Ketzirah (Carly) קצירה on July 7th, 2010
The journey from Tammuz (Chariot) to Av (Strength) to Elul (Hermit) illustrated by the Transparent Tarot

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?

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Excerpt from the Av Rosh Chodesh Guide.  Subscribe for the entire guide!

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Ketzirah (Carly) קצירה on June 6th, 2010
Journey from Sivan (Lovers) to Tammuz (Chariot) to Av (Strength) illustrated by the Transparent Tarot

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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Ketzirah (Carly) קצירה on May 15th, 2010

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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Ketzirah (Carly) קצירה on May 10th, 2010

For a primer on the Omer see “Week One: Chesed.” For the schedule of the Omer, see Chabad’s Omer Calendar.

Malchut, as envisioned by Angela Raincatcher />For a primer on the Omer see

Malchut, as envisioned by Angela Raincatcher

The seventh and final week of the Omer focuses on Malchuth. This sephira is usually interpreted as Sovereignty, Majesty, and Kingdom.  So that means we’re almost finished with our long journey from Chesed (Loving Kindness) to Gevurah (Strength) to Tifereth (Beauty/Compassion) to Netzach (Endurance/Victory) to Hod,  to Yesod (Connection), and finally ending in Malchut.

Malchut is the world.  It is manifestation.  It is Shekhinah. It is the seventh of the seven sephirot we’ve explored.  We finish this exploration in the month of Sivan, whose letter is Zayin, which has a numerical value of seven.  We have journeyed seven long weeks to reach Shavout.

We take our final look at each of the other seven “lower” sephirot through the lens of this sephira. We begin like every week, with Chesed (loving kindness).

Explore your kingdom within and without.   Connect to the Divine within.  Can you do this?  What images come to mind when you read the words: Majesty, Kingdom, and Sovereignty?  Are you the Ruler or the Ruled?

What has this journey meant?  Does it change the meaning of Shavuot for you?  What have you learned?  What have you experienced?  What do you bring into the world?

The seventh week, which explores Malchut (Majesty), looks like this:

  1. Loving-kindness within Majesty
  2. Strength within Majesty
  3. Compassion (Beauty) within Majesty
  4. Endurance within Majesty
  5. Glory within Majesty
  6. Connection within Majesty
  7. Majesty within Majesty

Exploring Malchut:

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Ketzirah (Carly) קצירה on May 9th, 2010
Journey from Iyyar to Sivan to Tammuz, illustrated by the Transparent Tarot

Journey from Iyyar to Sivan to Tammuz, illustrated by the Transparent Tarot

~Excerpt from the Sivan 5770 Rosh Chodesh Guide~

In Iyyar, the High Priest created a bridge between the Divine and the world for us to walk across.  Now in Sivan, we reach our destination.  We reach the holy mountain where we can connect with the Divine.  It is often said that Israel is the bride of G!d(dess).  This is the meaning of the Lovers card.  It is the connection between us and our highest selves.  Whether your highest self is experienced from within or through the relationship with your beshert.  Healthy relationships, relationships of true love bring out the best in us and help us to move and grow. This is what the real meaning of the sense “walking” is for the month.  It is the sense of movement and spiritual growth we can achieve through developing our personal connections to the Divine.

First we must understand our that connection before we can harness it (the Chariot) in Tammuz.  The Chariot is a card of great potential power, but it is also a card of wasted potential.  The journey of the cards tells us that this is the time to work on our relationship with G!d(dess) to walk across the bridge that has been created for us, so when the opportunity presents itself we will be ready to use the gifts provided.

In Sivan, listen to the still small voice within.  Listen to the birds. Listen to the fish.  Listen to the wind. Listen to the trees. Listen to all voices that G!d(dess) is using to speak to you and through you.

~Excerpt from the Sivan 5770 Rosh Chodesh Guide~

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