SOULIFT: Dealing with Adversity
May 13-19, 2019
in
Lake Delton, WI
Rabbi Shefa Gold
with Rabbi Diane Elliot
Join us as we explore each of the Ba’al Shem Tov’s three-part process for dealing with adversity:
- Practicing Hakhna’ah (Surrender)
- Cultivating Havdalah (Discernment)
- Inviting the experience of Hamtakah (Sweetening)
In the 18th century, the Ba’al Shem Tov (BeShT) — the great mystic, shaman, healer, and founder of the Hasidic movement — laid out a process for dealing with challenging experience. He described this process as “sweetening suffering.” As many contemporary spiritual teachers point out, pain is inevitable, while suffering is optional. The BeShT taught that by embracing our difficult experiences, opening to them, whether they appear in the form physical illness, mental distress, oppressive circumstances, or painful loss, we may ultimately penetrate the pain and lift it to its “root” in the Source of All, thus “sweetening” the suffering.
Mornings will be filled with practices to address our personal and collective pain. The afternoons will be more spacious for integrating practice through art, movement, and time in nature. There will be opportunity for individual bodywork and supported reflection and attention to the inner landscape. Each evening participants will co-create a healing ritual for the day.
Our week of spiritual immersion will culminate in the glorious celebration of Shabbat, a day to revel in newfound possibilities, open to blessing, and step through the doors that have been opened by our practice.
Download this SOULIFT retreat’s flyer for details.
To register for the retreat, go to the retreat’s page at the ALEPH site.