The Hebrew word for Sophia is chochma. In the tradition of Kabbalah, the word chochma describes the very first glimmer of insight. In the erotic imagery popular among classical Kabbalistic writers, chochma is the sperm that gets enfolded in the womb of consciousness, and nourished into a fuller understanding. Teens from Sophia Street, Vancouver, study…
Category: Spirituality
Layers of Consciousness
My husband Charles is studying the history of Sophia Street. He has read books, viewed maps, scanned photographic archives, and visited the library’s Special Collections room. One of his favorite resources is a book of maps of Vancouver across the decades. He developed a special tool for reading the maps. On a blank transparency, he…
Spirit of the Bear
As late as 1910, Sophia Street was home to black bears. Today, we share the street with fellow mammals coyote, raccoon, and skunk. Last night, as we continued to learn about our street’s history, a spirit of her past joined me in my dreams: It’s my first day on the job as a new professor…
Welcome to Sophia Street
Sophia means “Wisdom.” And I live on Sophia Street. Sophia Street in Vancouver, Canada, was built in 1885 by developer Henry Valentine Edmonds. He named the thoroughfare “Sophy Street,” in honor of his sister. Edmonds’ business ventures flourished and so did his new neighborhood. Today, Sophia Street is an urban residential street lined with cherry…