Happy Passover once again! Does it still feel like Passover? This eight day holiday can feel brief, especially for those who only mark seders at the start and then go back to business as usual. For those who abstain from bread products it may still seem different, a time set apart. What is certain is that for many of us all days are now stringing together. It is hard to tell a Tuesday from a Sunday when at home all the time.
For this reason, I think now is particularly important time to draw on Jewish wisdom around marking time. Firstly, if you don't have a regular Shabbat practice, this would be a great time to experiment with one! Light candles, make a nice meal, reflect on a moment you're grateful for from the week that has passed. It is a great way to end a week and, right now, it's nice to simply note that another week has passed.
We also have a Jewish tradition of counting the omer. This is related to wheat production and the spring harvest but also helps us keep time between Passover and the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. There are seven weeks between them and we count each day, with special rules and prohibitions during this time for observant Jews.
In Jewish mysticism, Kabbalah, there are certain spiritual meanings assigned to the days and weeks, and so some people will count time with those intentions (e.g. the day I write this is the day of Gavurah (strength) in the week of Chesed (love). So today, consider how you bring strength and love together in your personal relatoinships).
One can find apps, websites, and other online discussions about the counting of the omer. I like the one from At The Well: https://www.atthewellproject.com/ (note: this is not strictly secular -- take it or leave it).
I don't have a typical kabbalistic practice, and not all of the intentions behind the meanings of each day resonate with me. But I sure do like our traditions about marking the passage of time in meaningful ways. I think now is a great time to play with time: how do you honour and note the movement of time. Does it feel slower? Are you implementing or creating new rituals (a Saturday "date night" to get dressed up even if you aren't leaving the house? An online Tuesday "beer night" with friends via Zoom?)?
We are certainly in a strange time, all of us. Wishing you all the best as we move through it together.
Until next week,
Denise
