(Note: I wrote this in January of 2018. Since we have now entered 2020 - the year of "perfect vision" - I thought it was good to re-visit. My friend and amazing poet Devon Spier and I co-wrote the poem/meditation at the end.) The Back Story At first, I thought my clouded vision meant that I needed new glasses. Or maybe my eyesight was blurred because of Continue Reading
who what where why god?
what is god? Where is God? who is god? is God looking for me? God is too big and too small to name - words can only attempt, approximate, give a feel for, the experience. One reason poetry and music are wonderful in god-discussions is because they speak the language of metaphor. Metaphor frees us up to express the vastness and smallness, the out-there Continue Reading
songs of hope & healing…& blessings
If you are in the path of an impending storm, or recovering from the last hurricane, or are unable to go outside because of the dust and ash from the multiple fires blazing - you know what you need to do. Step by step, you put one foot in front of the other and do the next right thing. You constantly evaluate the path forward and you keep walking because Continue Reading
Stillness in Summer: a meditative musical morning
SATURDAY July 11, 2015 9:30 am - 11:30 am West Los Angeles (address given upon registration) with Rabbi Jill Zimmerman and Ariel Root Wolpe Come enjoy a morning of beautiful music and mindfulness. Time for reflection, centering, and creating intention. Remember, rejuvenate, and restore your soul. $36 Ariel Root Wolpe is a musician, ritual Continue Reading
Mindfulness, Poetry, Prayer and Song to Open Hearts
At our beautiful all-day retreat last Shabbat, "A Mindful Journey Through Shabbat" we did a morning of chant/kavannah/music/silence. As leaders, we chose several key prayers (only a few) from the morning Shabbat service and went deeper into each one. For example, we started with Modah/Modeh Ani, which means "Grateful/Thankful am I" and offered a brief Continue Reading