It’s a Jewish spiritual practice to say a berachah, a blessing, when experiencing an awesome, beautiful, or startling sight (or sound like thunder, or delicious scent) in nature. When I suddenly get to that first view of the ocean, I always catch my breath at the grandeur and beauty of the sight. All of my senses are opened up by the vista, the crash of the waves, the fresh ocean air.
With my birthday coming up, I like to take stock. I’ve added a new Pathway (post) to the Gateway of Seasons: Sephirah: Reviewing Your Life in Seven-Year Cycles. It’s all about counting and understanding your life in 7 year cycles, and you don’t have to wait for your birthday to put it into practice.
Our Hebrew months got their current names in Babylonia over 2500 years ago and are associated with the signs of the Zodaic. Yes, those odd dates listed on your horoscope should be switched out for the Hebrew months, and the signs have resonances in some of the Jewish holidays, for example, Libra/scales and weighing our deeds in the month of Tishrei, which brings Rosh Hashanah. (more…)
I’m so honored that Stephen Jurovics, author of Hospitable Planet: Faith, Action, and Climate Change, has contributed a thought-provoking post about Seasons and Climate Change, which you will find in the Gateway of Seasons. The Torah’s message of a spiritual connection to our earth, and our own imperative of survival require us to be guardians of our planet.
I’ve added a gallery to the Gateway of Gardens, featuring photos from a neighboring synagogue that has its own farm and even raises chickens! They’ve promised me more photos from the growing season. Please comment to let me know about other synagogues or Jewish organizations with great community gardens. (Click on title to view this post with comment section.)
I have just opened a new Gateway: The Sea, devoted to the spiritual symbolism of oceans, seas, and lakes. At the same time, posts continue to be added to existing Gateways, so check this page to find out what’s new, and subscribe to our monthly email for updates. Wellsprings of Wisdom is kind of like the “Slow Food” movement for your soul. Enjoy watching new Gateways open and fill with new pathways (posts) over time, and seeing this site unfold.
Your comments, especially in the Sharing Circle in each Gateway, are welcome to make this site more interactive and communal.
Tu Bishvat, the Jewish New Year of the Tree(s), coincides with Shabbat, February 10-11, 2017. You can learn about Trees in Jewish tradition at the Gateway of Trees, where you will also find resources for Tu Bishvat and a new post with a video on the Rainforest Alliance.
Happy Tu Bishvat!
We are experiencing tumultuous times, but that very turmoil calls more people to take personal action for service, healing, and bettering the world. To avoid burnout and bitterness, it’s important to stay centered and nurture our inner lives. Wellsprings of Wisdom strives to integrate the timeless and the timely, Tikkun HaLev (healing our hearts) with Tikkun Olam (repairing our world).
New Gateway (Content Page), the Gateway of Seasons, which explores the beauty of changing seasons and the meaning of life cycles and timeliness, from earliest Jewish sources to our own lives. This Gateway is “in development” and I continue to add pathways (posts) for you to explore.
As the site relaunched, the Gateway of Darkness was added, exploring the beauty and wisdom of night.
It is my joy to share Wellsprings of Wisdom with you. If you benefit from the site, the most helpful things you can do are to comment, especially in the Sharing Circles, so that we can have more interaction on the site, and also to share the site with your friends by word of mouth and by sharing posts on social media. You can also find us on Facebook and share with your friends.
Thank you so much for being a friend and fellow-traveler on Wellsprings of Wisdom. I look forward to continuing the journey together.
אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים יְהִ֤י מְאֹרֹת֙ בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם לְהַבְדִּ֕יל בֵּ֥ין הַיּ֖וֹם וּבֵ֣ין הַלָּ֑יְלָה וְהָי֤וּ לְאֹתֹת֙ וּלְמ֣וֹעֲדִ֔ים וּלְיָמִ֖ים וְשָׁנִֽים׃
God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate between day and night; and they will serve as signs and seasons, for the days and years.
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