We're landing here in the month of Elul, a moment of introspection, of reconnection, of remembering who we are. It's a moment to ground ourselves, to align with the Divine and connect with the Queen in the Field. (The original parable is of a King in the Field, and I suppose based on current events we could keep
it that way, but... I like queens.)
I grew up in the Southern Hemisphere, where Elul was spring, and symbolized renewal. I loved looking at the pink and white blossoms on my street and smelling the freshness in the air. Elul (also my birthmonth!) was a chance to look forward to what's new, to recalibrate into the New Year, and there was plenty of time to focus.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the Jewish New Year is also a New Year for students, for teachers, for those in the professions of education or the vocation of religion, and although there's a beauty in the alignment with the New Year, it makes it a lot harder to focus.
In my recent years as a student, educator and spiritual leader, Elul is about adjusting to new classes, new jobs, new schedules and new routines. How can I tear myself away from getting the New Year going in order to actually get the New Year going? How can I remember that my focus on all the nuts and bolts of a new year aren't just nuts and bolts - but the makeup of the next phase of Life, a chance to go deeper, to connect more, to learn more, to heal more, to grow more into my next phase of Being in this next year of Becoming?
In Elul, we have a few little rituals. Tiny moments, inside our day, when we get to look up from the chaos of the season and remember who we are and where we are going. Every day, we blow the shofar. Just a few short sounds - a tekiyah, shevarim, teruah. Long sound, three broken sounds, tiny little dot sounds. A tekiyah, shevarim, tekiyah. Long, three broken, long. A tekiyah, teruah, tekiyah. Long, tiny dots, long again.
Each time, another moment to breathe. Another moment to contemplate. Another moment to meditate. Another moment to explore what it is to be human, to be alive, to be in this body, and to come even closer to our Highest Self, to the Divine that is waiting for us, Queen in the Field.
We add Psalm 27 to our daily prayers, and for just a moment we wonder what it it might feel like to be encompassed by the Divine light and love every moment. "All I ask of you God, my one request, is to dwell in Your house all the days of my life and gaze at your awe-inspiring presence." We're not saying that we're already there, living in that palace. But it's what we ask, it's what we pray for, it's what we consider as the possibility.
As we cross those i's and dot those t's of a new year, we have our mini moments to reflect and consider, how will I add a little more God into this year to come? How will I walk with the me that I can be, the me that is all Divine, my Higher Self, every day of this coming year?
The shofar jars us out of our complacency. The Psalm gives words for our deepest desires. And each day, together, they are our mini-ritual, our opportunity to greet the queen in the field, and greet ourselves in the Teshuvah that is returning to our HIghest Selves, every single day.
This year, I was added to a Whatsapp group with the intention that every day we each spend just one moment - two minutes, or five - being in the experience of Elul. It could be a moment of contemplation or meditation. It could be singing, reflecting, writing or talking. Afterwards, we each type into the group the word "elul!" or more often, "eluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuullllllllllllll!" with enthusiasm, to share that yes, for just this one moment today, I was in awareness of the energy of this season.
All too often, it's just a moment of blowing the shofar. Just the sounds alone can cut through the internal noise, the racing thoughts. The action alone regulates my breath, reminds me to breathe deeply, and align with my true essence. And perhaps that alone is the Teshuvah that I am craving to experience; the Returning home that we are all doing together, at this most wonderful time of year.
May we merit to do so with abundance, ease, simplicity, joy and love.
Shabbat Shalom and much love and blessings,
Reb Rishe
Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism