Oct 16 2023 32 mins
“Even when it doesn’t feel like there is excitement, there are our rhythms and there are our cycles.”
— Bluth
After the social and structured rituals of the High Holidays, the month of Cheshvan is a period of personal contemplation during which we turn to the quieter rhythms of our daily commitments. The absence of Holy Days during this month challenges us to source our connection with the sacred from within. In doing so, we are able to look both back and forward to address our priorities — what is meaningful and important at this moment.
This instalment of the Living Jewishly Podcasts revisits the Cheshvan episode of Sacred Time, a podcast devoted to the healing art of the Hebrew calendar. Bluth and Ganga Devi discuss the month of Cheshvan, and the many ways that we can develop structures and systems to reconnect us with our true priorities in life.
Though it is a more introspective month, it is still one of action. The process of self-inquiry identifies what is precious and tender to us, so we are then able to step fully into those relationships — with the divine, with our loved ones, and with ourselves.
“The structures and systems of religions should exist to support each of our own personal and direct relationships with what is sacred.”
— Ganga Devi
This episode discusses:
- Being mindful of how we relate to systems of authority and power outside of ourselves in our relationship with what is sacred
- The importance of motivating ourselves to find empowerment in responsibility by creating our own structures in the absence of external ones
- Why Cheshvan is the perfect time to focus on restorative and nurturing self-care
Highlights:
00:51 Intro
01:51 The month of Cheshvan
04:42 What is sacred to us?
08:03 Self-inquiry & creating our own structures
10:38 External structures
12:22 The sacred in the mundane
13:37 Taking action & finding support
16:50 Rhythms & cycles
18:20 Modeh Ani & daily commitments
25:06 The School of Living Jewishly
Links:
Living Jewishly Yoga for Cheshvan with Jenna Zadaka:
https://livingjewishly.org/rosh-chodesh-cheshvan-with-guest-yoga-teacher-jenna-zadaka
The School of Living Jewishly
https://www.schooloflivingjewishly.com
To get in contact or learn more about Living Jewishly:
Visit our website: https://livingjewishly.org
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Shalom!