Mishpatim – Exodus 21:1 – 24:18

Feb 7 to Feb 13, 2021 | 24 Shevat 5781

In Unison with the Will of G’d

All that YHWH has spoken, naaseh v’nishma.

– Exodus 24:7

What do the words naaseh v’nishma mean? Na’aseh simply translates to: “We will do.” It is about action, behavior, deed. The Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai collectively pledge to follow G-d’s mishpatim – laws and regulations. Using the pronoun “we” instead of “I” shows that they were acting together as a family, another meaning of the name of this parsha Mishpatim.

And the word nishma? According to Rabbi Jonathan Sacks who served as the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations in the UK, the word nishma has several interpretations:

It could mean “We will hear.” But it could also mean, “We will obey.” Or it could mean “We will understand.”

This suggests that more than one interpretation of the lofty commitment “naaseh v’nishma” are valid. Listen to how Rabbi Sacks applies these alternative views to our lives:

First Do, Then Ascend

One viewpoint that brings together all three possible meanings of the word nishma is that doing precedes the ability to ascend. First DO, then we will be attuned to receive through hearing and understanding. First DO, then we can build our internal relationship with the Almighty, now and in the future.

Step One: Correct oneself, one’s behavior toward others, and attitude toward G’d.

Among all of our senses, it is not seeing but hearing which is the most subtle sense to apprehend vibration. After receiving the laws of relationship, G’d calls upon Moshe to ascend Mount Sinai to receive the Torah carved in stone: from hearing, the most subtle sense, to touch, the most dense.

Reflection: As a Sufi practitioners, we are told to set speculation aside and rely on EXPERIENCE. By doing practices, prayer, and acts of kindness we develop the inner life. When has learning by DOING lead to greater receptivity, understanding and alignment in your life?

The Art of Relationships

Now it will be that when he cries out to me,

I will hearken,

for a Compassionate-One am I!

– Exodus 22:26

As above, so below. First we make ourselves right, then we can create a dwelling place for G’d. In the parsha Mispatim, the guidelines for how we relate with G’d, ourselves and others arise out of the fundamental principle of Torah. As Rabbi Akiva intoned while standing on one foot: “to love thy neighbor as thyself.”

At the core of the legal pronouncements is to protect the powerless:

You yourselves know well the feelings of the sojourner

for sojourners were you in the land of Egypt.

– Exodus 23:9

Two Worlds

Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing a young rabbi passionate about learning how to apply the secrets of Kabbalah to daily life. On Tuesday, you’ll get to hear the podcast with Rabbi Mendel Brackman. In the meantime, his insights are wonderfully applicable to the parsha Mishpatim.

As Rabbi Mendel tells us: Every world has two dimensions: the source of G’dly Light and what Light manifests into — Kelim, or Vessels. When Light first came into the Void, the world of Tohu, the Vessels shattered. This “breaking of the vessels,” gave birth to Tikun, meaning repair. In the world of Tikun, Vessel and Light can interact harmoniously with each other.

• Tohu – the Void
• Tikun – the world of Emanation

What is Tohu lacking? Unable to find harmony between Light and Vessel, passion overpowers the identity of Tohu. In contrast, Tikun shares its power with the world around it, creating harmony. Without the covenant between Man and G’d that contains the laws of how to relate with the world around us – with fairness, consideration, and a gentle spirit — the passions of selfhood would be far more likely to shatter the life around us. 

Today we just have to look at the news to witness the lawlessness and heartbreak of the world we live in. We seem to be edging ever more closely to the wild, wild West of Rousseau in the absence of a social contract aimed at maintaining the common good. But in this story, our contract is a Covenant with G’d.

These two worlds of Tohu and Tikun give rise to two paths of awakening – self-realization and self-transcendence.

• Self-realization – Tohu, passion that can inspire and yet overwhelm all else
• Self-transcendence – Tikun, which brings a higher energy into our lives

Same now as during the time of Exodus, these two worlds operate in ourselves and in the world around us. Exploring the balance between doing for ourselves and doing for others, Rabbi Mendel discusses the pursuits of personal development and dedicated service to make the world a more beautiful place.

Secrets of the Story

As in life, we can focus on the story — or on the archetypal meaning that underlies the story. Torah’s ancient stories continue reveal how we human beings can move toward harmony within our own hearts and in relation to others. 

The unity of Torah provides a pathway to the Almighty, to the One-Being-That-Is. By studying Kabbalah, we can translate the underlying truths of Torah into our lives. By doing kind service – Teshuva – we can make our contribution to repair and elevate what is around us.

This week we will choose practices that direct us toward doing and understanding in order to contribute to the transformation of our world. This rapid evolution of mankind is happening whether we participate or not. Through breath, light and sound we can create an avenue to tune ourselves with the Infinite and harmonize with the rhythms of this life. This beautiful, chaotic, ever changing, all-pervading Life.

Photography by Glenn Sackett

WEEKLY PRACTICES: Doing and Understanding

The Soul Manifestation Process awakens us to the present in the fullness of our being. This gentle, embodied awareness allows the heart to begin to heal its wounds and unify the broken shards of separation. This week, we will work with breath infused with light and sound to develop our pathways for loving G’d, self and neighbor.

Suggestion: Do one practice a day, or do all 6 consecutively. Remember… have your Journal nearby to jot down any insights that may arise.

Audio Recording – Coming Soon

BREATH

Let’s continue from last week with a breathing practice designed to awaken our hearts to Divine Love. Sit comfortably, with back straight but not stiff. Close your eyes. Relax your arms. Relax your jaw. Relax your tongue. Bring your chin slightly back and down so that your head is balanced on your neck, as needed. With a little practice, you can feel this sweet spot.

Now close your eyes. In this relaxed stillness, witness your inhale and exhale. Without changing anything, just notice the swing of your breath, in and out.

Next, focus on your heart center in the middle of your chest at the hight of your physical heart. With a gentle, indrawn breath, what do you feel? On the exhale, feel your heart radiating light. Notice how far the light of your heart extends. Inhale and witness the qualities of your heart; exhale and radiate your light outward. Stay with this breath for a few minutes, keeping the inhale and exhale even. After awhile, you’ll feel your heart beating. Inhale for 4 heartbeats; exhale for 4 heartbeats. Inhale receiving life and exhale bestowing light.

With your attention on receiving and bestowing, do you feel the stillness? What do you feel? When you are ready, return to your normal breath and open your eyes.

CONTEMPLATION

In this sacred atmosphere, contemplate these words drawn from this week’s parsha and from the Sufi master Hazrat Inayat Khan:

LIGHT

With eyes closed, breathe in and out gently through the nose. Balance your inhale with your exhale. Keep your body still. As with the practice on breath, focus on your heart center. Visualize emerald green light. Breathe in emerald light, exhale emerald light for 5 breaths.

Continuing to breath emerald light in through your heart center, exhale whispering, “Toward the One.” As you inhale, remain receptive and open to what comes. Stay with this concentration as long as you can peacefully, comfortably maintain it.

When you are ready, open your eyes and breathe naturally. Witness your experience of this practice. Do you feel the “greening” of your heart? What qualities arise?

SOUND

The 99 Beautiful Names of Allah carry a sound code with the capacity to quiet our minds and open our hearts to Truth beyond concept. Through repetition, focus and intent, layers of meaning of the Name will be revealed to you.

Ya Jabbar (yaa jab-BAAR) is an expression of divine power that allows you to accomplish things or to act in the world. It is a healing strength. Ya ‘Azim (yaa ‘a-ḌḤEEM) actualizes the divine presence: to embody the divine presence completely, right into our bones. (Source: Physicians of the Heart by Pir Shabda Khan).

We recite  Ya Jabbar, Ya ‘Azim 33 times.

• Inhale: Ya Jabbar
• Exhale: Ya ‘Azim

Afterwards, let the sound of this practice reverberate in your being. Note how you feel. What insights arise?

ZIKR

Meaning “remembrance”, Zikr is the repetition of a sacred phrase with the intention of returning to the essence of Unity. Similarly, in Hebrew Zakar means to remember, recall, or call to mind. Today we will offer Zakar in Hebrew and Zikr in Arabic. Simply click on the tab labeled “Zakar” or “Zikr”.

NATURE

This week as you take time to walk in nature, notice your life-giving breath. Can you coordinate your footsteps with the rhythm of your breath? Pay attention do the play of light. Where do you glimpse the color emerald green in nature? What shades of green does the winter light reveal?

To be guided in two more nature practices – the Medicine Walk and the 360 Listening Practice – please enjoy the podcast with Maria Rosa Galter: Answering Our Soul’s Longing to Connect in All Dimensions.

Shabbat Shalom!

After 6 days of practice, when Shabbat arrives, observe how this week’s practices shape your Shabbat experience. Be sure to check in Sunday morning for next week’s parsha.

You are invited to comment on how the contemplations and practices for this week have shaped your experience of daily life… any big Ah-ha’s? Please share your thoughts and feelings below.

חַיִּים
L’Hayyim…. To Life!

Yitro – Exodus 18:1 – 20:23

Jan 31 to Feb 6, 2021 | 24 Shevat 5781

Photography by Glenn Sackett

10 Words Pointing Our Compass Toward LOVE

Indeed, all the earth is mine,

but you, you shall be to me

a kingdom of priests,

a holy nation.

– Exodus 19:5-6

“As Viewed, So Appears.” These words of Padma Sambhava, the 9th century Tibetan Buddhist, capture the dimensionality of this week’s parsha. Yitro explores the self from different vantage points: How G’d sees us, how Moses sees us, and how we see ourselves. The essence is Love.

Yitro, the first unique word of this week’s parsha, refers to Jethro, Moshe’s father-in-law. Joining them at their encampment in the Sinai Wilderness, Yitro is concerned that Moshe will become worn out from meeting the daily demands of the Israelites. He advises Moshe to appoint a hierarchy of judges to assist him in the task of governing his people.

Later when Moshe tells the Children of Israel that G’d has chosen them to be a “kingdom of priests” and a “holy nation,” they no longer doubt. They proclaim:

All that G‑d has spoken, we shall do.

– Exodus 19:8

Yitro’s Addition

Yitro means “his addition.” What does Yitro add to Torah? A convert to the Nation of Israel, Yitro views the multitudes differently than does Moshe. He can see their every-day selves, as individuals with an overwhelming number of petty concerns. Wisely, he advises Moshe to teach Torah’s laws and preside over the major judgements, but to leave the vast array of legal matters to a hierarchy of judges.

You have the vision to select men from all the people,

men of caliber, holding G’d in Awe, men of truth, hating gain.

… Every great matter they shall bring before you
but every small matter they should judge for themselves.

– Exodus 18:20 – 22

Seven weeks after the Exodus, the new nation assembles at the foot of Mount Sinai for the Giving of Torah. Amidst thunder, lightning, billows of smoke and the blast of the shofar, G’d appears on the mountain and summons Moshe to ascend. So that all can hear, G’d reveals the ethical code that points our compass toward YHWH.

The purpose is to create an ethical society — to love G’d and to love each other as ourselves. Although the Hebrew phrase eseret ha-devarim translates as the “10 Words” (Exodus 34:28), it’s reasonable to refer to them as “Commandments” because they are given to us by G’d.

Which Self?

Just as Yitro sees the Israelites in a different light than does Moshe, likewise, Moshe sees them differently than they see themselves. After hearing G’d speak directly to them, the people cry out to Moses.Hearing G-d’s voice is too terrifying for them to bear. They beg him to receive the Torah from G’d and convey it to them.

They said to Moshe:

You speak with us, and we will harken,

but let not G’d speak with us, lest we die.

– Exodus 20: 16

What’s going on here? We are witnessing the contrast of one’s temporal self and eternal being. Moshe sees them as transcendent in their capacity to receive G-d’s Words directly. But they are not ready. They see themselves from their ordinary, temporal perspective.

And how does G’d respond? Agreeing with his people, G’d tells Moshe to teach his people all that G’d instructs.

YHWH said to Moshe:

Say thus to the Children of Israel;

You yourself have seen

that it was from the heavens that I spoke with you.

From this point forward, G’d gives the Laws of the Covenant to Moshe to instruct the Israelites. For more insight into how we see ourselves vs. our true self, visit this Chabad article, Jethro’s Plan.

Alchemical Arch: Where Are We Now?

We have risen beyond doubt, purified ourselves, and have begun to ready ourselves to receive. In the Alchemical process, this represents Stage 2 in the Minor Mysteries. Continuing with the discussion begun in the Parsha Bo:

Stage 1: Separation

The contrast of one’s temporal self and eternal being culminates in the annihilation of the false ego.

• The Israelites accept the Covenant with YHWH and pledge to do all that G’d commands

Photography by Glenn Sackett

Living in the Land of Love Only

True happiness is in the love-stream that springs from one’s soul, and the one who will allow this stream to flow continually, in all conditions of life, in all situations, however difficult, will have a happiness that truly belongs to them.

– Sayings of Hazrat Inayat Khan, Gayan: Song, Chalas

This week we will choose practices that direct us toward Love. Through breath, light and sound we will tune ourselves with the Infinite and harmonize with the rhythms of this life. This beautiful, chaotic, ever changing, all-pervading Life.

Photography by Glenn Sackett

WEEKLY PRACTICES: Compass Toward LOVE

The Soul Manifestation Process awakens us to the present in the fullness of our being. This gentle, embodied awareness allows the heart to begin to heal its wounds and unify the broken shards of separation. This week, we will work with breath infused with light and sound to point our compass toward LOVE.

Suggestion: Do one practice a day, or do all 6 consecutively. Remember… have your Journal nearby to jot down any insights that may arise.

Audio Recording – Coming Soon

BREATH

Let’s begin with a breathing practice designed to awaken our hearts to Divine Love. Sit comfortably, with back straight but not stiff. Close your eyes. Relax your arms. Relax your jaw. Relax your tongue. Bring your chin slightly back and down so that your head is balanced on your neck, as needed. With a little practice, you can feel this sweet spot.

Now close your eyes. In this relaxed stillness, witness your inhale and exhale. Without changing anything, just notice the swing of your breath, in and out.

Next, focus on your heart center in the middle of your chest at the hight of your physical heart. With a gentle, indrawn breath, what do you feel? On the exhale, feel your heart radiating light. Notice how far the light of your heart extends. Inhale and witness the qualities of your heart; exhale and radiate your light outward. Stay with this breath for a few minutes, keeping the inhale and exhale even. After awhile, you’ll feel your heart beating. Inhale for 4 heartbeats; exhale for 4 heartbeats. Inhale receiving life and exhale bestowing light.

With your attention on receiving and bestowing, do you feel the stillness? What do you feel? When you are ready, return to your normal breath and open your eyes.

CONTEMPLATION

In this sacred atmosphere, contemplate these words drawn from this week’s parsha and from the Sufi master Hazrat Inayat Khan:

LIGHT

With eyes closed, breathe in and out gently through the nose. Balance your inhale with your exhale. Keep your body still. As with the practice on breaath, focus on your heart center. Visualize emerald green light. Breathe in emerald light, exhale emerald light for 5 breaths.

Continuing to breath emerald light in through your heart center, exhale whispering, “Toward the One.” As you inhale, remain receptive and open to what comes. Stay with this concentration as long as you can peacefully, comfortably maintain it.

When you are ready, open your eyes and breathe naturally. Witness your experience of this practice. Do you feel the “greening” of your heart? What qualities arise?

SOUND

The 99 Beautiful Names of Allah carry a sound code with the capacity to quiet our minds and open our hearts to Truth beyond concept. Through repetition, focus and intent, layers of meaning of the Name will be revealed to you.

Curious to know more about how sound becomes sacred language? Listen and receive a hint about the Mystic Sound:

This week’s parsha Yitro invites us to consider the eternal nature of our true self. We are being reminded in whom we live and breathe and have our being.

To open the windows of the heart, we will practice the phrase, “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim.” Bismillah literally means “I yearn for the protection in the Name Allah.” Its deeper meaning can be expressed as, “In saying bismillah, I invoke the actualization, the presence, of Allah.”

The first act of creation is sound vibration (In the beginning, G’d said…) The root of Bismillah, “bism” means sound. We begin in sound (Source: Physicians of the Heart by Pir Shabda Khan).

Note: Allah is the Arabic word for G’d, whether a person’s religion is Christian, Muslim or Jew.

Ar-Rahman is endless love: the infinite, unconditional reality of Love. Ar-Rahim is the embodiment of this Love which flows from the Infinite.

We recite Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim 33 times. To keep your focus out of your head and into your heart, you may find it helpful to put your right hand over your heart. And when you say Bismillah, slightly bow to greet and invoke the presence of Love. 

Afterwards, let the sound of this practice reverberate in your being. Note how you feel.

Anchor this awareness in your body by pressing together the thumb and ring finger of your right hand. While moving through your life, when you wish to awaken in Love do this: with a gentle in-drawn breath, press your thumb and ring finger together. Think-feel Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim.

ZIKR

Meaning “remembrance”, Zikr is the repetition of a sacred phrase with the intention of returning to the essence of Unity. Similarly, in Hebrew Zakar means to remember, recall, or call to mind. Today we will offer Zakar in Hebrew and Zikr in Arabic. Simply click on the tab labeled “Zakar” or “Zikr”.

NATURE

This week as you take time to walk in nature, notice your life-giving breath. Can you coordinate your footsteps with the rhythm of your breath? Pay attention do the play of light. Where do you glimpse the color emerald green in nature? What shades of green does the winter light reveal?

To be guided in two more nature practices – the Medicine Walk and the 360 Listening Practice – please listen to the podcast with Maria Rosa Galter: Answering Our Soul’s Longing to Connect in All Dimensions.

Shabbat Shalom!

After 6 days of practice, when Shabbat arrives, observe how this week’s practices shape your Shabbat experience. Be sure to check in Sunday morning for next week’s parsha.

You are invited to comment on how the contemplations and practices for this week have shaped your experience of daily life… any big Ah-ha’s? Please share your thoughts and feelings below.

חַיִּים
L’Hayyim…. To Life!

Beshalach – Exodus 13:17 – 17:16

Jan 24 to 30, 2021 | 17 Shevat 5781

Zachor: Remember

And you shall know that I am YHWH your G’d.

– Exodus 16:12

Beshalach, the first unique word of this week’s parsha, means “when (Pharaoh) let go.” With the power of G’d, Moses leads his people safely through the Sea of Reeds, provides sweet water and food in the form of manna and quail, and establishes Shabbat. When the army of Amalek attacks the Israelites in the narrow straits of Redifim, Moses prevails. How then could the Children of Israel question, “Is G’d with us or not?”

In a word, doubt. Doubt is the enemy that lurks in the rational mind and sets the conditions for Amalek to attack. Just as the neck separates the head from the heart, in the narrow straits of Redifim the battle between doubt and faith is fought; this time the Israelites prevail.

Despite all the assurances of YHWH, three times the Israelites are caught in the narrow straits of doubt:

Doubt at the Sea of Reeds when Pharaoh’s army marches toward them:

Indeed, better for us serving Egypt
than our dying in the wilderness!

– Exodus 14:12

Doubt in the wilderness when they are hungry:

Would that we had died by the hand of YHWH in Egypt… than death by starvation.

– Exodus 16:3

Doubt when encamped at Refidim where they have no water to drink:

For what reason did you bring us up from Egypt,
To bring death to me, to my children and to my livestock by thirst?

– Exodus 17:3

In this way, the Israelites repeatedly test YHWH’s presence and Moses’ patience. With their internal compass pointed toward doubt rather than faith, the battle with Amalek ensues. Prevailing, Moses builds a slaughter-site and names it: YHWH My Banner. Moses says:

Yes,
Hand on YAH’s throne!
War for YHWH against Amalek
Generation after generation!

– Exodus 17:15-16

Who is Amalek?

Amalek is apathy, cynicism and senseless doubt. And what antidote does Torah provide? The answer is expressed in a single word:

Zachor: Remember

From Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi: Faith is not something that must be attained; it need only be revealed, for it is woven into the very fabric of the soul’s essence. Faith transcends reason. Unlike the perceptions of reason, which are defined and limited by the finite nature of the human mind, through faith one connects with the infinite truth of G’d in totality.

Reflection: There is faith in G’d; and there is faith in ourselves to overcome obstacles toward happiness and fulfillment of our purpose for coming to earth. A purpose that exceeds the boundaries of our individuated selves. A purpose that serves others. Take a moment to gauge the quality of Imam – faith – you hold in this regard.

Point Your Internal Compass Toward Faith

As human beings, we determine our attitude. We get to choose our North Star. When pointed toward doubt, then doubt appears beyond every bend in the road, behind every trunk, beneath every rock. When we choose to hold faith in G’d, faith in our neighbor, faith in ourselves, then the door to real possibility opens.

In times like these, what helps you to draw from the well of your soul’s reserves of faith? Our faith in G’d and in our purposeful selves can get buried under “a mass of mundane involvements and entanglements”. What brings you into remembrance of that inborn faith which can meet our every challenge?

The Sufi mystic Hazrat Inayat Khan illuminates this question. Quoting from his book Healing And The Mind World:

Faith is so sacred that it cannot be imparted, it must be discovered within oneself; but there is no one in the world who is without faith, it is only covered up. And what covers it? A kind of pessimistic outlook on life.

And from the Bowl of Saki:

The soul brings its light from Heaven; the mind acquires its knowledge from earth. Therefore, when the soul believes readily, the mind may still doubt.

Reflection: We have a saying, “Take me from the unreal to the real.” When I find myself caught up in the involvements and entanglements of life, when pessimism toward fulfilling my purpose creeps in, I repeat this thought: Take me from the unreal to the real. And with a gentle indrawn breath I remember,

Breath is G’d.

G’d is breath.

Chesed and Gevurah

Kabbalah teaches us to balance loving kindness (Chesed) with discernement (Gevurah). From this union arises beauty, clarity, mercy (Tiferet). Thus, when offering loving kindness and compassion, remember your inner assignment is to be bold. Meaning, when you put your heart and soul into your purpose, you can do anything.

Reflection: When we meet external or internal resistance to inner guidance, our most fruitful response is resilience: to go forward. May you find direction with these words on the meaning of parsha Beshalach: Chabad, The Four Factions:

(1) Not to escape reality, (2) not to submit to it, (3) not to wage war on it, (4) not to deal with it only on a spiritual level, but to go forward. Do another mitzvah, ignite another soul, take one more step toward your goal. Pharaoh’s charioteers are breathing down your neck? A cold and impregnable sea bars your path? Don’t look up; look forward. See that mountain? Move toward it.

The Ever-Present-Eternal doesn’t depend on anything. Beyond any concept, no beginning no end, now and now and now. This week we will practice the Art of Remembrance. Through breath, light and sound we will tune ourselves with the Infinite and harmonize with the rhythms of this life. This beautiful, chaotic, ever changing, all-pervading Life.

WEEKLY PRACTICES: Remembrance

The Soul Manifestation Process awakens us to the present in the fullness of our being. This gentle, embodied awareness allows the heart to begin to heal its wounds and unify the broken shards of separation. This week, we will work with breath infused with light and sound to remember the home of our soul.

Suggestion: Do one practice a day, or do all 6 consecutively. Remember… have your Journal nearby to jot down any insights that may arise.

Audio Recording – Coming Soon

BREATH

Let’s begin with a simple breathing practice, one designed to integrate mind and body. Sit comfortably, with back straight but not stiff. Close your eyes. Relax your arms. Relax your jaw. Relax your tongue. Bring your chin slightly back and down so that your head is balanced on your neck, as needed. With a little practice, you can feel this sweet spot.

Now close your eyes. In this relaxed stillness, witness your inhale and exhale. Without changing anything, just notice the swing of your breath, in and out. Instead of thinking, “this is my breath,” realize “this is the breath.” All life breathes the same breath. Without breath, the body can no longer contain life. 

Let your exhale extend far and wide, beyond the confines of your body, your room, your neighborhood, community, city, state, country… extend, extend on the exhale. Inhale gently through your heart center, recollecting your location in time and space. When you are established in this expansive, rhythmic breath, add the following:

• On the inhale think, “Toward the One.”
• On the exhale think, “United with All.”

Explore and enjoy this expansion and contraction. All is well. When you are ready, return to your normal breath and open your eyes.

CONTEMPLATION

In this sacred atmosphere, contemplate these words drawn from this week’s parsha and from the Sufi master Hazrat Inayat Khan:

LIGHT

With eyes closed, breathe in and out gently through the nose. Balance your inhale with your exhale. Keep your body still.

Next, focus on your heart center in the center of your chest. Visualize clear yellow light. Breathe in yellow light, exhale yellow light for 5 breaths.

Now focus on your third eye, slightly above and between the eyebrows. Visualize deep blue light filling your forehead. Breathe in deep blue light, exhale deep blue light for 5 breaths.

Now breathe clear yellow light in through your heart center, thinking, “Toward the One.” Exhale through your forehead thinking, “United with All.” Stay with this concentration as long as you can peacefully, comfortably maintain it.

When you are ready, open your eyes and breathe naturally. What is your experience of this practice? Do you feel the unity of heart and mind, despite the narrow strait of the neck?

SOUND

This week’s parsha Beshalach teaches us to remember. Doubt arrises from a feeling of separation. To overcome this difficult state of mind, simply remember in whom you live and breathe and have your being.

Curious to know more about how sound becomes sacred language? Listen and receive a hint about the Mystic Sound:

The 99 Beautiful Names of Allah carry a sound code with the capacity to quiet our minds and open our hearts to Truth beyond concept. Through repetition, focus and intent, layers of meaning of the Name will be revealed to you.

To dispel all doubt, we remember the longing of the soul to return to its source. In Quran G’d says: “Remember me, and I will remember you.”

O Protector is Ya Hafiz (yaa ḥa-FEEḌḤ). We pair that with Ya Wakil (yaa wa-KEEL). Here we are relying on God entirely, because only God is worthy of complete trust in every affair (Source: Physicians of the Heart by Pir Shabda Khan).

We recite Ya Wakil on the inhale and Ya Hafiz on the exhale:

Inhale: Ya Wakil

Exhale: Ya Hafiz

With your eyes closed, focus on your breath. Feel your chest and abdomen expanding and contracting. Rhythmically inhale and exhale, softly repeating these names out loud 33 times.

Afterwards, let the sound of this practice reverberate in your being. Note how you feel.

Anchor this awareness in your body by pressing together the thumb and ring finger of your left hand. While moving through your life, when you wish to return to remembrance do this: with a gentle in-drawn breath, press your thumb and ring finger together. Inhale ya Wakil, exhale ya Hafiz.

ZIKR

Meaning “remembrance”, Zikr is the repetition of a sacred phrase with the intention of returning to the essence of Unity. Similarly, in Hebrew Zakar means to remember. Today we will introduce Zikr in Arabic. Simply click on the tab labeled “Zikr”. 

NATURE

This week as you take time to walk in nature, notice your life-giving breath. Can you coordinate your footsteps with the rhythm of your breath? Pay attention do the play of light. Where do you glimpse the color blue in nature? Where do you see yellow? Blue and yellow give rise to green. What shades of green does the winter light reveal?

For a communion with nature that delightfully engages us in the play of shadow and light, please listen to the podcast with Heart Whisperer Jennifer Reeve.

Shabbat Shalom!

After 6 days of practice, when Shabbat arrives, observe how this week’s practices shape your Shabbat experience. Be sure to check in Sunday morning for next week’s parsha.

You are invited to comment on how the contemplations and practices for this week have shaped your experience of daily life… any big Ah-ha’s? Please share your thoughts and feelings below.

חַיִּים
L’Hayyim…. To Life!