Chodesh Tov,
Sh’vat is our cosmic opportunity to center ourselves and determine our priorities for the busy growing seasons of late spring, summer, and fall. We celebrate Shabbat Shirah and Tu B’Shevat to moments of deep connection to the natural world.
The soul trait for the month of Sh’vat is ahavah (אהבה) love. And it’s worth noting that on the opposite side of the wheel of the year is ometz lev (אמץ לב) courage, reminding us that love takes courage and courage means “with passion.”
I find the complexing and contradictions of the energies of Sh’vat fascinating: Love, Joy, and Thought/Taste… and the root word for Sh’vat’s meaning is:
To desist, cease, terminate, rest, stop/lay off from work, fire, lockout, strike, cause to fail, interrupt, remove ►keep the Sabbath, repose, relax ►destroy, exterminate, obliterate
I definitely see how centering is needed in a month with these competing energies.
Sh’vat Resources
Shevat: Overview
Moon: Centering
Soul Trait: Ahavah (אהבה) Love
Symbol: Cups
Tribe: Asher
Tarot: Star
Netivah: Ohevet (אוהבת) Lover
Looking Ahead to Adar
Adar: Overview
Moon: Revealing
Soul Trait: Zehirut (זהירות) Illuminated Awareness
Symbol: Hamantaschen
Tribe: Naphtali
Tarot: The Fool
Netivah: Leitzanit (ליצנית) Sacred Fool
Find source citations for correspondences and so much more.
MAKING
So many things in progress, as always, but I’m excited that a couple of long term projects are finally coming to completion.
Firstly, the Netivot Wisdom Oracle decks/bookletes should be shipping to me from the printer in just a couple of days. Then the work of getting them all packed and shipped begins. I’m really hoping to get them all out to you within a couple of weeks. Folks who backed the Kickstarter and those that have pre-ordered have been sooooooo patient, and I am deeply grateful.
Another project in the home stretch is Process of Teshuvah. All in its right time, I know, but I’m thrilled to see that it is in its final stages. Then I can start exploring some of the ideas for the “accessible” versions that I always make from originals, usually stickers — but I have a couple of other ideas percolating for this one like a four panel zine-like thing that you can write on as part of your own process of teshuvah about a particular topic or issue.
Also… heads up for the challah bakers. Shabbat Shirah, where there is a practice to make bird-themed challah is on January 27th this year.
MUSSAR
Date: Sunday 1/14/2024
Time: 3pm - 4:30 ET
Where: Register for Zoom Link
Cost: None, but donations gratefully accepted
The soul trait that corresponds with Sh’vat, in the Kesharim K’doshim approach to mussar, is ahavah (אהבה) love.
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.
MAGICK
So much happening on the magiq front right now, including me trying to figure out when to use magiq, which is my spelling for practical magick (i.e. not illusion or stage magic) and when to use magick, which is the more commonly understood spelling.
On the winter solstice in Tevet, my long-time magiqal collaborator and I became a committed chevruta, partners in our magic. We have been building what we call Tehomic Magiq for many years and finally reached a stage of structure and “leveling up” that required us to determine if we were IN or not. We said yes. While we’re not sharing too much about the practice yet, you will see it infusing my (and her) work and as the time is right, we’ll share more. For now, you can learn more at tehomicmaqic.com.
The lines between magiq and making are hard to draw sometimes, all puns intended.
I did a sigil working this past week to help with both my sleeping, and in some ways even more important — WAKING UP. The first time I did it, I didn’t include the “sleep well” aspect, and spent the entire night ready to wake up. I’m still calibrating the myself to the new version, but I can already feel it taking effect.
I began creating, as usual, the iPad drawing app called “ProCreate.” I love working in pure chashmal, aka electricity, aka the G!d/dess stuff of Ezekiel’s vision. That version, on the right, is the one I’m sharing with other folks via stickers, but to activate the sigil for myself — I decided to hand draw it on black paper with bright metallic “crayon.” I hadn’t realize I shifted the design a bit from digital to paper until after, which is why I think it’s still calibrating a bit.
This is magiq I work for myself, but I also find that inviting other folks to tap into my sigils helps to power them up. That’s why I share them. You are free to use the version on the right for yourself, and share it with others (for free) as long as you credit me.
Resources & Rituals
Here’s a few of the relevant and recent additions to the Resources & Rituals on Substack that don’t fit cleanly into Making, Mussar, or Magick. Most of these are only for premium subscribers, but all have a free preview.
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Watch | Listen | Read
Key: Shows & Movies 📺 | Books 📚 | Articles 📄 | Music 🎼 | Podcast 🎙
📚Prime Chaos: Adventures in Chaos Magic by Phil (Amazon)
If you are into the maqic, and curious about chaos magic, which I talk about from time to time, and is one of the roots of tehomic magiq — I highly recommend this class text on chaos magic by Phil Hine. Be sure to read the introduction, as he reflects on the text many years later in the current editions.
📚 Glitterland by Alexis Hall (Amazon | Bookshop)
And now for something entirely different! I don’t like romance novels…or I didn’t until I discovered Alexis Hall. For some reason, romance novels with two male protaganists — I greatly enjoy. In particular, I’ve found that Alexis Hall’s books make perfect cozy palette cleansers.
🎙 Sinéad O’Connor: 60 Songs that Explain the 90s (Spotify | The Ringer)
You know I LOVE this podcast. It’s the perfect intersection of nerderie and pop culture, and I genuinely enjoy
, the host. So go listen to this episode and then IMMEDIATELY go listen to Sinéad O’Connor’s covers album, Am I Not Your Girl, that Ann Powers mentions in her segment. Listen to it IN ORDER. It will change everything you think you know about Shuhada’ Davitt (né) Sinéad O’Connor.📺 A Promising Young Woman by Emerald Fennel
I am definitely a fan of Emerald Fennel, going back to her appearances on Call the Midwife. I saw Saltburn (and highly recommend), but I am embarrassed to admit that I hadn’t seen A Promising Young Woman until very recently. It is BRILLIANT. Saltburn is good, but a flavor of weird that you have to just be into. A Promising Young Woman is flat out brilliant, from script, to acting, to the most consciously pop culture aware casting. Seriously. The casting. Just chef’s kiss good. Available for or rent/buy on most major streaming services or with ads on Amazon Prime.
Note: Links to Amazon.com contain affiliate code that allows authors to earn a small commission on purchases