Workshops to Write Prayers and Kavannot

I’m doing workshops (Individually or as a series) over the next few months where participants can to do a little bit of study of some of the liturgy for up coming holidays before writing their own versions of the prayers and their own new kavannot (intentions) using writing prompts, guided meditation, discussions, reading different translations:

Tu Bishvat:  write about the trees, nature, blessings for the earth, hopes for the fight against climate change and environmental degradation.  This will happen sometime in January, schedule to be determined by participants. One session.

Purim:  you can write your own versions of the story, or variations on the themes of oppression, women’s power, assimilation, court Jews, laughing at bad guys, gender roles, fighting back... This will happen in February, schedule TBD by participants. One session

Pesach:  we will pick out various parts of the Haggadah and you can write your own versions of these that you can use in your own seders!  Your own versions of the Four questions, the Plagues the four children, Dayeinu and blessings for the wine, matzo etc.  This will happen sometime in March schedule to be determined by participants.  I think this will take at least two sessions.

Counting The Omer:  How is counting a mindfulness practice?  Why do we count the Omer?  What does it lead up to?  We can schedule this any time within the seven weeks.  

I’m hoping to continue this to Shavuot Tisha B’Av, Elul, Selichot, Rosh Hashanah, Shabbat Shuva, Kol Nidre, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simkhat Torah.

I would also be happy to set up group workshops or individual sessions to work on subjects such as Healing, Gratitude, Grief & Mourning, Anger, Hope or prayers in the siddur, particularly the morning blessings, Amidah, the Sheba, the Yotzer, the Aleinu and the. Mourner’s Kaddish. Let me know your interest and we’ll make it happen.

Each group zoom session is $50 per person.  Half off for my Patreon patrons who contribute at least $18/month.  Sessions are for an hour and a half unless you’re really into it, then I am happy to go longer. 

I have been teaching these workshops for organizations and synagogue groups around the country since the start of the pandemic.  Many references available upon request.

Trisha Arlin

Trisha.arlin@gmail.com

Liturgist

http://www.trishaarlin.com/

Author of PLACE YOURSELF: Words of Prayer And Intention

Now available at https://dimus.parrhesia.press/

Patreon:

 https://www.patreon.com/trishaarlin

A Blessing For The Vaccine

Blessed Holy Wholeness:

As we roll up our sleeves

To receive this vaccine,

We take note

Of the inspiration and efficiency,

The hard work and creativity

And the accumulation of knowledge and science

That brings us to this moment. 

No miracles were wanted or needed

For this vaccine

And for that we are grateful. 

Amen

How Awesome Is This Place

It is holy ground.

This is none other than the abode of God, 

And that is the gateway to heaven. 

Sleeping at this place

Stones for our pillows,

There is comfort here.

No matter what messes we have made

We can be angels

For other people

And as we go up and down

We can change and make change.

It gets better

It gets worse

Nevertheless

We survive.

There is grief and

There can be happiness,

There is One-ness,

And we are always,

If we but have the eyes to see,

At the bottom of the staircase to the gateway to the entrance to heaven.

 

We want so much.

We want to be of help,

We want to do good,

We want to experience everything,

We want to be wanted.

We all make so much effort

Never really knowing where it will lead.

But if we unlock the gate

Or climb over stupid walls,

The entrance to heaven belongs to us.

 

And what if there is no heaven and all it leads to is oblivion?

What if there is no traveling up that ladder?

What if there is only nothing?
Oh well.

 

We are grateful for these stone pillows

For our hard, hard heads,

Trying to make us comfortable
In their own rocky ways.
We asked for a place to be and each rock pillow said,

Here I am

I am always here

Relax

At the bottom of the stairs to the gateway at the entrance to heaven.

 

And like Jacob,

We will return

To ourselves

To each other

To this awesome place

And this holy ground

Real or metaphoric or myth

It is ours

And we deserve it.

Thank you, rock

At the bottom of the stairway

That leads to an unlocked gate.

How awesome is this place. 

Amen