Tuesday, April 29. Well we made it – spring has finally arrived. The air this morning was warm with a blunt breeze – and the woods were green and busy. There were deer in the parking lot, a groundhog just out of its burrow munching greenery, and birds, birds, birds. At the least, we heard cardinal, chickadee, song sparrow, goldfinch, redwinged blackbird, red-bellied woodpecker – and a brown-headed cowbird!
For contrast, we noted that in the middle east, sowing season is over and we are approaching first harvests. Soon Shavuot will be upon us. The long harvest season will go over many months, much longer than we have here in the Great Lakes, stretching from Shavuot to Sukkot.
Meanwhile, this month of Iyyar is one of purification and the healing that can accompany it. We talked about how every lunar month seems to be a “going inward” of a different sort – from transforming anger, to contemplating inner light, to listening to our hearts. In this month, perhaps in honor of the Torah portions we read, Leviticus with its definitions and rituals of purification – we seek to purify our hearts and minds. Our source Mindy Ribner advises us to take stock of our inner world, root out what does us no good, and strengthen the patterns and thoughts that are healthy. Acknowledging that the purification process starts with cleaning our homes for Passover, we talked a bit about what purifying our hearts might mean – focusing on what matters, finding meaning in our daily lives, separating ourselves from the digital, spending more time in nature. May we all find ways to purify and heal this month. Chodesh tov! – K. Miriam
Our next Rosh Chodesh walking meditation will honor the month of Sivan, Wednesday, May 28, 8:30 am. Rain or shine! Contact us for location.
Rosh Chodesh Cleveland 