Saturday, April 25, 2020. We met in our “new normal” this morning, faces masked, each of us leaning against a wide-spaced gazebo post. It was nevertheless a beautiful morning, clear, and reassuring to be in each others’ presence. The virus that surrounds us was not far from us and our conversation, but we talked of resilience, and discipline in compassion, our loved ones and those affected by the current crisis not far from our thoughts.
Linda brought us some helpful thoughts for the month. According to our source Mindy Ribner, Iyyar’s energy is of healing — the body, heart and soul. In purification and clearing contamination, we let go of what does not support our well-being. The Torah readings this month are concerned with “ta’ameh”, or ritual impurity – removing it from our homes, or demolishing homes that cannot be purified. The Torah also speaks of the necessary separation of community members who are afflicted, and the community’s celebration of their return.
Of course we can recognize our current concern with physical and bodily cleanliness against viral contamination – but we also can consider this idea on a deeper level, thinking about the purification of our reactions and responses to stress, within ourselves, and within our relationships. How can we care for ourselves and our relationships, perhaps honoring the reaction of which we are less than proud, and working toward healing?
Iyyar is also the month which is entirely within the counting of the Omer – the forty-nine days between Passover and Shavuot. According to Kabbalistic tradition, each of the seven weeks has a theme or intention for meditation, and each day of each week has its intention laid over that. (See our source Simon Jacobson for day-to-day meditations). Yesterday, the sixteenth day of the Omer, was the day of “discipline in compassion”. How that resonates for those of us who are managing family needs in close quarters at home, trying to progress with work and home schooling, or keeping our lone selves to a schedule that will allow us to carry on a semblance of normality!
The Omer allows us to count, one day at a time, the progress of time from the leaving of Egypt to the receiving of the Torah at the foot of Mount Sinai. May we travel together through this month, keeping our loves ones and those in need in our hearts, one day at a time, finding healing and revelation in the present moment, discipline and compassion, walking toward the month to come. — Kirby
The next Rosh Chodesh walking meditation will be the first day of Sivan, Sunday, May 24, 7:30 am. Rain or shine! Contact us for location.
Rosh Chodesh Cleveland 