Chodesh Tov,
Nisan is the moon of speaking. This Nisan, the heavens seem to be speaking loudly. We enter this Nisan of 5784 in the middle of a Mercury retrograde and in the wake of a total solar eclipse that will leave a trail across much of North America.
This eclipse is a new moon eclipse in Aries, the sign of the ram, which is the totemic animal of the Yisraelites. I'm not an astrologer, but even I can't help but read signs and portents in this.
The Talmud says that a solar eclipse is bad for the world, and a lunar eclipse is bad for the Jews. But how can anything bad for the world be good for Jews? Aren't we a part of the world? Is this a moment of our absence from the world, as so many Jews have turned inward and weaponized our collective generational trauma?
This dark moon is eclipsing the sun, the active light of the world, as we enter the weeks leading up to the liberation of Pesach.
Compounding this is the alignment of Shabbat haGadol, the Shabbat that precedes Passover with a rare grand conjunction of Jupiter & Uranus (April 20) in Taurus. Taurus? The Bull? The Golden Calf?
"Ancestral memory and epigenetic trauma combine to trigger that [scorpionic] response. And speaking of the Holocaust: although Jupiter and Uranus make a conjunction every 14 years, they haven't met up in Taurus since 1941. The vibe feels similarly threatening now, as far as the planetary symbolism goes.
These two April events - the Solar Eclipse and the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction - reflect profound possibilities for radical change. Not everyone is going to love it."
On April 23, the night of the first seder -- the moon will be full in Scorpio.
According to Astrology.com, "This intense and dynamic full moon encourages us to take back our power and remove ourselves from people and situations that are holding us back. Take a stand!"
Are you leaping to what "take a stand" means -- hold on because Mercury moves out of retrograde as we enter the counting of the omer (April 24). As we enter the journey through the wilderness, which comes after remembering and reliving our collective liberation -- the mess made through poor communication (both listening and speaking) comes to a head by being asked: what is loving-kindness within loving-kindness?
"And, Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Why is it written: "And the one came not near the other all the night" (Exodus 14:20)? The ministering angels wanted to sing, but the Holy One, Blessed be He, said: The work of My hands, the Egyptians, are drowning at sea, and you recite songs?"
~ Babylonian Talmud, Megillah 10b.26
During the Passover Seder, we are reminded of many things, including that it is not good or holy to rejoice over the deaths of even your worst enemies and DAYENU -- it would have been enough for us.
When we transition from the darkness into chesed-shebe-chesed, loving-kindness within loving-kindness -- will it finally be enough? Will we realize that "enough" should have been long before the number of "their" dead equaled 20x of "ours"? Will we weep for "our" loss of loving-kindness more than for the pain inflicted on "them"?
This Passover, I hope we all will be able to experience the world beyond our inherited trauma and recognize that traumatized people can and do traumatize others. Too often, we weaponize our individual and collective trauma, going from abused to the abuser --acting out the cycle of violence over and over and over.
This Nisan, may we embrace the powerful messages from the human and more than human worlds and embrace the teshuva of DAYENU.
May it be enough for all, everywhere, finally. May we finally recognize the many plagues and disempower leaders with hardened hearts and find liberation for the mixed multitudes of all peoples of the earth.
Nisan Correspondences
Moon: Speaking
Tribe: Judah
Netivah: Na’arah (נערה) Maiden
Symbol: Haggadah
Tarot Card: Emperor
Soul Trait: Simcha (סמחה) Joy
Haggadot for your Passover Seder from Devotaj Sacred Arts
These correspondences are primarily the ones that I personally have received (aka channeled), with the exception of the Netivah. They have been informed by learning and working with dear friends/collaborators such as Kohenet Bekah Starr, Kohenet Aly Evershine, Rav Kohenet Jill Hammer, and Rav Kohenet Taya Mâ.
Looking Ahead to Iyyar
Moon: Healing
Netivah: Meyaledet (מילדת) Midwife
Constellation: Shor (שׁוֹר) Taurus/The Ox
Letter: Vav (ו)
Tribe: Issachar (יששכר)
Tarot Card: Hierophant
Soul Trait: Savlanut (סבלנות) Patience
Find source citations for correspondences and so much more.
MAKING
Transitions on transitions.
I’ve been known by several names during my life so far, and signatures. Years back, I found myself inspired by the practice of the Japanese artist Hokusai who changed his name as his style and approach to art changed. And as it’s common practice for Jews to take on new names after serious illness or life changes — it felt appropriate for me.
No — I’m not changing my name from Ketzirah, but I am changing how I sign my work. Since my “Peeling a Pomegranate” days, I’ve used a pomegranate with the letter kuf inside — often with a bee flying around it.
But that era of my life and work feels complete. I have a strong design to claim my name in a new way.
This symbol, sigil, glyph contains the K, L, and M of my name - Ketzirah Lesser haMa’agelet. I plan to use it with and without the circle, which adds the full power of haMa’agelet — the circle maker.
I realize this isn’t important to you all, but is a big change for me. And I’m curious about how you sign your names in life and work?
MUSSAR
Date: Sunday 4/14/2024
Time: 3pm - 4:30 ET
Where: Register for Zoom Link
Cost: None, but donations gratefully accepted
The soul trait that corresponds with Nisan, in the Kesharim K’doshim approach to mussar, is Simcha (סמחה) Joy.
There is no cost to attend Soul Trait Studio, but registration is required each month — but now you can register for several months in advance.
Register and find upcoming schedule at devotaj.com/soultraitstudio
And if you can’t attend in real time, all registrants also receive the recording the following day. And you can add your thoughts and experiences on the monthly Practice Guide (posted the day of each session).
You can also purchase a copy of my ebook: Introduction to Mussar Practice.
MAGIQ
I feel like I unpacked a load of magiq above. But in case you missed it, I’ve also recently launched a private community for Jewish witches and witchy jews.
It’s currently by invite only, and if you would like an invite — please let me know.
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