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Mystical Musical Meditations in Jerusalem |
8 LIGHTS HEALING MEDITATIONS
We find ourselves in the darkest and coldest time of year
The Chanukah story stands at the historical precipice of the longest of exiles
The picture of tiny Chanukah lights shining in this vast darkness represents the essential picture of our people and our legacy
We are the most despised of peoples, ultimately destined to be the most beloved, a light to the nations
We are presently analogous to the moon, ultimately destined to shine like the sun
We are the prisoners of a seeming endless exile, ultimately destined to be redeemed in an eternal redemption
We are the people who have mastered the art of integrating spiritual light into materialistic darkness
The purpose of the following 8 meditations (parallel to the eight lights/days of Chanukah) is to tap into 8 essential Chanukah lessons or points of empowerment, and to draw this light into the cold and darkness of the upcoming months of our lives
1. AIN BRAIRA - NO CHOICE LIGHT
KNOW that the Maccabees, a single family, upon being presented with the options offered to them at the time by the Greeks –namely, to give up the essential elements of Judaism in exchange for their lives subjected to a Greek outlook on life, realized that they had NO CHOICE but to wage war against the entire Greek Empire, and eventually they won.
LIGHT UP that area of your life that is darkened by an intolerable situation, a situation that leaves you NO CHOICE but to put a stop to the way things are presently happening. You can come to such a decision by driving into yourself, the impact, that this intolerable situation has upon you, until you just can’t take it any longer. When you’ve come to a firm resolution, then just let yourself receive from Hashem an alternative way that will light up the upcoming months of your life.
2. HEKAIR HAUBAR - RECOGNIZING THE FETUS LIGHT
KNOW that the part of the year stretching from Rosh Hashanah until Pesach parallels a pregnancy, beginning with conception and ending with birth. Chanukah corresponds to the phase where the pregnancy is recognized, in other words, our year’s agenda or plan or fate is now visible, and we become aware of where we are and where we could or should be going.
LIGHT UP the unknown direction of where your life is at
presently and where it is headed, by contemplating at this auspicious time,
what you have accomplished or become so far this year. Be grateful. Allow
yourself to receive Hashem’s loving and nurturing guidance and providence to
become even better, and light up the rest of this pregnancy process that you
are going through---all the way through birth and beyond.
3. OHR HAGANUZ - THE HIDDEN LIGHT
KNOW that we light on the 8 nights Chanukah 36 lights altogether. These lights correspond to the first 36 hours of Creation, that Adam with the aid of the OHR HAGANUZ was able to see from one end of time and space to the other. These lights also correspond to the 36 Hidden Tzadikim that draw upon the Ohr Ganuz in their holy task of holding up spiritually the entire Universe.
3. OHR HAGANUZ - THE HIDDEN LIGHT
KNOW that we light on the 8 nights Chanukah 36 lights altogether. These lights correspond to the first 36 hours of Creation, that Adam with the aid of the OHR HAGANUZ was able to see from one end of time and space to the other. These lights also correspond to the 36 Hidden Tzadikim that draw upon the Ohr Ganuz in their holy task of holding up spiritually the entire Universe.
LIGHT UP your own potential portion of the Ohr Haganuz. Begin
to do this by expanding the way that you perceive time and space, expanding
your perceptions to go beyond just the narrow perception that most people grasp.
Also do this by delving so deep into what you encounter in life that you begin
to tap into the essence of the essence. Project how you will be able to connect
to this Ohr Ganuz bit by bit, day by day in the next few months, with the help
of the One Above.
4. OHR BACHOSHECH - LIGHT IN THE DARK
KNOW what our Sages teach us about the contribution of the Greek civilization, that relative to true light, it is nothing but darkness. And know that the legacy of our people is the holy task of bringing light into the darkness, and as such, we are constantly occupied with seeing light in the midst of all kinds of darkness.
LIGHT UP the darkness of your life, whether it be the darkness of being unclear about who you are or where you are going, or the darkness of the pain involved in suffering and despair. Light it up with Hashem's Divine Light, a light that is filled with love and compassion and healing and guidance, a light that when it encounters any type of darkness, lights it up. Bring this light into your life and see how it increase in magnitude from day to day and month to month.
5. HOD - ENABLING GLORY LIGHT
KNOW that Chanukah represents our annual inoculation of the
Sefirotic trait HOD, the trait of enabling and empowerment, Chanukah Hod
is all about enabling the Jewish glory, the glory that was so apparent in the
victories of the Maccabees and in the victories of the righteous over the
wicked and light over darkness.
LIGHT UP your life by enabling and empowering the Jewish heritage that is your
inheritance. Enable and empower your Torah and your Kedusha, two of the most
powerful and glorious blessings that we as a people possess. Look deep into
your life and find what you can do to bring out the greatness of your Jewish
practices and beliefs and observances and wisdom. Enable others to shine in
this glory that is available to them as well. See how this glory will become
more and more apparent with the passage of time.
6. HAROE ET HANOLAD - SEEING THE UNSEEN LIGHT
KNOW that one of the most striking differences between the Greek world outlook and our own is the fact that they would say, “What you see is what you get,” and we say, “What you don’t see is what you get.” We look for not only what meets the physical eye, but also what meets the spiritual eye, that which exists now as well as that which is to exist in the future.
6. HAROE ET HANOLAD - SEEING THE UNSEEN LIGHT
KNOW that one of the most striking differences between the Greek world outlook and our own is the fact that they would say, “What you see is what you get,” and we say, “What you don’t see is what you get.” We look for not only what meets the physical eye, but also what meets the spiritual eye, that which exists now as well as that which is to exist in the future.
LIGHT UP the unseen aspects of your life, those that
are only accessible when you look through your spiritual eyes. See what the
Soul sees. See all of the invisible ifluences at play in any and every
situation. See that which will be born out of the present circumstances. See a
person, not only for who they are now, but who they ultimately will be. See
yourself able to see in more hidden dimensions as time goes by.
7. TOV L’HODOT - IT’S GOOD TO GIVE THANKS LIGHT
KNOW that part of the essence of Chanukah’s sefirotic trait, HOD, is (rooted in the word itself-Hod) perhaps the most fundamental aspect of human relations, which is saying thank you.
KNOW that part of the essence of Chanukah’s sefirotic trait, HOD, is (rooted in the word itself-Hod) perhaps the most fundamental aspect of human relations, which is saying thank you.
LIGHT UP all of those who you encounter in life, by
expressing thanks. Say thank you to the people in your life as much as possible.
Say thank you to Hashem for giving all the manifold blessings that surround you
at all times. Say thank you to those who normally would not hear a thank you
from you. Say thank you more and more until you begin to see how much you truly
have to be thankful for.
8. MOED - APPOINTED
TIMES LIGHT
KNOW that Jewish time is synonymous with soul perfection. Just as Chanukah is an opportunity for us to perfect certain areas of our lives, so it is with every MOED. Not only is it the case with every Moed, but the same is true for every day and every part of the day, every component of time offers unique opportunities for personal growth, healing and rectification.
KNOW that Jewish time is synonymous with soul perfection. Just as Chanukah is an opportunity for us to perfect certain areas of our lives, so it is with every MOED. Not only is it the case with every Moed, but the same is true for every day and every part of the day, every component of time offers unique opportunities for personal growth, healing and rectification.
LIGHT UP the dimension of Time in your life. See every new time slot as an opportunity for a unique opportunity to grow and perfect yourself. See every Shabbat as an opportunity to taste and internalize future bliss. Be aware and sensitive to each and every time frame, with its unique energies, and draw those energies into your lives as much as you can. See yourself becoming more and more time sensitive as time goes on.
Have a happy and light-filled Chanukah and may we all draw the light into the coming months.
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