It鈥檚 no secret: the year鈥檚 shortest day is on its way. On dark overcast days, I sometimes dream of hopping the next flight to Mexico, Hawaii or Tel Aviv.聽 Maybe you do, too?
As tempting as a trip to a warm, sunny climate may be, cultivating inner sunshine is a much more affordable, sustainable way to enjoy light during dark times.聽
Maintaining a daily spiritual practice is one of the best ways I鈥檝e found to nurture an internal storehouse of deep joy. When times get tough and the weather gets rough, I鈥檓 ready, most of the time,聽b鈥檈zrat Hashem聽(with the help of The Name).
Judaism, like many traditions, provides daily spiritual activities from the moment we awaken in the morning that help maintain focus through even the most stressful experiences.
The first Hebrew blessing I recite by heart upon awakening each morning thanks the Almighty for returning my soul with compassion. What a way to start a day, especially when darkness prevails.
The first holy action of the day is to splash refreshing, clean water three times on each hand, followed by the appropriate blessing. There are blessings for feeling awe, which is considered the beginning of wisdom, as well as for being thankful to be able to evacuate ones bowels without which we could not stand.
Besides the traditional prayers, I also enjoy mindfulness meditation: a quiet time to experience the light of聽Hashem聽(The Name) enlivening every inch of my being.聽 I also use physical exercises to stretch my body each day.聽 These exercises include increasing my awareness of the body鈥檚 spiritual centres, known in our tradition as聽sephirot.
While a personal practice helps cultivate inner light, I also appreciate celebrating聽Shabbat聽(Sabbath) and holidays with my faith community and family. Our most recent holiday,聽Hanukah, in which we light聽menorot聽(lamps) with one more candle each night for eight nights, is one of our best for spreading light.
Heartfelt melodies, meaningful stories and delicious food all help counteract the blues. The inspiration of ancient teachings reinterpreted in a modern context helps shed light on life鈥檚 greatest trials.
Text study is central to Jewish practice. This year I am studying the聽Parshah Shavuah聽(the Torah Portion of the week) with Rabbi Meir Kaplan who leads Chabad of Vancouver Island. Lately, we鈥檝e been focusing on the story of Joseph who transcended whatever darkness surrounded him, infusing his life and the lives all he touched with light.
For many years, I鈥檝e also studied and practiced聽惭耻蝉蝉补谤听聽an ancient Jewish spiritual practice experiencing a revival in the 21st听颁别苍迟耻谤测.听Mussar聽techniques include the recitation of holy phrases, journal keeping,办补产产补濒辞蝉听(daily practices), and the study of ancient texts with a partner聽(chevruta).
If you would like to pursue this method of study, visit the Institute鈥檚 website to enroll in an introductory on-line course such as 鈥�,鈥� based on a book by聽Dr. Alan Morinis,聽founder of The聽惭耻蝉蝉补谤听听滨苍蝉迟颈迟耻迟别.
Walking, which takes no extra study, is another practical, accessible way to cultivate inner peace.聽 On occasion, I have enjoyed slow walks through circular, meditative labyrinths聽聽like the one聽beside Christ Church Cathedral.
The first time I walked the church鈥檚 labyrinth last month, fallen leaves partially concealed the spiral pathway, much like the sun during this season of less light. The next time, a strong wind had blown the leaves away, making it easier to see the way. These slow meditative walks provide peaceful respite when needed.
Whatever you do to help bring light to the darkness, if ever there was a time to practice, this is it!
Shoshana Litmanis sa国际传媒's first ordained Maggidah (a female Jewish storyteller), an administrator for the Mussar Institute of Vancouver sa国际传媒, and a tour guide for Congregation Emanu-El, sa国际传媒鈥檚 oldest synagogue in Victoria, sa国际传媒
You can read more articles from our interfaith blog, Spiritually Speaking
This article was published in the sa国际传媒 in the Faith Forum section on Saturday, December 7 2013
