hazzan Diana Brewer was ordained through the aleph ordination program. she leads prayer services regularly at the jewish community of amherst, and is on the staff of the davvenen leadership training institute.

Omer Day 47 הוד שבמלכות Hod SheBeMalchut

Wow! Splendor. Awe. Receptivity. Space. Peak within Shechina. Reality. Actualization. Selfitude. Sovereignty.

I can’t help but think Hod is just built in to Malchut. If Malchut is the Actualization of Divine thought, Wow! There is Awe in that! I suppose that to experience it that way does take some cultivation, though.

How can we cultivate that chain reaction?

Receptivity comes to mind, for starters. I must make Space in myself for Awe in Reality. That involves noticing things and, as I wrote last night, practicing gratitude for the things that I notice, no matter how seemingly insignificant or ordinary.

It also involves being Receptive to OTHER Realities. Let’s take the resident teenager, for example. She stretches me to find my learning edges. Constantly. I can react by getting mad (which I do - definitely a human mom), or I can open Space in myself for her Reality. When I do that, and remember that she is a person going through the most awkward phase of life in the midst of a global crisis, all I can say is Wow! If she throws a few daggers at me between diligently showing up for her online learning, violin practice, workout regimen (gymnast), and personal creative work, well, I can keep breathing and do my best to meet her with love and appreciation.

Today, may you be blessed with Awe in a multiplicity of Realities. May you be Receptive to the Divine Presence all around, in whatever form that takes.

Omer Day 48 יסוד שבמלכות Yesod SheBeMalchut

Omer Day 46 נצח שבמלכות Netzach SheBeMalchut