Rosh Hashanah...the Gates of Heaven are Open!!

Most of you may not know this but I graduated from Boston College with a Theology degree. Theology defined by Webster is the STUDY of religious faith, practice, and experience; especially : the study of God and of God's relation to the world also the study of divine things or religious truth; divinity. The word “theology” comes from two Greek words that combined mean “the study of God.” Theology is the art and science of knowing what we can know and understand about God in an organized and understandable manner. I’ve been a “seeker” as long as I can remember. When I was 15, I used to pray for the wisdom of Solomon…not real typical for a teenage girl, I know. I just always wanted to know things..the big things…like how the world works, the mysteries of the Universe and just who is God, anyway.

I have always been intrigued by the sacred texts of world religions from the Bible, Bagavad Gita, Zohar, Tao Te Ching, to the Book of Mormon. I’ve studied Pagan practices, Kabbalah, the law of attraction, writings of Chopra, Dyer, Tolle, and Abraham-Hicks to name a few. Throughout these almost 30 years of continual study, I have gleaned different beliefs and practices that I have felt a particular spriritual “connection” with…things that have spoken to my heart personally. One of those practices or celebrations that has had a tremendous impact on me is Rosh Hashanah.

Rosh Hashanah is the Kabbalistic beginning of the New Year. The Zohar explains that this holiday is one of the major cosmic openings in the heavens that occur throughout the year. They believe that what you do in the next 30 days following Rosh Hashanah and more specifically the 48 hours beginning at sundown of that holiday creates a blueprint for your life for the coming year. That is, all your actions, behaviors and consciousness during these 2 days determine your year!! It is also a time to remove any negativity from the previous year from your ‘field’. Wow!! What would you do if that were true? And if thousands of Jews for thousands of years have believed this, then like a Sanscrit Sutra that has been chanted for eons of time that has come to hold the essence and energy of whatever meaning it was given or revealed, then who am I to say otherwise about Rosh Hashanah.

I have always believed in working with the energies and forces of nature like the lunar cycle, elements: ether, air, earth, fire, water, the directions, North, East, South and West along with all the astrological influences going on at particular times on the planet. I mean, why not…it’s what I call, “going with the flow”. Rosh Hashanah is one of those things that really struck me and I have adopted it as my sacred New Year celebration.

Michael Berg of the Kabbalah Centre International, said of Rosh Hashanah, that it’s as if all the banks or the vaults of Heaven are open during this time and the sign reads: Everyone come in and take what you want. He says to approach it like a poor person who has nothing so you need EVERYTHING….more love, more peace, more money, more everything!! Be greedy with your goals and desires. He says when you get stopped and start thinking, “this could never happen…” THINK EVEN BIGGER. If only you understood how much abundance is awaiting you…

Berg says to make two lists. The first one is all the things you want in the coming year. Then on the second, outline the behavior that will get you those things. He reminds us of a very important detail. In order to get something, you have to give it. So for example, if you want more love and kindness in your relationship, you must GIVE more love and kindness. If you desire more wealth and abundance you must give that. If you feel you have no money to give away, go through your closets find what you no longer need and go bring it to a friend or charity. There are plenty of things that we can give that don’t require money. We can give someone a sincere compliment, a flower, something from your garden, a love note, or a listening ear. We can assist someone weed their yard, move, clean, babysit, or cook a meal. We all have so much, no matter what our circumstances are currently. Some have this notion that they will give when they feel they have…that’s backwards…we must give in order to have.

What I have done in the past during these 48 hours is, I make sure I meditate and get in some yoga, I eat food that is healthy and that I love, I used to make sure I had several appointments lined up and made sure I got a sale during that time when I owned my window business…translation: do something that is income generating, I make plans with the people I want to be part of my life in the upcoming year, I do something nice for somebody else,  I do something fun with my kids and I always WRITE!! I do my best to include everything I can think of that feels yummy to me.  Also I make sure my emotions and frequency remain high and in good spirits by thinking about everything I am grateful for in my life.

The gates are open, the overflow of blessings is available during this time. Whatever you grab or connect with during this time you will have in the coming year! What are you waiting for…go make your lists and prepare for your amazing new year…when you think you have a great list…think even BIGGER!!! Here’s to dream’s being fulfilled and the most AMAZING year EVER…can you FEEL it…I can…bring it on Universe…we are ready!!!

*This picture was taken about 4 years ago during the month of Rosh Hashana.  It was a time that I had recently made some major life changes and my face and posture reflects the deep peace and gratittude I was feeling during that time. Breathe. Receive. Peace. Harmony. Joy. (It was actually the origins of  what has become my signature pose.)

*• There is a lot more information on this topic available at the Kabbalah Centre International. Please feel free to share here anything that you learn with the rest of us. Thanks.

No Ordinary Love

Do you desire a relationship that transcends time? Do you dream of finding your Soul Mate? Do you crave a love so big that nothing on the planet can tear apart? Do you long to lie next to a partner that you can completely expose your heart and soul to that will embrace every part of your past, present and future no matter what it contains? Do you dream of a partner who is truly your best friend but has equal passion and desire for you…someone who adores your spirit but wants to rip your clothes off at the same time?


We all SAY we want it…I know most of you are eagerly nodding your heads, some of you even yelled out, “yes, yes, give me some of that!!!...I’ll have what SHE’S having!” Well, it isn’t that easy…sorry. It requires something. What are you willing to do and/or go through for that kind of love if you knew it existed? And how do you know it exists? If you desire it and can imagine it…it exists and it is there to be had or should I say CREATE.

Are you willing to be alone for an indefinite amount of time and surpass all instant gratification? Are you willing to be celibate and WAIT? Are you willing to say NO to all offers when you feel like you’re dying of loneliness? Are you willing to cut off all friendships and associations that are not in alignment with the kind of partner and /or life you wish to create? For example, if you desire a monogamous relationship are you willing to distance yourself from all others who are not creating that? ARE YOU WILLING TO BE EVERYTHING THAT YOU WISH TO CREATE and forsake everything you wish NOT to create?

Are you willing to COMPLETELY SURRENDER EVERYTHING? Are you willing to give up all your hobbies, friends, career, and material stuff in order to create something brand new TOGETHER?

It is in that space of pure love, consciousness and total surrender from which TRUE partnership has the fertile soil to grow. We must surrender all of our attachments to our previous life…willing to give up ALL for LOVE. Nothing but your relationship with Self/God/Source may you place above this Love…not your children, religion, ambition, interests, career or even dharma.

When you come together in this space and place of uncertainty, yet total TRUST …completely naked and stripped of all you have known and clung to, therein lays depth, adventure, mystery and fun. It is here that ALL possibilities now exist…ones that were never there before. A whole new ENTITY is born. You now choose TOGETHER what you desire to create…maybe you will choose everything that you came in with, maybe you will keep some of it and let some go…maybe you will create an entirely new world. The point is, if you desire this kind of love, you must be willing to surrender EVERYTHING for it in order to put your beloved in the center of your Universe.

From this new world springs forth honor, devotion, understanding, compassion, loyalty, respect, faithfulness, joyful service, tenderness, adoration, laughter, serenity, sacred-union, worship, communication, sensuality, vulnerability, passion, strength, friendship, consideration, and true equally yoked PARTNERSHIP.

Most people are not willing or able to completely surrender themselves, or their egos to truly MERGE with another. Most may not even know this is what it takes or maybe they have no desire for such a union. Many are happy to go about their lives, status quo as if they have merely acquired a new car, status symbol or another trophy to put on their shelf. As if they had just crossed another thing off their list of things to accomplishments in life…marriage…check. They may make some minor adjustments like making room in their closet and dividing household chores. But basically, there is someone new in your house yet you are still ALONE.

I’ve done that kind of marriage/partnership…it is nothing I will choose to create again. I found it to be very empty and lonely. You do YOUR thing, I do mine…you have YOUR goals…I have MINE…you have YOUR kids…I have MINE…YOU have YOUR friends and I have MINE. What’s the point? It is an arrangement—it’s about convenience…it’s about laziness and settling.

The Sacred Partnership that I am creating will be a true union and merging of souls. Imagine the roots of two trees being brought together…they begin to intermingle…they become ONE…and the TREE emerges as a brand new beautiful entity unto itself. When you think of that union and that couple you see them as one unit…even when they are apart their love is so big the others “essence” is always present…because they carry their beloved and cherish that love wherever they are. They speak highly of each other; admire, respect and honor each other. They don’t make major decisions without the others input. They consider each other’s feelings. They don’t have friends the other is uncomfortable with or those that do not fully support their relationship. They have no interest in flirting with the opposite sex. They are not afraid to publically declare their love for each other. They don’t want to be apart…they are happier together. They sleep naked next to each other every night whether they have sex or not…it’s about the intimacy, vulnerability and complete exposure physically as well as metaphorically. They have lots of inside jokes and pet names for each other. They hold each other’s hearts in their hands like a fragile flower they want to protect, water and nourish.

So you get the idea…as the song goes…”this is no ORDINARY love….” Not for the faint of heart, may not be for the very young either. This love must almost come after a lifetime of contrasts….of doing things just the opposite, of broken-hearts and dreams. It usually comes after decades of betrayal and being betrayed, lack of communication, selfishness and ambition, constant complaining and bickering, lack of intimacy and consideration, insecurities and jealousies and mostly a lack of self-worth and authenticity.

This “BIG LOVE” of which I speak requires the equal effort and desire of two people. This is not something you merely FALL INTO because you love each other. This love requires equal conscious CO-CREATION EVERY DAY…like I said, it’s not for the lazy or faint of heart…it requires something special…and in the words of Eat, Pray Love author Elizabeth Gilbert, which I will take a little artistic liberty… “You don’t need a MAN (or WOMAN) you deserve a CHAMPION!!!

If this is what you desire to create just BE THAT CHAMPION and never settle for anything less!!