Netzach: eternity. Malchut or Shechinah: close divine spiritual presence. I think about the afterlife sometimes. As in life after death. I’ve had some visions of it. So I know? believe? hope? it’s another kind of life. And it goes on forever. When my father died, my son was five years old. One day, about a…
Category: Dreams
Repetition: Omer 20
Yesod. Foundation. Tiferet. Beauty. Yesod she’b’Tiferet. Foundation of Beauty. What’s the foundation of a beautiful soul? Repetition. Not the kind that goes in circles. But in cycles. Teachers know. When we want to lay a foundation for a good habit, we use repetition. We say things over and over again. And we ask the learners…
Attachment: Omer 18
Netzach: Enduring, Lasting. Tiferet: Beauty. Netzach she’b’Tiferet: Lasting beauty. Wanting beautiful things to last forever. Isn’t that a kind of attachment? One best met with non-attachment practice? But where do I begin? Maybe with last night’s dream. We discover harmful bacteria in our pond. Then, I notice blue ink stains all over my white dress.…
Numinous Beauty: Omer 17
Tiferet: Beauty. Tiferet she’b’Tiferet: Beauty within beauty. The ultimate. The heart of the tree of sefirot. Some say the vibe of Tiferet is like the vibe of YHWH. The ineffable divine, subtle like a breath. But also, like a breath, threading through everything we do. Occasionally it catches our attention. Leaps forward and touches our…
Infinity: God in My Soul
Infinity: A perfect topic for my interview on this innovative podcast. It’s called PTR: Philosophy, Theology, and Religious studies. Or, if you prefer, “Poststructuralist Tent Revival.” PTR is hosted by Jacob Given, a doctoral student at Villanova University. Here we discuss ideas from my book The Infinity Inside: infinity, kabbalah, God’s existence, dreams, and mystical…
New Citizen of Canada: Time for a Life Review
This week I became a citizen of Canada. But the journey began sixteen years ago. With a Sunday morning dream. I walk through my house with a realtor. Every wall, shelf, and table full of memorabilia. Each one a work of art, recalling an event, project, or value. I know I have to sell it…
Prophecy in Politics: How do we know it's true?
Prophecy. It’s equal parts spirit and politics. Predictions of doom and calls to action. Today’s public sphere is filled with prophecy. But do we know how to pay attention? Or how to tell if a prophecy is true? Jewish tradition offers some guidance. Content Counts in Prophecy In the Torah’s view, it’s all about verifying the content.…
Symbol of God or ordinary kitten? On spiritual dreams
Symbols symbolize — says Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman. Objects, ideas, and rituals are meaningful. No one can say exactly what they symbolize. Religious symbols evoke memories, emotions, sensations — some shared, others highly personal. If you insist on a single correct interpretation, you reduce the symbol to a mere “sign.” A cipher, a picture, a solved…
No Finish Line
On Sunday morning, I dream. A package is delivered. My housemates and I unwrap it carefully. Inside is a tightly woven flax doll. The doll is and is not alive; it is a baby and full grown. My housemates consider it a baby. We should rejoice, they say, because new life is rare in our…
I Asked for Wonder
Imagination, wonder, amazement. Attitudes that add zest to our lives — and train us in spiritual sight and insight. How can we cultivate an attitude of wonder? In this 25-minute video, Kabbalah: Wisdom Hidden in Plain Sight, I offer a few first steps. This talk was presented at Unity of Vancouver, March 19, 2017.