omer we come to the combination of Divine Attributes Tiferet in Tiferet, Harmony in Harmony, or Balance in Balance.
The chemical formula for water is H2O, indicating that one molecule of water contains one atom of oxygen bound to two atoms of hydrogen. A molecule with a similar makeup, but two atoms of oxygen bound to two atoms of hydrogen, is hydrogen peroxide, a very different substance with very different properties. One atom of oxygen bound to three atoms of hydrogen is the hydronium ion, which is, in essence, acidic water. Polluted water is often acidic, and may contain many hydronium ions. Hydronium, too, is different from plain water, though more easily converted to water than hydrogen perioxide. Either way, whether an extra oxygen or an extra hydrogen atom is added, the balance changes and something new forms.
Sometimes our balance changes, too. We may become out of balance when we don't get enough sleep or when upsetting events occur and throw us off course, off balance. When our balance shifts, we, like water molecules, become different. We lose our sense of being in harmony with ourselves and our world, and we have to work to regain our equilibrium. Maintaining Harmony in Harmony is a constant, daily effort to keep ouselves on an even keel, to stay focused, to be connected to our inner selves, to be in close relationship to G!d. When we are able to maintain Harmony in Harmony, we feel a sense of being at peace with the world and with ourselves.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is seventeen days which is two weeks and three days of the Omer.
The chemical formula for water is H2O, indicating that one molecule of water contains one atom of oxygen bound to two atoms of hydrogen. A molecule with a similar makeup, but two atoms of oxygen bound to two atoms of hydrogen, is hydrogen peroxide, a very different substance with very different properties. One atom of oxygen bound to three atoms of hydrogen is the hydronium ion, which is, in essence, acidic water. Polluted water is often acidic, and may contain many hydronium ions. Hydronium, too, is different from plain water, though more easily converted to water than hydrogen perioxide. Either way, whether an extra oxygen or an extra hydrogen atom is added, the balance changes and something new forms.
Sometimes our balance changes, too. We may become out of balance when we don't get enough sleep or when upsetting events occur and throw us off course, off balance. When our balance shifts, we, like water molecules, become different. We lose our sense of being in harmony with ourselves and our world, and we have to work to regain our equilibrium. Maintaining Harmony in Harmony is a constant, daily effort to keep ouselves on an even keel, to stay focused, to be connected to our inner selves, to be in close relationship to G!d. When we are able to maintain Harmony in Harmony, we feel a sense of being at peace with the world and with ourselves.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is seventeen days which is two weeks and three days of the Omer.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Day 16 of the Omer
On this sixteenth day of counting the Omer we focus on Gevurah in Tiferet - Restraint in Harmony.
Wetlands help maintain balance and harmony in natural world. These are places we can't readily walk through because they are just too wet: swamps, marshes, bogs and similar areas. At the conservation area near my home, walkway over a marsh and the stream that flows through it makes it possible to be in the midst of the wetland. The walkway protects the marsh from tramping feet sinking into the mud, and it protects our feet, keeping them dry. From the walkway skunk cabbages can be seen in late winter and early spring, delicate blue forget-me-nots later on, and in mid-summer, the orange flowers of jewelweed.
Wetlands serve a myriad of purposes in the water cycle. They filter the water, thereby protecting and improving water quality, they provide habitat for fish and wildlife, and they absorb great amounts of water during rainstorms and spring snow melt. By holding the water within them, wetlands reduce flooding and maintain the water supply during dry periods. The restraint, or holding, of the water by the wetlands keeps the water supply to the natural world in balance.
Sometimes we, too, need to exercise restraint in order to maintain a balance in our world. In the natural world, too much water causes floods and too little causes droughts. In our lives, too much of any good thing can cause a veritable flood: too much eating, too many hours of staying awake at a time, too much exercise after a long period of inactivity, pushing ourselves to do too much, talking too much, etc., etc., etc. Let us exercise restraint in our lives and by doing so maintain a healthy balance that allows our personal spiritual and emotional ecosystems to thrive.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is sixteen days which is two weeks and two days of the Omer.
Wetlands help maintain balance and harmony in natural world. These are places we can't readily walk through because they are just too wet: swamps, marshes, bogs and similar areas. At the conservation area near my home, walkway over a marsh and the stream that flows through it makes it possible to be in the midst of the wetland. The walkway protects the marsh from tramping feet sinking into the mud, and it protects our feet, keeping them dry. From the walkway skunk cabbages can be seen in late winter and early spring, delicate blue forget-me-nots later on, and in mid-summer, the orange flowers of jewelweed.
Wetlands serve a myriad of purposes in the water cycle. They filter the water, thereby protecting and improving water quality, they provide habitat for fish and wildlife, and they absorb great amounts of water during rainstorms and spring snow melt. By holding the water within them, wetlands reduce flooding and maintain the water supply during dry periods. The restraint, or holding, of the water by the wetlands keeps the water supply to the natural world in balance.
Sometimes we, too, need to exercise restraint in order to maintain a balance in our world. In the natural world, too much water causes floods and too little causes droughts. In our lives, too much of any good thing can cause a veritable flood: too much eating, too many hours of staying awake at a time, too much exercise after a long period of inactivity, pushing ourselves to do too much, talking too much, etc., etc., etc. Let us exercise restraint in our lives and by doing so maintain a healthy balance that allows our personal spiritual and emotional ecosystems to thrive.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is sixteen days which is two weeks and two days of the Omer.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Day 15 of the Omer
In the third week of the Omer, we consider the Divine Attribute of Tiferet, Balance or Harmony, and we begin by experiencing and striving for Chesed in Tiferet - Lovingkindness in Harmony.
Water.
Water is soothing, both by touch and by sound. A warm bath, a hot shower, a swim in a lake on a hot day; the sound of a bubbling brook, crashing ocean waves, or a gentle rain in summer - all have the capacity to soothe and calm us.
Water.
This simple molecule of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen is crucial for life. About 75% of our body mass is water, and water is vital to the well being of every cell in our bodies. We need to take in water regularly - not just any water, but fresh water, clean enough to be healthy and not harmful. The harmony and well-being of our bodies are dependent on water.
Let us allow the water we see and feel and hear to bring us a sense of calmness. Let us take water into our bodies regularly, maintaining the harmony of our physical selves, that we may allow the calmness we feel at one moment to spread throughout our day and to help us keep our minds and our souls in harmony. Let us allow the calmness we feel to spread our love outward into the world, and increase the level of harmony in the world.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is fifteen days which is two weeks and one day of the Omer.
Water.
Water is soothing, both by touch and by sound. A warm bath, a hot shower, a swim in a lake on a hot day; the sound of a bubbling brook, crashing ocean waves, or a gentle rain in summer - all have the capacity to soothe and calm us.
Water.
This simple molecule of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen is crucial for life. About 75% of our body mass is water, and water is vital to the well being of every cell in our bodies. We need to take in water regularly - not just any water, but fresh water, clean enough to be healthy and not harmful. The harmony and well-being of our bodies are dependent on water.
Let us allow the water we see and feel and hear to bring us a sense of calmness. Let us take water into our bodies regularly, maintaining the harmony of our physical selves, that we may allow the calmness we feel at one moment to spread throughout our day and to help us keep our minds and our souls in harmony. Let us allow the calmness we feel to spread our love outward into the world, and increase the level of harmony in the world.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is fifteen days which is two weeks and one day of the Omer.
Day 14 of the Omer
Malchut, Kingship, or more generically, Leadership, in Restraint, are the Divine Attributes for the last day of the second week of counting the Omer.
In my mind, of the birds I see in my yard, the male cardinal is king. Not because he is the bossiest, or the loudest, or the smartest, or the sneakiest, of the birds, but because he is bright red. He is easily seen at all times of the year, in summer he stands out through the green leaves of the trees, and in winter his stark contrast to the white of snow is breathtaking.
How other birds consider the cardinal, I do not know.
Standing out is sometimes what it takes to be a leader, but other times, not standing out is what it takes, exhibiting restraint. Through our restraint, we can become leaders, because sometimes we need to think not of the short-term issue, but of the long-term goal. Where are we heading? What are we trying to achieve? Sometimes we have to let go of the immediate concern and look to the future. And we when do, we become leaders - leaders of our own hearts and ultimately, leaders of others.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is fourteen days which is two weeks of the Omer.
In my mind, of the birds I see in my yard, the male cardinal is king. Not because he is the bossiest, or the loudest, or the smartest, or the sneakiest, of the birds, but because he is bright red. He is easily seen at all times of the year, in summer he stands out through the green leaves of the trees, and in winter his stark contrast to the white of snow is breathtaking.
How other birds consider the cardinal, I do not know.
Standing out is sometimes what it takes to be a leader, but other times, not standing out is what it takes, exhibiting restraint. Through our restraint, we can become leaders, because sometimes we need to think not of the short-term issue, but of the long-term goal. Where are we heading? What are we trying to achieve? Sometimes we have to let go of the immediate concern and look to the future. And we when do, we become leaders - leaders of our own hearts and ultimately, leaders of others.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is fourteen days which is two weeks of the Omer.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Day 13 of the Omer
Today is the thirteenth day of counting the Omer. On this sixth day of the second week, we experience Y'sod, the Divine Attribute of Bonding in Gevurah, Restraint.
Bonding in bird parlance refers to the relationship between a male and a female bird for breeding. Many birds bond for a season only, the length of time it takes to reproduce and raise to their young to independence. A few birds bond for the lifetime of the members of the pair. These include Atlantic Puffins, which don't start breeding until they are three to six years old, and only lay one egg at a time. They return to the same burrow for nesting each year, share incubating the egg and parenting.
Whether for a season or for a lifetime, for birds the goal is reproduction and the continuity of the species.
Y'sod of Gevurah - Bonding in Restraint. How do we restrain our anger, our hurt, our jealousy, our despair in order to maintain our bonds with others and with G!d? How do we return for forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace-making after difficult times? Our bonds with our family members will always be there, no matter whether we see them or not, and so, too, our bonds with G!d and with all those with whom we enter into relationship at one time or another. May we find the strength and the restraint to keep our bonds deep and enduring and healthy as we go forward in life from one day to the next.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is thirteen days which are one week and six days of the Omer.
Day 12 of the Omer
On the twelfth day of counting the Omer, the fifth day of the second week, we experience Hod of Gevurah - Humility in Restraint.
Some birds are hard to see. We may hear them, but they are so well camouflaged that actually seeing them is difficult. Yet, they still retain importance in the ecosystem and the web of life. Their camouflage helps them survive. Young birds, nesting females, birds that forage on the ground, and those that are nocturnal and sleep by day are all likely to have coloring that helps them blend into the background. This lack of need to put themselves out there for all to see helps them to survive.
Hod of Gevurah - Humility of Restraint. We, too, do not need to always put ourselves out there for all to see. Even in our holding ourselves back and holding ourselves in, even in our strength we do not need to be visible to everyone. No matter what, we are visible to the Holy One of Blessing, and let us understand and know that this is what counts in life.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is twelve days which are one week and five days of the Omer.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Day 11 of the Omer
On the eleventh day of counting the Omer, the fourth day of the second week, we experience Netzach of Gevurah - Endurance of Restraint.
The ruby-throated hummingbird is famous for its lengthy migration in relation to its small size. These tiny birds weigh just three grams and are about 3 1/2 inches long, yet they may migrate as much as 2000 miles from Canada to Central America, and some fly 500 miles over the Gulf of Mexico without stopping. They make this strenuous journey every fall and every spring. To fly so far and so long, and also just to keep their wings beating at their normal flight rate of 80 times per second, these little birds need to take in a lot of energy, so they feed on sweet flower nectar five to eight times every hour. And before their migration, they eat even more often, in order to pack on weight before flying for up to two weeks to reach their destination.
Netzach of Gevurah - Endurance of Restraint. How do we maintain our restraint over time? Often, it takes not just one moment, but many moments, many days, many weeks, many months, or even many years of restraint to weather a change or a crisis in our lives and to transform ourselves and our lives into a new reality. We must take in energy and strength frequently, wherever we find sweet nectar, in order to maintain ourselves during our long flight of growth into a new way of thriving and being in the world.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is eleven days which are one week and four days of the Omer.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Day 10 of the Omer
On this third day of the second week of counting the Omer, we focus on the Divine Attributes of Tiferet - Harmony - in Gevurah - Restraint.
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat….. We hear the woodpecker before we see it. Its insistent tapping alerts us to its presence, and careful searching reveals the long-beaked bird clinging to a tree trunk, drilling a hole in search of insects or grubs. The woodpecker is an important link in keeping the ecosystem in balance -- it is a part of the web of life that includes dead and decaying tress, within which are found insects and other creatures that live in the dead wood.
We, too, are part of an ecosystem. We are part of the Earth's physical ecosystems and we are part of a spiritual ecosystem. Our presence in the former behooves us not to take more than our share, but to restrain ourselves in order to keep the planet in balance, with enough food and water and air and space for even the tiniest of the Earth's ecosystem's members. Our presence in the spiritual ecosystem demands no less. By keeping ourselves in balance, by maintaining harmony between lovingkindness and restraint, between giving and holding back, between taking and giving, between presence and absence, we help maintain our own spiritual well being and that of those around us.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.
Today is ten days which are one week and three days of the Omer.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Day 9 of the Omer
The ninth day of the omer - the second day of the second week - is Gevurah in Gevurah. Gevurah is strength, but a special kind of strength, "Who is gibor - strong? One who restrains one's urge." (Prov. 16:23). Restraint in restraint - double restraint
Soaring high in the air, the hawk expends relatively little energy. Its outstretched wings catch the breezes and it rides the updrafts, spiraling higher and higher. Far above the ground, the hawk's keen eyes watch for movement among the grasses, and then the winged predator suddenly zooms earthward, talons outstretched, to powerfully grab its sustenance.
Like the hawk, we, too, are powerful. We have more strength than we think we do, until such moments when we need it. Restraint in Restraint - what does it take to hold onto ourselves, to find that deep strength and power, instead of collapsing in anger or despair? What does it take for us to soar on the updrafts, to allow G!d to hold us through tough times?
We have Restraint within Restraint, the Divine Presence is with us, and we can do it.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the omer.
Today is nine days which are one week and two days of the Omer.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Day 8 of the Omer
Tonight begins Week Two of counting the Omer. The Divine Attribute for this week is Gevurah, which means justice and discipline, but also restraint. Gevurah is about boundaries and limits. On the first day of this week, we have Chesed of Gevurah
In this second week of the omer, we focus on birds. Birds are able to navigate across boundaries - they may walk and feed and nest on land and then fly through the sky. Some dive and swim in or under the water.
A great blue heron stands on its long spindly legs, nobly still and silent in the shallow water as it stalks its prey. So still, it looks like a statue. Then, suddenly, as fast as lightning, its long neck stretches out straight and the heron stabs its beak into the water. It quickly comes back up, a fish in its beak. When the heron takes flight, it long legs stretch behind it and its huge wings cut majestically through the air.
At times, we may, as fast as lightning, lash out or speak words we later wish we hadn't said. Let us remember to be like the heron, still and silent, exhibiting restraint. Let us hold ourselves, let us hold ourselves with Chesed, with lovingkindness, and wait, like the heron, with Gevurah, until it is the right time for us to respond, until it is the right moment for us to catch our fish, and then we will be able to spread our wings and fly.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
In this second week of the omer, we focus on birds. Birds are able to navigate across boundaries - they may walk and feed and nest on land and then fly through the sky. Some dive and swim in or under the water.
A great blue heron stands on its long spindly legs, nobly still and silent in the shallow water as it stalks its prey. So still, it looks like a statue. Then, suddenly, as fast as lightning, its long neck stretches out straight and the heron stabs its beak into the water. It quickly comes back up, a fish in its beak. When the heron takes flight, it long legs stretch behind it and its huge wings cut majestically through the air.
At times, we may, as fast as lightning, lash out or speak words we later wish we hadn't said. Let us remember to be like the heron, still and silent, exhibiting restraint. Let us hold ourselves, let us hold ourselves with Chesed, with lovingkindness, and wait, like the heron, with Gevurah, until it is the right time for us to respond, until it is the right moment for us to catch our fish, and then we will be able to spread our wings and fly.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the omer.
Today is eight days which is one day and one week of the Omer.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Day 7 of the Omer
The last day of the first week of counting the Omer is represented by the Divine Attribute of Malchut - Sovereignty or Leadership. And so today, we recognize the Leadership in Lovingkindness that comes to us from G!d.
This is also our last day of having the Moon as the representative of our creation connection. We can see the effect of the gravitational pull of the Moon on the water in Earth's oceans when we see the rising tides. The Moon has an impact and makes a difference to life on our planet.
We, too, can have an impact and make a difference to life on our planet when we act with leadership -- leadership stemming from the Divine Attributes of Leadership embedded within Lovingkindness. May our sense of being loved by G!d give us the strength to open our mouths and express words of lovingkindness that lead others as we follow in G!d's footsteps.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
This is also our last day of having the Moon as the representative of our creation connection. We can see the effect of the gravitational pull of the Moon on the water in Earth's oceans when we see the rising tides. The Moon has an impact and makes a difference to life on our planet.
We, too, can have an impact and make a difference to life on our planet when we act with leadership -- leadership stemming from the Divine Attributes of Leadership embedded within Lovingkindness. May our sense of being loved by G!d give us the strength to open our mouths and express words of lovingkindness that lead others as we follow in G!d's footsteps.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the omer.
Today is seven days, which is one week of the Omer.
Day 6 of the Omer
Today is the sixth day of counting the Omer, and it is represented by the Divine Attribute of Y'sod, bonding. We experience from G!d bonding in lovingkindness.
The Moon revolves around the Earth, again and again and again. They are stuck to each other by gravity, and connected for a lifetime. As we feel and experience G!d's strong and ongoing connection to us, lovingkindness with depth and without end, let us try to let our love and our kindness be the same. Let us focus today on allowing ourselves to connect deeply, to feel and to give love, and not to give up. May our connections to G!d and to others be strong and lasting. May we feel the bonds of love powerfully in our lives.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the omer.
Today is six days of the Omer.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Day 5 of the Omer
Tonight we experience Hod - Humility - in Chesed - Lovingkindness - as we count the fifth day of the Omer.
The Moon is slowing "disappearing," behind the clouds as well as in the cycle of the Moon's monthly waning. Yet, it remains present, in the background - it is still there behind the clouds, and despite the lack of light reflecting off it, it is in its ordained location in the sky, at same average distance of 238,857 miles from the center of the Earth that it always is at this particular Moon cycle. The Moon is present but is not (or almost not) visible.
What about us? Are we able to find the humility to allow ourselves to act from the sidelines or the background without being visible, without being out in front and all lit up? Are we able to acknowledge that we are not always right? When we find the strength to do either or both of these, our kindness becomes more pervasive - there is more room for it. Humility in Lovingkindness - letting our hearts take center stage and leaving our egos in the background, behind the clouds and away from the stage lights.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
The Moon is slowing "disappearing," behind the clouds as well as in the cycle of the Moon's monthly waning. Yet, it remains present, in the background - it is still there behind the clouds, and despite the lack of light reflecting off it, it is in its ordained location in the sky, at same average distance of 238,857 miles from the center of the Earth that it always is at this particular Moon cycle. The Moon is present but is not (or almost not) visible.
What about us? Are we able to find the humility to allow ourselves to act from the sidelines or the background without being visible, without being out in front and all lit up? Are we able to acknowledge that we are not always right? When we find the strength to do either or both of these, our kindness becomes more pervasive - there is more room for it. Humility in Lovingkindness - letting our hearts take center stage and leaving our egos in the background, behind the clouds and away from the stage lights.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands regarding the counting of the omer.
Today is five days of the Omer.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Day 4 of the Omer
Netzach is the Divine Attribute of Endurance, and on this fourth day of counting the omer, we encounter Netzach in Chesed, Endurance in Lovingkindness.
The Moon continues to wane, and eventually will be just a thin crescent in the night sky; it will grow dark, it will gradually wax until it becomes full, and then the cycle will start again, to repeat itself over and over again. The Moon may appear to be fickle as it comes and goes, but in reality it endures, it continues to be present even when we can't see it, and it becomes visible over and over again. The Moon is always there. It is with us for the long haul.
So, too, is G!d with us for the long haul, and G!d's kindness is with us for the long haul, through thick and thin, through hard times and good, through days when we feel like no one loves us and days when we know we are loved, through times when people treat us unfairly and times when we feel on top of the world. May our kindness be like the Moon and like G!d -- always present, always with us, enduring.
The Moon continues to wane, and eventually will be just a thin crescent in the night sky; it will grow dark, it will gradually wax until it becomes full, and then the cycle will start again, to repeat itself over and over again. The Moon may appear to be fickle as it comes and goes, but in reality it endures, it continues to be present even when we can't see it, and it becomes visible over and over again. The Moon is always there. It is with us for the long haul.
So, too, is G!d with us for the long haul, and G!d's kindness is with us for the long haul, through thick and thin, through hard times and good, through days when we feel like no one loves us and days when we know we are loved, through times when people treat us unfairly and times when we feel on top of the world. May our kindness be like the Moon and like G!d -- always present, always with us, enduring.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands regarding the counting of the omer.
Today is four days of the Omer.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Day 3 of the Omer
By Rabbi Katy Z. Allen
On day 3 of the Omer, we consider the Divine Attributes of
Tiferet in Chesed. Tiferet is Harmony or Compassion.
When we see the Moon, the light we are seeing is not generated by the Moon, it is the light of the Sun reflected off the Moon's
surface. Our light and our love increase when we reflect the light and the love
we receive from G!d. When we have Compassion in Lovingkindness how much deeper our
love and our kindness becomes. During the seder, we dipped our finger in the
wine and removed 10 drops, one for each plague, diminishing the amount of wine
and symbolically diminishing our joy as we remember that G!d's children, the
Egyptians, were drowning in the Sea even as our ancestors were being redeemed.
What does it take to have compassion on those who pursue us, on our enemies, on
those people with whom we find it difficult to engage? It take a deep connection to the Beyond and to our innermost selves, it takes a compassion that enriches love. It takes receiving and reflecting G!d's
Chesed and G!d's Tiferet - both of which are needed for us to
help increase the Harmony in the Universe.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands regarding the counting of the omer.
Today is three days of the Omer.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Day 2 of the Omer
The second night of counting the omer gives us the combination of the Divine Attributes Chesed and Gevurah - Lovingkindness and Justice or Discipline. As we see the moon beginning to wane, may we remember that love in a framework is a more effective and useful and safe way of loving and being loved, and sometimes we need to contain ourselves in order to feel the Divine Presence and to truly be able to love others. When anger or jealousy or pain get in the way, if we remember, "Be still, and know that I am G!d," (Ps. 46:11), we can get back to loving with our full hearts and being G!d's instruments of love on Earth.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands regarding the counting of the omer.
Today is two days of the Omer.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands regarding the counting of the omer.
Today is two days of the Omer.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Counting the Omer
by Rabbi Katy Z. Allen
On the second night of Passover, we begin counting the Omer. We count the 49 days from crossing into freedom to receiving the Torah, the 49 days from redemption to revelation, from Passover to Shavuot, from the Sea of Reeds to the Mountain of Sinai, from the depths of despair to the heights of joy, from physical enslavement to spiritual freedom, from the barley harvest offering to the wheat harvest offering, from the food of animals offering to the food of humans offering. We count 49 days. We count seven weeks of seven. We count seven weeks of Divine Attributes. We count a myriad of human emotions. We count the nights.
I invite you to count the Omer. I invite you to count the days and the nights, starting at the seder on Saturday night.
First we say the blessing:
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with its commandments and commands regarding the counting of the omer.
Or, alternatively,
Brucha at Yah, Eloheinu ruach ha'olam, asher kidshtanu b'mitzvoteha, vitzivatanu al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Ya our G!d spirit of the universe, who sanctifies us with its mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the omer.
Then we count:
HaYom yom echad laomer.
Today is Day 1 of the Omer.
Tonight (Friday) the Moon will be full. Tomorrow night will be night #1 of the Omer. The Moon will be starting to wane. We will be starting our journey from the Sea to the Mountain.
What do you want to count?
Whom would you choose to remember?
What do you wish to mark?
Where do you dream to be?
What do you desire to notice?
What is the source of meaning?
Each day in the counting of the omer, each S'firah day, is connected to a combination of Divine Attributes, the Divine S'firot, or luminances. As we count, we are encouraged to engage with these attributes, both those emanating from the Divine, and those emanating from ourselves, as a way to help improve ourselves, to make, step-by-step, an upward physical and spiritual journey from the Sea to the Mountain, from Redemption from Slavery to Revelation of Torah.
These are the seven Divine Attributes associated with Counting the Omer:
1. Chesed - Lovingkingness
2. Gevurah - Justice and Discipline
3. Tiferet - Harmony, Compassion
4. Netzach - Endurance
5. Hod - Humility
6. Y'sod - Bonding
7. Mallchut - Sovereignty, Leadership
Each week during the Omer, we take one Divine Attribute and we connect it in turn each day to each of the other Attributes. WE also take a bit of nature to connect to these Attributes. We begin tomorrow night with the Moon, watching it diminish in size and brightness, and as we watch the natural cycle of the Moon, we connect it to the first of the seven Divine Attributes, Chesed, or Lovingkindness. Although the size of the Moon may appear to us to be diminishing, in fact, it does not change, just our perception of it, due to its illumination by the Sun, makes it appear to diminish. But we are headed toward Rosh Chodesh, the New Moon, and in Judaism, the new month, and so, as we think of Lovingkindness / Lovingkindness, let us feel the love G!d feels for us, let us allow that sense of being loved to grow over this week, and let us make that sense of G!d's love manifest in the world to a greater and greater degree through how we interact with others, by being kind, sharing our knowledge and our wealth.
So, I invite you to choose a question, your own question, and count it - not down, but up - up from the Sea to the Mountain. I invite you to follow these posts, as I connect Earth to Omer, Earth to Torah. I will be on this journey with you, hopefully each night, but at least each week. On days I don't catch you, take the attribute of the week - this first week Chesed, Lovingkindness - and match it to the next attribute in the list, add in your question, and take a look at the natural world around you - this week the Moon, and then put it all together in your heart and your mind and your soul.
May you find yourself journeying from enslavement to freedom, and may that journey give you the strength to walk beside others and support them as they, too, journey toward greater freedom.
On the second night of Passover, we begin counting the Omer. We count the 49 days from crossing into freedom to receiving the Torah, the 49 days from redemption to revelation, from Passover to Shavuot, from the Sea of Reeds to the Mountain of Sinai, from the depths of despair to the heights of joy, from physical enslavement to spiritual freedom, from the barley harvest offering to the wheat harvest offering, from the food of animals offering to the food of humans offering. We count 49 days. We count seven weeks of seven. We count seven weeks of Divine Attributes. We count a myriad of human emotions. We count the nights.
I invite you to count the Omer. I invite you to count the days and the nights, starting at the seder on Saturday night.
First we say the blessing:
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with its commandments and commands regarding the counting of the omer.
Or, alternatively,
Brucha at Yah, Eloheinu ruach ha'olam, asher kidshtanu b'mitzvoteha, vitzivatanu al sefirat ha'omer.
Blessed are you Ya our G!d spirit of the universe, who sanctifies us with its mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the omer.
Then we count:
HaYom yom echad laomer.
Today is Day 1 of the Omer.
Tonight (Friday) the Moon will be full. Tomorrow night will be night #1 of the Omer. The Moon will be starting to wane. We will be starting our journey from the Sea to the Mountain.
What do you want to count?
Whom would you choose to remember?
What do you wish to mark?
Where do you dream to be?
What do you desire to notice?
What is the source of meaning?
Each day in the counting of the omer, each S'firah day, is connected to a combination of Divine Attributes, the Divine S'firot, or luminances. As we count, we are encouraged to engage with these attributes, both those emanating from the Divine, and those emanating from ourselves, as a way to help improve ourselves, to make, step-by-step, an upward physical and spiritual journey from the Sea to the Mountain, from Redemption from Slavery to Revelation of Torah.
These are the seven Divine Attributes associated with Counting the Omer:
1. Chesed - Lovingkingness
2. Gevurah - Justice and Discipline
3. Tiferet - Harmony, Compassion
4. Netzach - Endurance
5. Hod - Humility
6. Y'sod - Bonding
7. Mallchut - Sovereignty, Leadership
Each week during the Omer, we take one Divine Attribute and we connect it in turn each day to each of the other Attributes. WE also take a bit of nature to connect to these Attributes. We begin tomorrow night with the Moon, watching it diminish in size and brightness, and as we watch the natural cycle of the Moon, we connect it to the first of the seven Divine Attributes, Chesed, or Lovingkindness. Although the size of the Moon may appear to us to be diminishing, in fact, it does not change, just our perception of it, due to its illumination by the Sun, makes it appear to diminish. But we are headed toward Rosh Chodesh, the New Moon, and in Judaism, the new month, and so, as we think of Lovingkindness / Lovingkindness, let us feel the love G!d feels for us, let us allow that sense of being loved to grow over this week, and let us make that sense of G!d's love manifest in the world to a greater and greater degree through how we interact with others, by being kind, sharing our knowledge and our wealth.
So, I invite you to choose a question, your own question, and count it - not down, but up - up from the Sea to the Mountain. I invite you to follow these posts, as I connect Earth to Omer, Earth to Torah. I will be on this journey with you, hopefully each night, but at least each week. On days I don't catch you, take the attribute of the week - this first week Chesed, Lovingkindness - and match it to the next attribute in the list, add in your question, and take a look at the natural world around you - this week the Moon, and then put it all together in your heart and your mind and your soul.
May you find yourself journeying from enslavement to freedom, and may that journey give you the strength to walk beside others and support them as they, too, journey toward greater freedom.
Chag Sameach - Happy Passover
With best wishes to all!
Katy
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