Rosh Hashanah
ראש השנה
The ten days from Rosh Hashanah ראש השנה to Yom Kippur יום כיפור are known as the Ten Days of Repentance,
Aseret Yemei Teshuvah עשרת ימי תשובה
They are a period for introspection, self-examination, and rectifying misdeeds from the prior year.
They are intended for us to prepare our thoughts and behavior for the year ahead.
The 16th Century Rabbi Yitzhak Luria “The Arizal”, taught us that In Kabbalistic tradition the Ten Days of Repentance, Aseret Yemei Teshuvah עשרת ימי תשובה, from Rosh Hashanah ראש השנה to Yom Kippur יום כיפור correspond to the ten Sefirot of the Tree of Life.
The 10 Days from Rosh Hashana to Yom Kippur
Day 1
Keter כתר
Dwell on all the occasions in the past when your personal needs were excessively self-centered and when you let negative emotions and reactions rule your behavior toward yourself, others or situations. Set the intention (in the coming days you will take action) to take command of your ego, your emotions and reactions in all situations that trigger selfish or negative emotional responses.
When done, say,
“Atah אתה I love the Divinity in myself, Amen אמן”.
Day 2
Chokmah חכמה
Today, on day 2, dwell on your random thoughts. In Kabbalah the origin of our thoughts is the Sephirah of Chockmah חכמה, the creative right brain. On day 2 let random thoughts flow unhindered through your mind. Do not attempt to understand or organize your thoughts and do not judge them or yourself or others for whatever passes through your mind.
When done, say,
“Yah יה , I love the divinity within myself, thank you for the inspiration that flows through me. Om Ein אמן”.
Day 3
Binah בינה
Today, on day 3, dwell on the Sephirah of Binah בינה, the left side of your brain. Binah is where our thoughts are organised.
Make no attempt to understand, block, judge, or influence your thoughts.
When done, say,
“Elohim אלהים, thank you for enlightening me. Om Ein אמן”.
Day 4
Chesed חסד
Today, on day 4, spend a little time focusing on the Sephira of Chesed חסד ,which reside in the right shoulder.
We examine our reactions during the past year.
Did you manipulate anyone? Did you allow yourself to be manipulated? Was your love given or received unconditionally, if at all? Were you open to receiving love from others? Are you open to loving yourself? Are you harbouring thoughts of dislike or revenge or hatred toward anyone? Are there people or negative situations you simply can’t release? Has your ego been in the way of seeking forgiveness from those you may have hurt whether intentionally or inadvertently?
During this ten-day period, one will have the opportunity to release those dark aspects of oneself.
Set the intention to be a vehicle in the coming year for the transmission of purest unconditional love.
Start with yourself. You are first in line.
When done, say,
“El אל, if I created negativity in my life or in the lives of others with whom I came in contact, whether I did so knowingly or unknowingly, I am responsible. Om Ein אמן“.
Day 5
Gevurah גבורה
Today, on day 5, we focus on our personal power גבורה. Gevurah resides in the left shoulder.
We may have given too much.
The challenge is to optimize between excessive giving Chesed חסד, and excessive restraint Gevurah גבורה.
Attach no blame. Assign no guilt. Avoid self-judgment. The object is not to wallow in the past but to find ways to seek future harmony and balance between two extremes within yourself.
When done, say,
“Adonai אדני, I am the center of my life. For harmony within myself and with others, I accept responsibility. Om Ein אמן“.
Day 6
Tiferet תפארת
Today, on day 6, we seek harmony in the 6th Sephirah, Tifferet תפארת, the heart.
One is poised today between two external and two internal forces.
Between Divinity, Keter כתר above and Malkut מלכות the Kingdom of Earth, below,
and
between our desire to keep all, on the left shoulder, Gevurah גבורה
and
and our desire to give all on the right shoulder, Chesed חסד.
In scientific terms, when we achieve harmony, we will resonate with the ambient earth frequency of 7.83Hz.
When done, say,
“Yod Hey Vav Hey יהוה, Om Ein אמן”.
Day 7
Netzach נצח
Today, on day 7, we seek the power to endure, an energy that resides in the sephirah of Netzach נצח, on the right hip. If we never give up endeavours that serve our purpose then victory is eventually ours.
Reflect on every aspect of your life including love, friends, education, career, and business. Evaluate everything and everybody you have been involved with. Have you given up too easily on endeavours that suit your purpose? Attach no blame. Assign no guilt. Avoid self-judgment. It is time to prioritize.
When done, say,
“Yod Hey Vav Hey יהוה, Om Ein אמן”.
Day 8
Hod הוד
Today, on day 8, we seek the power of Hod הוד, in the 8th Sephira over the left hip. Hod gives us the power to release endeavours that don’t suit our purpose.
Our objective in the year ahead is to seek the mid the point between,
Netzach נצח, on the right hip, never giving up,
and
Hod הוד on the left hip, knowing when to surrender.
When done, say,
“אלהים אדני, Om Ein אמן”.
Day 9
Yesod יסוד
Today day 9, we enter Yesod יסוד, the 9th Sephirah, our creative center.
Yesod gives us the power to renew our behaviour.
The objective of day 9 is prepare ourselves to enter the year ahead ahead unhindered by our past.
Whether we live for one minute in the year ahead, or 365 days, we prepare to ask God’s forgiveness so that we can proceed without blemish. Our souls נשמה , will endure endlessly.
When you are ready, say,
“אל שדי, Om Ein אמן”.
Yom Kippur
יום כיפור
Day 10
Malkhut מלכות
Today on the 10th day, Yom Kippur יום כיפור, we recite Kol Nidre כל נדרי, begging forgiveness and promising to rectify past mistakes so that we may re-enter the world of Malkut מלכות, the Kingdom of Earth, unblemished.
We commit to accepting responsibility for our behavior toward everything and everybody that passes through our lives in the year ahead.
We are required to fast today, to rise above our physical needs in order to connect with Divinity.
When you are ready, say
“I am sorry for having caused harm to myself or to anyone, whether knowingly or unknowingly, whether in this
life or in a long distant past.
Please help me to cleanse and release the past.
Please forgive me.
I Love you.
Thank you.
Elohim Adonai אלוהים אדוני
Om Ein, אמן”.