Chaya Lester
  • Home
    • Contact
    • Shalev Center
    • Class Topics
    • Babel's Daughter Show
  • Therapy
    • Couple's Workshop
    • CircleWorks
    • Testimonials
    • Training
  • Tours
    • Bat-Mitzvas
  • Books
  • Resources
    • Videos
    • Blog >
      • Mental Health
    • Videos about Parsha

B'shalach: Miriam's Song of Circles

1/24/2013

 
Picture
This week is Shabbat Shira – the Sabbath of song, of poetry. It is thus named because the weekly Torah reading contains Shirat Hayam, the song sung in exultation after the miraculous parting of the Sea of Reeds. In truth, though, there are two songs sung. One by Moses and the other by Miriam. 

The 18th century Hassidic writer the Meor V'Shemesh shares a powerful paradigm-shifting commentary that contrasts these two songs. 

He bases his writings on the Kabbalistic principles of linear verses circular consciousness. According to Kabbalah, line consciousness is essentially masculine. It is hierarchical, progress-oriented, future-directed, competitive; the epitome of the world's current state of affairs. Line consciousness correlates with Moses' song, rendered in the future tense of the opening lines to the song, “Az Yashir – I will sing”. 

Circle consciousness, on the other hand, is egalitarian, rooted in the present, supportive, non-hierarchical. It is a feminine paradigm. And more than that, it epitomizes Messianic consciousness, the glowing state of affairs towards which our world evolves. Miriam's song, in keeping with good circle consciousness, is thus sung in the present tense with women dancing - embodied - in circular form. Each woman stands equidistant from the center, all with equal access to God. In the circle everyone is holy and wholly rooted in their own source of wisdom. These circle-enacting women, according to the Meor V'shemesh, were able to access a higher revelation than Moses, history's greatest prophet. 

We live in promising times where fundamentals of circle consciousness are at the core of the work that so many of us are engaged in today. I have the honor of leading weekly women's circles here in Jerusalem. Our meetings are based on a model of group work culled directly from what I call, “The Miriam Code” - the enigmatic 2 verses of Miriam's song and dance from this week's parsha. We strive to create a safe and sacred environment for growth by using the circle principles of full embodiment, presence, inclusivity, creativity and a pervasive sense of equality. It is deep and powerful work. (To read more about the Miriam Code please go to:http://www.havayah.com/tools.html)

I bless us all that we may each in our own way taste the fruits of circle consciousness flooding into and rounding out the angles of our all-too-linear world.

The Circle

Women raise your voices 
in rightful raucous!

Beat drum, sing song
and stun anyone
who ever called 
you too timid
to sing.

For the Spirit alone
instructs your lips and 
limbs as to the allowance
of their bend
and propriety is defined by 
the prophetess
who abides within.

It is she who launches 
her loudest campaign
for you to stand and dance majestic 
on your life's well-sanded stage.

Sisters, this is why we wear our drums 
ready on our shoulder blades.
Ready to up and utter unabashed 
riffs of praise.

Here we are held 
responsible to sing
of the God-drenched things 
that we have seen.


For we handmaids 
have a mandate to hand-make
our own music, 
to move muscles 
and meet quotas 
of creative output
through inspiration 
and through struggle
to sway on sand-dunes 
undone by a tune
to be emboldened
in our God-given right 
to self-expression.

So let us ignite each other's 
dormant scorch of dreams. 

For ours is a choreography 
of equality
inclusivity
of bringing all-of-me
into this welcoming crucible of 
communal commitment 
known as a circle.   

Here we offer limbs to reach beyond 
the limitations 
of a linear world gone wrong.

Embodying ideas 
and idealizing emotion
invoking insight
at the lips of the ocean.

Holding up mirrors
like the windows of waves
-reflecting each other
face to effervescent face.

And so it was, is and will be
in one graceful gesture
at the parting sea. 

That the women set out with clapping feet
to circle in a consciousness 
of present tense 
and equality.

    Picture

    Author

    Chaya Lester offers inspired writings, poetic commentary on the weekly Torah portion, and writings on Torah-based tools for change. 

    Enjoy and pass them along!

    Categories

    All
    Aliyah
    Healthy Image
    Leonard Cohen
    Middle East Conflict
    Middle East PEACE
    Miracles
    Mystical Experiences
    Parshat Bo
    Parshat B'shalach
    Parshat Chayei Sara
    Parshat Emor
    Parshat Ki Tavo
    Parshat Ki Tissa
    Parshat Korach
    Parshat Lech Lecha
    Parshat Metzora
    Parshat Mishpatim
    Parshat Noach
    Parshat Pekudai
    Parshat Shemini
    Parshat Shlach
    Parshat Shmot
    Parshat Teruma
    Parshat Tetzaveh
    Parshat Toldot
    Parshat Tzav
    Parshat Vayehi
    Parshat Vayeitze
    Parshat Vayera
    Parshat Vayeshev
    Parshat Vayetze
    Parshat Vayigash
    Parshat Vayishlach
    Parshat Yitro
    Passover
    PreOccupation Of Israel
    Purim
    Reb Shlomo
    Rosh Hashanah
    Sukkot
    Terrorism
    Tisha B'Av
    Tu B'Av
    Yom Ha'atzmaut
    Yom Yerushalyim - The Burning Bush

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.