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HIGH HOLY DAYS

Teachings and Musings

There are mystics, past and present; who understand how to attune their bodies and lives with the spiraling potency of the universe. Mystical teachings and practices from classical Kabbalistic traditions offer sacred technology to help move us through all stages of psycho-spiritual development. When we study and worship together in loving inquiry, the deep secrets reveal themselves and resonate though our lives. When we access these states regularly in spiritual community, we are not merely accessing transient higher states, but stabilizing them into our lives and relationships. 

T'shuvah; Return to Source

Every year at this time tradition invites us to journey inward – to do the important spiritual work of T'shuvah;  re-turning to Source.  We take measureof our lives to discern what is good and to release or change what is not.

 Death and Rebirth are ongoing themes,especially during these Holy Days.  The familiar words 'Who will live and who will die?' can be received as a call for us to reflect on our own habits. What is useful and should live on? Have our habits become rote and no longer applicable? Does the challenge that created a specific habit no longer exist? What needs be released andallowed to die?

 Individually and as a community, our journey will be an intimate one of discernment and release.  Internal space will be created.  New dreams, habits and practices will beallowed to manifest.  Together, the HighHolidays will be an opportunity to co-create the world for the upcoming year.

 Our journey begins now as we look tothe heavens. This is the month of Elul -  symbolized by the symbol of Virgo. During Elul we are graced by the feminine presence of Virgo. She is theDivine aspect that rules this month.  Thepotency of the Divine Heavenly Mother can help discern what is truly"good" from the illusion of what seems to be "good".   "Matzah Eeshah Matzah Tov; Find a womanand you find Goodness." Proverbs 18:22. That is to say, when you "Find a woman", Virgo in the heavens"you find Goodness", the ability to discern truth from illusion. (Bnay Yisaskhar Elul1)

 "Elul" is also an acronym for the Biblical phrase, Ani L'dodi V'Dodi Li - "I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine."  (Shir haShirim 2:16) This illustrates the deep love between The Holy One of Blessing and the people that surfaces during this timeof the year.  As in the Song of Songs,the nature of Elul is one of Spiritual Intimacy.  It is a sweet opportunity for inner work inpreparation for the New Year.

In Elul,"The Ruler is in the field." (Shabbat 63a) Before "entering the city" the community receives the Ruler in the fields outside the city. At that time, anyone who sodesires  may meet and greet The Ruler forcoaching, reflection and adjustment.  Through these metphors, our Sages hint that the Holy Presence is around and available duringthe month before the HIGH HOLY DAY's.

 A practice, in preparation for the High Holiday work of T'shuvah, is to consider and reflect upon one's persona lKavanah - Intention.  Kavanah is a synthesizer that directs feeling and action.   When our focus is set to shift Kavvanah rather than a specific action, then multiple actions are impacted.   The specific actions shift naturally as a consequence of a shift in kavvanah.

For example – It is one thing to decide to give up the act ofeating chocolate ice cream, and much deeper and effective to hold theconsciousness and intention of eating healthful foods.  What Kavvanah drives your feelings andactions? What shift in kavanah will serve better?  Realignment of Kavvanah is a most effectivemethod of T'shuvah.

 Elul is anopportunity for the inner work of soul accounting in preparation for the NewYear.  Rosh HaShanah; the new year begins with the new month Tishray; designated by the Libra scales.  It is a time of weighing in and balancing. May we all be blessed to find the balance, harmony and compassion we seek thisyear. May it be The Will
More 5770 Elul Musings
 
Elul  is the lunar cycle connected to Virgo.  During  Elul  we are graced by The feminine presence of Virgo. She is the Divine aspect that rules this month.  The potency of the Divine Heavenly Mother is available to help discern what is truly "good" from the  illusion of what seems to be good.   "Matzah Eeshah Matzah Tov; Find a woman and you find Goodness." Proverbs 18:22 That is to say, when you "Find a woman" Virgo in the heavens "you find Goodness."  The ability to discern truth from illusion.

In Elul, "The Ruler is in the field."  Before "entering the city"* the inhabitants receive the Ruler in the fields outside the city.** At that time, anyone who so desires  may meet and greet The The Ruler. This is informal time for coaching, reflection and  adjustment.

An aspect to consider is Kavanah; Intention (Binah;: Understanding).  We seek to alter intention - Kavvanah, rather than specific actions.  Kavvanah directs feeling and action. When we set our focus to shifting a Kavvanah rather than a specific action, then multiple feelings and actions are impacted.   The specific actions can shift naturally as a consequence. Realignment of Kavvanah; Intention is a most effective method of T'shuvah. (from Sefer Bnay Yiasakhar Elul 1)

Elul is an opportunity for inner work in preparation for the  New Year; which begins on the following New Moon; Rosh Hashanah (September 8th).  This lunar cycle, Tishray, is influenced by Libra's scales to weigh in the good. 

5669 MEETING Elul; Virgo AND THE HIGH HOLY DAYS; Tishray; Libra Scales

Counting forward forty days brings us to the 25th day of Elul. Since Rosh Hashanah is the day humans were created, counting back we find that this day is "day one" of creation. Forty is a number associated with transformation.�� The gestation, as it were, of transformation and Tshuvah begin at this time. Tshuvah cycle is birthed on this day. By the time Elul arrives Tshuvah; return time is ripe and ready to transform.

It is a beginning of Tshuvah and preparing for the judgement of the high Holy days. The Shabbat following Tisha b'Av is called the Shabbat of comfort Shabbat nahamu. Av them melts into Elul; Virgo. Elul calls for T'shuva; return. T'shuvah prepares us for the days of awe coming in Tishray - libra's scales.

An opportunity for transformation each and every year exists. The process is beginning right now quietly and with subtlety. It is time to start asking, "How will I change this next year."

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Summer Heat

An opportunity for transformation each and every year exists. The process is beginning right now quietly and with subtlety. It is time to start asking, "How will I change this next year."

Tammuz-Av; Corresponding to Cancer and Leo on the Zodiac in Jewish Tradition.

Beyn Hamaytzarim; between the tight and narrow places refers to the days between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av;  It is important because it marks the time of the capture of Yerushalayim which culminated with the destruction of the Beyt Hamikdash; Holy Temple. It marks the end of Judaism's first era when Temple sacrifices served as the dominant vehicle to the Divine.

WhenTisha b'Av rolls in. It is honored by tradition through reading the book of Lamentations and fasting. Loss is commemorated by mourning and random behavior. Some turn their furniture upside down deconstructing the space they live in. Others wait till later in the day to lay t'fillin.Some sit and quake until the day is over. All bets are off.This reflects the randomness and uncertainty experienced by destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the resulting ramifications to the Jewish community at that time. Every year at this time, we have a chance to meet this klipah (tough shell that hides light) and find the Divine Spark in it for us.

Hassidic traditions see this deconstruction as creating space. Big space, enough space for The Divine Presence to permeate all of creation.(Moshiah).Just like a rubber band pulled back really far, when released, has great potency and power to move forward, so too the destruction and perceived distance from the Divine propels a move toward unity and integration. The distance invokes yearning.

Imagine Divine Presence on Earth. What it would be like for us all to get along, love one another and wish each other well. A world where "May God Bless everyone, no exceptions" be held as a dominant kavvanah.

When we imagine this reality, we can begin to feel it. When we feel it, it begins to trickle in and change can begin.A path is started.(To manifest this change need be cared for and nourished.)Similarly, The Ari z"l taught that before creation, came tzim tzum; the creation of space. Only after the space was created could creation manifest within it.

This is a true practice in many mystical traditions. At the beginning, with a process is moving forward in a given direction and following a path. Only after this process is deconstructed, either through choice or circumstance and can an enhanced reconstruction take place. Construction is preceded by deconstruction.

Beyn Hamaytzarim marks the annual deconstruction that precedes the Elul Tshuvah period. It is a call for Hakhna-ah - submission/capitulation. We are not in charge. What does Hashem want it to be?

Just as Temple Judaism transformed into Rabbinical Judaism, an opportunity exists during this to release losses or patterns and reintegrate that which is life sustaining and available.

The New moon of Tu b'Av brings a potent energy shift. The potential of a new reality is seeded. Tu b'Av is a Jewish Valentine's or Sadie Hawkins' day. According to tradition, on this unique day the tribes were allowed to intermarry. The edges that separate blurr. Courtship manifested in circles of maidens wearing white dancing in vineyards giving glances to potential suitors. The month of Av transforms into a time of courtship, joy and comfort.

Every year I anticipate this day with joy and anticipation. It is a direct entry way back into the arms of the Beloved.

Prayer

Prayer is the call of our hearts that activates the Creator's desire to be in relationship with us. Rabbi T'mimah's siddurim integrate a traditional liturgy, egalitarian translations that highlight Earth aware meanings and practices from schools of Classical Kabbalah, many in English translation for the first time. The more that desire is activated, the more vivid is our experience of The Divine Presence in our lives. Prayer books, siddurim, are carefully sequenced compilations of Judaism's best prayer practices. Classical Kabbalah offers a body of knowledge of how to use these prayer practices optimally aligning our movement through prayer with movement into known corresponding states of consciousness that serve as portals into Divine realms.

Rabbi T'mimah's siddurim integrate a traditional liturgy, egalitarian translations that highlight Earth aware meanings and practices from schools of Classical Kabbalah, many in English translation for the first time.