Category Archives: Psalms

Re-Parented: Ki avi

12/27/2009 Alia Meira

Ki avi v’imi azvuni
Va’Adonai ya’asfayni
Horayni Yah darkecha
Re-Parented Hebrew text
Though my father and my mother have forsaken me,
God will gather me in.
Teach me Your Way, Oh God. (Psalm 27:10-11)

This three part round is a three part process of first admitting the ways that your parents may have “failed” you. They may not have been able to give you the exact safety, encouragement, nourishment, guidance, or embrace that you needed. From your grown-up perspective now you can stop blaming them and instead cultivate compassion for their limitations and for yourself. They were really doing the best they could.

The second step is to turn to God, the Great Father/Mother and allow yourself to be embraced, gathered in, and re-parented. Surrender into the arms of that Divine Parent and let yourself be held, seen, known, and sent to your own truth.

And the third step is to open to Guidance, internalizing that Divine Parent as you connect to Wisdom in this very moment on your Life Path.

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

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Re-Parented PDF. For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 271.

Chants, Psalms

Oh Justice: Yifrach

08/31/2009 Alia Meira

Yifrach b’yamav Tzadik, v’rov Shalom
Oh Justice Hebrew text
Oh Justice, Oh Justice… in the fullness of Peace!
Oh, Justice shall flourish in its time, and the fullness of peace. (Psalm 72:7)
[Click (or tap) to see the entire Psalm 72 in Hebrew and English (JPS 1985).]

In Memory of Senator Ted Kennedy:
At the funeral of Senator Ted Kennedy, his daughter Kara led the congregation in a version of Psalm 72. After each line, the congregation of dignitaries responded with refrain, “Justice shall flourish in its time, and the fullness of peace forever.”

Senator Kennedy, may his memory be a blessing, understood that Justice is the inner truth of Peace. His legacy of making justice for the poor, for the disabled, for the disenfranchised people of this land, can be our inspiration as we all become Makers of Peace.

This practice marries Justice with Peace, affirming that the fullness of Peace is Justice. All our work for Justice must have Peace as its driving force and as we work for Peace, we must make Justice our goal.

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 Oh Justice PDF. For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 270.

Chants, Psalms

Giving My ‘Self’ in Service: Ana Yah ki

08/29/2009 Alia Meira

Ana Yah ki ani avdecha; Ani avdecha
Giving My Self in Service Hebrew text
Please God, for I am your servant; I am your servant. (Psalm 116:16)
[Click (or tap) to see the entire Psalm 116 in Hebrew and English (JPS 1985).]

With this practice, I am asking God to please take my small self and connect me with the larger Whole so that everything that I have imagined, constructed, developed and refined as my separate self can be re-connected and be given in service to the Whole of Life.

I am saying, “Please use me,” as I give myself to the Greatest Intelligence and Deepest Mystery of Oneness. With each repetition of the chant, I find more of my “self” to give away in dedication to my higher purpose of service.

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

Giving My ‘Self’ in Service

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Giving My Self in Service PDF. For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 269.

Chants, Psalms

The Sea Lion’s Question: Mi ha-ish

05/14/2009 Alia Meira

Mi ha-ish hechafetz Chayyim, Ohev yomim lirot tov?

Who is the one that has a passion for Life, loving every day, seeing the Good? (Psalm 34:13)

During my pilgrimage to the Galapagos, I communed with a variety of animals who amazed me with their forthright presence, beauty and intelligence. Many of the animals I saw exist nowhere else. Marine Iguanas, Galapagos Penguins and Blue-footed Boobies astounded me. Everywhere were the reminders of the humor and creative genius of The Creator.

The climax of my Galapagos adventure was the opportunity to swim with the Sea Lions. We hiked across Floreana Island to their secret cove and jumped into the clear swirling tide. The sea lions immediately surrounded us, excited to play. All afternoon we frolicked in delighted abandon with these sweet and bold teachers of the sea. When I got back on the boat, I was inspired to sing this line from Psalm 34: “Who is the one with a passion for Life, loving each day, seeing the Good?”

I imagined that through their play, the sea lions were asking me this question. And I answered without hesitation, “I will be that one. I promise.”

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 The Sea Lion’s Question PDF. For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 277.

Chants, Psalms

Re-membering: Ladonay ha’aretz

04/16/2009 Alia Meira

Ladonay ha’aretz um’loah, tevel v’yoshvay va

The earth and all that fills her, and all who dwell in her…
all belong to God. (Psalms 24:1)

With this practice we acknowledge everything and everyone as part of the Divine Body. And we surrender to the One who encompasses our very being. Our intention is to re-member, to acknowledge just how integral we are to the Whole of God, to the community of All, to each other.

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.