Supported: Samuch libo

08/28/2008 Alia Meira

Samuch libo lo yira (masculine)
Samuch liba lo tira (feminine)

Heart supported, fearless. (Psalm 112:8)
[Click (or tap) to see the entire Psalm 112 in Hebrew and English (JPS 1985).]

This is a practice that cultivates a path to fearlessness, one that I had not imagined possible. On this path, we open ourselves to the feeling of being completely supported. As we relax, expand and lean into that sense of being held and supported, our hearts open in fearlessness.

You can also do this practice with a spiritbuddy, gently placing one hand on the front of their heart and one hand on the back of their heart. As your spiritbuddy dances slowly to the chant, follow their movements giving them a sense of heart support in their dance. Then switch places.

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 Supported PDF. For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 269.

Chants, Scripture

Praise: The Force of Healing and Salvation (R’fa’ayni Yah)

06/15/2008 Alia Meira

R’fa’ayni Yah v’ayrafay;
Hoshiyani v’ivashay’ah ki t’hilati atah.

Heal me, God, and I will be healed;
Save me and I will be saved… for my praise is You. (Jeremiah 17:14)

I cry out from the depths of my suffering, and in the moment when my cry reverberates, I know that I am healed, made whole, embraced in the arms of Love. I call out from the apprehension of being lost, and in my calling, I hear the truth of how connected I have always been and always will be. My prayer of longing becomes praise. My asking becomes receiving. In my prayer I know God as the Transforming Force that moves through me. My praise is that Force.

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 Praise PDF. For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 262.

Chants, Liturgy, Psalms, Scripture

The Saving Power of God-Consciousness: Shiru Ladonay

05/27/2008 Alia Meira

Shiru Ladonay kol ha’aretz, Ba’s’ru mi’yom eyl yom y’shuato
Shiru la’shechina kol ha’aretz, Ba’s’ru mi’yom eyl yom y’shuateha
Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, HalleluYah!
The Saving Power of God-Consciousness Hebrew text
Sing to the Lord, everyone on Earth,
Announce His Salvation daily!
Sing to the Indwelling Divine Presence,
Announce Her Salvation daily!
Praise Yah! (I Chronicles 16:23, Psalm 96)
[Click (or tap) to see the entire Psalm 96 or I Chronicles 16 in Hebrew and English (JPS 1985).]

I chant these words to both the masculine and the feminine aspects of God as I call forth an awareness of the Divine Presence that shines forth from the daily miracles of my life. I am saved by the light of this awareness.

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 Saving Power of God-Consciousness PDF. For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 247.

Chants, Isaiah, Liturgy

Kedushah: Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh

05/27/2008 Alia Meira

Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, Yah Tziva’ot,
M’lo chol haAretz K’vodo
Kedushah Hebrew text
Holy, Holy, Holy, Mother of Multiplicity,
The whole world is filled with your glory! (Isaiah 6:3)

This is the beginning of the Kedusha, an important and oft-repeated section of our liturgy which describes the prophet Isaiah’s vision of the angels who are chanting to one another. The Talmud (Sotah 49a) says that “The world is maintained by the Keushah.” This is an important proof-text affirming the power of chant.

When I chant the words Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, I lift myself up into the angelic realms, reaching beyond my normal perceptions into the subtle vibrations of “Holiness.” When I chant the words Yah Tziva’ot, I open my crown chakra and allow those high and holy vibrations to pour down into my body, filling me. When I chant the words M’lo chol haAretz K’vodo, I let the eyes of my heart open my physical eyes until I can see and point to the Presence of God everywhere.

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 Kedushah PDF.

Chants, Scripture

Planting and Harvesting: V’nat’u ch’ramim

03/27/2008 Alia Meira

V’nat’u ch’ramim v’shatu et yaynam, v’asu ganot v’achlu et p’rihem.
Planting and Harvesting Hebrew text
And they will plant vineyards and drink the wine thereof,
And they shall make gardens and eat the fruit of them. (Amos 9:14)

The prophet Amos gives us a vision of what it feels like to harvest the rewards of our intentions, love and work, to drink the wine and eat the fruit of what we have planted. Now, what would it mean if with this out-breath, I planted a vineyard, and with the very next in-breath, I drank the wine thereof. And with this out-breath I made a garden and with the very next in-breath, I am nurtured by the fruit of that garden? This is the practice that Amos gives me.

As I exhale, I direct my presence and love into the world. As I inhale the very next breath I harvest my Life’s bounty, drinking in its wine and integrating its fruit.

Once you have mastered this breathing pattern, reverse it. Allow the vineyard that you are to be planted by God on the inhale. Breathe out the wine of your life in generous response. Let the garden of your life be planted on the inhale. And as you exhale, give the world your fruits.

Let the chant inspire you in this 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.

Planting and Harvesting

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Planting and Harvesting PDF. For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 262.