Bo – Exodus 10:1 – 13:16

Jan 17 to 23, 2021 | 10 Shevat 5781

Photography by Glenn Sackett

I Will Take You As My People

Considering the rapid, chaotic, even deadly transformation of our current world, we are truly in a BARDO, a state of existence between death and rebirth — a time when our usual way of life becomes suspended. The Ten Plagues which descended on Biblical Egypt must have created a similar panic. When in the Bardo, we must seek a calming influence. 

In the parsha Bo — meaning come, enter, penetrate — locust and darkness signal YHWH’s presence to the multitude of nations. While the first nine plagues leave the Israelites unaffected, the slaying of the first born requires the Israelites to perform a mitzvah to protect life: to sacrifice a lamb at twilight, put its blood as a sign on their doorposts, and eat the roasted flesh with matzah and maror (bitter herbs).

With this consecration we understand that the Fourth Promise, “I will take you for me as a people” is reciprocal: the Israelites must participate in this union. Hastily, under the midnight moon Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt. A multitude of nations follow Moses who skillfully welcomes them.

With G-d’s help, Moses succeeds in confronting Pharaoh.  When viewed as an Alchemical process, Exodus takes on new contours which shape and hold each of us today.

Alchemy is the quickening of this process: the enactment of the Fourth Promise recorded in Exodus:

I will take you for me as a people,

And I will be for you as a G’d.

– Exodus 6:6

Moses endured his own Alchemical process in preparation to lead the Israelites and the multitude of nations who followed him to experience the freedom of the Soul. And what is the soul being freed from? Mitzrayim. Being caught in materialism without love, devotion and surrender to the One Being.

Let’s look at Moses’ development through the lens of the Six Stages of Alchemy as taught by Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan.

Minor Mysteries

The journey begins with the Minor Mysteries which lay out the process of letting go of the attachment to one’s temporal being to merge in eternal Oneness. They are called the Minor Mysteries because the process returns one to the natural state. To rest in Oneness.

Stage 1: Separation

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

• Seeing the hardships of his people, Moses’ sense of self as a Prince of Egypt is irretrievably lost. In anger he kills an Egyptian and must flee for his life.

Stage 2: Rising

Fire distills Spirit further from the body, completing the separation. One further identifies with the real being that one is: pure consciousness.

• After fleeing to Midyan, Moses cultivates the benign leadership qualities of the shepherd. After many years, he sees the burning bush that is not consumed. At first he resists, not willing to go it alone as Moses by himself. With the assurance of G-d’s presence, he acquiesces to the path laid out for him in unison with YHWH.

Stage 3: Pure Spirit

The sense of individuality collapses. Symbolized by the receptive crescent moon, the soul awakens in the state of all possibility and pure potential.

• Moses returns to Egypt to face Pharaoh

Major Mysteries

Now begins the inner journey called the Major Mysteries. They are termed thus because, in the miracle of all miracles, Spirit is infused with matter — a vessel wherein G’d can dwelling — the reason for life itself.

Stage 4: Descent

This is best described as the Alchemical Marriage of Heaven and Earth. Here one consciously participates in the rebirth of spirit into matter.

• Moses begins to fulfill his mission by summoning the courage to appear before Pharaoh and act out G-d’s commands. Similar to the renewal of life on earth during Noah’s time, the first nine plagues represent this rebirth.

Stage 5: Incorporation

To fix and maintain this realization, one must affirm one’s real being against the forces that tend to push one back to what one was: the courage to be who one is. As the parsha Bo teaches us, behind one’s own manifestation is the thrust of God’s wish for completion.

• Moses appears with the Light of G’d infused into his personality as he faces Pharaoh. This stage culminates in the slaying of the first born.

Stage 6: Unity

Symbolized by the radiant sun, this realization completes the spiritualization of matter and the materialization of spirit. As a result, the unique contribution of one’s being is impressed upon the universe to outlast the vehicle through which it operates. As with our patriarchs and matriarchs: this is the realization of eternal life.

• At the end of Bo and throughout the rest of Torah, Moses maintains his intention to remain in Unity with G’d. Not quite meeting this exquisitely delicate standard, he is denied the right to enter the Promised Land. And yet he lives on, immortalized in the retelling of this story. 

And what of our own Alchemical Journey?

Mankind’s Mission on Earth

By following the arch of Genesis and now of Exodus, we are shown that the mission of mankind is to transform the world into a dwelling place for G’d. This mirrors the challenges each of us confronts daily to cultivate the midot (divine qualities) in our own character. For as above so below: each one of us expresses this mission as a unique ray of the One Being.

To learn more, listen to Marilyn Saltzman speak about the gifts of her life-long practice of Musar: Soul Traits for an Ethical Life.

Reflection: How frequently and fully do you dedicate your G’d given abilities for a positive purpose? And even more fundamentally, ask yourself:

“What am I living for? Am I seeking mainly self-gratification, or am I living a life dedicated to a higher purpose?”

This week’s practices continue to support our journey from mitzrayim (materiality) to awakening in life. We will seek to soften our hearts and build our capacity to create harmony in daily life. Through breath, light and sound we can be in tune with the Infinite and the rhythms of this life. This beautiful, chaotic, ever changing, all-pervading Life.

WEEKLY PRACTICES: Alchemy of Breath

With the Soul Manifestation Process, we awaken 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 work its alchemical magic.

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. Most of us tend to jut the chin forward. If this is you, bring your chin slightly back and down so that your head is balanced on your neck. 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, on the inhale hold your breath for a few seconds. Can you feel your heart beating? Putting your hand on your heart can help. After awhile, notice how your blood circulating through your body feels. Can you feel the pulsing? Look for it in the hold between the inhale and exhale. Take a moment of joy, gratitude and quiet amazement in this sacred sensation.

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. In this refined state, focus on your physical heart. Visualize red light. Breathe in red light, exhale red light for 5 breaths.

Next, focus on your right chest, about where the physical heart rests on the other side. Visualize white light. Breathe in white light, exhale white light for 5 breaths.

Now focus on the center of your chest. Visualize green light filling the center of your chest. Breathe in green light, exhale green light for 5 breaths.

When you are ready, open your eyes and breathe fully, deeply. What is your experience of this balancing practice?

SOUND

In a tangible way, parsha Bo instructs us to embody divine qualities of G’d. Although we cannot name YHWH the Un-nameable, we can name and draw upon qualities of YHWH.

The 99 Beautiful Names of Allah carry a sound code with the capacity to resonate with divine qualities already present in ourselves. Like activates like. Nothing is “added” that we don’t already contain. We are awakening these divine qualities within ourselves via resonance. Through repetition, focus and intent, layers of meaning of the Name will be revealed to you.

In full view of the rapid, chaotic, even deadly changes of our current world — truly a BARDO — we call upon the calming influence of  Ya Qawiyy (yaa ḲO-weeyy) and Ya Salam (yaa sa-LAAM), which is peace itself.

The divine aspect of G’d named Al-Qawiyy commands the primitive, adamant self. It disarms our defenses so can see that all personal power is the result of the real power that is coming from the divine source. It awakens our inner strength to overcome distorted passion (Source: Physicians of the Heart by Pir Shabda Khan)

We recite Ya Salam on the inhale and Ya Qawiyy on the exhale:

Inhale: Ya Salam

Exhale: Ya Qawiyy

With your eyes closed, focus on your breath. Feel your chest and abdomen expanding and contracting. Rhythmically inhale and exhale, softly repeating ya Salam, ya Qawiyy out loud 33 times. Afterward, feel the calming support of this sound vibration on all aspects of being.

ZIKR

Meaning “remembrance”, Zikr is the repetition of a sacred phrase with the intention of returning to the essence of Unity. Continuing from last week, we will repeat the central Jewish prayer known as the Sh’ma.

In Hebrew:

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָֽד

Shema Yisrael YHWH Eloheinu YHWH Echad

The Sh’ma can be translated as: “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one”. LORD is the unpronounceable four letter word יְהוָה – YHWH, the Name of G’d that can’t be named. Instead, we’ll use the word “Adonai“, meaning Lord, or “HaShem“, meaning The Name.

When practicing Zikr, it’s best to use the original language in which the prayer was revealed. As you inhale and exhale, softly repeat out loud, 33 times. Afterward, feel the effects of the vibration on your being.

NATURE

This week as you take time to walk in nature, feel the beating of your heart. Can you coordinate your footsteps with the rhythm of your heart? Pay attention do the play of light. Where do you glimpse the color red in nature? Where do you see white? What shades of green does the winter light reveal?

For a view of nature that marries the cosmic with the transcendent, please listen to the podcast with nature photographer and chaplain Glenn Sackett: Exploring Beauty and Resilience with Nature and in All Our Relations.

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!