 |
|
 |
| |
| Departments |
Home
Columns, Special
Topics & Features:
The Columns:
Angels, Guides, &
Loving Spirits:
Angel Blessings:
with Dr. Doreen Virtue
Ask Valerie Morrison,
Internationally
Acclaimed Psychic
Astrologer's Notes:
Ask Carrin Martin,
Astrologer
Basil Fearrington,
Astrologer
Diana Stone,
Astrologer &
Huna Shaman
Jeff Jawer
Astrologer
Martin Lass,
Astrologer
Glenn Perry,
Astrologer
Ray Merriman,
Financial Astrology:
MMA Market Week
Erin Sullivan,
Astrologer
Noel Tyl,
Astrologer
Stellar Scopes
Daija de Mornay
Daily Aspect Calendar
by Care
The Weekly Horoscope
By Care
Creating Bridges:
The Spiritual &
Philosophical
Act of Power
Discovering the Key to Living Your Sacred Dream
by Lynn Andrews
The BUT Doctor
Healing America's Real Crack Problem One Person at a Time
by Eddie Conner
Awakening to the
Miracle of Ordinary Life by Dennis Lewis
Avant-Gardening:
Insights by Frank &
Vicky Giannangelo
Bodymind Integration: A Psychology of Potential
by Kevin Roberts
Breaking Free:
Anne Brewer
Choices: The Art of Conscious Creation:
by Teri Harris Saa
From The Heart:
Alan Cohen
Teachings from the Western Mystery Traditions: The Esoteric "Paths of Return"
by Jacquelyn Small, Eupsychia
"Letters from Heaven:" Spiritual Guidance from
the Hebrew Alphabet
by Avigayil Landsman
Memos From The
First Tabugian
Art Rosengarten, Ph.D.
The Path of Wisdom and Love
Dr. John Demartini,
Spirituality in Daily Life: by Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron
The Conscious Column
by David Ault
Spiritual Mastery
for the 21st Century
Dr. Gwen MacGregor
Pearls of Wisdom:
with Care
Feng Shui:
Wind & Water:
Carole J. Hyder
In Practice:
How to Create a Successful Holistic Practice- from Start to Success
by Shaun Brown,
CMT, BA BeWell Publications
The Business of Tarot
by Bonnie Cehovet,
Tarot Master
Pet Care:
Dr. Carson's Holistic Animal Care
by Dr. Kathleen Carson, D.V.M.
Tarot:
Soulforest:
Tarot and Spirituality
Rachel Pollack,
Tarot Grand Master
Gateway to Tarot:
by Bonnie Cehovet,
Tarot Master
Reviews:
Tarot, Cartomancy,
Oracle Decks,
Books, & Software.
by Bonnie Cehovet,
Tarot Master
Bonnie Cehovet's
Tarot Interviews
Humor:
Wake Up Laughing.Com:
Swami Beyondananda
Features:
Blessings & Messages
Crystals, Gemstones & Minerals by Kristi of MoonCave
Event Calendar
Historical Notes & Data
The MetaPersonals
Symbols, Seals,
Amulets & Talismans
The What in the
World Department
Trivia & Other
Novel Moments
Your Views
Interviews:
Watch for Upcoming Announcements
Healing & Alternative
Health:
"The Ancient Way of Chinese Medicine"
by Kevin O'Neil
Flower Essences
by Donna Cunningham
Living in Harmony-Astrology, Yoga & Ayurveda:
Venkat & Christine Machiraju
"Spirit and Practice
of the Wise Woman
Tradition"
By Susun Weed
Tai Chi & Qigong
by Bill Douglas
The Holistic Mystic,
by Lonny Brown
Medical Intuition: Tune
in to Your Body and Improve Your Health
by Caroline Sutherland, Sutherland Communications
Tools for Heartful Living
by Jackie Woods,
Healer & Spiritual Teacher,
Adawehi Institute
Conscious Breathing
for Health and Self Transformation
by Dennis Lewis
The Directory
The Book Nook
Archives:
Past Issues
General Information:
Synopsis of Contents
Editorial Submission
Information:
Articles
Columns
Editorial Opinions
"Your Views"
General Content
Event Calendars
Graphics & Photos
Editorial Deadlines
Advertising
Information &
Opportunities
About
The Meta Arts
Magazine
Department
Contacts:
Publishers
Editorial
Advertising Sales
Graphic Design
Promotion Dept.
Employment
Contact Us
Legal Notices
|
|
|
|
|
|
Creating Bridges: Spirituality & Philosophy:
Kabbalah: "Letters from Heaven:"
Spiritual Guidance from the Hebrew Alphabet
YOD
Spirituality
GOD, may the works of my hands manifest
The dream YOU planted in my soul
by Avigayil Landsman
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dedication
I have a special friend who I love very much because of the unique connection we share. Our eyes met from across a crowded room "one enchanted evening" and we immediately fell into friendly conversation. Although it was the first time I saw him, I felt that I had looked into his kind, gentle eyes for years. Words weren't really necessary; we sensed whom the other was by the light shining in our eyes. This keen, essential knowing reflects the energy of yud, the letter of spirituality; therefore, I humbly dedicate this month's column to him.
The letter yud is the only letter that does not reach from the top of the writing line to the bottom of the writing line. Yud, the smallest letter of the aleph-beit represents the essence of divinity. It hangs from the top of the line just as the divine realm is out of sight, yet infuses our souls. It is the spark that sets life aglow. We see light, but we cannot see the source of light. We know that God exists through the smallest of signs, hard to define, sensing yet unable to truly name it.
Yud is the first letter that I learned how to write because yud is the essential component of all the other letters. It is so small that it appears not to have any component parts. However, if you look closely, you will see that there is a little hook reaching upwards and a mid-section that leads to a downward curve, thus teaching us that divinity is a cycle moving from an upper realm to a lower one, from transcendence to physical form. The vav, the connector, for example is a vertically lengthened yud. The aleph contains a vertical vav with two yuds attached in opposite directions like blades on a fan. If you look at each letter of the aleph-beit, you will find a yud in it somewhere, because all of the letters are building blocks of divinity. Their combinations to form words are alchemy.
…into the Mystic
When I was ten years old, for some strange reason unknown to me, my parents sent me to a Hebrew-speaking summer camp. They had to send me for special tutoring during the year so that I could attend. I recently asked them why they did this and neither of them could come up with a cogent reason. As my mother would say, "God works in mysterious ways." At that time, my favorite activity was watching "The Flintstones" and "The Jetsons" on television.
The idea of living in a structured, observant environment did not excite me in the least. What horrible thing had I done that they would ship me off like this? The summer before they had sent me to a different camp and I hated it. Firstly, I had to share a room with ten other girls; there was no carpeting and no air conditioning. Oddly enough, this little, secular Jewish girl loved getting up early every morning to davven (pray). In fact, after a few weeks we were given our little prayer books and instructed to lead our own, private prayer service out in the woods. I picked a beautiful spot, among tall pines that overlooked a lovely sunlit stream.
It was a sunny summer day and as I prayed, I enjoyed the natural splendor all around me. At one point in my service, I looked up to the bright sky. The light shown through the pines like a spotlight which led my eyes down to the sparkling water below; all filled with tiny diamonds. I was deeply moved by this defining moment. I was in awe of being in the presence of the Creator. That moment stayed with me and buoyed me up during a less fortunate time a year later, when I almost died in a car crash. That moment informed me that there was a power beyond anyone or anything I could touch. That spirit flowed through me, just as the diamonds danced on the stream. Those little diamonds were like little yuds dancing atop the water. Perhaps the creators of various Tarot decks have had similar experiences because there are many cards where yuds are flying in space, releasing sacred power on the scene. There have been many other moments in my life when that memory comes back to me, filling me with the awe I experienced over thirty years ago.
The look of love
Have you ever noticed that special, warm, glowy feeling you get when someone you love looks deeply into your eyes? You can be feeling sick or sad, but the loving look somehow transforms your pain? Their love fills you so much, that there is simply nowhere for the pain to exist. That wonderful feeling is the essence of yud.
In retrospect, the time I felt most loved was when I was a very little girl. My Mom and Dad would beam at me at the smallest thing I did. I wasn't necessarily doing anything special, just being a little girl, but they were so excited by me, so in love with me that light would shine through their eyes. My parents had no expectations of me at that time; they accepted me for who I was rather than for what I was doing. My special friend looks at me in the same way. At first, I couldn't figure out why I felt so high every time he looked at (really into) me. Whenever I think of him looking into my eyes I am filled with happiness that inspires much of what I do, especially this column. He also inspired the image I created for yud.
God loves the pure souls we are. We know we are broken and that we have covered ourselves in deadened layers of our destructive habits, and defenses. But the Divine sees the divine in us-- that spark of holiness planted in our soul before we were born. That spark originated in Heaven, descended into physical form, stays with us in our body and returns when we die, to be reborn again. I believe that this is the mystical interpretation of the Resurrection: Jesus died and returned. We all do this metaphorically, no cross required!
A daily practice is to continually "die to our egos", turning our attention away from our defense mechanisms to our spark of holiness. This may occur when we meditate, pray or have a life-altering experience (such as being awed by a sunrise) that takes us out of our mishagas, to use the technical term and return to the Infinite Source of Love. This is why we are called children of God. Who can resist a tiny baby? After all, didn't Jesus and Moses get their start in life with a special cheerleading squad directed by God, a.k.a.: our Father who art in Heaven?
In an earlier column, I discussed how the tetragrammaton could be seen anthropomorphically as a human body: the yud is the head, the hay is the arms and shoulders, the vav is the spine and the second hay the hips and legs. The numerical value of yud is ten.
There are ten sephirot in the Tree of Life, the aspects or emanations of Spirit. All of Life imbues the hay, the shoulders and arms, also imagined as the cosmic container, supernal womb-- with life.
The expansiveness of the "impregnated" hay then contracts into the pipeline of the vav: the cosmic phallus that connects the supernal flow of life into the lower womb: Israel(God wrestlers, people on the PATH). Vav channels the divine flow into our earthly beings. Love creates love. The love obliterates the fear that causes us to act destructively.
The vav impregnates Divine Flow into our actions, which allows full expression of our authentic loving kindness. When we are able to focus all of our attention on the Holy One we are bathed in Divine Love and in opening ourselves only to God's love we can give love to others without fear.
As an exercise, project the Holy Name onto yourself and all the people in your life. In doing this, you will find that all of life is holy. I did this the other day and extended it to the entire planet, the vav being the axis.
God's HANDiwork
The letter yud derives from a hand holding papyrus. The letter's acrophonic meaning is literally hand.
Yad is the hand, a symbol of how our spirituality takes form in the world. In Torah we read that Aaron and Moses raised their hands to signal for either a plague or miracle.
Many people think that spirituality is about meditation. Meditation helps us to empty ourselves of extraneous, unwanted thoughts.
Meditation helps us open our hearts to channel love and our highest purpose so that when we act in the world, our actions reflect divine inspiration. The insights and visions we get during meditation are openings, beginnings that are completed through our actions. Yud is the letter of spirituality because it is through our actions that our highest intensions take form.
In the Bible, one way God convinces Moses to demand that Pharaoh free the Hebrew slaves from bondage is to turn the rod in his hand into a snake. God then instructs Moses to pick it up by the tail, whereupon, it becomes a rod again. This "now-you-see-it-now-you-don't" illustrates that the power behind our actions comes from God; we are God's instruments. (The Inner Meaning of the Hebrew Letters, Robert Harilick, p142) A flute is a mere piece of wood until our breath of life moves through it to create music.
Unification
The connection to Ya, one of the many names for the divine is yichud, also beginning with yud. When a couple is married, they are given time alone after the ceremony and before the celebration. This is called yichud-- unification. First there was a man and a woman, each alone. A mystical union is made through the covenant of marriage. The mystics of S'fat, Israel, in the sixteenth century went into deep meditations for the sake of the unification of God. This was called yechidim. The highest emanation of the divine is called Yechida.
Partnership with the Divine
Yayyin, wine begins with the letter yod. Yayyin is the product of God and Israel; God gave us the grape but it is not wine until we work it with our hands. When two hands are joined, there is a complete circuit. Yud-hey-vav-hey connects the upper hand of God with the lower hand of humanity. Two lovers holding hands, a mother and child holding hands display love. This1 is a spiritual love on an earthly plane.
Yud has the numerical value of ten. Two hands with five fingers on each hand equal ten. The hay in yud-hay-vav-hay has the numerical value of five.
Yud is ten times that of aleph, one. The unbridled pulsating energy of THE ONE is at the level of spirituality. Ten is the unification of the ten sephirot of the tree of life, the totality of the cosmos. The ALL of the ONE comes about when all ten sephirot are activated. Ten is a number of completions, having gone beyond the first nine single digits.
We read in the story of Passover, that there were ten plagues. Pharaoh would not free the Hebrew slaves until Egypt suffered through ten plagues. It took complete devastation to change Pharaoh's mind. And you thought YOUR parents were stubborn!
A minyan is a gathering of ten Jewish adults, the minimum number required both for the recital of certain significant prayers in the prayer service, and for the reading of Torah in the course of the service. In Jewish teaching, the number ten carries many significant mystical and cosmic overtones, referring to the Ten Sephirot in the tree of life, the Ten Tribes of Israel (beside the Kohanim and Levi'im).
Tarot Tens
The tens in Tarot indicate completion, even going over the top, as with the ten of swords. Nine of swords shows defensiveness, but ten of swords is beyond paranoia, beyond hypochondria! Swords stuck in the back, even in the ear! This is someone who really feels victimized and helpless. It doesn't get much better for the ten of wands, which is commonly seen as oppression. Thank goodness for the ten of cups, which shows the fulfillment of a couple's highest hopes: a home, abundance of love and comfort. Ten of pentacles indicate a completion of generations, including the young, middle-aged adults and the elders. If you look carefully at the composition in the Rider deck, you will see the ten sephirot.
Yud in a reading
If yud enters your spread, you are being called to look at the spiritual depths of a situation or person. What spark lies just below the surface? What can you do to bring forth the divine light? What defenses do you need to let go of? Are you acting from a place of compassion, for the good of all or do you have specific expectations you want met? Put your hands in divine service for the best outcome.
The Image
The butterfly represents transformation from our attachment to our material concerns to the highest level of spirituality. It is the third level, beginning with a chrysalis to a cocoon to protect the newly emerging butterfly-- self. I compare this to the three levels of the Aytz Chayyim(Tree of Life): nefesh, ruach and neshama. Neshama is that highest level most closely connected with the transcendent. We move towards this state of consciousness through more awareness of our actions. In an earlier column I spoke about the yud-hey-vav-hey, the four-lettered name of God in a metaphorical context. The letter hey, whose numerical value is five represents the five fingers on our hand. The vav connects our hands to God's through Divine service. It naturally followed that butterfly hands best communicated this teaching.
A New Orleans butterfly mask my friend, Mary gave me for my birthday a few years ago inspired the image of the eyes looking through the wings. The mask has been hanging on my wall for years, but one night, I focused on the eye holes and saw that they weren't meant for me to see through as much as where the Divine was looking at me!
I used the lines of my palms as the design of the butterfly's wings because they tell my life's story. A good palmist could tell you what each line meant, much like the Hebrew letters hold the mystery of Torah. My soul flies with God when my life is put into divine service. Two hands create the butterfly because I am integrating the left and right sides, the side of boundless energy with that of containment.
The butterfly is feminine, resembling a woman's reproductive organs so I framed it with the masculine peacock feathers. The peacock symbolizes protection. The arc of its tail feathers recalls the sun. If you look at a diagram of the Tree of Life and focus on the lines that radiate from Tiferet to Keter, Chesed and Gevurah, you will see a fan-like design that resembles the peacock's feathers. So, the peacock feathers represent the ze'er anpin, the six lower sephirot, or masculine aspect of the Divine that desires to unite with Malchut, or Shekinah, the feminine aspect of the Divine(butterfly). All the colors of the Holy of Holies are represented here: crimson, purple and blue. God peers through the eyes of the peacock feathers, gazing lovingly at us, inspiring us to create. The butterfly, our creative soul is drawn up to our Beloved Friend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Avigayil Landsman,
Torah Scholar, Calligrapher, Lecturer, Teacher & Creator of the "Letters From Heaven" Deck
|
 |
Avigayil has been a serious student of Torah for the last ten years and has written many d'vrai Torah(Torah lectures). She is the creator of Letters from Heaven, a Jewish divination system that incorporates the mystical meanings of the Hebrew letters, her chiddushim (new insights into Torah) and their application to the challenges of daily life. Her LFH readings offer seekers of all persuasions spiritual direction in finding one's authentic voice.
Avigayil is a multi-media artist who is best-known for the beaded breastplate that adorns the Woodstock Jewish Congregation's Torah. She creates personalized ketubot, beeswax Shabbat candles, shiviti plaques and other judaica as well as secular art in Sculpey, paint, and shadow boxes that combine disparate objects such as feathers, beads and wood.
Her Judaica (beeswax Shabbat and havdallah candles, havdallah spice boxes, shiviti plaques) and calligraphy cards are available for purchase at the Woodstock Jewish Congregation's judaica shop, Miriam's Well and her home. She also does private commissions.
Avigayil has taught enrichment classes in calligraphy for the Woodstock Jewish Congregation's Hebrew school. She prepares children and adults for becoming Bat/bar-mitzvah with humor and deep wisdom that come from her own unique way of living through the lessons of Torah. She has also given workshops and lectures on the spiritual meaning of the Hebrew letters and Letters from Heaven at Omega and Mount St. Alphonsus.
"Avigayil Landsman's interpretations of the Hebrew letters are original, witty, steeped in scholarship, and above all a genuine opening to our own spiritual wisdom." Rachel Pollack, creator of Shining Tribe Tarot Deck www.rachelpollack.com
Avigayil is available for art commissions and LFH readings in person or on the phone. She may be contacted by e-mail at:
jewishwisdomandart@
hotmail.com
www.jewish-wisdom
-and-art.4t.com |
 |
You'll find it in
The
Directory!
|
|
|
|
|
