Chapter 1:12-14
When the King lay down beside me,
My perfume gave forth its sweetness.
All night my beloved sleeps between my breasts,
A cluster of myrrh.
A spray of henna blossoms,
from the vineyards of Ein Gedi.
Only in Your Presence is my true fragrance revealed.
My perfume is complex — a note of sweetness, yes…
But also terror, anguish, absurd humor, surprise
And a musky gratefulness for Life.My fragrance mingles with the night,
We are drunk with it.
In the Fever of Love ©2008 Shefa Gold. All rights reserved.
Practice
Chant: My Perfume
Commentary
The practice here is to allow myself to be aroused by my experience of Divine Presence. Sexual arousal is the metaphor. When I am given a glimpse of the Mystery, I soften, lean into the experience, let my “juices” flow. I let down my defenses, and become both receptive and responsive.
As I chant these words, I let myself be seduced by my imagination; I become unself-conscious… shameless. The perfume that wafts out is my response (beyond words)to being touched by the Mystery.
Bridge to Torah
My perfume is revealed through a process of struggle, through a dance of discovery and rediscovery of that which lies buried deep within. In his time, Abraham had touched those depths and brought forth treasures of blessing and kindness. Yet those wells became obstructed, just as we become blocked by our inhibitions, self-consciousness or doubt. Like Isaac, each of us must do the work of clearing those obstructions and allowing the sweetness within to flow out. Each generation must do the work of uncovering the sweetness of Torah for its time.
Click to see Genesis 25:19–28:9 in Hebrew and English (JPS 1985) or the associated Torah Journeys page.
Question for Contemplation
Can I let myself be touched by beauty and surrender to the subtle force of arousal within?
Resources
View Love at the Center Resources.
Click to see Song of Songs Chapter 1:12-14 in Hebrew with the English JPS (1985) translation.