WHAT TO EXPECT THIS MONTH
As the sun transitions into Libra from September 22nd to October 21st, we find ourselves deep in one of the most dynamic and transformative seasons of the year. This period also marks the kabbalistic New Year and the start of a new era. The end of Pluto in Capricorn (where it’s been for the last 16 years) and the beginning of Pluto in Aquarius (where it will be for the next 20 years) culminates in the ultra-potent New Moon solar eclipse on October 2nd.
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The Kabbalists explain that the sign of Libra was created by the Hebrew letter Lamed, and Lamed is the letter of learning, which is why people born under the sign of Libra tend to be very intellectual people with a desire to study, learn, know, and understand. As such, this month, we have the opportunity to harness the power of our minds to deepen our connection to the Creator. How do you communicate with the Creator? Some connect through prayer, others movement, others simple gratitude.
For many of us, having a conversation with the Creator feels foreign and uncomfortable. Others only reach out when they need something in their lives or feel pain. Communicating with the divine is not just a way to ask for and receive gifts from the Light. It is a means for gaining closeness and connection to the Creator, which brings about unparalleled certainty, peace, clarity, and fulfillment. One way to practice and strengthen your connection is through meditation. With the energy being heavily focused in the mind during Libra, we will focus on meditation as our tool of the month.
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TIPS FOR PARENTS
- Libra is Mozna'aim in Hebrew, which means scale, and scales represent justice, equilibrium, and balance. One of the most powerful gifts we have this month is the ability to see and weigh both sides of something before making a decision. Often, we see one perspective, get locked in to it, then rush to action. This month, challenge yourself to consider multiple perspectives and trust the universe is supporting you in finding the answer that is most balanced. Notice where you fall out of balance in your parenting. Where do you under or over-give? Where are your boundaries too strict or too loose? Where are you rigid in your point of view and have not made space for your child’s point of view? Where are you lacking flexibility? Challenge yourself to keep asking the questions: what would a more balanced version of this behavior, habit, or situation look like, and what do I need to do to create this balance?
- Libra receives its energy intelligence in part from the planet Venus, which is said to sometimes make things so bright that it blurs distinctions between good and bad, making all things look equal. When all things look equal, it becomes hard to choose and, therefore, hard to move forward. We become stagnant when the “right” or superior choice is not clear. As such, one of the major challenges for us all this month is being decisive and moving forward with certainty. Try to identify one area of your life where you’ve been struggling to make a decision due to some lack of clarity or doubt. Deep within, you likely already know the answer; the spiritual work is to not second guess yourself and to trust that the Creator has your back whatever you decide. There is really no such thing as a wrong choice. Every choice we make brings with it opportunities for learning and growth if we are open to embracing them. Also, pay attention to where your children second guess themselves and encourage them to be bold in moving forward. Remind them even when they make mistakes, it is worth celebrating because mistakes give them the opportunity to learn. Mistakes are more productive than doing nothing.
- This month, we may all be a bit more vulnerable to caring what other people think about us and trying to please everyone, as the energy of Libra creates a deep desire for harmony and peace. Kabbalistically we learn that true harmony and peace do not come from conforming or changing who we are in order to make others more comfortable; it comes when we are able to accept and love one another regardless of our differences. Practice observing when, where, how, and why you fall into people- pleasing behavior. What are the negative, limiting belief systems you have about yourself and others that trigger this behavior? Make a wholehearted effort to get more and more in touch with who you really are – what your values, desires, needs, boundaries, etc. are and practice honoring them as much as possible, especially when it’s difficult, especially when you feel compelled to sacrifice a part of who you are in order to please another. Notice how your self-esteem improves each time you’re able to honor yourself in these moments. You may also encourage this type of work in your child by constantly prompting them with a question to become more attuned to themselves and their desires, then reminding them everything they feel is entirely valid, and their feelings deserve to be respected and honored even if they are different from others feelings and desires. You can model this to them by honoring their feelings and desires even when they contradict your own. This doesn’t mean letting your children do whatever they want, rather taking the time to mindfully validate them as often as possible and clearly explaining your boundaries with kindness and compassion when they contradict or challenge your child’s feelings.
- Libras are known for taking particular pleasure in the beauties of life, be it nature, art, fashion, food, etc. This month we all have the opportunity to take a closer look at these beauties and, in doing so, awaken more awe for the Creator. Life is hectic, and often, we convince ourselves we simply don’t have time to stop and smell the roses, but this is a limited belief that we can choose to dispel at any time. We can choose to make it a point to be mindful throughout our day of the beauty around us. Challenge yourself to take even 30 seconds a day to pause, look around you, find something you feel is beautiful about this world and consciously recognize the Creator’s hand in it, let yourself feel the vastness of the Creator’s work and how blessed you are to be a witness to it. You may encourage this kind of mindfulness in your children as well, taking the time to pause and observe in such a way when you’re with them. Maybe you’re stopped at a red light, and you point out the window to them to look at a beautiful batch of flowers on the side of the road. In doing so, you can remind them the Creator made those flowers and how amazing it is that the Creator created so many different types of flowers with unique shapes, sizes, colors, etc. These simple moments of recognition and appreciation have the power to shift both you and your child’s entire mood. Don’t underestimate the beauty of this world or the power of taking the time to notice it.
TIPS FOR KIDS
- Libra is Mozna'aim in Hebrew, which means scale, and scales represent justice, equilibrium, and balance. One of the most powerful gifts we have this month is the ability to see and weigh both sides of something before making a decision. Often, we see one perspective, get locked in to it, then rush to action. This month, challenge yourself to consider multiple perspectives and trust the universe is supporting you in finding the answer that is most balanced. For instance, maybe your parent tells you that you have to start going to sleep at an earlier time, and this feels unfair; it feels like your parent is being strict for no good reason! Challenge yourself to consider another perspective. Maybe you’ve been extra tired in the mornings, you’ve been falling asleep in school, or you’ve been feeling weak at sports practice after school. Maybe your parent wants you to get a better night's sleep so you can feel better throughout the day. Or maybe you haven’t felt extra tired lately, but you’re at an age when growth spurts are known to happen, so your parent wants you to get more sleep, so your body has time to do the growing it needs to! Regardless, there is always more to the story than our mind initially thinks. See what answers you come up with when you challenge yourself to consider more than one point of view or possibility.
- Libra receives its energy intelligence in part from the planet Venus, which is said to sometimes make things so bright that it blurs distinctions between good and bad, making all things look equal. When all things look equal, it becomes hard to choose and, therefore, hard to move forward. As such, one of the major challenges for us all this month is making decisions and being confident in our decisions. Try to identify one area of your life where you’ve been struggling to make a decision due to some lack of clarity or doubt. Deep within, you likely already know the answer; the spiritual work is to not second guess yourself and to trust that the Creator has your back whatever you decide. There is really no such thing as a wrong choice. Every choice we make brings with it opportunities for learning and growth if we are open to embracing them. Even when we make mistakes and it seems we chose or did the wrong thing, mistakes also give us the opportunity to learn. Remember, mistakes are more productive than doing nothing.
- This month, we may all be a bit more vulnerable to caring what other people think about us and trying to please everyone, as the energy of Libra creates a deep desire for harmony and peace. Kabbalistically we learn that true harmony and peace do not come from conforming or changing who we are in order to make others more comfortable; it comes when we are able to accept and love one another regardless of our differences. Practice observing when, where, how, and why you fall into people- pleasing. Sometimes we are afraid people won’t love us or we will lose their friendship if we don’t do what they say or agree with them. Sometimes we are insecure about how we feel or what we want, and we think if others know how we really feel, they will judge us as silly or stupid. Sometimes it may just feel easier to go along with what others want instead of speaking up and asserting our wishes. Make an effort to be in touch with what you truly want and believe in and practice honoring yourself even when it feels difficult. Every time you honor yourself, you build more confidence. Also, you will learn over time that people who truly love you and deserve your time and energy will accept you even when you think and feel differently from them.
- Libra’s are known for taking particular pleasure in the beauties of life, be it nature, art, fashion, food, etc. This month we all have the opportunity to take a closer look at these beauties and, in doing so, awaken more appreciation for the Creator. Life is so busy and often, we think there isn’t enough time to stop and smell the roses, but this is a limited belief! We can choose to make it a point to be mindful throughout our day of the beauty around us. Challenge yourself to take even 30 seconds a day to pause, look around you, find something you feel is beautiful about this world, and consciously recognize the Creator’s hand in it, let yourself feel how powerful and amazing the Creator’s work is and how blessed you are to be a witness to it. Life is so beautiful!
72 NAMES
The Kabbalists teach that the 72 Names of God are powerful instruments we can use to align our soul with different expressions or spiritual frequencies of the Light of the Creator. Each 72 Name of God is associated with a specific set of days in the Kabbalistic calendar. By connecting to the name associated with each set of days, we gain key insights into the opportunities available to us during these days.
- Tishrei 1-5 (Aleph Nun Yud – The Big Picture): As we stand at the threshold of a brand new year, brimming with opportunities and the potential for positive change, many of us make resolutions to improve our lives. Sometimes when we see what we need to change or what our goals are moving forward, we get hung up in the details. These next few days, practice reconnecting to the big picture of what you’d like to accomplish by asking yourself the following questions: who am I now, what kind of person do I want to be, what is the energy I want to bring forth into the world, and how do I want to share of myself? Zooming out from the details to reconnect to the big picture can actually help us clarify the details we should pay attention to versus the details that are less important and or are holding us back from truly moving forward.
- Tishrei 6-10 (Chet Ayin Mem – Circuitry): To grow spiritually, we want to strive to have a consciousness of sharing. The beauty of a blessing is not that we have it but that we are able to share it with others, enriching the lives of those we care for and making the world a better place for it. Each and every one of us is blessed with gifts; wisdom, leadership skills, artistic abilities, wealth, and so forth. In the same way that each of us has a spark of the Divine, so too are each of us divinely gifted. We cannot sit at home, do nothing, and expect to have things just “happen” for us. We want to somehow find a way to get out there and share whatever it is that we have. When we act in alignment with the Light that we each have inside by sharing and caring for others, we can draw energy and protection into our own lives. Sharing allows us to create circuitry and thereby build an even greater capacity for the blessings of the Light of the Creator to dwell within us.
- Tishrei 11-15 (Resh Hei Ayin – Diamond in the Rough): Like a candle with a dark shade over it, our Light and our uniqueness can be almost snuffed out. It is said that when we reach the gates of Heaven, we will not be asked why we did not achieve great things like others may have, but we will only be asked whether or not we achieved the great things that we were destined to achieve. Each one of us is a rare diamond with our own purpose on earth, that if we do not develop and nurture, causes our Light to slowly dim. No one will be more disappointed than we if we do not listen to the whispers and desires of our hearts. The honoring of our inner voice is the ultimate spiritual journey. Every challenge we face is merely an opportunity to refine our diamond a step further. Focus on identifying and honoring the unique diamond within instead of comparing yourself to others or trying to meet others' expectations of who they think you should be.
- Tishrei 16-20 (Yud Yud Zayin – Speaking the Right Words): To be spiritually conscious is to live with an awareness of what we let in and out of our eyes, ears, and mouths. We are gifted with the power to choose to see what is right in others rather than what is wrong with them. We can be aware of the opportunity to say a kind word about someone and to refrain from hearing gossip. The next few days, pay extra close attention to your words. Think before you speak and ask yourself: is what I am saying truthful, kind, and or useful? If the answer is no, practice adjusting your speech when necessary or remaining silent. Sometimes saying nothing is the most powerful thing we can do for ourselves and others.
- Tishrei 21-25 (Hei Hei Hei – Self Esteem): In life, there are always pressures to conform; pressure to be someone we’re not or do something not in alignment with what we truly desire. The truth is that each one of us is unique, rare, and special. It is up to us to choose to honor who we are, even in the face of these pressures. Every time we honor the deepest part of us, our soul, we build our self-esteem. When we honor ourselves, we teach ourselves we are trustworthy and reliable, and this builds an unshakable confidence. We also build our self-esteem by inviting the Creator into every aspect of our lives, making the Creator our partner. The Creator’s capacity is infinite, and therefore, with the assistance of the Creator, we are able to know and feel that we are infinitely more powerful.
- Tishrei 26-30 (Mem Yud Kaf – Revealing the Concealed): The Kabbalists teach that there is Light in everything, even in what appears to be dark. Right now, we have the opportunity to reveal Light in places we have yet to identify it. Focus on a specific challenge you are experiencing right now, and ask the Creator for assistance in helping you see the Light that is behind this challenge. It may be a lesson you have yet to identify or simply a different perspective on the challenge that helps you realize an overlooked opportunity. Be open to whatever answers come.
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES
- Parents: We highly recommend using the 72 Name of God “Parent Teacher, Not Preacher” and meditating on this name as much as you desire during this month. You may use this name as a tool to tune in to yourself and your children more deeply. You can simply scan the letters with your eyes, or you can close your eyes, envisioning the letters, and ask the Light of the Creator for assistance in viewing your children through the lens of your soul and their soul. In the moments when your children trigger you most, you may use this name to re-center yourself and ask the Light for help in speaking to your child from your soul to their soul rather than speaking from the ego.
- Kids: Parents, you may encourage meditation in your children by first educating them on the fact that there is no “right” way to meditate. Meditation simply means consciously focusing your attention in one direction for a specific amount of time. Kabbalistic meditation involves focusing your attention with a specific intention in mind. Experiment with different types of meditation and see what resonates most with your children.
For instance, you may guide them to close their eyes, focus on their breath, feel their breath in their bodies, and simply tune in to the different sensations that arise for the sake of better understanding their body. You may open the Zohar or look at a 72 name of God with your child and ask them if there is anything specific they want to ask the Light for help with, then encourage them to look at the Hebrew letters and meditate in their mind on receiving such assistance. You can also guide your children in simple visualizations, prompting them to close their eyes, imagine their happy place, connect to the feelings of that place, then, in that space, ask the Light for help or send someone they love extra energy. There are so many ways to meditate; the trick is really to let your children be curious, play, experiment, and find what resonates most with their unique needs. Regardless of what form of meditation works best for your child, it is important to let them know that meditation is a powerful tool because it is a tool they can use anytime, anywhere; they can use meditation to ask for help, receive guidance, send people love and healing, and as a way to calm down when triggered or challenged.
EXPAND YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS
