Rare Blue Moon Of Equanimity

living blue rose, from Colin's Journal
י"ד בסיון תשס"ז

Tonight is the night of the full Blue Moon in Sagittarius. The Blue Moon is associated with rarity and rare events. Sagittarius corresponds to the letter samech and to the rare quality of equanimity (hishtavut).

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Lorica, Shield Of Chayyah

הגן על חייה

Read about the pentagram, the golden ratio and infinity here and here.

Read about the hexagram and unique complex patterning here, here, here and here.

Read about the golden spiral, the golden ratio, the golden rectangle, the golden string and fibonacci fractals here and here.

Moving from the pentagram to the hexagram to the golden spiral, we see an emerging pattern whereby simplicity (unity of infinity) develops increasing levels of integrated complexity and purposeful wholeness. The pentagram is distinguished by its association with infinity and "yesh me'ayin" (something from nothing). The hexagram is distinguished by uniqueness. The "golden spiral" is distinguished by wholeness and is a form generated by Fibonacci numbers, as is the golden string (the Fibonacci Rabbit Sequence). In physics, string theory hypothesizes the unification of all known forces in nature into one unified field. Thus, the spiral in my shield kabbalistically symbolizes "the ultimate revelation of the Divine 'unified field' (unity in plurality)," through which the Divine purpose of existence is fulfilled. Reishit. ראשית

Reposted from 11/26/06.

Star framework from Lilitu.

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Chayah Of The Chashmal

י"ד בסיון תשס"ז

In follow-up to my entry yesterday linking the black panther of my Sunday dream to Tuesday's news item of a spotted leopard attack in Israel, expounding on Ma'aseh Merkavah, Chagigah 13b instructs us:

Question: What is "Chashmal?"

Answer #1 (R. Yehudah): "Chayos Esh Memalelos" (Chayos of fire speaking)

Answer #2 (Beraisa): "Sometimes they are Chashos (silent), sometimes they are Memalelos (speaking)"

1. When Hash-m gives forth His speech, they are silent.


2. When Hash-m does not give forth his speech, they speak.

Interestingly, according to this gemara, when Hashem gives forth speech, the chayot (living beings and animals) are silent, as I was silent as I cast my dream spell. When Hashem does not give forth speech, the chayot speak, like the big cat spoke to me in performance of its service to the 2 adversarial witches on stage.

Consequently, the big cat sent to fetch me (and the other volunteer witches) was not acting as a messenger of Hashem, but as a messenger of the 2 adversarial witches. Such a animal messenger acting under a witch or wizard's compulsion is called a "fetch" or a "familiar".

In contradistinction to the adversarial witches' familiar sent to "fetch" me, I myself was acting through silence as a messenger of Hashem. Thus, there was no need for an animal intermediary to act under my compulsion. And thus, the chayah (living being) was silent as I cast my spell, having nothing to say, and released from captivity to the witches' compulsion.

Taking all this together, my dream Sunday was the mystical test of chashmal (speaking silence) associated with Ma'aseh Merkavah.

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Spotted Leopard From Olam Ha-Nekudim

AP Photo
י"ד בסיון תשס"ז

In follow-up to my dream Sunday about a big black cat - a speaking black panther (shamanistically symbolizing prophecy and prophetic ability), another big cat - a yellow and black spotted leopard in Israel - made the headlines in Tuesday's news.

Man clad in underwear pins leopard
By ARON HELLER, Associated Press Writer
Tue May 29, 6:03 PM ET

JERUSALEM - A man clad only in underwear and a T-shirt wrestled a wild leopard to the floor and pinned it for 20 minutes after the cat leapt through a window of his home and hopped into bed with his sleeping family.

"This kind of thing doesn't happen every day," said 49-year-old Arthur Du Mosch, a nature guide. "I don't know why I did it. I wasn't thinking, I just acted."

Raviv Shapira, who heads the southern district of the Nature and Parks Protection Authority, said a half dozen leopards have been spotted recently near Du Mosch's small community of Kibbutz Sde Boker in the Negev desert in southern Israel, although they rarely threaten humans.

Shapira said it was probably food that lured the big cat. Leopards living near humans are usually too old to hunt in the wild and resort to chasing down domestic dogs and cats for food, he added.

Shapira said the leopard was very weak when park rangers arrived at Du Mosch's home after the surprise late-night visit. He said nature officials would likely release it back into the wild.

Read full story at link above.

Interestingly, in addition to the connection of leopard's spots with the universe of Tohu (olam ha-nekudim and the state of unstable chaos), as a shamanic symbol, leopard "represents the power of silence, trust in our own inner instincts and a renewal of vision and vitality." In my speaking black panther dream, silence constituted the spell I cast in a magic duel with two witches to retrieve the treasure of my husband. The animal spoke. I cast my spell in silence.

While both my dream and the news item pertain generally to big cats, the big cat in my dream was black, symbolizing malchut, while the big cat in Israel was spotted, symbolizing Tohu as noted above. Also in contradistinction, the black panther in my dream was healthy and set free, while the leopard in Israel was sickly and captured. The link between the two big cats this week is through the quality of shamanic silence.

Hat-tip to Mystical Paths for news link.

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110 Living Medal Of Honor Recipients

י"א בסיון תשס"ז

Poor is the nation that has no heroes, but beggard is the nation that has but forgets them.

In follow-up to my previous post, here is a link to the names and information regarding the living recipients of the Medal of Honor. From Home Of Heros, regarding the Medal of Honor:

The Medal of Honor may well be our Nation's rarest "gem", and the men who wear it are certainly our most "endangered species". Even most military veterans have never actually SEEN a Medal of Honor, much less met one of the few men authorized to display it around his neck. Since it was established in 1862 at the beginning of the Civil War, it has only been awarded to 3,444 heroes...almost half of them Civil War soldiers

Since the beginning of World War II, only 846 Medals of Honor have been awarded. Over half that number died in their moment of heroism. Only 328 soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen from Pearl Harbor to Somalia have survived to actually wear the Medal. Today only 110 of them are still with us. The information below details the 846 Medals awarded from World War II to present. (There are no surviving World War I Medal of Honor recipients today.)

It is often lamented that our Nation needs REAL heroes, role models for us to admire and emulate. The men who have received our Nation's highest award for heroism certainly meet the criteria. In an age that worships sports heroes, movie stars, and the rich and famous, Medal of Honor recipients stand out. Their claim to the title "hero" comes not from athletic prowess, a celebrity fan club, or financial success. These men attained their title for caring enough about their Nation and their comrades in arms, to risk and often sacrifice their life, that others might live. That quality of character defines a REAL hero.

The names of the 110 living Medal of Honor recipients by branch of service:

73 Living Army Medal of Honor Recipients:

Shizuya Hayashi
Alton Knappenberger
Van T. Barfoot
Walter D. Ehlers
John D. Hawk
Robert D. Maxwell
Barney F. Hajiro
George T. Sakato
Charles H. Coolidge
Wilburn K. Ross
Robert B. Nett
Charles P. Murray
Vernon McGarity
Francis S. Currey
Melvin E. Biddle
Paul J. Wiedorfer
Russell Dunham
Nicholas Oresko
Silvestre Herrera
Vernon J. Baker
Mike Colalillo
Michael J. Daly
Daniel K. Inouye
Alejandro R. Ruiz
Tibor Rubin
Einar H. Ingman, Jr.
Lewis L. Millett
Hiroshi H. Miyamura
Rodolfo P. Hernandez
James L. Stone
Ronald E. Rosser
Ernest E. West
Ola L. Mize
Roger H.C. Donlon
Walter J. Marm
Ed W. Freeman
Bruce P. Crandall
Rascon, Alfred
David C. Dolby
Ronald E. Ray
John F. Baker, Jr.
Robert F. Foley
Charles Hagemeister
David H. McNerney
Kenneth E. Stumpf
Leonard B. Keller
James A. Taylor
Sammy L. Davis
Angelo Liteky
Allan J. Lynch
Patrick H. Brady
Gary G. Wetzel
Clarence Sasser
Drew D. Dix
Frederick E. Ferguson
Thomas J. Kinsman
Jack H. Jacobs
Paul W. Bucha
James M. Sprayberry
Robert M. Patterson
Frank A. Herda
Nicky D. Bacon
Robert L. Howard
Don Jenkins
Harold A. Fritz
Gordon R. Roberts
John Baca
Gary B. Beikirch
Peter C. Lemon
Gary L. Littrell
Michael Fitzmaurice
Brian M. Thacker
Jon R. Cavaiani

13 Living Navy Medal of Honor Recipients:

John W. Finn
Nathan G. Gordon
Eugene B. Fluckey
George E. Wahlen
Richard McCool
Thomas J. Hudner
William Charette
Robert R. Ingram
Donald E. Ballard
Joseph R. Kerrey
Thomas G. Kelley
Thomas R. Norris
Michael E. Thornton

19 Living Marine Corp. Medal of Honor Recipients:

Jefferson J. DeBlanc
James E. Swett
Arthur J. Jackson
Everett P. Pope
Jack H. Lucas
Hershel W. Williams
Hector A. Cafferata
Duane E. Dewey
Robert E. Simanek
Robert E. O'Malley
Harvey C. Barnum
Robert J. Modrzejewski
John J. McGinty,III
Richard Pittman
Howard V. Lee
Jay R. Vargas
James E. Livingston
Wesley L. Fox
Allan J. Kellogg

5 Living Air Force Medal of Honor Recipients:

Bernard F. Fisher
Leo K. Thorsness
George E. Day
Joe M. Jackson
James P. Fleming

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Stories Behind Memorial Day

י"א בסיון תשס"ז

Very good article.

America's Honor: The Stories Behind Memorial Day
BY PETER COLLIER
Monday, May 28, 2007 12:01 a.m. EDT

In my own boyhood, figures such as Jimmy Doolittle, Audie Murphy and John Basilone were household names. And it was assumed that what they had done defined us as well as them, telling us what kind of nation we were. But the 110 Medal recipients alive today are virtually unknown except for a niche audience of warfare buffs. Their heroism has become the military equivalent of genre painting. There's something wrong with that.

Read some of the stories at the link above. May our Veterans be blessed and honored among us.

Hat-Tip to Jack's Shack for link.

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A Prayer For Israel

י"א בסיון תשס"ז

May the One who blessed our ancestors, Abraham Isaac and Jacob, and our mothers Sarah Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, have compassion and mercy on the captives, Gilad Shavit, Ehud Goldwasser, and Eldad Regev. May the one who removes prisoners to prosperity redeem them from the hands of their captors and take them from servitude to freedom, from darkness to light. May He heal them completely, healing of the body and healing of the soul, and strengthen their spirit. May it be the will before our Father in Heaven that speedily the words of the verse shall come to pass “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” So may it be, and let us say, Amen.

May the One who blessed our ancestors, Abraham Isaac and Jacob, and our mothers Sarah Rebecca, Rachel and Leah send complete healing to all the soldiers and citizens who were injured in the attacks of the brazen enemy from Lebanon, and send comfort to those who mourn. May our God, and shield of salvation strengthen the hearts of all the inhabitants who are on the front lines, and teach them to stand strong against the terror attacks from the air. Please God, guide the hands of our soldiers into battle, and their fingers into war, so that they return the war to its gates, and return peace and tranquility to the land of Israel. May it be Your will, our Father in Heaven, that the words of Micah your prophet are speedily fulfilled in our day: “And he shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide concerning far away strong nations; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken it.” And it says “therefore do not fear, O my servant Jacob, says the Lord; nor be dismayed, O Israel; for, behold, I will save you from afar, and your seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be quiet and at ease, and none shall make him afraid. So may it be!

prayer by Rabbi Simcha Roth
flags graphic from Reborn By Design

A Prayer For Our Country

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A Prayer For Our Country

י"א בסיון תשס"ז

Our G-d and G-d of our ancestors: We ask your blessings for our country, for its government, for its leaders and advisors, and for all who exercise just and rightful authority. Teach them the insights of Your Torah, that they may administer all affairs of state fairly, that peace and security, happiness and prosperity, justice and freedom may once again abide in our midst.

May the One who blesses us, have compassion and mercy upon our captives and upon the captives of our allies. Redeem them from the hands of their captors, take them from servitude to freedom and from darkness to light. Heal and strengthen them completely - body, soul and spirit. Shield those who guard and protect our freedom. Shelter our troops beneath the shadow of your wings. Guide their hands in battle and their fingers in war, provide them strength to stand strong, so that they may abrogate war at its gates and sustain peace and tranquility in our land. Send comfort to those who mourn.

Creator of all flesh, bless all the inhabitants of our country with Your spirit. May citizens of all races and creeds forge a common bond in true harmony to banish all hatred and bigotry and to safeguard the ideals and free institutions which are the pride and glory of our country.

May this land under Your providence be an influence for good throughout the world, uniting all people in peace and freedom and helping them to fulfill the vision of Your prophet: "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they experience war any more."

So mote it be. Amen. אמן

--Based upon "Siddur Sim Shalom", modified to include call for protection of our troops.

Atheists and those of other religious or spiritual paths may substitute references to the Divine (and Torah concepts) in terms satisfying to each particular path.

flag photo from Ron Huddleston's blog, VOLuntarilyConservative

A Prayer For Israel

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Prayer Request

י"א בסיון תשס"ז

I've just learned that my nephew, who is a U.S. Marine in Intelligence, will be sent to Iraq later this year. Please, pray for his safety and place him on your prayer lists. I would appreciate it very much. Obviously, I am not inclined to publish his name or photo on my blog, but identify him somehow through my name in your prayers.

Thank you.

Prophecy & The Black Panther

י"א בסיון תשס"ז

In an earlier post today I discussed a dream I had this morning. In the dream was a black panther who clearly knew that I was an unusually powerful witch when none of the magically inclined humans under it's guard did. It also "spoke" to me - sort of an odd twist to the story of Bilaam's donkey. Only in my dream, the animal's spirit didn't speak to those whom it served. It spoke to me instead, an "adversary" against the thieving system which had stolen my husband's treasure.

Later in the day today, over at Esser Agaroth for Haveil Havalim #118, "the cat" was out of the bag. And running free.

Consequently, I became curious as to the shamanic symbolism of the black panther in my dream. Interestingly, the black panther is connected to prophetic communication. Native American shamanism links these keywords to the spirit of the black panther, whose "wind" concerns "the quest within":

prophet (role)
reclaiming power (lesson)
mystery
energy awareness
lunar magic
penetrating
stealth
shapeshifting (transformative medicine)

With respect to black panther's prophetic energy, Wolfs Moon at Life Paths writes:

Mysticism surrounds the Black Panther, and for centuries two-leggeds have observed these graceful predators as they prowl the jungles of their domain and slip, black as midnight vapor, between tree limbs and vines.

Black Panther, with his penetrating yellow-green gaze, evokes the sense that he is capable of looking into the ~future,~ hence this beautiful cat is closely linked to Seers and Prophets.

***For the two-legged who journey beside Black Panther, this may either take the form of one who can literally see into the ~future,~ or this gift of insight is manifested as a keen insight into the reasoning, action and motive of Others.

Because these souls possess the gift to see to the motives of another, the "future" consequences of that individual's motives and actions are clearly visible to the Panther individual, and they can appear almost prophetic when warning another of the ramifications that may befall should their current motives remain ulterior, selfish or evasive.

For those Black Panther souls who literally do "see the future," this can be quite a challenging aspect of their Earthwalk, for with this special ~gift~ also comes the responsibility of discerning when and how much of this knowledge is meant to be shared. Equally, as the ~future~ is continuously being shaped by our present thoughts, decisions, and actions, the future is ever-changing and hence, any future seen or perceived is only one of many alternate ~future realities.~ Yet more often than not, the visions of the future received are meant purely as guide posts and/or warnings, hence it is still down to the individual to create his/her own future.***

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Haveil Havalim #118 At Esser Agaroth

י' בסיון תשס"ז

Haveil Havaleim #118 is up at Esser Agaroth this week, with reflections on metablogging and plurality by ben-Yehudah.

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Spiritual Work Of Sar HaTorah

י' בסיון תשס"ז

Strings of connection exist between good people. It may be that, working through the supernal realms, our enemies are aiming in some spiritual (and physical) manner to "shoot down" our "vehicles".

Recently, both kassam deaths (a woman and a man) in Sderot (Israel) occurred to those traveling in vehicles. Before starting to work last week (here in the USA), I had to replace the front brakes on my car which were grinding and squealing ominously, on the very verge of failing. Yesterday, a co-worker's spouse's car was struck by another vehicle on the interstate on her way to work. She was unhurt, thank Goddess.

It is clear to me, that the vehicles of our people, both in Israel (primarily perhaps, and physically) and in USA (secondarily, spiritually) are being targeted.

A vehicle is a symbolic chariot. Merkavah (merkabah) mysticism is called "work of the chariot".

I am not a lone merkavah mystic really. Considering my recent writings, my primary mystic endeavor is more like the communal mysticism of Sar HaTorah at this point. Thus, those in the vehicles of our community of friends (even as we may be unaware of one another) are protected in some manner. I don't understand how, but this seems to be the case.

Given this connection, for those of us in both Israel and the USA, I suggest a change of mystical strategy from merkavah mysticism to the mysticism of Sar HaTorah. I'm no intellectual expert regarding what I am suggesting, but I'd be being neglectful if I didn't publicize the observation.

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Mechitzah

י' בסיון תשס"ז

I dreamt.

A powerful evil wizard ruled the area and had stolen my husband's treasure, making us poor among the people. The evil wizard and his minion of witches and warlocks would kill us if we tried to retrieve our treasure from him. Our treasure was a most powerful, coveted treasure.

The evil wizard and his troupe of magicians put on a show of entertainment for the local population. The stage sat below many rows of seats in a big building that served as a central organizational place. My husband and I went to the magicians' play like everyone else in the area. I knew I was a powerful witch. In fact, I was a more powerful witch than all the witches in the evil wizard's minion combined. More importantly, I knew it, and I was going to retrieve our treasure.

At one point during an act on stage, audience participation of witches was invited. I got up and went down from the greater audience to sit among the front rows with the other witches who had volunteered to "do magic" before the two witches on stage. The two witches on stage were facing each other with their hands held up, fingers outspread, facing closely but not touching, the corresponding hand of the other witch. They were casting some kind of magic spell.

A big black cat like a black panther guarded the stage and came out into the audience to get each witch who had volunteered to "face off" (from below and before the stage) with the witches on stage in a demonstration of witchy showwomanship. Each time he came to get a witch for her turn, he passed me by and wouldn't choose me for any turn. Finally, I was the last volunteer witch left in the front rows. The black panther came to choose me. "I saved you for last", he spoke. Even if the neither of the witches on stage nor the ruling wizard nor any in his minion knew it, the black panther knew it - I was an unusually powerful witch. And he had saved me for last.

I went down before the stage and stood before it, facing the two witches on stage. I held up my hands, fingers outspread just like the two witches - only I didn't face another witch to cast my spell. I worked magic alone, my outspread fingers opened into the air. I swayed, saying nothing, casting a spell of words unspoken. No one realized what I had done. Finishing my witch's spell, I went back to my seat in the audience beside my husband.

The magic show over, the audience went home, and I waited for the oppressive system to fall apart, to retrieve our treasure. It began.

The central organizational building was going to collapse into the earth. I knew it. Somehow, the wizard now had an inkling as to what I had done, and all his own efforts to prevent it would bring his system down. I made my way, as did some other poor women like me, to the outer edge of the building so that I could escape when it collapsed and wouldn't be sucked into the pit of the earth.

My husband and all the other poor men like him of the community were caught in their workstations in a huge blast. My husband and the other men like him had also been at the edge of blast area. Their eyes had been blinded shut by the blast, but being at the edge, they had survived.

My husband and his men, like myself and my women, were thrown face to face, against a clear glass-like pane with bars in it. The barred glass-like pane formed a barrier separating the men from the women - each husband and wife opposite one another. The men were hard pressed and blind against the glass-like separation. The women were hanging from the edge of the pit into which the big building had collapsed, swallowing up the evil wizard and his ruling minion.

I looked across at my husband, separated from me by the glass-like pane with bars. His eyes were shut. Open your eyes and look at me! I commanded him. See me! I commanded him. He struggled to open his eyes. I struggled to hold on, as he had commanded me (he must have commanded me to hold on because I struggled to hold on, just as he struggled to open his eyes to see me as I had commanded him). He opened his eyes. As he opened his eyes and saw me opposite him, the separation became permeable to him. He reached across through it with both hands and grabbed both my hands. Our fingers intertwined. We were reunited, face to face, hand in hand, fingers intertwined, the separating barrier melting away.

I woke up.

mechitzah - מחיצה

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Heter-Yiska

ט' בסיון תשס"ז

Rabbi Pinchas Winston at Neveh Zion on the life of Sarah Imeinu:

(You might be wondering, "What does 'heter-yiska' mean?" It is a play on words, the real term being "Heter-Iska," a technical process used in business to avoid breaking the Torah prohibition of earning and collecting interest. As Rashi revealed at the end of Parashas Noach, one of Sarah's names was "Yiska," and being the righteous woman that she was, she opened many spiritual doors for generations of women to come, permitting them ("heter"), so-to-speak, to strive for greatness.)

The life of Sarah was one hundred years, and twenty years, and seven years ... (Bereishis 23:1)

The time has come, once again, to focus on Sarah Imeinu--Sarah, Our Mother. She was born in the year 1958 from creation, or 1803 BCE, ten years after Avraham was born. As we learn from the end of Parashas Noach, her name was also "Yiska," from a word that means "to look," because she could see the future, and, because everyone looked at her beauty. The name "Yiska," as Rashi also explains, refers to princely dignity, which is also indicated by the name "Sarai" and "Sarah" as well.

We are told that when Shlomo HaMelech composed "Aishes Chayil," which we sing before Kiddush on Friday Nights, he had Sarah Imeinu in mind. The stanzas follow the Aleph-Bais, from "aleph" to "tav," because Sarah fulfilled the Torah from "aleph" to "tav" (Shochar Tov, 112a). From the Midrash, we learn that she was so righteous that she even had angels at her command (Lekach Tov).

Avraham married Sarah when he was twenty-five years old, which would have made Sarah only fifteen years old at the time. We know this because, according to the Yalkut (Lech-Lecha, 78), and Tanna d'Bei Eliyahu (Chapter 18), Avraham and Sarah went childless for seventy-five years. Since we know she gave birth to Yitzchak when she was ninety years old, she had to have been fifteen years old when she married.

As the Talmud points out, Sarah's barrenness was the result of a physical reason, namely, that her body lacked the physical capacity to bear children (Yevamos 72a). In other words, the miracle of the birth of Yitzchak was not just that Sarah finally had a child after waiting for so long; it was a miracle that her body was able to conceive and carry a child altogether!

Of course, it didn't have to be that way. G-d could have easily had Sarah born with all her physical necessities and capable of having children, whenever He deemed it appropriate. What was gained by making Sarah physically incapable of having a child, only to give her one later on in her life?

In a sense, her situation mirrored what was accomplished with Avraham through his life, and then finally, with Bris Milah. Why didn't Avraham perform Bris Milah much earlier in life? Why did G-d wait for so long before commanding Avraham to do what, seemingly, should have been done long before?

The answer is Yitzchak, or rather, Ya'akov. In order for Yitzchak to be the father of Ya'akov, who, in turn, could be the father of the Twelve Tribes, a certain spiritual environment had to be built and nurtured, so that it could remain pure from the influences of the outside world. In other words, Yitzchak's birth had to be in a miniature Gan Aiden, with the holiness of Gan Aiden, which is what Avraham and Sarah achieved by the time Yitzchak was conceived and born.

Being such a spiritual "environment," Yitzchak's birth had to be supernatural, the way it would have been in Gan Aiden. This was achieved with the help of Bris Milah, usually performed on the eighth day which symbolizes the supernatural, and in a womb that could only conceive supernaturally.

This is why the three miracles that occurred for Sarah represented rectifications that brought the home of Avraham and Sarah into the realm of Gan Aiden. The "Cloud of Glory" that encircled her tent was like that in the desert that elevated the Jewish people into a supernatural reality--free of the dangers and needs of the desert. The miracle of the "challah" symbolized the rectification of Chava's sin, as did the Shabbos candles burning from week to week.

No small feat for one woman. Unless, of course, that woman happens to be Sarah Imeinu.

Sarah HaTorah - Princess of the Torah

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Mouth Of Machpele

edging edges
blowing an ever cleaving melody
flying with the night
one heart, one mind, returning together
lights of chaos, one thread of many corners stringing
as reverberating pearls tumble from the shabbat river
splitting open time, delight playing peacefully
a harmony of singularities from the endless sea
entwining grains of history, flowing with the flame eternal
cutting clarity into focus with complexity, considering
destiny between simple moments pivoting
thought bare and bursting full
bright and beautiful field of wonders running through it
born fully aware, like a gentle spring wind
brilliant this day when, joining times
my whole world sings again
splendors completing remembering words
one word
unfolding the song shalom
established truly in it

Published originally on my Walking On Fire musical website, under the title Machpele - Aish Das

Technorati tags: kabbalistic poetry

Clearly Light Divine

ט' בסיון תשס"ז

Exhausted yesterday (even though I really like my new job) by my new work week (where one workday this past week - my first week - averaged between 10 and 11 hours, which is not an easy endeavor for a 46-year-old כיהוה following an extended period of years of un/underemployment), today this shabbat day, I am renewed.

In the upcoming new week's parashah, Beha'alotcha, we find that Aaron and Miriam spoke against Moshe (Bamidbar 12:1-2), and by extension, against the prophecy of Moshe. In consequence to the charge made by Aaron and Miriam, the Divine commanded all three to go to the Tabernacle (Bamidbar 12:4-8). There, Aaron and Miriam were called outside - to which they both cried "water! water!" (Rashi). Inside the Tabernacle, to Moshe alone did the Shechinah reveal Herself (Numbers Rabbah 14:19, Rashi on Vayikra 1:1).

Now hear My words. When there is a prophet among you, I make Myself known in a vision, I speak in a dream. But it is not so with my servant Moshe - in all My house, he is faithful. Mouth to mouth I speak with him, in a vision and not in riddles. [Bamidbar 12:4-8]

Unique. The prophecy of Moshe is unique among the prophets. Mouth to mouth, the Divine communicates. Zohar (I:170b-71a, Yev. 49b, Leviticus Rabbah 1:14) tells us "Moshe received the Divine message standing with his senses unimpaired, and he comprehended it fully ... whereas other prophets fell on their faces in a state of exhaustion and did not obtain a perfectly clear message." The words of their prophecies were unclear riddles, unlike Moshe's singularly unique prophecy.

Singular Word. Earlier in the parashah (Bamidbar 9:2), we also find the word במועדו meaning "in its appointed time". This word (במועדו) which the Divine spoke to Moshe mouth to mouth, itself is connected to prophecy (nevuah). With a gematria of 128, it is the im hakolel (mispar musaphi) of the number of years (127) in the life of Sarah Imeinu, the prophetess whose Torah Aur illumines Gan Eden.

High Holy One. The Hebrew name Sarah שׂרה means "woman of high rank", and (see link) is "sometimes translated as Goddess or High Holy One."

Vision. The prophet Yishayahu (51:2) exhorts us to look to our mother Sarah. Happiness and joy abide with Her, where thanksgiving and the sound of music can be heard. Through Her emanates Light among peoples.

Torah Aur. Taken together, through the Divine Word במועדו, the prophecy of Moshe Rabbeinu and Sarah Imeinu are identified as uniquely and singularly One, mouth to mouth.

Technorati tags: Torah Talmud Torah Judaism Kabbalah jewish mysticism mysticism jewish meditation meditation shamanism kabbalah iyunit kabbalah maasit witchcraft jewitchery jewitch witch sacred feminine divine feminine shechinah lilith spiritual development spirituality kosher spirituality Sarah Imeinu Torah aur prophecy nevuah prophecy of Moshe prophetess atik yomin yachid

Memorial Day Blessing

May the Divine One guard, guide and bless those who defend, guard and protect our freedom.

Life Is Good, Finally

ח' בסיון תשס"ז

I'm exhausted. I'm also thrilled with my new job. I like all the people there. I like the work. I like my co-workers. I like my boss. She is incredibly intelligent, professional and well-mannered. I like the rural area too.

I don't know what it is, but when I'm there, it brings out some association I have from when I was a little girl. I feel "clean" there. I feel happy there. I actually smile because I feel like smiling. The whole atmosphere brings out the good in me. And that is not an easy thing to do.

Life is finally bright and getting better.

This job is such a beautiful blessing.

Sderot Woman Killed By Kassam

ד' בסיון תשס"ז

JPost reports today:

As the IDF pushed ahead with its campaign against Kassam squads on Monday, a 35-year-old woman was killed in Sderot when a salvo of rockets pounded the western Negev and one hit her car.

Shortly after 8 p.m., five rockets were fired from Gaza and one struck the woman's car near Sderot's commercial center. She died en route to hospital, becoming the first Israeli to die in a rocket attack since November. Two other people were wounded in the attack, one moderately and the other lightly, and were evacuated to Ashkelon's Barzilai Hospital.

Read full article at link above.

Technorati tags: terrorism middle east Israel Sderot news

Haveil Havalim #117 Hosted At Jack's Shack

ג' בסיון תשס"ז

Haveil Havalim #117 has been hosted and published this week over at Jack's Shack.

I actually made my first submission to the Haveil Havalim carnival today. I also learned something new today - one can submit blog entries from blogs not their own. Duh! (I appreciate the link to my entry, Pakistan May Ignite Major War, but I didn't submit the post from my blog that's been linked in HH #17. Consequently, I'm curious as to why someone submitted that particular post. Oh, well.)

There is a cool Drive-In sign gracing this week's roundup. I am old enough to remember going to Drive-In movies. Yes, they were fun. I loved going to Drive-In movies. Every time I would go to one as a little girl, my parents would buy my brother and I a chocolate malt cup. The Drive-In where I grew up even had a swing set and small playground up near the large screen where all the kids could play before the movie started or if they became bored with the movie. Ah, those were the days!

Terrorism & Crime Wars

ג' בסיון תשס"ז

An interesting article about terrorism, crime lords and war by Robert Avrech over at Seraphic Secret: The In-Between War.

Related reading: Carl in Jerusalem of Israel Matzav on Being Bearded In Gaza Is Dangerous.

Hat-tip to Mystical Paths for link to Robert's article.

Technorati tags: terrorism crime wars Hamas Fatah middle east Gaza Israel

Soul Witness

ג' בסיון תשס"ז

Elisheva comments regarding previous entries concerning the sotah that correctly the woman is accused by the husband, rather than accusing of the husband as I wrote it. Let me clarify - when I write an "accusing" wife, what I mean is that the woman is "accusing" this man of being her true husband (bashert) before the heavenly Judge. I do not mean that the woman is a shrill hag of a wife who incessantly nags her husband.

Both accusing and accused fit my view of the sotah ritual. The woman is "accusing" the man of being her true husband. Likewise, the woman has been "accused" by the man of being his true wife.

Both are finally brought before the heavenly Judge in consequence to some action on the man's part (we can pretty much figure out a typical "jealous action", I think). The man "accuses" the woman of being his true wife before the heavenly prosecutor, in his own defense (of his action). Yet, he is powerless to defend himself. She must defend him. Consequently, she is summoned and brought before the heavenly Kohen (defense attorney) in consequence to the man's attempted self-defense before the prosecutor. This is how the man "brings his wife" before the Kohen. It isn't literal. It is his "jealous" action and attempted defense of himself which sets into motion the consequence of the woman being brought before the Kohen. All of this is occurring in the supernal realms.

The sotah ritual does not pertain to an actual husband-wife relationship in the normal sense. In the real relationship sense, a wife isn't really "accused" by her husband or "accusing" of her husband in some literal manner. The sotah dynamic occurs in the supernal realms where some "cleaving" interaction between the two souls causes both souls to be brought before the supernal Judge. The heavenly prosecutor, in effect, accuses both of them of impropriety (via the cleaving of their souls together). In other words, the sotah ritual is one whereby both a man and a woman in the realm of the soul are judged. However, significantly, only the woman's "testimony" (through the effects of the ritual) is able to either condemn or exonerate both (they are not or are "bashert"). He is powerless to exonerate them. She holds all the power here, despite the awfulness of performing the ritual.

The sotah ritual is a test to determine true bashert. The heavenly prosecutor is basically accusing the man of (spiritual) "adultery" with a woman (and vice versa). To be "cleared", it must be determined whether or not these two souls are truly bashert. The woman must be able to clear the man's "accused sin" (with her spiritually) and if she can and will, she is his true wife. If not, she dies to him. And while the text may not say so explicitly, he dies to her as well.

The sotah ritual has nothing to do with normative human husband-wife relationships. In the sotah ritual, both the man and the woman are "fighting for their lives" against the heavenly prosecutor. The woman and the Kohen are the defense team. The man is the primary defendant. The woman is a secondary defendant and the sole accepted witness.

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Sderot Remains Under Missile Bombardment

ג' בסיון תשס"ז

Aussie Dave at Israellycool is blogging today's news updates of the situation in Sderot.

Technorati tags: terrorism middle east Israel Sderot news

Essential Fountain Of Wisdom

ג' בסיון תשס"ז

As I was installing Technorati Authority blog widgets onto Walking On Fire and Craftwork Of A Jewitch, an interesting synchronicity emerged between the authority values and this afternoon's entry - Bitter Waters, Waters Of Transformation (concerning the ordeal of the sotah).

The two authority values (at this moment in time) are:

Walking On Fire = 40
Craftwork Of A Jewitch = 26

40 pertains to the letter mem (מם) and water; specifically to the waters (מם) of Torah Wisdom, both in its esoteric and exoteric dimensions. The minimum amount of water needed for a kosher mikveh is 40 seah.

26 is the gematria of the Essential Divine Name (יהוה).

Both the "waters" and the Essential Divine Name are fundamental elements of the sotah ritual, as discussed in today's previous entry (linked above). This synchronicity of fundamental elements and authority values is further evidence that my current writings are the end result of a rectifying catharsis (poetically documented) of emotion and intellect, and a continuing Divine Catharsis of intellect and religious experience as discussed in the previous entry, Catharsis Of Total Existential Experience (as explained in the lectures of Rav Soloveitchik).

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Bitter Waters, Waters Of Transformation

ב' בסיון תשס"ז

My previous entry, Catharsis Of The Sotah, discussed the ordeal of bitter waters which exonerates or condemns the sotah, an accusing wife. What are these bitter waters (מי המרים)?

Rabbi Akiva said to them [prior to their ascension]: "When you come to the place of pure marble stones, do not say, 'Water! Water!' (4 Who Entered The Pardes)

מי המרים is a permutation of מיים המר

Significantly, there are two letters yod (יי) in the transforming permutation for "waters" (מיים). This contrasts the singular yod in each of the two words comprising "bitter waters" (מי המרים), where "bitter waters" corresponds to water! water! Two ideas come to mind regarding the two letters yod of the transformation.

First, יי is shorthand for the Essential Divine Name. Consequently, the waters of the transformation contain the Essence of the Divine.

Second, יי implies involvement and catharsis of both the ruach and the neshamah levels of the soul. Through the ordeal of bitter waters, the Essential Name acts to purify and clear the emotive and intellectual faculties of the woman. As indicated in the previous entry, the purification will end in one of two ways - transformation or death.

המר is a "pit emptied of heaps of earth" [1]. In other words, it is a well (for containing water) emptied of (unclean) dirt. This contrasts to the permutation מרה which means "oppose", "bitterness" and "rebelling" [1], all characteristics of the sotah prior to initiation and successful completion of the ritual ordeal. Thus, המר describes a woman emptied of bitterness.

Taken together, the bitter waters (מי המרים) are also the waters of emptying bitterness (מיים המר) and contain within them the method by which a woman is emptied of bitterness through the cleansing action of Essential Divine Name.

Significantly, it is a woman's true husband (from some level) who brings her to this place of transformation or death. The bitter waters are those which belong to her husband. In the process of transformation, not only are the masculine "waters" cleared, but the feminine "dirt" is also cleared. Consequently, the sotah ritual not only rectifies the woman herself, but is an important rectification of the masculine (which the woman performs on behalf of her husband) as well.

Footnote:

[1] Etymological Dictionary Of Biblical Hebrew, R. Matityahu Clark

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