Meditation on Being Made in G!d's Image

 by Rabbi Katy Z. Allen

One in a series of meditations on selected Jewish prayers 

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁעָשַֽׂנִי בְּצַלְמו

Baruch atah Adonai Elohenu melch ha-olam sheh’ah’sa’nee b’tsalmo.

Blessed are You Eternal our G!d, Holy One of the universe who made me in your image.

Sh'asani b'tzalmo

Take a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Taking your time, recite the bracha to yourself, and as you say these words, envision millions of molecules of oxygen leaving the leaves of nearby trees and bushes and herbaceous plants coming into your body through your breath and entering your blood stream.

Continue breathing slowly, and envision millions of molecules of carbon dioxide leaving your body through each breath and entering the leaves of nearby trees and bushes and herbaceous plants.

Think back through the past night and day, 
the past weeks, and months, 
perhaps several years of breathing in and out, 

exchanging gases with the trees and bushes 

and herbaceous plants near you 
and know,

that in that time, every single atom, 

in ever nook and cranny of your body,
has been replaced.
You are totally new.

All the new atoms in your body 

came in through your breath,
and your eating,

all of them from the other living creatures 

around you.

You are new. 
Made from atoms from all the other living things 
and the non-living things 
around you.

Baruch atah Adonai, sh'asani b'tzalmo.

Blessed are You, Holy One, who made me in your image.