Category Archives: Psalms

Singing a New Song

Halleluyah!
Shiru L’Adonay Shir Chadash;
T’hilato b’k’hal Chasidim
Singing a New Song in Hebrew
Sing to the Lord a New Song;
God’s praise is found in a community of Lovers. (Psalm 149:1)

Praise is the practice that lifts us up into the emerging possibilities of THIS moment. It is always new. When we come together as a community of lovers, we spark, inspire each and send each other to the praise of the moment. Praise happens in the synergy between us.

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

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Singing a New Song PDF.

Taking Refuge in You: Chanayni

Chanayni Elohim, Chanayni
Ki v’cha chasayah nafshi
Hebrew for Taking Refuge in You
You pour out your grace to me, Oh God,
When my soul takes refuge in You. (Psalm 57:2)

There are many names for God. When I invoke the name Elohim, I am sometimes startled to remember that this name is grammatically in the plural; I must explore that great Multiplicity if I am to find my way to Unity. On some days I call God “My Beloved”; on some days I call God “My Friend”; on some days I call to God as “The Great Mystery”; on some days I know God as the “Infinite Invisible”. Today as I face a world that is reeling in flux, I take refuge in God, and I call Her, “Spacious, Loving Awareness.”

Taking refuge in Spacious, Loving Awareness allows me to re-contextualize my own troubles, lean into a larger perspective, and surrender into this expanded moment. This act of taking refuge beneath the wide wings of Shechina, is what opens the apertures of my heart, allowing Grace (the Divine flow) to pour in. God is always flowing. It is only I who sometime closes in response to trauma, fear, doubt or wounding. Our spiritual practice is to open to that flow by taking refuge, giving ourselves over to God’s loving embrace.

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

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Taking Refuge in You PDF. To download the chant’s notation, click Taking Refuge in You notation PDF.

Trust in You: Yom Ira

Yom Ira Ani aylecha evtach
Trust in You Hebrew
In the (very) day that I fear,
I will put my trust in You. (Psalm 56:4)

My practice is to notice, really notice when fear arises, so that in that very moment I can turn and surrender to the Great Mystery. It’s tricky because fear often wears a disguise. The disguise might look like anger or cynicism or irritability or numbness or anxiety or tension in my body. When I can catch myself, I can interrupt the pattern of fear hiding behind one of these masks. Then, I notice the fear, take care of myself with tender self-compassion, and open in trust to the Great Mystery, relaxing into the Divine embrace, which, in truth. has been holding me all along.

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

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Trust in You PDF. To download the chant’s notation, click Trust in You notation PDF.

Sowing Our Tears: HaZorim

HaZorim b’dimah b’rinah yik’tzoru
Sowing Our Tears in Hebrew
Those who sow in tears will reap in joyous song. (Psalm 126:5)

Some tears lie fallow. They dissolve into dust or splatter on pavement, and are not planted. These tears leave us bitter and exhausted. Yet, when we know our tears as precious, they can be carefully and tenderly planted. We can do this planting for one another by giving each other the kind of attention that creates the fertile ground for tears. By acknowledging the value of grief as tears flow through us, we can plant each tear as a seed of joy. Our grieving can wash us clean, open the ground of our hearts, and clear the way for new life, new song, and surprising joy.

With this practice I reach into the stored memories of grief. I re-encounter my own tears, shed and unshed, and know my tears as precious seeds that can grow into greater love and compassion for myself and others. As I chant these sacred words, I let the power of my grief pour through my voice and presence. Memories fuel my intention – the intention to surrender to the power of transformation.

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

There’s no PDF file for this chant, but it appears on page 17 in The Magic of Hebrew Chant.


The Magic of Hebrew Chant ©2013 Shefa Gold. All rights reserved.


Davkah

Davkah nafshi acharecha, bi tamchah y’minecha

Davka in Hebrew
My soul with love goes after You;
while your strong hand supports me. (Psalm 63:9)

This is a practice that illuminates the paradoxical nature of my spiritual practice. I am seeking, reaching, longing for Devekut, which is God-consciousness, awareness of ultimate connectivity. With all my love I follow the glimmers of the Divine, bringing my heart, soul, commitment, effort, skill, wisdom and grace to the adventure.

On the other side of the paradox I lean back, and surrender into the Divine embrace. I totally relax to receive this support. I open in the stillness to the gift of this moment and let myself feel held, encouraged, nourished and supported.

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

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Davkah PDF. To download the chant’s notation, Davkah Notation PDF.