Count

THE BIG IDEA

We are in the final week of the 49 day spiritual cleanse from Passover to Shavuot, the week of spiritual mastery ( within the feminine posture of receiving), so expect intensity from within. 

Take time to consciously strengthen your ability to receive with generous, healthy boundaries, beauty and grace. 

Tuesday’s new moon gives us additional power for renewal, and propels us from the healing mode (Iyar) into the forward motion (Sivan) that will be required to integrate the powerful Torah Light (consciousness) that comes in on Saturday night (Shavuot). 

The Torah Omens also encourage us to continue the count.

According to the Torah Omens this is a favorable time to let bitterness rise up from within and commit yourself in divine service. Drink the alchemical waters of the Sotah (the woman accused of cheating on her husband) and let any jealousy (or the jealousy of others) surface. See what needs to be seen for what it is, and allow toxic thoughts to be put to rest. And then prepare yourself meticulously like the Nazir who gives his/her life in service, or an as one of the 12 tribal princes that ritually offer material possessions.  

Do your best to receive this shabbat’s explicit blessing,

יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ יְהֹוָ֖ה וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ׃       may the Source Energy of the Universe bless you and protect you!

יָאֵ֨ר יְהֹוָ֧ה ׀ פָּנָ֛יו אֵלֶ֖יךָ וִֽיחֻנֶּֽךָּ׃   may his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you!

יִשָּׂ֨א יְהֹוָ֤ה ׀ פָּנָיו֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְיָשֵׂ֥ם לְךָ֖ שָׁלֽוֹם׃    may he lift up His face upon you and grant you peace!

May we each do our best to pull the light (consciousness) available on Saturday night into the core of our being. May our prayers from Purim, Passover, and Shavuot night merit a new consciousness for the world and in our own lives; lives filled with more love, more light, more understanding, more patience, more compassion, more laughter, more fun, more growth through joy, more health, and a deeper, more soulful and heart centered Torah consciousness fill us and this entire planet. 

BTW - if you haven’t yet imagined what you want to create for yourself and the world - you still have a few days to go! 

JEALOUSY EXCERCISE

Take time this week to scan yourself for any hidden jealousies. This is essential energy to clear from your being — equal and opposite to someone that takes a vow to give their entire life to god (Nazir).

Are you a victim of senseless jealousy and looking for a way to clear yourself?

Do you actually have something to hide?

Are you the jealous one? Access the strength of your jealousy -would you be willing to shame someone publicly to find out the truth?

Take time this weekend to feel yourself on both sides of this pain.

As the woman that lives with a man jealous of her beauty, intelligence and capacity to attract attention in the world. Imagine yourself hated by your own husband (enough to subject you to public humiliation to prove your innocence). Imagine yourself taken to the center of town, with your hair exposed, forced to drink a cup of dirt that carries the only known curse in all of Torah. Imagine the high priest dripping the letters of God’s name into the water - and from there, connect to the deep inner knowing that if you are innocent, as only you know for sure if you are.

In your soul, you know what you deserve as you drink that cup. Feel that blessing or curse in the entirety of your being - regain your power to break free from the hold of the jealousy of an other.

Leave the scenario feeling publicly and privately cleared from any undeserved projection.

Then move through the same scenario as the jealous man, unable to control his jealous rage. Allow yourself to feel overtaken by jealousy (whatever your gender). Connect with the fire and the deep disturbance to your peace that comes with sexual suspicion, and run through the scenario of publicly shaming your partner and getting a direct answer. How far would you be willing to go to get the truth? How would you feel standing next to your partner as the entire community watched them drink a cup of curse (or blessing).

Leave the ritual with the inner peace that you aren’t forced to live with suspicion and jealousy forever, but that whatever the outcome, it must be processed through a ritual of shame*.

*your own shame if you are wrong.

May we come to live in a time of sexual loyalties and mutual respect between partners, always and forever.

Shabbat Shalom, Happy Shavuot, and good luck to us all.