Love in Adar

As we are still in the month of Adar, I was thinking to myself what is a great way to really experience joy?  The answer that popped into my head was to experience joy through love.  Love is the energy and emotion (emotion is energy in motion) that creates life.  It is the energy that creates our reality.   I was reminded to be aware of my thoughts and be mindful of thoughts that are not in the energy of love.  Since we humans have over 60,000 random thoughts a day, its easy to get hooked by drama and negativity.  However, as we learn to be the observer of these thoughts, siphoning through the lower vibrating thoughts becomes easier with practice.

As I was preparing for my Jewish Meditation class last week, I was going through some old class notes and found a hand written note at the bottom of a discussion paper.  It simply said “Step toward what you love, rather than stepping away from what you fear.”

Not sure if this was an original quote or from another speaker.  Its simplicity was profound.   I made a promise to myself that I would focus on loving people, situations and experiences. 

As we begin the preparations for Passover, it is very important to be in tune with what you love.  Sometimes this process involves identifying the places in your life where you feel constricted.

Please share your thoughts!!   I love and appreciate comments.

Shalom,

  Donna

Adar, A Month of JOY

The month of Adar is all about increasing JOY in our lives and in our community.   Some months the energy is reflective, other months it’s cleansing and other times its very active.   So what do the Jewish mystics mean about “increasing joy” as opposed to simply experiencing joy?   There are certain times we get the pleasure of simply experiencing joy such as the simcha of a wedding or the birth of a baby.   Other times we experience unexpected joy like receiving a flower for no apparent reason.  Other times in life, we need to seek out joy. So why is this so important?  Just as in nature, human life is a series of ups and downs.  The sun rises, the sun sets and our bodies are programmed to follow the circadian rhythm. Sometimes we are happy and other times sad.   All emotions and feelings are good, but when negative feelings and/or anxiety interrupt life too frequently, it’s time to learn how to “increase joy.”  It’s time to reach for a better feeling thought on the subject or even change the channel. Yes our “personal stories” are all too real, but yet it’s our perception that determines our experience.  Try not to get so caught up in the drama of the story.

While teaching a meditation class early in the month of Adar, I was shown a Jewish star.   I was told to look at the intricacies of the Jewish star – the perfect balance of the triangles representing the combination of male and female energy.   I was also shown the “holes” which reflect the light of the Divine or God.  It was an amazing experience to see the Jewish star all illuminated with light.  Then my spirit had a special assignment for myself and the attendees.  We were told to go home and draw a Jewish star.   At each of the six points, we were to write down ways which we wanted to experience or create JOY.   Basically we had to identify 6 new ways to have fun and to take care of ourselves.  Wow, an assignment where we are told to have joyful experiences.   Laughter is contagious and sometimes the best medicine! 

How will you increase joy in your life?   Please share your ideas.

Shalom,

 Donna