At the Becoming 2010 Membership Retreat we made prayer beads. Thankfully, I knew we were doing this in advance, so I had time to think about what I wanted to do. I’ve thought about doing prayer beads before, but never actually done it. I’ve considered making prayer beads of the whole morning prayer service, or to represent specific prayers like the Amidah or Birchot haShachar. I’ve also thought about doing prayer beads to represent the Netivot.
I decided the most realistic choice, of the many I was considering, was to do the Netivot of Kohenet. This only required me to find 13 perfect beads out of the selection offered. Not that I thought that would be particularly easy.
It took a while during the activity — but I found ones that I’m really happy with. The order of the beads is in the order of the Netivot in the “Song of the Netivot” as found in the Kohenet prayer book. I also wanted beads that would represent not only the essence of each Netivah as presented in that prayer, but also leave room for a fuller understanding, too. Each Netivah is described in only two short lines in the prayer, which is a beginning only.
Most of the beads, I think are self explanatory. If you are curious about specific choices — just ask!
Left to Right:
Spiral: Oreget – Weaver
Flower: N’arah – Maiden
Leaf/Tree: Eim – Mother
Ornamented: Gevirah – Matriarch
Red Ball: Mayeledet – Midwife
Intricate: Chochamah – Wise Woman
Tear Drops: Mekonenet – Mourning Woman
Spiral (Drum): Neviah – Prophetess
Bronze piece: Tzovah – Shrinekeeper
Iridescent (Scrying Mirror): Baalot Ov – Shamaness
Green Arrow: Doreshet – Seeker:
4 Red/Pink: Ohevet – Lover
Multi-color: Kesilah – Fool
Spiral: Oreget – Weaver
It’s also not lost on me that I did this on the 1-year anniversary of my smicha as a Kohenet . I missed last year’s Becoming retreat because they were on the same day.
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Tags: Kohenet, netivah, netivot, prayer beads
Focal Point, used by CC Permission Mykel Roventine
It may sound odd, but I’ve always had a problem being in a niche. Even though everything I do seems to be a niche-focus. Every time someone has said that I should choose, I’ve said, “no!” My work with the concept of sustainable spirituality is one of the ways I’ve tried to work with this. This practice helps me put a container and focus around my diverse interests. What I do know is that I’m finally becoming comfortable with having and being in a niche. I don’t know how long this will last, of course.
I thought, a year ago, that I wanted to try and balance public priestessing with my artwork and writing. This meant leading public rituals, working as a guide, officiating weddings/life-cycle events, and somehow writing and creating art — oh and managing a demanding job and keeping my marriage on track. Needless to say, I’ve had to make some choices.
I’ve realized that where I really want to put my energy for the time-being is in my writing, artwork, and work with Becoming. I enjoy and find “public priestessing” rewarding, but since there are so many hours in the day, I need to focus that more on the community that supports me. I still have a vision of being a Jewish priestess to the unaffiliated, but until that (or artwork/writing) is able to provide my income — I have to let that go.
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Journey from Sivan (Lovers) to Tammuz (Chariot) to Av (Strength) illustrated by the Transparent Tarot
It’s very interesting to me that the months of Av and Elul, I have in previous years assigned different cards and/or Netivot. In theory, I’ve been using the same system for several years — but for some reason these months were reassigned. I don’t think there is any one system, so I could simply make up my own. But I do find it interesting that when I’ve tried to follow a system, these months have not been included until now.
With that in mind, I look to the message of this journey from Tammuz (Chariot) to Av (Strength) to Elul (Hermit). The simple question these three cards together ask is, “do you have the strength for the journey?” It is a simple question, but words are important. There are many words for “strength” in English and in Hebrew. What word do you choose? Would you choose a word that indicates “power” or “fortitude?” Does it mean moral strength or physical strength to you? Is strength about “nerve,” “vigor,” or “impregnability”? What is strength to you?
Of course, your answer should depend on the situation. So look at the mountain used to represent the Hermit. What is the private journey that only you and you alone can take in Elul, our month to prepare for the High Holy Days? What is it you must do? Where is it you must go? Who is it you must seek?
Now, what kind of strength do you need?
Read the 5769 Essay
Excerpt from the Av Rosh Chodesh Guide. Subscribe for the entire guide!
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Tags: av, earth based judaism, judaism, strength, tarot, Wheel of the Year
Journey from Sivan (Lovers) to Tammuz (Chariot) to Av (Strength) illustrated by the Transparent Tarot
~ an excerpt from the Tammuz 5770 Rosh Chodesh Guide ~
The Tarot card for the month is the Chariot (מֶרְכָּבָה), also associated with the sign of Sartan (סַרְטָן) or Cancer. The Chariot is a challenge. It says, quite literally, take the reins. You have all the power and ability, but will do you do anything with it? Will you risk failure? Will you risk success? Will you risk change? (excerpted from the 5769 Tammuz Guide)
The story of these three cards asks us if we will use let love grow stronger, let it grow stagnant, or let it tear itself apart. In the way these three cards appear in the Transparent Tarot we see the potential of love to bring us strength, but it is up to each individual to determine how they will use that strength. In some cases what we see as darkness, may be where we need to draw our strength from, but it is love that keeps us from falling into that place where strength becomes abuse of power. It is that connection to another that makes our darkness truly powerful.
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Tags: earth based magickal judaism, tammuz, tarot, Wheel of the Year
It’s not how your earn your income
It’s about how you earn your keep
Each day
Each moment
Each breath
Each step
It’s not about how you pay your bills
It’s about how you live your life
Each smile
Each frown
Each laugh
Each tear
It’s not about your job
It’s about your work
Each stroke
Each word
Each hug
Each dream
It’s not about an exit strategy
It’s about finding an existence strategy
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Tags: corporate priestess, life, poetry
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