Category Archives: Chants

From the Depths: Mima’amakim

04/10/2010 Alia Meira

Mima’amakim k’raticha Yah

From the Depths I call to You, Oh God. Hear my Voice! (Psalm 130:1)

For me the practice of chanting is about finding those Depths from which to call, thereby unlocking the treasures of passion, longing, love and wisdom at my core. Slavery is the state of being trapped on the surface. I find my freedom by opening to the possibilities of the infinite space within. Calling out to God is a practice of dropping down into those infinite depths and allowing my deepest and truest expression to emerge.

To hear the various parts of the chant, use the audio players. To download a part, right-click a note and save (or download) the linked MP3 file.

To download the PDF file for this chant, click From the Depths PDF. For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 274.

Chants, Liturgy

Shehechiyanu

04/08/2010 Alia Meira

Shehechiyanu, v’kiymanu, v’higiyanu lazman haZeh
Shehechiyanu Hebrew text
Oh Mystery, Grace unfolding, Oh Miracle, it’s You alone,
Oh Mystery, Grace unfolding, Oh Miracle, Who brings us Home. (Shehechiyanu)

A Meditation on this Moment

There is a blessing that is said whenever we realize the miracle of this present moment. We bless God who gave us Life, sustained us and brought us to this very moment. We say this blessing when we do something for the first time, to honor and express the wonder of having arrived. In meditation, I experience each moment as a momentous arrival. My whole existence has led me to this very moment — the culmination of my Life thus far, where I am privileged to experience the fullness of this NOW. God who is that miraculous force of Grace unfolding has brought me Home. In encountering and honoring that force of Homecoming, I turn and receive the gift of my life.

To hear the chant, use the audio player. To download the chant, right-click the note and save (or download) the linked MP3 file.

Shehechiyanu Round

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Shehechiyanu PDF. For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 239.

Chants, Liturgy, Psalms

Morning Blessings

02/16/2010 Alia Meira

Adonai matir asurim, Adonai pokayah ivrim
Adonai zokayf k’fufim, Adonai ohayv tzadikim
Morning Blessings Hebrew text
Ahal’lah Yah b’chayai

Oh God, who sets the captive free,
who opens the eyes of the blind to see,
who heals the lame and
loves the just.
I will praise Yah with my life! (Psalm 146:2, 7, and 8)

As my morning blessings, I acknowledge the Force that sets me free from the bondage of habit and conditioning. I thank the One who opens my eyes to what were once invisible realms. I feel myself lifted up and healed by that Power, as the best in me is seen , known and loved.

Then I make a commitment to praise Yah with my life as I become a channel for that force of liberation, enlightenment, healing and love.

To hear the chant, use the audio player. To download the chant, right-click the note and save (or download) the linked MP3 file.

Morning Blessings

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Morning Blessings PDF. For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 234.

Chants, Psalms

Clean Hands: Mi ya’aleh

01/09/2010 Alia Meira

Mi ya’aleh v’har Adonai umi yakum bim’kom kodsho?
N’ki chapayim uvar layvov

Clean Hands Hebrew text

Who may ascend the Mountain of God and who may establish the Place of His Holiness?
One with clean hands and a pure heart. (Psalm 24:3-4)

As we prepare for the work of holiness, we can listen for this question from Psalm 24, that asks us to step forward, raise our consciousness and enter the Place where God’s Presence can be known and experienced. The requirements are clean hands and a pure heart. Clean hands represent the purity of our intention as we do our work. A pure heart is who we are.

To hear the various parts of the chant, use the audio players. To download a part, right-click a note and save (or download) the linked MP3 file.

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Clean Hands PDF.

Chants, Scripture

Justice, Justice: Tzedek, Tzedek Tirdof

01/09/2010 Alia Meira

Hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess. (Hebrews 10:23)

Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof

Justice, Justice you shall pursue. (Deuteronomy 16:20)

In Barack Obama’s acceptance speech at the Democratic Convention, he quoted this line from scripture as a reminder that we must not succumb to cynicism or fear. During this time leading up to the election, there is so much pettiness and poison in the air. I wrote this chant to help us stay anchored in the hope, and in the possibility of justice.

To hear the various parts of the chant, use the audio players. To download a part, right-click a note and save (or download) the linked MP3 file.