“May the fluidity of the ocean be yours….”*
The Hebrew word, berachah, which means blessing, literally translates as “drawing down”. Hasidic teaching tells us that it is our human responsibility to draw down from the spiritual abundance around us everything—peace, love, prosperity—taking these elements from their spiritual and unformed state into the physicality of our human form. If we are not content or satisfied, it’s simply because our wiring is faulty; there is a lack of communication between our spiritual and our physical selves.
Another person can offer a blessing to you, to change up this dynamic and open those clogged wires. It can be as simple as, “Susie, may you get over the flu quickly”. In offering the blessing, the drawing down, to another, we receive it back, in that cycle of healing, the giving and receiving become one. As we make real for another the spiritual connection, we, the givers, are bestowed with the rewards—what we would call in Twelve Step “conscious contact”, connection with something that is greater than our minds.
Fantastic! So how might we practice this? Here are some ideas. See if any of these resonate for you. If so, lean in the direction of practice:
- Consider—what are the obstacles that block you from offering blessings to another? (I think I’m shy about it.)
- What would it look like to practice one mindful blessing this week? Consider. It is a win-win.
Shifting now to the Gallic perspective. Notice the similarity between these words, both the Hebrew word, berachah, and the Gallic word, beannacht, which also mean blessing. I’m most touched by John’s poem because of the rich sense of nature. Always a place for me to reconnect, I look at the ocean differently these days, considering its “fluidity” in a new way. Here is the video, one-minute-18-seconds, of John’s reading:
I’ll end with my rendition of Metta, loving kindness meditation. My work, teaching, writing and coaching, have so blessed me with the legitimate opportunity to offer blessings out to others! Thanks for receiving, and keep me posted.
May you be healthy.
May you be happy.
May you ride the waves of your life.
May you live in peace, no matter what you’re given.