Wednesday, May 16, 2007

The Things Are Mine

Today is the forty-fourth day, which is six weeks and two days, of the Omer. Today is Gevurah of Malkhut. All our actions this day are influenced by our emotionally holding back. The aspect of judgment causes us to view everything critically and harshly and we are not disposed to grant any favors.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Being Nice to Everything

Today is the forty-third day, which is six weeks and one day, of the Omer. Today is Chesed of Malkhut. This is when we show kindness in all our dealings in this world.

Monday, May 14, 2007

Can You Repeat That In English?

Today is the forty-second day, which is six weeks, of the Omer. The essence of today is Malkhut of Yesod. This one is pretty esoteric. Yesod is the interface between our potentialities and our actualities. It takes our emotions and drives and transitions them into the physical actions and interactions of this world. Malkhut is this world and the receptacle for all the Divine energies. So Malkhut of Yesod would be the final or physical aspect of all our potential interactions.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Go In Beauty

Today is the thirty-eighth day, which is five weeks and three days, of the Omer. Today is Tiferet of Yesod. We are perfectly balanced emotionally in all our personal interactions today.

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Step Back

Today is the thirty-seventh day, which is five weeks and two days, of the Omer. Today is Gevurah of Yesod.
This is the emotional restraint, or holding back, that we sometimes exhibit in our interactions with those around us.

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Be Excellent to Each Other

Today is the thirty-sixth day, which is five weeks and one day, of the Omer. It is Chesed of Yesod.
Since Yesod is the interface of the higher worlds with this world, it is also the interface of our drives and emotions with the world and people that surrounds us. Chesed of Yesod would be how we exhibit the quality of mercy when we interact with the world.

Monday, May 07, 2007

Islands in the Stream

Today is the thirty-fifth day, which is five weeks, of the Omer. Today is Malkhut of Hod.
This how our sense of determination/resistance manifests in the world. Do we move through life with “irrational exuberance”, or do we make judicious use of our sense of holding back to ease the intensity of our Netzachian persistence. Do we hold out against all progress, firmly fixed in our current and past positions, stone-like, or do we allow the rushing river to move us forward.

Meat is Murder

Kitzur Schulchan Aruch 59:13
It is customary to say to one who puts on a new garment: “Mayest thou wear it out and acquire a new one.” But we do not express this wish to one who puts on new shoes or a new garment made of fur or leather, even if the fur or leather be sewn beneath the cloth, and even if they come of an unclean animal because a garment like this requires the killing of a living creature, and it is written: “And His mercy is upon all His works.”

Because I am getting ready to spend a month out in the woods with the Little Rebbetzin my environmentalist sensibilities are stirring, so when I read the above portion of the Schulchan Aruch I recalled an interview about Margaret Thatcher, the former Prime Minister of England, and how she was espousing fairly radical environmental policies. Then the interviewee stated “Still, I don’t think we will be seeing her on the news, wearing a black ski mask and running out of a research laboratory with a beagle under each arm.” That is an image that I have always enjoyed, and if it would only hold true for some world leaders there might just be a few less monster suburban assault vehicles, with all leather interiors, on the road.

Thursday, May 03, 2007

Holding at the Center

Today is the thirty-first day, which is four weeks and three days, of the Omer. Today is Tiferet of Hod. Today when exercising determination it is from the emotional center, it is not full of regrets about the course of inaction that is being taken, Chesed, nor is it completely unconcerned with its impact on others, Gevurah. It is strong willed determination yet aware of the effects that it will have on others.

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Putting Your Foot Down

Today is the thirtieth day, which is four weeks and two days, of the Omer. The essence of the day is Gevurah of Hod. This is harsh resistance to action, by following strict judgment you have decided to become a complete impediment to any forward progress along the path that you oppose. This is really slamming your foot down. An interesting discussion of slamming your foot down can be found on onion soup mix. Further discussed at midianite manna and rabbi without a cause. Obviously this sort of action might have undesirable consequences.

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Putting the Best Foot Forward

Today is the twenty-ninth day, which is four weeks and one day, of the Omer. The essence of the day is Chesed of Hod. When the sefirot are arranged in the form of Adam Kadmon, the divine man, the sefirot of Netzach and Hod represent the right and left feet respectively. Whereas Netzach represented pushing ahead, stepping forward; Hod is more stepping back, or restraining the forward movement, putting the foot down. It is determination in the sense of “I am determined that I am not going to do that.”
Chesed of Hod is the difference between “We are not going to the park today, and I don’t want to hear any more about it,” and “We can’t go to the park today because everything there is wet because of the rain.”