Welcome to the Peeling a Pomegranate Guide to Counting the Omer. I created this free workbook to help people explore the practice. We begin counting the Omer on the second night of Passover. [Photo by Dag Endresen Dag Terje Filip Endresen used by CC-A Permissions]
read moreFor a primer on the Omer see “Week One: Chesed.” For the schedule of the Omer, see Chabad’s Omer Calendar. 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: Loving-kindness within Majesty Strength within Majesty Compassion (Beauty) within Majesty Endurance within Majesty Glory within Majesty Connection within Majesty Majesty within Majesty Exploring Malchut: Chabad: Week 7, Malchut Telshemesh: Omer Calendar of Biblical Women Inner: Malchut Aish: Malchut Wikipedia: Malchut Chabad: Malchut Dvorah Horn: Omer...
read moreFor a primer on the Omer see “Week One: Chesed.” For the schedule of the Omer, see Chabad’s Omer Calendar. The sixth week of the Omer focuses on Yesod. This sephira is usually interpreted as Connection, Foundation, or Bonding. So that means we’ve journeyed from Chesed (Loving Kindness) to Gevurah (Strength) to Tifereth (Beauty/Compassion) to Netzach (Endurance/Victory) to Hod, and now on to Yesod. Yesod is a sephira of emotion and corresponds to the sexual organs. According to Inner.org, Yesod is the “bridge between the infinite potential of procreation that flows into it and its actual manifestation.” Once again we look at each of the other seven “lower” sephirot through the lense of this sephira. We begin like every week, with Chesed (loving kindness). What is your bridge between Loving Kindness and yourself? What connections do you use to bridge the gaps between yourself and G!d(dess)? What are the foundations of your life? What are you attached to? What shouldn’t you be attached to? What bonds are you afraid of making but need to make? What illusions are tricking you into thinking they are real connections? The sixth week, which explores Yesod (Connection), looks like this: Loving-kindness within Connection Strength within Connection Compassion (Beauty) within Connection Endurance within Connection Glory within Connection Connection within Connection Majesty within Connection Exploring Yesod: Chabad: Week 6, Yesod Telshemesh: Omer Calendar of Biblical Women Inner: Yesod Aish: Yesod Wikipedia: Yesod Dvorah Horn: Omer Paintings MLC: Week Six,...
read moreFor a primer on the Omer see “Week One: Chesed.” For the schedule of the Omer, see Chabad’s Omer Calendar. The fifth week of the Omer focuses on Hod. This sephira is usually interpreted as Awe, Splendor, or Glory. So that means we’ve journeyed from Chesed (Loving Kindness) to Gevurah (Strength) to Tifereth (Beauty/Compassion) to Netzach (Endurance/Victory) and now to Hod. Hod, like Netzach is a sephira of movement. They are considered to be the right and left feet on the body. Where Netzach is the ability to overcome obstacles, Hod is what gives us the ability to feel a purpose in life and feel the glory and awe in accomplishments. Hod is what gives direction to Netzach. Once again we look at each of the other seven “lower” sephirot through the lense of this sephira. We begin like every week, with Chesed (loving kindness). Where is the boundary between a sense of wonder for your accomplishments and arrogance? Are you too driven by Netzach and are just living to endure without knowing why? Are you making choices in life or just floating from thing-to-thing? What are you truly committed to achieving? What do you do that fills you with a sense of wonder? The fifth week, which explores Hod (Glory/Awe), looks like this: Loving-kindness within Glory/Awe Strength within Glory/Awe Compassion (Beauty) within Glory/Awe Endurance within Glory/Awe Glory within Glory/Awe Connection within Glory/Awe Majesty within Glory/Awe Exploring Hod: Chabad: Week 5,Hod Kohelet: The Process of Hod, the Whirling Dervish and The Still Small Point Sephirat haOmer: Hod in a Snap Pea Flower Telshemesh: Omer Calendar of Biblical Women Inner: Hod Aish: Netzach & Hod Wikipedia: Hod Dvorah Horn: Omer...
read moreFor a primer on the Omer see “Week One: Chesed.” For the schedule of the Omer, see Chabad’s Omer Calendar. The fourth week of the Omer focuses on Netzach. This sephira is usually interpreted as Victory, Eternity, or Endurance . So that means we’ve journeyed from Chesed (Loving Kindness) to Gevurah (Strength) to Tifereth (Beauty/Compassion) and now to Endurance/Victory. Netzach is a sephira of action. These are actions of compassion, but are often achieved through negative experiences. Netzach is the power to overcome obstacles. Once again we look at each of the other seven “lower” sephirot through the lense of this sephira. We begin like every week, with Chesed (loving kindness). What does Loving Kindness within Victory mean in our lives and the world? What does victory mean when experienced through strength or beauty? This is a good week to think about what you are willing to do to achieve your goals. What ends justify what means? What are you willing to endure to achieve your goals? Are the ends worth and worthy of what you will endure? The fourth week, which explores Netzach (Victory/Endurance), looks like this: Loving-kindness within Victory/Endurance Strength within Victory/Endurance Compassion (Beauty) within Victory/Endurance Endurance within Victory/Endurance Glory within Victory/Endurance Connection within Victory/Endurance Majesty within Victory/Endurance The question to ask with each, is “What does this mean to me?” Each day, explore what the idea of sephira within a sephir triggers for you. How is Loving-Kindness (Chesed) within Victory/Endurance (Netzach) different than Victory/Endurance (Netzach) within Loving-Kindness (Chesed)? Keep a journal or just let the thoughts float to the surface. Make your own artwork to express the ideas or use the works by Angela Raincatcher. Either way, take the moment to see what things brings up for you. If you Count the Omer at night, then you might want to follow the tradition practices. RitualWell.org has the full text in masculine and feminine Hebrew, transliterated, and in English. Exploring Netzach: Chabad: Week 4, Netzach Telshemesh: Omer Calendar of Biblical Women Inner: Netzach Aish: Netzach & Hod...
read moreFor a primer on the Omer see “Week One: Chesed.” For the schedule of the Omer, see Chabad’s Omer Calendar. The third week of the Omer focuses on Tifereth. This sephira is usually interpreted as Beauty or Compassion. So that means we’ve moved from Chesed (Loving Kindness) to Gevurah (Strength) to Tifereth (Beauty/Compassion). Tifereth is seen as a balancing force to Chesed and Gevurah. Once again we look at each of the other seven “lower” sephirot through the lense of this sephira. We begin like every week, with Chesed (loving kindness). What does Loving Kindness within Compassion mean in our lives and the world? What happens when you change the meaning of Tifereth to Beauty or Truth instead of Compassion? The third week, which explores Tifereth (Beauty/Compassion), looks like this: Loving-kindness within Beauty/Compassion Strength within Beauty/Compassion Compassion (Beauty) within Beauty/Compassion Endurance within Beauty/Compassion Glory within Beauty/Compassion Connection Beauty/Compassion Majesty within Beauty/Compassion The question to ask with each, is “What does this mean to me?” Each day, explore what the idea of sephira within a sephir triggers for you. How is Loving-Kindness (Chesed) within Beauty/Compassion (Tiferet) different than Beauty/Compassion within Loving-Kindness (Chesed)? Keep a journal or just let the thoughts float to the surface. Make your own artwork to express the ideas or use the works by Angela Raincatcher. Either way, take the moment to see what things brings up for you. If you Count the Omer at night, then you might want to follow the tradition practices. RitualWell.org has the full text in masculine and feminine Hebrew, transliterated, and in English. Exploring Tifereth: Chabad: Week 3, Tifereth Telshemesh: Omer Calendar of Biblical Women Inner: Tifereth Aish: Tifereth Wikipedia: Tifereth Rabbi Min Kantrowitz: Counting the...
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Shavuot: Seder of the Seven Prophetesses
Culture: I am fascinated by culture on most levels. I mostly focus on American culture and what makes us who we are as a country, but I'm also intrigued by sub-cultures in the USA and the growing global cultural trends.
