Category Archives: Scripture

Knowing Beauty and Finding the Universe: Et Hakol Asa

01/02/2008 Alia Meira

Et-Hakol asa yafeh b’ito, gam et ha-olam natan b’liba

[God] makes everything beautiful in its time, and also hides the universe in their hearts. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Kohelet lays before us a profound spiritual challenge, “to completely enjoy what is before you,” even through uncertainty, even though all our pleasures are temporary.

The practice we are given is to receive and comprehend the beauty of this changing world without grasping or attachment. The hint that we are given which can help us, is that everything that we perceive as outside of ourselves is actually hidden within our own hearts.

The practice we are given is to look inward to find the whole universe hidden there, waiting to be discovered. The hint that we are given which can help us, is that everything is beautiful in its time. When we can perceive the beauty of each and every phase of our existence, then we will recognize the Truth that was inside us all along.

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

Knowing Beauty and Finding the Universe

For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 253.

Chants, Liturgy, Psalms, Scripture

Balancing Will and Surrender: Ozi v’Zimrat Yah

06/16/2006 Alia Meira

Ozi v’Zimrat Yah Vayahi li lishuah
Ozi v'Zimrat Yah Hebrew text
My Strength (balanced) with the Song of God will be my salvation (Psalm 118:14, Exodus 15:2)

In this practice I find and express my strength, my will, my effort and desire when I chant “Ozi.” When I chant “v’zimrat Yah,” I open and surrender to the God-song and let it be sung through me. Then in the last phrase, “Vayahi li lishuah,” I balance those two aspects of my practice.

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

Ozi v’Zimrat Yah

For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 245.

Chants, Scripture

Opening to the Source of Flow: V’nahar yotzei

09/26/2005 Alia Meira

V’nahar yotzei me’eden, l’hashkot et haGan.

A river comes forth from Eden to water the garden. (Genesis 2:10)

My friend and teacher Melila Hellner told me that this line from Genesis was the most quoted sacred phrase in the Zohar, one of the central texts of Kabbalah. I was intrigued and began chanting this phrase with the intention of opening to the Source of Flow. Chant these words until the chant begins to chant itself. In the silence after the chant, open to the Flow.

As we delight in the garden of this moment, let us attune to the source of its vitality and beauty.

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

Opening to the Source of Flow

For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 255.