May the darkness inspire dreams and imagination.
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For some of us giving thanks will come easily this year and we will raise our cups in appreciation and delight. For others of us, gratitude might be difficult to reach and we will find ourselves filled with sadness and pain.
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Lech Lecha, may we go deep, may we go wide,
And may we rise together into a world,
Where love, truth, dignity, justice and peace prevail.
In the Torah portion Noach
Creation has gone awry.
The world is corrupt.
Greed, contempt and a complete disregard of others
Has become the mode of being.
We begin again:
Into the chaos came light.
An expanse spread over the waters
And there was sky.
From the far reaches of Yom Kippur we land in Sukkot, the festival of earth’s generosity. On Sukkot we bow in gratitude for the nourishment we receive from earth and spirit, and plant intentions for the New Year.
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As we stand on the threshold of the New Year,
May the skies encourage a vast perspective that opens us to possibilities not yet imagined,
May the fires of devotion inspire loving, courageous, effective actions.
You stand here with all those you love,
And with all those whose actions and values you despise.
I will wait for you to awaken,
I will wait for you to remember
That you were born into this fragile existence
To let your heart shatter and shine.
Every day,
We face choices.
How will we respond to all we encounter?
Where will we give our attention, our heart?
A song for the soul as we move from tisha b’av and begin to turn toward the journey into the New Year.
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A prayer for Tisha b’Av, adapted from sim shalom, the closing prayer in the Amida
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As we enter the month of Av,
With the brokenness of the world revealed,
We can find among the fragments
Paths of healing.
I am finding it helpful to take on a dedicated compassion practice these days.
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Many years ago I was taught a practice of praying with the news. I have shared it over the years and it feels like an important practice to return to now.
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May we leave beauty and goodness in our wake,
So the world is a better place,
For us having shared our songs.
The Infinite One is our refuge and strength,
Our help in distress,
Very present, always here. (Psalm 46:2)
In this week’s Torah portion Shelach lecha,
We watch as fear takes hold,
Distorts perception,
And strangles possibilities.
I am above the nations. I am above the earth.
And I am with you.
May we care for the wild places, honoring and protecting them. The well-being of all depends upon their gifts.
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