Elul Tools ~ 6 Elul 5781

    

Elul Tools 

Building a Strong Foundation

For the Days of Awe

Today's Elul Chai-Ku:

Don't starve your spirit.
Experience a day long feast.
Shabbat is soul food.

6 Elul - It's Shabbat: Take a Breath and Relax!

Judaism teaches us that on the seventh day God drew a breath and rested. This model of a six day period of intense, creative work, followed by a day of complete rest, is a central concept in Jewish tradition. 

While we may be eager to dig in and continue the deep introspective work the month of Elul asks of us, perhaps the most profound thing we can do right now is: Pause. Breathe. Relax. Restore. Even if our intention for thorough spiritual renewal is earnest during Elul, this process still deserves periodic pauses. 

Shabbat is a day of wholeness. We experience the world as perfect rather than incomplete. We do not need to add or take anything from the world. No work. No effort. No action. 

Right now the idea of Shabbat might seem difficult, if not impossible. The world feels far from perfect. There is so much pain and worry. There is so much to repair. It's challenging to feel like rest is warranted right now. And yet, without a break to recharge, we run the risk of running completely out of gas.

We even refrain from blowing the shofar on shabbat. Nothing needs to be done. No call to attention needed. Let everything stay just as it is. Including YOU! Experience your life exactly as it is now. Tomorrow you can begin with the work of Chesbon Ha-Nefesh (thorough accounting of your soul). But for now...Ahhh. Even in the midst of total chaos, just be. 

Psalm 27

It is customary to read Psalm 27 twice daily during Elul.

Here is an online version of Psalm 27 for easy access.