10 Years of Earth-based Magickal Judaism – 2003-2013
I awoke this morning to find my beloved pet rabbit, Derby, had left this world. I was up before the sun, which is normal, came down to do yoga and found him. I am not one to call a pet my “baby” and I don’t consider them “people.” But, this precious creature is one of several rabbits that have been entrusted to my care and enriched my life. The first thing to escape my lips when I saw him and realized what had happened, was “Baruch Dayan Emet” – blessed is the true judge.
Today is the 11 of Cheshvan, and it is the historical Yahrzteit of Rachel Imeinu (Rachel the Matriarch). I don’t have a new ritual for this year, so forgive the reposting of the one I posted a couple of years ago. This ritual can be used to honor Rachel Imeinu or any ancestor. This is a simple solitary ritual, which can easily be adapted for a group. If you are interested in exploring a ritual specifically developed for a group, see Ceremony for the 11th of Cheshvan by Rabbi Jill Hammer.
Photo Credit: New Jewish fruit in Kibbutz Matzuva
Copyrights: Max Nathans 2007
Originally posted on 11.05.2005 / 9th of Cheshvan 5766
May the blessings of our mother be carried through to each generation.
Needs:
1 Pomegranate
1 Tea Light
Small stones to represent specific ancestors
Small dish (big enough to hold all items listed above)
How to Peel a Pomegranate
Take the pomegranate and cut of the crown, being careful to not cut into seeds. Score the rind from crown to base into 6 sections. Place pomegranate in large bowl filled with cold water. The pomegranate should float upright. If you like, spin the pomegranate in the water and focus on it while meditating. Leave the pomegranate in the water for 5-10 minutes. Then peel of the rind and let the seed drop to the bottom. You can then skim the rind off the top and drain the water, leaving just the
seeds.
Place your tealight in the dish and pour the pomegranate seeds around it. I often use only half of the seeds. Place your stones either along the edge of the dish or inside it against the tealight, whatever works for you. Place the dish on the altar and light your candle. The seeds are for the generations of ancestors, the stones for those you wish to specifically honor.
Recite Kaddish and poems or prayers that speak to the spirit of Rachel Imeinu.
Here are several poems, prayers, and resources you might like to use:
When the ritual is over be sure to dispose of the pomegranate seed properly. Burn them in the fire or throw them to the earth. Do not eat them casually. If you choose to dispose of them by ingesting them, it should be a deliberate act by which you share yourself with the generations.
I have been wanting to write a mourner’s kaddish that would serve myself and other earth-based magickal Jews. I’ve found it difficult because I wanted to keep the core theology of the traditional, rabbinical Judaic prayer. That one is a prayer for the living. It focuses on praising God. It doesn’t really ever touch on loss or death. When I first discovered this, I found it disturbing. But, if you look at almost all the Jewish rituals surrounding death, they are to support the living. They are to help the living move on with their lives.
It seems that it took the loss of Rosemary Kooiman to give me the words.
Send me on
Send me on with love in your heart
Cry tears of joy for the life I have lived
Praise the Source of Life for connecting our lives
Send me on to the next lifeSend me on the way I lived
Embrace what I was, not the space that I leave
Praise the Source of Life for allowing us to love
Send me on to the next lifeSend me on without fear
Do not curse or rend your garments
Praise the Source of Life for granting us time
Send me on to the next lifeSend me on with praise
Sing songs of joy for all Creation
Praise the Source of Life giving us life
Send me on to the next lifeSend me on with libations and toasts
Drink to your health and drink to life
Praise the Source of Life for giving us words to share
Send me on to the next lifeSend me on with stones not flowers
Do not add death to death
Praise the Source of Life for all creation
Send me on to the next life© Carly Lesser – 2006
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike2.5 License.
A ritual for honoring Rachel Imeinu and other ancestors.
May the blessings of our mother be carried through to each generation.
Needs:
1 Pomegranate
1 Tea Light
Small stones to represent specific ancestors
Small dish (big enough to hold all items listed above)
How to Peel a Pomegranate
Take the pomegranate and cut of the crown, being careful to not cut into seeds. Score the rind from crown to base into 6 sections. Place pomegranate in large bowl filled with cold water. The pomegranate should float upright. If you like, spin the pomegranate in the water and focus on it while meditating. Leave the pomegranate in the water for 5-10 minutes. Then peel of the rind and let the seed drop to the bottom. You can then skim the rind off the top and drain the water, leaving just the
seeds.
Place your tealight in the dish and pour the pomegranate seeds around it. I often use only half of the seeds. Place your stones either along the edge of the dish or inside it against the tealight, whatever works for you. Place the dish on the altar and light your candle. The seeds are for the generations of ancestors, the stones for those you wish to specifically honor.
When the ritual is over be sure to dispose of the pomegranate seed properly. Burn them in the fire or throw them to the earth. Do not eat them casually. If you choose to dispose of them by ingesting them, it should be a deliberate act by which you share yourself with the generations.
