Melanie Gruenwald

Hod tempers the determination so doubt can yet again have a foothold (a heel hold) as one faces obstacles or outcomes that seem intractable to change.  The war rages on with Amalek (doubt) and yet we can suspend our need to have the outcome look just one way.  Perhaps Amalek Read more…

The determination of Yesod is bolstered by the energy of Netzach to overcome any and all obstacles. Self-doubt is removed through the awareness that all can be accomplished even though the obstacles may now seem even more infinite as seen through the filter of doubt. There are many ways to Read more…

Take out the blueprint and look at it in light of the doubt you have experienced over the last two days. Now is not the time to evaluate the plan as much as it is to evaluate your determination and doubt.  The meditation for today is coming to peace with Read more…

Gevurah is self-determination, self-definition.  Today it is time to limit doubt—understanding that you are limited but you can still affect the change.  Knowing who you are defines yourself and your limitations and it also creates an awareness that there are new capabilities, new possibilities yet to emerge.  There can be Read more…

Chesed is an energy that is expansive.  The opening day of this week brings us face to face with self-doubt. Am I capable of this change—can I truly change?  After all—this is a pretty large (expansive) task for one person (or for a person who does not yet see themselves Read more…

It is now the beginning of the 6th week as we count up to Shavuot and this week is Yesod. Over the past two weeks we have moved from looking at obstacles that need to be overcome (Netzach) to surrendering or at least suspending our notions of what the outcome Read more…

This week is a week of surrender. On this day the Israelites went out and found a double portion of manna in the desert. God was instructing them further that the day after would be observed as Shabbat. Following our theme what is being emphasized is that our plans are Read more…

For each week’s Sefirah you can ask yourself on this day of Yesod, have I done the inner work needed…to acknowledge my limits and to implement my (evolving) blueprint for change? Yesod as foundation is be in integrity with the challenges of wanting greater or faster change and admitting limits Read more…

Today is called Lag B’Omer—the 33rd day of the Omer. It is the day that according to tradition Rabbi Shimeon bar Yochai, the great mystic of the first century died. His students wanted him to hold on—to not surrender to death. On his deathbed he revealed secrets he had not Read more…

Can I overcome the need for overcoming?  Just surrender.  Netzach is subordinate to Hod. Sometimes our plans and the vision of our blueprint depend on knowing that we can act, that we can and will overcome. When we now realize that our blueprint has changed we need to overcome our Read more…