Medicine for Overwhelm: Tachanun

06/20/2006 Alia Meira

Medicine for Overwhelm (Tachanun) Hebrew text
Tachanun is a petition for grace that is part of the daily morning and afternoon service. It is omitted on Shabbat, Festivals, during the month of Nisan, or at a house of mourning.

When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I don’t function very well; I forget my practice, I forget to open to God’s help; I don’t have access to the vast treasures of spiritual resources that are in me. I use this prayer as an antidote to Overwhelm. If I can remember at the moment of feeling overwhelmed, to take refuge in God, in the ultimate Compassion of the Universe, then I will not fall victim to the curse to Overwhelm.

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.

For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 246.

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, Shir HaShirim

Building the Intention for Love: Sham etayn

09/26/2005 Alia Meira

Sham etayn et dodai lach
Sham Etayn Hebrew text
There I will give you my love. (Song of Songs 7:13)

This is a practice of strengthening and refining our deepest and finest intentions to love God through each moment and detail of our lives. Before the chant begins, imagine before you the landscape of your life — all the small details that make up your day. Then when you chant the word “Sham” (there), focus the force of your love into a particular detail or relationship of your daily routine.

Imagine bringing the power of Love (a love that embraces the mystery of the Whole), to everything you do: getting out of bed, making tea, greeting your family, doing your daily practice, cooking and eating breakfast, cleaning up the kitchen, approaching your work, acknowledging strangers and friends. See and imagine each moment as an opportunity for loving God through whatever is before you.

Each time you chant the word “Sham,” direct its energy towards another relationship or situation or detail of your life, charging up your intention to love God through “this.”

This practice can also be done as a walking meditation, when you’re on your way to do something that may require your clear, strong and loving intention. With each step you can build this intention and expand your awareness of the precious opportunity that awaits you.

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

Building the Intention for Love

Chants, Shir HaShirim

Loving ‘This’: Zeh Dodi

09/26/2005 Alia Meira

Zeh Dodi v’zeh ray-ee

This is my Beloved; this is my Friend. (Song of Songs 5:16)

Meditation is the practice of opening to “this” — this very moment, this very place. Ordinarily I may have my judgements — things about this that I like or not. But in meditation I just say yes to whatever is before me. I accept it fully. I may not like it, but I surrender to “this” whatever it is. I fall in love, each moment, again and again. I make this moment my friend.

My friend and teacher Sylvia Boorstein has taught me a phrase of intention, “I greet this moment in friendship with an undefended heart.”

This phrase from the Song of Songs helps me to enter into meditation with a clear and vital intention of making each moment my Beloved.

To view context from Shir HaShirim through the Love at the Center project, click Shir HaShirm (Beha’alotekha).

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

Loving ‘This’

For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 258.

Chants, Psalms

Preparation for Healing: Atah Ozi

09/26/2005 Alia Meira

Atah Ozi
Atah Chayai
Atah Ori
Atah L’fanai

You are my Strength
You are my Life
You are my Light
Ever before me. (inspired by Psalm 27)

In the practice of healing we leave the “small-mind” place of fear and separation, and enter into the “big mind” place of infinite possibility, and gratefulness for the blessing that is already flowing. We take the journey from “small-mind” to “big mind” by addressing God as YOU. We must become calm enough and spacious enough to receive God’s presence in response to our invocation. When we are filled with that presence, then we can open to the healing power that flows through us.

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

Preparation for Healing

For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 282.