Count the Omer-Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 7/Malchut (KINGDOM)

Holding Monty the ball python.

Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 7/Malchut (KINGDOM)

"The Buddha said that if in a certain moment of place you adopt something as the absolute truth; and you attach to that, then you will no longer have any chance to reach the truth. Even when the truth comes and knocks on your door, and asks you to open the door, you won't recognize it. So you must not be too attached to dogma-to what you believe, and to what you perceive."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

A parent brought their ball python snake to school to visit the classrooms interested. Sitting on a low chair he held the Monty the snake, talked about wild animals and how we have to treat them with respect and care. Then he invited children to come and touch and or hold Monty. They were all fascinated with him but their reactions to this invitation varied from from fear to desire; to not touching at all to totally embracing the snake. I did not have knowledge of the visit ahead of time so I had could not prepare them. I wondered what they would have done given a second chance. Ah but that is how life sometimes is.

After nightfall on Friday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is forty-two days which is six weeks of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 6/Yesod (FOUNDATION)

My friend and I after our second day of training.

Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 6/Yesod (FOUNDATION)

"Fearlessness is not only possible, it is the ultimate joy. When you touch non fear, you are free."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

Wanting to change something in your life? Look at the truths you live by and consider whether they need adapting. Don't be afraid of the difference in direction your path may take. Be fearless. Whatever it is you can do it but you will need help so search for your angel, your friend, your colleague. In the Torah God tells Moses he will have his brother Aharon to support him against Pharaoh. We know his sister watched over him. My friend and I intend to run a 10K across the Chesapeake Bay bridge in November. We want to make sure we are prepared so tonight was our 2nd training night. What is it you want?

After nightfall on Thursday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is forty-one days which is five weeks and six days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 5/Hod (SPLENDOR)

The children throwing stones into the creek.

Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 5/Hod (SPLENDOR)

"Your breathing should flow gracefully, like a river, like a water snake crossing the water, and not like a chain of rugged mountains or the gallop of a horse. To master our breath is to be in control of our bodies and minds. Each time we find ourselves dispersed and find it difficult to gain control of ourselves by different means, the method of watching the breath should always be used."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

Why is the idea of tossing a stone into a body of water so appealing? First there is the clean athletic piece of throwing, of power, like a giant who moves mountains.Then there is the wonderful vision of creating a ripple with your throw just like we create ripples in life with our actions and ideas. I took the children to a bank of the creek where stones are plentiful and the creek flowing by their toes. Soon there was the splendid sound of happiness, of rocks moving through the air and finally the plunk when they enter the water. If only we can be brave in our lives and move forward with intention.

After nightfall on Wednesday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is forty days which is five weeks and five days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 4/Netzach (ENDURANCE)

The toad I met in the woods today.

Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 4/Netzach (ENDURANCE)

"If you can feel that Mother Earth is in you, and you are Mother Earth, then you are not any longer afraid to die because the earth is not dying. Like a wave appears and disappears and appears again.""

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

Today I took the class for a walk into the forest. We went early to miss the heat only to  discover our meadow being mowed and unavailable.  We took a minute or two to regroup ending up going down another trail, steeper and narrower but okay for kids who have hiked with me over half a year. All of a sudden something hopped from our path. It was a big, brown, bumpy toad! We were all delighted and took our time observing. I felt as though toad was speaking to me, a wise wizard that might appear in a fairy tale. When toad was in the same place on our return trip back the same way I was sure of it. Nu?

After nightfall on Tuesday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is thirty-nine days which is five weeks and four days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 3/Tiferet (COMPASSION)

Stephen Stills and Graham Nash playing together.

Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 3/Tiferet (COMPASSION)

"We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

Reading up on the history of arguments and actions that led to brake ups and later to getting back together of Crosby, Stills and Nash. They may be famous but that doesn't make them immune to the regular problems I have. Ego and lack of deep listening can be an issue for anyone. As I watched Graham Nash tune into his two friends I guessed there has been a change in them. To sing in harmony, to live in harmony requires being open to every possibility. Today I tried the children to be brave and go after whatever it is they want for time passes quickly. At the same time I reminded them to wait and listen as opposed to waiting to talk. Every moment a blessing.

After nightfall on Monday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is thirty-eight days which is five weeks and three days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 2/Gevurah (DISCIPLINE)

David Crosby singing at the Crosby, Stills & Nash concert.

Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 2/Gevurah (DISCIPLINE)

"As a Buddhist Sutra hears the voice of the Bodhisattva of compassion: The wondrous voice, the voice of the one who attends to the cries of the world. The noble voice, the voice of the rising tide surpassing all the sounds of the world. Let our mind be attuned to that voice.."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

This evening I went to Baltimore for a concert of Crosby, Stills & Nash. I was excited as this band of musicians (with Neil Young) has written songs  that have been part of my life since high school. Obviously older with brown hair turned white they still had wonderful harmonies and guitar picking skills. At one point each of them played new music they had written. "After all" Crosby commented "we are singer-songwriters and making music is like breathing to us." Some of their lives may have been difficult but the beauty of working together and creating meaningful sound is still there. As the encore song, "Teach Your Children", was being sung the crowd (whose hair was also mostly grey and white) stood, danced and cheered. 

After nightfall on Sunday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is thirty-seven days which is five weeks and two days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 1/Chesed (LOVE)

Moonbeam class with Mimi Schwartz Koenig, front row left.

Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 1/Chesed (LOVE)

"As grown-ups, we can remind young people that they're already beautiful as they are; they don't have to be someone else."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

I have neither partner or children of my own. My love has to go to the children I teach. Some parents understand this and include me in the lives of their (my) children and for this I am blessed. Last night, today and tonight I celebrated Mimi Schwartz Koenig's bat mitzvah. I was there at her naming when she was born. I taught her when she was four turning five and now I am here to celebrate her at thirteen. Tonight I heard her mother Amy give her this blessing "When your kids are thriving, when things are going well, you really feel like you are raising them in partnership with God. We look at our kids, somedays you just hold your breath, at how fabulous they are. If I could bless you with an additional blessing i would hope for you that you would be blessed with the blessings you have been to us  every day of you lives." May it be so. 

After nightfall on Saturday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is thirty-six days which is five weeks and one day of the Omer.