6th week of the Omer

The evening of May 25th,
began the sixth week of the Counting of the Omer.
This is the week of
Yesod.
Yesod is usually translated as fundament,
the fundamentals.
It is the center and centering place
(purple sphere in the above illustration)
in our Tree of Life.

Sunday evening
Day 1) Hesed of Yesod:
In our deepest center, there are still times when circumstances will lead us to the right or left. Sometimes, while staying balanced we are pulled gently to the side of mercy.

Monday evening
Day 2) Gevurah of Yesod:
Other times the pull is not so gentle as we feel the need to exert our inner power over outer circumstances

Tuesday evening
Day 3) Tif'eret of Yesod:
Just as with walking, though we are pulled in one direction or another, there is a moment when the balance is complete, upper and lower, beauty and foundation, all are in harmony and balance.

Wednesday evening
Day 4) Netzah of Yesod:
There are moments that call out for action. If we are balanced, prepared, centered, our action is true and victory is assured.

Thursday evening
Day 5) Hod of Yesod:
And there are moments for quiet, for the being rather than the doing. Here too, when in harmony with our inner world, when in balance with our outer world, there are moments of meditation that are fulfilling, filled with humble mindfulness.

Friday evening
Day 6) Yesod of Yesod:
Centering and centering and centering. We sink into our fundament, we return to fundamentals. Our roots take hold in our ancient sacred past and insight stretchs into the future. Deep into the earth and high into the heavens our Tree of Life grows in both directions touching heaven to earth.

Saturday evening
Day 7) Malchut of Yesod:
All is like a dream until the moment of action. Our branches weave back and forth in the breeze of life between doing and being, between compassion and judgement until the moment for movement. Then in centeredness we leap whole-heartedly into the arena of action.

7th week of the Counting of the Omer

The evening of June 1st, began the seventh and final week of the Counting of the Omer. This is the week of Malchut. Malchut is usually translated as Kingdom or realm. This is the jumping off point for life in the realm of Assiyah, action. Sunday evening Day 1) Hesed of Malchut: As we prepare to leave the time of Omer counting, we invoke the compassion that we have practiced in our hearts and bring it forth into the reality of our daily lives. Monday evening Day 2) Gevurah of Malchut: So many temptations face us in our daily lives. There are so many excuses. But for every missed opportunity there are far reaching consequences. Gevurah demands that we take control of our own lives, grabbing with gusto every opportunity for growth. Tuesday evening Day 3) Tif'eret of Malchut: In the realm of Assiyah/Action we need to walk in gentle balance between compassion for all earthlings and the discipline to live according to a code of right and wrong. Balance is the key to living mindfully and fully. Wednesday evening Day 4) Netzah of Malchut: Victory in this world comes with effort and inspiration. Netzah is the Sefirah of effort in the realm or reality. Thursday evening Day 5) Hod of Malchut: And the other side of the coin is inspiration. Hod inspiration, the moments of quiet insight is the blessing not of inaction but of mindfulness. Friday evening Day 6) Yesod of Malchut: Again we seek the balance between doing and being. There are times in this realm when we are called to deeds. There are other times when we feel the inner call, the call to discernment. Saturday evening Day 7) Malchut of Malchut: The moment before we enter into the realm, reality is upon us. We have walked for 48 days in the wilderness. Now there is nothing left to prepare. Now we stand on Sinai, ready to be offered Torah. And if we have done our internal homework, we are ready to recieve Torah as well.

5th week of the Omer

The evening of May 18th, began the fifth week of the Counting of the Omer. This is the week of Hod. Hod is usually translated as Humility and Splendor. Hod is the being of life. It is those moments when we stop the doing and begin the being. Sunday evening Day 1) Hesed of Hod: The day of the humility of compassion. In silence we sit and feel the awe of all that has come to pass, all that is passing and all that will come to pass. Monday evening Day 2) Gevurah of Hod: It is not easy to sit. It is not an easy task to refrain from 'tasking' ourselves. It takes discipline and inner power to sit mindfully in utter awareness of the awe that flows. Tuesday evening Day 3) Tif'eret of Hod: There is a gentle beauty to sitting mindfully. We stop the doing and focus on the being-awareness that all life is fleeting and yet never-ending. Wednesday evening Day 4) Netzah of Hod: Even in our time of being there is a sense of the doing. We sit within and without delving into our soul with the challenge to bring into the world that which is hidden deep within our souls. Thursday evening Day 5) Hod of Hod: Gentle breeze flowing through the grass, birds on the wing, the sweet smell of the wildflowers as we drift between wakefulness and sleep. Our minds totally at peace, our soul gently swaying in the breeze. Friday evening Day 6) Yesod of Hod: Yes, we lie in the soft bed of grass dozing and 'dazing.' And yet, deep within, hiding at the edge of consciousness, there is the awareness that even as we lie in that lazy hazy daze of glory, we are on the crust of a spinning globe hurtling through the universe, the soul of G. Saturday evening Day 7) Malchut of Hod: Gently we rise and enter the world carrying our delicate sense of being, the splender that is all life. We pray that the dust and grime of the realm of this reality will not hide from our hearts this moment of mystery.

4th week of the Omer

The evening of May 11th,
began the fourth week of the Counting of the Omer.
This is the week of Netzach.
Netzach is usually translated as 'Victory'.
Netzah is about activating our victory
over the surface self.

Sunday evening
Day 1) Hesed of Netzach:
With compassion we look within, becoming aware of the need to battle the shallow and callow in our lives.

Monday evening
Day 2) Gevurah of Netzach:
This becomes our day of discipline.
We map our strategy for victory over the baser instincts, as we plan our battle to elevate our soul.

Tuesday evening
Day 3) Tif'eret of Netzach:
Balance is the key to victory.
We must balance our unconditional love with our inner power to face the hard challenges of enlightened evolution of the soul.

Wednesday evening
Day 4) Netzah of Netzach:
We gird our loins for the battle ahead.
Gathering courage and strength to look deep within, we remember the Samurai dictum:
"Even after the battle, tighten your armor!"

Thursday evening
Day 5) Hod of Netzach:
Visualize the victory.
We see with our soul's eyes, that which we wish to accomplish. We take a moment to bask in the glory of our goal.

Friday evening
Day 6) Yesod of Netzach:
Seeing the goal, we prepare for the victory that comes with awe and awareness.

Saturday evening
Day 7) Malchut of Netzach:
CHARGE!!!
No more planning, no more waiting.
"Doing it makes it happen!"