Song of Songs: Healing the Spirit, Transforming the Mind, Deepening Love

Song of Songs: Healing the Spirit, Transforming the Mind, Deepening Love

by | Nov 3, 2020 | Paradigm Refresh

Song of Songs: Healing the Spirit, Transforming the Mind, Deepening Love

by Debra Sofia with Rabbi Shefa Gold

Season 1, Episode 3 | 36 min

Author, composer and performer of spiritual music, Rabbi Shefa Gold teaches workshops and retreats on the theory and art of Chanting, Meditation, Devotional Healing and Spiritual Community-Building. Currently, she is the director of C-DEEP, The Center for Devotional, Energy and Ecstatic Practice in Jemez Springs, New Mexico.

A leader in ALEPH: The Alliance for Jewish Renewal, Rabbi Shefa received her ordination both from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and from Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. By combining her grounding in Judaism with a background in Buddhist, Christian, Islamic and Native American spiritual traditions, Rabbi Shefa serves as a spiritual bridge in celebrating the shared path of love and devotion.

Today we discuss her enchantment with The Song of Songs, which she experiences as an “Initiation onto the Path of Love”. We explore the story the Song of Songs tells and the power of healing and connection it offers.

 

Publications:

  • Torah Journeys: The Inner Path to the Promised Land
  • In the Fever of Love: An Illumination of The Song of Songs
  • The Magic of Hebrew Chant: Healing the Spirit, Transforming the Mind, Deepening Love
  • Ten albums with Hebrew Chanting
  • Liturgies for several new prayerbooks
Exploring Beauty and Resilience with Nature and in All Our Relations

Exploring Beauty and Resilience with Nature and in All Our Relations

by | Oct 27, 2020 | Paradigm Refresh

Exploring Beauty and Resilience with Nature and in All Our Relations

by Debra Sofia with Glenn Sackett

Season 1, Episode 2 | 40 min
Nature explorer and photographer, chaplain and mystic Glenn Sackett speaks on how to see beauty in our relationship to nature and with each other. A lifelong explorer, Glenn describes himself as a “spiritual pilgrim with experience in many traditions.” 

Being both a nature photographer and a chaplain, he engages in two seemingly different life disciplines that require a high level of expertise. The connection? While a minister tells a story, a chaplain focuses on listening to a person’s story.

Similarly, exploring nature with a camera requires a receptive mindset. Glenn discusses how to capture that natural beauty not only for one’s self, but to be released to others. To do so, we must focus our mind and lens to create order in immensity. In this way, both disciplines require unraveling a story: to pull order out of chaos.

In his role as chaplain and life coach, Glenn gives workshops on developing resilience in life. Primarily, people want to be seen, heard and understood. Designed to be connected, we are happiest when we act in ways that are mutually beneficial.

With photography, we learn how to see clearly what matters most, to be receptive to what life is providing. So too with the practice of resilience. As human beings, we are more adaptable than we realize.

What are people saying about Glenn’s workshops on resilience?

Wow I really needed this now. I wish we had more time for this.

Also offering workshops on photography, Glenn is the provider of the beautiful nature images on this Kabbalah 99 website. Listen in on this conversation to hear three actions you can do right now for greater resilience in your health, mind and heart.

Photo Gallery:

Nature’s Hidden Dimension: Envisioning the Inner Life of the Universe

Nature’s Hidden Dimension: Envisioning the Inner Life of the Universe

by | Oct 20, 2020 | Paradigm Refresh

Nature's Hidden Dimension: Envisioning the Inner Life of the Universe

by Debra Sofia with Suhrawardi William Gebel

Season 1, Episode 1 | 37 min

Finding Purpose and Meaning

Astrophysicist, author and Sufi mystic, Suhrawardi William Gebel, makes the connection between science and mysticism, showing how both disciplines can shed light on the perennial questions of the mind and heart – Why are we here? What is our purpose? How can we find fulfillment in life?

In this podcast we discuss his new book “Nature’s Hidden Dimension: Envisioning the Inner Life of the Universe”. This explores the scientific view, the experiences of Sufi mystics, and his own realizations. We discuss the Seven Leading Names of G’d that illuminate the unfoldment of all of creation, from Al-Hayy, the All-pervading life to Al-Kalim, the capacity for expression.

Beyond Words and Intellect

Because music transcends language, intellect and cultural barriers, Suhrawardi commissioned composer and pianist Michael Harrison to express the vibrational essence of these Names of Awakening. To listen to the soundtrack for Al-Kalim, be sure to follow this podcast with the interview with Michael.

Listen in on the conversation on the parallels in science and mysticism. Where do they converge, if at all? What is the nature of Mind and the purpose of life? A rare glimpse into the discoveries of a career astrophysicist and lifelong explorer of Truth.

 

Publications: