The 7th and final week as we count up to Shavuot: the week of Malchut. The definition of Malchut is sovereignty. It reflects the culmination as in manifestation or expression. It is the stage of coming into physical reality. Our way of looking at the Sefirot flow has been the Read more…
This week is the penultimate week of the Sefirah count—the week of Yesod. While Yesod means foundation, it is understood as truth or integrity. These meanings are very helpful when looking at the Sefirot system as a process of change—now we must ‘measure’ our sincerity about changing in the light 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…
Where are we as we enter the week of Hod? Our blueprint is designed (though it may have been altered during the week of Netzach as we looked at obstacles that need to be overcome). Netzach is active trust—trust in one’s own capacities and in working with others to overcome Read more…
Your blueprint is set down on paper and you have “signed off.” A blueprint or plan though is just a map, an outline for growth. You may have started down a path and begin to see the obstacles that you encounter or create. Choices abound and there are many potential Read more…
“Crystallize your goals. Make a plan for achieving them and set yourself a deadline. Then, with supreme confidence, determination and disregard for obstacles and other people’s criticisms, carry out your plan.” Paul Meyer This week of Tiferet (the third week of the count) is our time to create a plan Read more…
“Crystallize your goals. Make a plan for achieving them and set yourself a deadline. Then, with supreme confidence, determination and disregard for obstacles and other people’s criticisms, carry out your plan.” Paul Meyer This is the week of Tiferet (Day 15 is Chesed in Tiferet which starts Saturday night and Read more…
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not. Genius will not. Education will not. Persistence and determination alone will solve the problems of the human race.” Calvin Coolidge
This second week of the counting of the Omer (taking us from Day 8-Day 14) is connected to the Sefirah of Gevurah. Gevurah literally means strength although in Kabbalah it is usually seen as the strength of setting limits or boundaries. As Gevurah sits opposite Chesed (the Sefirah of unbounded love) Gevurah is often interpreted as love through saying, “No.” In other words, setting limits can also be a way to express love.
As we are using the counting of the Omer this year to change ourselves—a behavior, attitude, or identity, our learning about Gevurah reflects the intention of this Sefirah as “determination” to change. Next week, the Sefirah of Tiferet will present the opportunity for making a plan for change.
Our preparation for change during the first week of the count focused on the love we have for ourselves. We looked at how love is an important (starting) aspect of change—love for self is requisite for change to have a lasting impact. If love is one “wing” for change then determination is the other “wing.” (more…)
A reminder: As many have asked—we count each day of the Omer starting at nightfall. So, the first day of the week of Gevurah will start this Saturday night (and the entire next day until nightfall on Sunday is Day 8). If you forget to count one (entire) day you continue to count—each day is a day unto itself (though the tradition is that if you miss a day you don’t count with a blessing but just count the day—this could be seen as a consequence for not being mindful—you missed an opportunity so remember that you missed an opportunity—so count, but without a blessing).
This week is the week of Gevurah. Last year we focused on Gevurah as loss of love, or how one can be self-reliant and determined and not fear independence. As this year our focus is on change—and the following week (Tiferet) will be when we set the stage for change by creating the blueprint/plan for change—this week is still preparation for the plan of change.
We now move from contemplating the feelings of the love of self and others (the first week of Chesed) as a motivation for change to the determination and discipline to change. Gevurah in this way represents our ability to step back, set limits, and create space for change.
Counting of the Omer Week Two: Gevurah = Strength and focus.
“One has to be determined to change.” (more…)
This current week of the counting the Omer is the week of Chesed (the day to day intention is included in the more detailed blog).
This week of Chesed is a reflection on love—our capacity for love, how we share it, how we can lose our balance in love and how it serves us to change ourselves.
In the book “The Five Languages of Love” author Gary Chapman provides the types of love he sees as vital to relationships and which he sees as the source of mismatches that often can create a block in a relationship—I want to be loved this way and you love me this way. (more…)
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