Elul - Week 4
Rabbi Yael Levy is posting a teaching for each week of Elul that builds on the theme “Eyes on Life.” In the first week of the month, we began taking an accounting of the soul. The second week's teaching urged us to return to awareness of the interconnectedness of all life. Last week, we worked on guiding our psychic space.
Elul, Week 4: Setting an Intention
As we come to the fourth week of Elul and the last week of 5777, let us pause in gratitude for this year of life. Acknowledging the pain, disappointments and difficulties, and aware of the tremendous blessing of being alive, let us give thanks.
As we raise our eyes to 5778, we acknowledge that we do not know what this New Year will hold. We do not know what gifts we will receive, what challenges we will face. We do not know what will be asked of us, or where or how we will be called.
So let us set an intention of what qualities we want to place before our eyes to help direct our energy and attention, so that what ever arises, whatever we encounter, we will be able to meet the moment well.
In the traditional t’fillat ha derech—the Prayer for the Path -- that we are called to say whenever we set out on a journey, one of the requests we make is, “May I be seen with eyes of grace, loving kindness and compassion.”
As we journey into 5778 we ask ourselves: How do I want to be seen, and how do I want to see the world?
As we know, it is all too easy to harden our hearts out of fear, sadness and pain and, as a result, we close our eyes and turn away.
The world needs our energy, our strength and our love. The world needs our courage and faith, our willingness and generosity. The world needs us to live with eyes wide open and to step forward and shine.
As we enter this last week of the year, let us take the time to ask ourselves: what qualities, what intentions, will I place before my eyes that will call me forward, that will guide me in turning toward the fullness of life and inspire me to offer my gifts and blessings for the benefit of all?
We could say to ourselves:
I will see the world through eyes of love, through eyes of compassion, through eyes of curiosity, wonder, amazement or trust.
We could say: I will see the good, the beauty, the possibilities.
I will see the life force in all the world.
Once a quality or intention arises, write it down and take it with you on Rosh HaShanah. Sometime during the holiday, look at your intention and ask for help to place this intention before your eyes and to return to it again and again as 5778 unfolds.
We need each other more than ever. Let us lift our eyes, turn toward 5778 and do our best to meet whatever unfolds with courage, kindness and love.
A Prayer for the Journey
May the One that flows through all creation lead us toward wholeness and peace.
May we go forward in peace.
May each footstep be walked in the way of peace.
Let our paths be protected and all our journeys be safe.
May great blessings come through the work of our hands.
May we be seen with eyes of grace, love and compassion.
And may we see the world through eyes of grace, love and compassion.
Let our deepest values and visions find voice.
Blessed is the Mystery that calls us present.
Blessed is the open heart that listens.
Practice for the Fourth Week of Elul
Compassion Meditation—Blessing Practice
Taking our seats, letting the attention rest on the breath, we set an intention to send loving-kindness and goodness into the world.
Beginning with ourselves—feeling the breath move throughout the body, we offer this prayer:
May I be blessed with love.
May I be blessed with peace.
May I be blessed with well-being.
We then call to heart/mind someone with whom we have an easy and loving relationship and we say for this person:
May you be blessed with love.
May you be blessed with peace.
May you be blessed with well-being.
We then call to awareness someone we expect to encounter today and we say for this person:
May you be blessed with love,
May you be blessed with peace,
May you be blessed with well-being
Next, we bring to heart/mind someone with whom we are having a difficult time and there is a need for healing or forgiveness between us. And we say for this person:
May you be blessed with love,
May you be blessed with peace,
May you be blessed with well-being.
We then invite six more people to arise in our hearts and minds and say these blessings in turn for each of them. We take notice of who arrives to receive a blessing and how it feels to focus our attention on each person. We might have an experience in which a person arises in our hearts/minds and our inclination is to not want to offer her/him a blessing. When this happens, it is important to make a compassionate choice. It is OK to let a person go, knowing there will be another time when we can more freely offer a blessing.
After the tenth person, we close the sit by saying:
May all beings be blessed with love,
May all beings be blessed with peace,
May all beings be blessed with well-being.
Here is a wonderful song performed live by Natalie Merchant, These are the Days.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23YVo2j5SN4
Enjoy the music, the energy and the joy it offers.
Rabbi Yael Levy