FULL MOON

Psalms of My Soul

Sephirat HaOmer day 31

Tiferet sh b'Hod

Beauty and Harmony in Humility, Awe and Splendor
http://sephirathaomer.blogspot.com/2011/07/full-moon-day-31-tiferet-sh-bhod.html

FULL MOON

- Joy Krauthammer

In my hillside home, sitting at my computer, a light catches my eye and I glance toward the right. Through the kitchen window, wonderfully surprised, clearly I see the large, full bright orange moon. I am in awe of its beauty and balance as it hangs alone in the sky. I look over my shoulder, and my heart feels full as I gaze upon the moon, like a magnet, and my fingers continue to type.  Even as I watch it, the orange moon is quickly rising, and turning a brighter lighter shade. 

How many photos can I shoot of this round orange object in the night sky that shows up on all my film as a round shape in the dark sky? 

Almost 20 years ago a friend married another friend. Purposefully for a shidduch / marriage, I had introduced them.  I took a photo of the newly weds kissing at night following the afternoon wedding (where I was honorary Chuppah holder). Consciously I moved my body low so that the full moon would be visible closely over their heads. 

Years later I saw the framed photo on their bedroom dresser and commented on it. My friend questioned me, "But what is that circle over our heads?"  I laughed when I recalled how I had adjusted my body low to catch that very high moving scene. I admired my artistry. 

Tonight, once again, I must bend my body low to continue to see the Splendor through the window, as I type with the rising moon, and I am in awe, in Hod.

Baruch Hashem for the glory that is the gift to us in the very visible full moon. My iPhoto library has a zillion shots of moons, hmm, or is that a cheese ball?

Super Full Moon

  © Joy Krauthammer  8.29.2015

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I AM A HOLY VESSEL

Psalms of My Soul                                                                                                              B"H

YESOD sh b'Malchut

Sephirat HaOmer day 48

6 weeks and 6 days of the Omer

I AM A HOLY VESSEL

Shekhina, Dwelling Within Myself 

A Sacred Space, From Which Creation Emerges

- Joy Krauthammer,   I am Gila Rena Tzohara, Double Joy and Light

My good life... I am a Holy vessel. (You too.)  I passionately receive / kabel and fill my vessel, Sephirot of abunDance / a shefa of Divine joy and Light... radiant Light that came into Noach's Ark through the illumination window, the Tzohar.

Joyfully, and in gratitude, as potter, I have ritually molded clay to awaken its inner space, and reveal its hidden gloriousness. Clay pot becomes the splendor of Chesed, Gevurah, Tiferet, Netzach and Hod in Yesod. Giving, walls, beauty, direction and splendor in foundation. My creation in Yesod sh b'Malchut. In awe, I join fire, water, and breath of air... with the humble earth in an intimate honored relationship of lover to beloved. My connection to The Source, Infinite One, as I receive, and with kavannah / intention, -- I give with Chesed to Mother Earth’s clay -- love, preparation, centering, penetration, opening, entering, deeper, wider, Oneness / Echadness... stillness.., movement, balancing, raising slowly in exploration, harmony, strengthening, wholeness,... releasing and letting go with tender care and control.   For integrity, Gevurah of submission and strength, sets the limits.  The opening to Oneness, the nourishment I seek, receive and immerse myself, allows me to surrender separateness, transcend, to be liberated, and transformed as the stretched, voluminous natural clay body, rising exaltedly in a mystic spiral and revealed as whole expanded consciousness. I contain spirit and soul. I am a vessel... (You too.)

My good life. I am a Holy vessel. In Tiferet / beauty, balance, compassion, and Emet / truth, with Gevurahdic limitations, I fill my temple and receive Chesed / Loving-kindness. Circulating energy, I pour forth joy and share my flowing shefa / abunDance... I play my vessel-- my drums and my multi-colored ribboned timbrel. With awakened soul I send out life’s deepest heart music so that G*d’s other children (You too.), may rejoice with me, and in Tiferet / harmony come closer to the Divine One, the Compassionate One.  Awaken! Journey along the Tree of Life. Touch my skin... and listen to my tone, my song, heartbeat, harmony, rhythm, movement. Dance!  Touch my skin and feel the power of my body pulsations, vibrations, undulations, gyrations, reverberations.  Connect!  I am blessed as friends tell me that ripples in a vast ocean of cosmic consciousness are created from my sparks of Joy.  I am a vessel... (You too.)

Purple colored velvet and silk, burgundy and blues inspire me, and culture: art, music, theatre, poems, books, NPR, KCET, the net, and sensual foreign films. In Netzach / going forth in good deeds and joy, with travel to distant lands, trips to higher consciousness, holidays, Holy days, conferences, retreats, spas with hot bubbling water, and cold water streams in which to view life's reflections. Mikvehs, water for healing and purification-- cleansing our souls. To reach Mount Sinai, with persistence and devotion, with Sephirot, I Count my days.

Oh! Fertile gardens of splendor / Hod, I give thanks in gratitude for You, filled with nature’s music, singing love doves--coo, coo, coo, coo, Mockingbirds in symphony, playful squirrels, funny bunnies, fresh lush fruit the animals leave for me to harvest, and fragrant sensuous flowers. Ahh, the beauty. I have an orgasm simply looking at a flower. I am "a flower", say my friends. 



From splendid sunrise to sunset, I express Ruach HaKodesh... Pleasures I receive from a profusion of sources:  The Gates of my seven facial openings are my judges, and in Gevurah, what I allow in. Nose-- Inhale fragrance, breathe deeply, Yah, and hold breath, release...  Eyes-- smile, see, witness good and evil.  Ears-- hear, Shma / listen, avoid Loshon Hara.  Mouth-- savors, tastes, accepts, exhales breath, and words of Chochma / wisdom and love.  Hands--touch, soothe, heal, create, offer mitzvot high and wide, and bless.  Feet dance in ecstasy and "take me where my mind can't go", said Reb Shlomo, z"l.  I have Tiferet / heart-- life force to listen with inner vision... to share compassion, love, Brachot and praise.  I have Judaism, Torah, sacred spaces, tradition, innovation, ritual, belief, emunah / faith, and bitachon / trust, and blesSings.  Money for food, shelter, car, purple clothes, rebbes / teachers, gifts, and tzedakah / charity.

I have outrageousness, openness, options, opportunities to be all I can be, and obligations to reach out. I am a vessel...
 (You too.)

I am a Sacred vessel... A womb... of Yesod / foundation for creative spiritual expression of connecting in harmony and joy. My daughter (now a mother), conscious, too, of her midot / character, giving, restrictive, beautiful, balancing life, directed, grateful, bonded with family and friends, loved by many, wise, talented, creative, funny, successful, generous, involved, loving and happy. She opens my eyes-- and bonding, puts her soft, strong hand in mine, as her baby puts in hers. I am a vessel... (You too.)

Precious treasures: loving friends, family, teachers, chevre / community. Henayni / I am present with You. You are here with me. I have spiritual longing for d’vekut / desire to be at-One-ment with the Holy One.  Malchut / kingdom of Shekhina's Indwelling Presence has received all the radiant Light, and awaits my revealed gifts, my inner-self, and unique self-expression.

My good life... My vessel runneth over... Blessed by the Source of Life with gifts to give:  illuminated vision, dreams manifested, imagination, exploration... Fantasies, published words and art from my heart. Energy flows and sometimes finds an opening in my vessel-- a brokenness to escape from. The Compassionate One and healers help make me whole. Loved ones help make me whole. Memories complete me. I do tshuvah as I define and refine, purify my soul, and return to myself, and to Indwelling Shekhinah in Malchut / vessel of all flowing energies, in Light, freedom, shalom, harmony, awe, laughter, and love...  

As my passionately formed vessels of clay, and music of vessels rise, so does my neshamah / soul ascend and elevate-- ascending, ascending to a higher consciousness... My spirit awakens, expands, and soars. My vessel arouses others... Let us travel together the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. Baruch Hashem.

Thank You for my shefa.  With all my heart and with all my soul, on this spiritual journey I pour forth an abunDance of exhilaration and Joy... I feel intoxicated.  

I am a holy vessel. I have a good life... I am grateful.


May you be blessed with double joy and Light, G*d's Light from the Tzohar,

 the window of illumination at the top of Noach's Ark.

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I AM A HOLY VESSEL 

Joy Krauthammer - performance artist & author, Shira Solomon - dancer,  Frank Lester - drummer
(Photo. witnesses: Rabbi Stan Levy and B'nai Horin congregation)

Performers 

Joy Krauthammer - author ©, artist 

Carole Solomon - dance

Frank Lester - percussion



Venues: Sarah's Tent, April 1995, 

                B'nai Horin, April 1995,

                Ahavat Torah, April 2013 


Produced by Angels of Joy, and Angel Productions


(Prose underline _= BE action, object)

http://sephirathaomer.blogspot.com/2010/04/i-am-holy-vessel-day-38-tiferet-sh.html

http://joys-prose.blogspot.com/2012/01/i-am-holy-vessel.html

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DIVINE DANCE

Psalms of My Soul 

Grateful for Divine Dance 

Sephirat Ha Omer - day 35,  5 full weeks

Malchut sh b'Hod 

- Joy Krauthammer

In years past I always loved dancing both live, and alone to Gabrielle Roth.

In the early 1990's during one of my summer solo driving sojourns up the Coast to Esalen Institute, I bought a Gabrielle Roth video at the Heart Beat bookstore gallery in Big Sur, CA. I'd never heard of Gabrielle, didn't know what the video was about, but the cover art energy felt good as I held in my hand, a '5 Rhythms' video, and a natural skin frame drum in my other hand. It was the first video I'd ever purchased and I didn't even own a VCR. 

After waking in my cabin, gazing at the ocean waves and chanting my prayers, and before daily week-long workshops-- in the early 7 am morning dance hour at Esalen, I would totally love to move my body to whatever the sunrise leader was playing (especially Leonard Cohen's "I'm Your Man"). I didn't realize I was dancing to the same '5 Rhythms'; I did knew the dancing made me feel good, playful, and I could surrender in the inner Splendor of being in Malchut and Hod. For several annual summer trips, dancing at Esalen started off each divine day for me.

Soaking in Esalen's late into the wee hours natural springs hot tubs on the Pacific Ocean's edge of the Big Sur cliff's, and having Esalen massages were good too, as was the natural garden food decorated with edible red nasturtium flowers. I loved walking through the garden and all the hilly green and moist mystical magical grounds. 

A year after my video purchase, a Sarah's Tent spiritual friend invited me to dance at an LA event, and I went and I still didn't make the connection. I went home to the Valley after wildly dancing with this woman Gabrielle Roth with whom I had been unfamiliar, and with her African drummer, who just happened to be my LA private djembe teacher, Nigerian Yoruba priest, Ayo Adeyemi; Small synchronistic world filled with joy and Hashgachah Pratit, Divine Guidance. (See my Babatunde Olatunji site:  http://babatunde-olatunji.blogspot.com )

Some time later I put the threads and beats together; A little beshertness/meant to be. I looked for and found the unopened dance video with the inspiring cover, bought a VCR, and loved watching the tape over and over again, wearing out my carpeting.  I rarely had watched TV, so this was a different step, watching and dancing at the same time. Discovering a ritual dance community in LA kept up my joyous aliveness.

Wish I hadn't badly damaged my knees, or I'd still be crazily happily dancing with all my body and soul (and not just spiritually drumming for ritual prayer-filled dancers)…with Gabrielle in all her rhythms.

Every summer I showed up at the Heart Beat store at the same time, pulled into the parking lot, which was right on time for Sunday night Esalen dinner down Highway 1, and I checked into my cabin, just as sunset arrived. Jerusalem, Bali, Sedona and Big Sur-- favorite lands for my neshama/soul. In gratitude and awe, I still feel Big Sur.

Each subsequent summer after my first Heart Beat visit, most amazing for me is that the gallery owner looked at me as I entered the shop, recognized me from 12 months earlier, and joyously exclaimed, "Same day, same time!" I was a good customer with a healthy heart beat and my heart beats in memory of all that I received.

BlesSings for dancing health, wholeness, peace, revealed miracles, creativity, discovery, wonder, blooming gardens, majestic sunrises, love and joy,

JOY

"Serve G*d With Joy"

Edible Nasturtium

© Joy Krauthammer

http://sephirathaomer.blogspot.com

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TingShas, Crystal Energy

Dear Lev Bima Ladies, 

Don’t know if you know what sound I use when Cindy begins the Amidah and we are all facing the Torah. Congregants would not see what I use. Along with Singing Bowls, I had purchased TingShas in Tibet. 

You can see them in my photos:  http://healingsoundsofjoy.blogspot.com

I learned from dear beloved Rabbi Hana Tiferet Siegel in 1993 to use TingShas with the Amidah. She transformed my life with her exercises. I listened. And we chant her Amidah during services.

I’ve also studied sacred sounds with Tibetan Buddhist monks. 

Inspiring (mentoring) others today about crystal stone pendulum usage, I renewed my wisdom on TingShas and share with you because I use them while with you in creating sacred space. 

The sound that emanates from the Tibetan TingShas (hand cymbals) is powerful to assist you to relax, and will also clear any disharmony from any stones you may choose to use in meditation.

TingShas resonate with a high vibration, and will clear any negative energy in the room, and will cleanse any crystals in the vicinity, as well as activate the energy of crystals nearby.

In the late 1980’s I studied Crystal Energy Healing with Master Ho. I reflected on this at our last retreat during Shabbat service. I think Rabbi Toba’s topic was  'self-doubt'. At that 1980’s time I had little confidence in my healing ability, although I did witness the awesome healing happening with responsive crystals in my own hand. The crystals vibrated in my hand as I located meridians on a class partner.  (I went on to study energy healing with various ‘masters’.) Today and for the last couple decades, I serve as sound healer with crystal and with old Tibetan Singing Bowls. I step out of the way, and I’m only a vessel for G*d’s Hand. I play drums the same way; I am played. While on the bima, it privately amuses me to witness how I am being differently played at any particular moment. Baruch Hashem.  Shhh. 

I like carefully using the TingShas and I love tenderly playing my Crystal singing bowl to lift the vibration of where I am.  They resonate a powerful energy into the surroundings. Sounds of Joy - Sound Bath recipients privately share with me that the symphony of sound is good for them. That pleases me and encourages me. 

At High Holy Days with Kavanah I play my singing bowls for synagogues. You know I use my Crystal Singing Bowl and wand as a special treat during our Lev Eisha retreats. Mine resonates to the heart chakra, corresponding to the Sephirah Tiferet, in tune of F. I purchased the (most costly) chakra bowl for that reason. HEART / LEV.  My crystal singing bowl rests on an exotic cushion, protected in a pretty, purple soft velvet bag. 

The Crystal singing bowl is powerful and can also be used to cleanse crystals, such as my pendulum (which I’ve never shared at Lev Eisha). Sounds emitted by the singing bowl resonate throughout the room activating any stones in the area, so during retreats, feel free to bring your crystal stones. The strong vibration of the pure crystalline sound of my crystal singing bowl fills the crystals, and will drive out any negative energy.  The sound lifts the vibration of any crystals close by, and the room is also filled with good vibrations. 

Each year at this time, before the New Year, I spontaneously write and share a personal percussion essay, and send it to our newsletter Editor. I don’t think they’ve ever been published. But it is important I share with you, because we LEV sisters share the Bima's sacred space. 

BlesSings, Joy

Krauthammer

The tiny folder insert inside of 1.5" X 2" inch purple velvet bag for Joy's crystal pendulum.

Joy Krauthammer plays Singing Bowls

Yoga studio opening day for Daniel Pearl World Music Days

Joy Krauthammer plays Singing Bowls

Midsummer Night's Festival

Joy Krauthammer plays Singing Bowls

UCLA Healing Arts at REMO