Va’Yakhel/Pekudei.

The Big Idea

Allow yourself to bask in the last rays of this month’s special lunar energy.  The month of Adar contains within it the power of good fortune, revealed miracles, answered prayers and abundant joy.

The Torah omens urge us to awaken the wisdom of our heart, and offer an expression of gratitude. Allow time for artistic efforts and imaginations. Feel the active drawing closer of divinity - despite any earlier transgressions.

Continue to replenish your happiness reserves and clarify your vision for positive self (and collective) transformation before Sunday’s new moon.

DEEPER DIVE

This week marks the last two episodes in The Book of Names, Shemot, commonly known as The book of Exodus. This book follows a clan of immigrants flourishing in Egypt who become so mercilessly oppressed in slavery they cry out to their ancestral god for help. The story follows the response to their cry through a series of stunning supernatural interventions that liberate the people from both their oppressive situation, and constricted consciousness.

This direct intervention, which is commemorated until this day through the ritual of Passover, was the active fulfillment of a covenant made between this people’s ancestors, Abraham and Sarah (the first to understand the unification of all energy and matter) — and that energy of ONENESS itself (the Source Energy we commonly call God) . This Exodus is led by Moses, a prince turned prophet, that leads the people, under God’s guidance, to freedom. By the end of this book the descendants of Abraham and Sarah are saved from Egypt, the covenant is upheld, Torah consciousness is revealed in the form of two Stone Tablets, and Moses has gotten closer to divinity then anyone - ever.

However, the modern reader should take note of the difficulty in upholding an abstract notion of divinity. Even those touched directly by revealed miracles, like the splitting of the sea, struggled with the non-representation. It is perhaps for that reason, (and ones we likely cannot grasp), that the practice of the Sabbath is continually stressed as the foundational principle of Torah consciousness - as it is, once again, this week.

Without physical representation of God, the emphasis must be placed on an internal knowing of divine rhythm. Sabbath is the practice of revealed spiritual law. Six days of creation, Seventh day of rest. By merging one’s existence with spiritual law, meaning, 6 days work, one day spiritual replenishment, the tribe accesses a higher consciousness. A practice that is core to this faith.

The last 2 episodes of this book follow the efforts of those that survived the Golden Calf episode, (thanks to Moses’ choice to identify with the collective) and the people’s offerings in gold, silver, copper, fine fabrics and creative ability from their heart. We learn about Bezalel, an artist that was given divine skill and inspired direction on what exactly is needed in God’s Tent, and the rest of the tribe, both men and women, that offer so much, and so freely, Moses had to ask them to stop. 

And that is how this Book concludes, with _-_-_-_ taking his place amongst the people, and the nation not only forgiven, but then getting, also, what they wanted; The presence came down the mountain and took her place amongst them.

INNER WORK GUIDE

This week’s inner work is about receiving forgiveness and acceptance into your life. What happens when you are actually forgiven for a mistake and given a second chance? Can you accept it? Can you allow the offended to draw even closer? How do you make them feel welcome?

Try the following:

Step One: Imagine messing up BIG TIME and feeling the worst you have ever felt. 

Imagine the greatest prophet that ever lived, Moses, going up on a Mountain on your behalf and begging God directly to forgive you, and undo the consequence of whatever you did, and staying close to you always. And then imagine it works. You are totally forgiven on all levels and God wants to live by your side.

How does that feel?

Step Two: Imagine the same exercise but this time you are Moses.

Imagine walking up the mountain and asking God directly to forgive anything that was done in a cycle of pain, misunderstanding, self-denial or abuse - and to kindly release you/the world from any misfortune (and whatever else you want to ask for. Be specific.)

Does it feel differently to speak to divinity on your own behalf? Or do you prefer an expert doing it for you?

Step Three: Come back down the mountain allowing the divinity you encountered in Step 2 to follow you down. Keep walking up and down the mountain, until you reach your home and try to create a special place for that energy to dwell in your home or world.

Take notice of the moments or places in your meditation that the thought of divinity seems to fall away.

 Know that you can always go up the mountain again, reform that connection, and work to stay engaged as the sacred follows you down. Take notice of the places your mind judges or shuts out this exercise.
 

Real World Application:

Can you accept when you are forgiven, and when the offended sincerely draws close again?

What special space do you create for that new relationship to form?

——

Just some things to think about.

Wishing everyone a creatively overflowing week of divine self acceptance and holy manifestations.

with love,

hava