SEPHIRAT HA OMER

Kabbalistic Sephirat HaOmer PSALMS of my Soul by JOY KRAUTHAMMER. --- MORE: CLICK "Older Posts". --- "Each day of the Omer period is associated with a different aspect of the Sephirot. On that day, everything which every-one in the whole world is talking about is purely an expression of that special aspect with which that day is associated. A person with understanding can hear and recognize this if s/he pays attention to what people are saying." - Reb Nachman...Art and Photos © Joy Krauthammer

FULL MOON - day 31 TIFERET sh b'HOD

Psalms of My Soul

ספירת העומר

Sephirat HaOmer day 31 we count, that is 4 weeks and 3 days of the Omer.

Tiferet sh b'Hod

Beauty and Harmony in Humility, Awe and Splendor

FULL MOON ~ Beauty Within Face of G*d.

- Joy Krauthammer

In my hillside home, sitting at my computer, a light catches my eye and I glance toward the right. Through the kitchen window, wonderfully surprised, clearly I see the large, full bright orange moon. I am in awe of its beauty and balance as it hangs alone in the sky. I look over my shoulder, and my heart feels full as I gaze upon the moon, like a magnet, and my fingers continue to type. Even as I watch it, the orange moon is quickly rising, and turning a brighter lighter shade.

How many photos can I shoot of this round object in the night sky that shows up on all my film as a round shape in the dark sky?

Almost 20 years ago a friend of mine married another friend of mine. Purposefully for a shidduch / marriage, I had introduced Caroline and Dick. I took a photo of the newlyweds kissing at night following the afternoon wedding (where I was in Hod, happily and humbly honored as Chuppah holder). Consciously I moved, and maneuvered my body into low position so that the full moon would be visible closely over their heads.

Years later I saw the framed photo on their bedroom dresser and commented on the glorious simcha. My dear friend questioned me, "But what is that circle over our heads?" I laughed when I recalled how I had adjusted my body low to catch that very high moving scene. I admired my artistry, and wisdom in uniting them under both the chuppah, and the moon.

In Tiferet / Compassion, I wanted Dick to especially meet Caroline because his beloved first wife, Joyce,z"l, had died, and I wanted Dick to have another wonderful marriage filled with a woman's heart, beauty and harmony. In compassion, I wanted Caroline to meet a man with wonderful midot / qualities. I had compassion for Caroline's brother, my publisher David, who wanted his sister to wed a mentsch/a good man. Amayn.

Caroline Epstein and Dick Blatman under a full moon following Chuppah.

(First time I had photographed a full moon.)

Rabbi William Kramer, z"l, said I "created angels by making a shidduch / a match".

Theirs was a marriage heralded in heaven.

Very sadly, just short of their 20 wedding anniversary, and a very loving marriage

filled with devotion and creativity,

beloved Caroline, z"l, died.

May Caroline's soul soar in Shmayim/Heaven.

May Dick and family be comforted.

With great sadness I share that my friend Dick, z"l, died a year after his beloved Caroline.

Newlyweds, Caroline and Dick,

with officiating Rabbi Bill/William Kramer and Joy Krauthammer, shadchen / match maker.

Tonight, once again, I must bend my body low in Hod/Humility to continue to see the Splendor through the window, as I type with the rising moon, and I am in awe, in Hod.
I feel mamash/truly blessed that I can witness and photograph all this Divine beauty.

Baruch Hashem for the glory that is the gift to us in the very visible full moon. My iPhoto library has a zillion shots of moons, hmm, or is that a cheese ball?

How do I/you express mamash Tiferet/beauty, harmony, balance, truth and compassion within the Hod/Splendor of G*d's universe?
How do we express our Hod/gratitude and acknowledgement of a life filled with G*d's creations filled with Splendor?
What are our actions that elevate the qualities of Tiferet and Hod?

Do I say 'hoda'ah'/Thank you' to G*d and recognize that my qualities come from the Holy One, and I am blessed to have these in my life-time, and to serve better with them?

Do I take for granted that the moon rises daily giving us moon light?
Do I appreciate this Glory of G*d, and see the world in the same awe and with gratitude?
Can I see the awesome qualities of individuals, and see that I can add balance to our universe and make matches for all reasons, love, business, social, health, learning, arts, and activities.
How can this awareness of beauty, balance, truth, compassion, gratitude, splendor, help me to be all that I am, and to uplift and inspire others?

Enjoy these MOONS and more: http://joys-favorite-fotos.blogspot.com/2013/05/moon.html

Taurus Full Moon Hod sh b'Tiferet

Garden of Joy

The Sun in Taurus Full Moon, is the most powerful Full Moon of the year. The Sun’s transit through Taurus exalts the Moon and Taurus is ruled by Venus, the spiritual ruler of Earth.

Of what importance is this full moon of May to you personally? Does it seem to you of sufficient importance to warrant your utmost effort? Do you really believe that on that day there can come a release of spiritual energy of sufficient potency to change world affairs, provided that humanity plays its part? - Alice Bailey

Full Moon

Full Moon

Less Full Moon the next night

Full Moon and Vivian.

Ball of energy, Garden of Joy.

Shot during week of Tiferet/balance and harmony.

Took a lot of Gevurah/limitation to maintain the embrace of beautiful moon.

Moon

Garden of Joy

Full Moon and Fig Tree

Garden of Joy

Full Lunar Eclipse, Red Moon 4.2014

Garden of Joy

Orange Full Moon

Garden of Joy

Full Mogen Dovid Star Moon

Garden of Joy

Morning Full Moon

http://joys-favorite-fotos.blogspot.com/2013/05/moon.html

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BALANCED BEAUTY - day 31 TIFERET sh b'HOD

Psalms of My Soul

ספירת העומר

Kabbalistic Sephirat HaOmer day 31, that is 4 weeks and 3 days of the Omer

Balanced Beauty Within Splendor ~ Tiferet sh b'Hod

If only I could be balanced beauty and within Splendor, as are these flowers in my garden and Edith's cat, Caty aka Sparkles.

I have inner beauty, and that does require cleansing, cleaning off smudges. Balance needs rectification. I'm too reactive and with consequences. I react to these flowers with absolute joy, awe, wonder and delight. The cat positions herself in a place of balance and feline beauty. Maybe hers is with dignity and ownership. Caty was scared when she arrived, probably abused. I have Tiferet/compassion for Caty. It has taken Caty aka Sparkles a couple years to accept the fact that the current home of hers is where she belongs, she will be cared for, and she can be loved. There is truth at her home, and finally Caty acknowledges this balance in her life. Caty will now even sit on 'mom' Edith's lap. She now allows me to massage her head. (Wish I wasn't allergic to Caty.)

I like to think I know truth, even the inner 'shadows' that I learn about. I am filled with Hod'aah/gratitude. I love to awaken to beauty, love, compassion and splendor in our world. I celebrate the Presence of The Holy One. I can be better at opening my heart towards others, and also self; I try.

Chabad's Rabbi Simon Jacobson asks:

Is my humility compassionate?

Does my humility cause me to be self-contained or does it express itself in empathy for others?

Is my humility balanced and beautiful? or awkward?

Express a humble feeling in an act of compassion.

I know that I am a compassionate Jewish woman and express through my actions, and with deep empathy for others, whom I may not even know in person. Our souls are all connected.

At times I am not able to do long-distance, all that I want to be in compassion, doing Bikur Cholim/visiting the sick as a friend. I'm sad and feeling badly that I can't when I want to, but at times, I can not for physical reasons. But, I've even had the courage to sit at the hospital beds of friends, which was the same bed on which my husband, z"l, was dying. Daily I do Bikur Cholim by sending E or snail mail messages filled with pretty flowers and with Tiferet/honest loving greetings filled with healing blesSings.

At times my Hod/humility has been questioned by another, because she didn't understand that I react and express exuberant JOY when something good happens to me, and maybe I am given kavod/honor. My expression of joy is not a question of lacking humility, but instead appreciation and wonderment within our world. I feel the joy and I want to share it. When I am recognized, I am fulfilling my given potential as a human being, and spiritually serve G*d and community with joy in a continued greater way.

Today I'm happy that I can give away many heavy filled bags and boxes of grapefruit to "Food Forward" for Citrus Sunday. I paid 2 guys to climb into my tall Grapefruit tree and bring down hundreds of fruits to give away to those in need. I called Food Forward, and they promptly came to pick up the boxes and bags of delicious organic picked fruit. I think this too is Tiferet sh b'Hod.

The grapefruits are gorgeous, juicy, firm, fresh, flavorful, and healthy. See photo below.

How can awareness of beauty help me to be all that I am, and also to uplift and inspire others to be all they can be in truth, balance and harmony?

- Joy Krauthammer

Face of G*d
... and many more
so much beauty in our world:

http://joys-favorite-fotos.blogspot.com/2012/05/nature-plants.html

Canna

Garden of Joy

Edith's Cat, Caty

Bunny Rabbit

Garden of Joy

Doves

Garden of Joy hosts Doves' nest

Rose

Garden of Joy

Rose

Garden of Joy

Tulips

Wood Iris

Garden of Joy

Water Lilies

Getty Villa

Hibiscus

Edith's Garden

Grapefruit for Citrus Sunday via Food Forward

Picked boxes and bags of fruit to give away. Grateful grapefruit was picked up to share.

Garden of Joy

http://joys-favorite-fotos.blogspot.com/2012/05/nature-plants.html

HEALING WITHIN HUMILITY - day 32 NETZACH sh b’HOD

PSALMS OF MY SOUL ~ Joy Krauthammer

HEALING WITHIN HUMILITY ~ NETZACH sh b’HOD

Kabbalistic Sephirat HaOmer ספירת העומר

Counting Omer day 32, that is 4 weeks and 4 days of the Omer

Critique and Comparison

of my healing sound creations to my photo creations

- Joy Krauthammer

5.5.2015

A meditation for me

following my two Kalsman Jewish Wisdom & Wellness Sound Spa Meditations this last week

I look at playing my live ‘music’ / Sounds of Joy, Sound Spa healing sounds, as I do also with my photos for my on-line serious photo groups.

My intention is to play and present Sounds of Joy in the most humble/Hod and best gentle Netzach possible way.

The sounds are to help purify, just as we prepare to purify ouselves during the Kabbalistic Sephirat HaOmer Counting for 49 days in order to reach Mount Sinai.

How can my photos heal with pleasure and best represent the Revealed Face of G*d?

In photo groups that I belong to, we always hope to have people "critique" (share comments) so that we can see what doesn’t work well enough so we can learn and get better. Or, what photographically does work well? As a group member, I am required to comment a minimum on at least 6 photographers' photos each week from one challenge theme album. This is to help others create better photos. I learn from the comments I read and write. There are over 500 active members in 2016.

What emotion is evoked in photo or sound?

Is it healing for the viewer, the receiver?

For instance, I wonder at times when I play the Singing Bowls, if I do or don’t leave enough space between sounds for silence to enter the soul and chakras (like knots between pearls)... Is there good 'negative' and/or 'composition space' within a photo? Is the photo too congested, or is there a place to enter, and to rest the eyes/the mind?

Is the subject placed well, small or loud enough, too close, too far? too distracting, too congested in relationship with others?
Am I achieving the result that I want for myself or for others?
Am I in the best energy of Hod and Netzach that I can be to share?

Examples are found in 52Frames Week 18:
http://joys-favorite-fotos.blogspot.com/2015/01/submissions-to-52-frames-2015.html
And
http://healingsoundsofjoy.blogspot.com/2009/05/jewish-aspect-of-singing-bowl.html

Do I let a sound linger long enough? Did I ‘sing’ enough bowls or only ring them? And reach the right people, or were some out of my reach... and why?

Is one photo blossom enough to tell the story of the Revealed Holy One, or are more blossoms too many, extraneous, taking away strength?
Does the offering create serenity as I desire, or anxiety?

When I play and walk amongst receivers, those are concerns if I have 'reached' each individual, versus when I only sit and play for others without walking to others.
Do I photograph from the distance to achieve result, or shoot a macro for connection?

Maybe a sound 'Comment' could tune me in as do photographers' 'Comments'...

No one ever has shared a criticism on these elements. Maybe participants are still reverberating in sounds of Hod.

Someone yet may...

Always in Tiferet / heart I want to be better.

And yet, I never play the same way... It's all instinctive, and the bowls sound different, react differently in every space. I may 'blow' on the bowls, and the wind blows the flowers.

So many variables. I’m breathing deeply even as I write this, because in Kavannah, I want "Sounds of Joy" to reach in Netzach the right places/people in the right way for that moment.

I am grateful in Hod when I hear that my photos heal (maybe of flowers or water), and when I hear people have relaxed in my Sound Spa, created just for them, a meditation at that moment.

I look forward to being in Netzach/successful in my musical intention, striving to be better, to be received well playing restful healing sounds that make a difference.

Hod is reverberation, the echo of my humility and gratitude of the Holy One Who 'plays me'. I am grateful giving Hoda'ah / thanks for the splendor of gifts given to me to share with the universe.
"Ivdu Et Hashem B'Simcha" / Serve G*d in Joy.

After spontaneously writing the above, I realize my thoughts are in the energies of tonight's Kabbalistic Sephirat HaOmer Netzach sh b'Hod.
Of course, this makes sense. Baruch Hashem

~ ~ ~

All photos/materials in sites by Joy Krauthammer are under copyright protection by © Joy Krauthammer.

Permission by Joy Krauthammer, needed to repost/copy/reprint/use. Request in Comments, FB, or write/call personally.

VICTORIOUS SPLENDOR - day 32 NETZACH sh b'HOD

PSALMS OF MY SOUL ~ ספירת העומר

Kabbalistic Sephirat HaOmer day 32
VICTORIOUS SPLENDOR NETZACH sh b'Hod

Netzach/Victory of the vine gloriously appears in the cracks, after I trimmed back the hillside bush, and I am impressed.

See the little lavender purple flower.

How can I make strong strides to accomplish my humble goals in little places that I barely knew existed?
What else is growing underground?
How strong are my roots that I can keep pushing and expanding?
Do I know when I am not invited?

- Joy Krauthammer

SEPHIROT DANCE - day 32 / 18 (reverse set) NETZACH sh b'HOD

SEPHIROT DANCE ~ NETZACH sh b'HOD
Sephirot HaOmer day 32
PSALMS OF MY SOUL and photos © Joy Krauthammer
Kabbalistic Sephirat HaOmer ספירת העומר

Day 32 if regular Omer counting toward Shavuot from Pesach.
Sephirot journey reverse set # 2 towards Rosh HaShanah from Shavuot, Day 18, Chai

SEPHIROT DANCE

- Joy Krauthammer

Dance of Netzach sh b'Hod
Dancing forward in the mode

Glory/Hod of Gratitude;
Day 32 or reverse
Dance of Life, Chai, Day 18.
Behold, Splendor of soul
will be seen, revealed

Month of Iyar or
as Elul enters. A month
to shine soul,
remove the schmutz.
Dance month of searching --
backwards, forwards -- cleansing, fixing
all within.

Netzach,
not only victory
in physical form --
Dance of warrior in battle,
to win in life, survive a fight.
Instead, a concept:
going forward
with all your might
for Dance of Joy.

Reach out
for what you want
in your soul.
Power of
Dance of forgiveness, of compassion,
of heart.
Dance of understanding, of wisdom
to impart.
Dance of integrity.
Dance of desire.
Stay on the path,
out of the mire.

Dance of Joy. Splendor of joy.
Dance toward what may not be seen.
Vision of truth, deep
Dance of justice, wide.
Dance of faith, high.
Dance of trust, surrender
toward the Holy One. Blessed Be.
Dance of creativity, dance of passion,
dance of planting, dance of growth,
dance of hope, and dance of connecting love.

Not only war to win in victory!
Sometimes powerfully,
on horses, hooves flying fast from within;
sometimes lightly, gently,
empowered
on iridescent hummingbird wings,

all along the Tree of Life, dance!
...and sing out
your abunDance of blesSings, and drum, even hum,
and dance again.
.

.
I have included my fruit carving here, "This is not a cantaloupe", because the "Charcoal Dance" painting above reminded a friend of my cantaloupe carving AKA "Not Milk".

Sometimes we carve away (in Netzach) to reveal another level of G*d's concealed splendor (HOD) in our universe, including ourself. Thank you for the glory, G*d.

Joy's 'carving' story is available upon request. (Cantaloupe's concept title is based on artist Rene' Magritte's "...ceci n'est pas une pipe.") The word, the image, is not the same as it is described, nor named.
How can one say what can't be said, to describe one's love of and for the Holy One? Ahavat Hashem.
- Joy Krauthammer

PS

"Blessed Be.

Dance of creativity"

This poem understanding came from an important place within me. I was in retreat with Reb Zalman Schacter-Shalomi and Eve Ilsen on Shavuot at Elat Chayyim, and I realized that my Netzach can be and is used, not only for battle (as with hospital administrations and fighting for life, but after mourning in dancing toward JOY.

Quite a realization for me at that moment.

I thought about how I go forward in life...

Permission by Joy Krauthammer, needed to repost/copy/reprint/use. Request in Comments, FB, or write/call personally.

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DETERMINATION WITHIN SPLENDOR - day 32 NETZACH sh b’HOD

Psalms of My Soul
ספירת העומר

NETZACH sh b’HOD - day 32 which is 4 weeks and 4 days of the Kabbalistic Counting of the Sephirat HaOmer.

HARVEST DETERMINATION WITHIN G*D’s SPLENDOR - day 32 NETZACH sh b’HOD

- Joy Krauthammer

Determined Endurance to Give Away Grapefruit to the Needy

To achieve success/victory in giving away grapefruit to the needy, and that the fallen and way high up citrus is not wasted, took a few weeks of planning.

My mission was to give away hundreds of fresh, ripe, organic juicy delicious grapefruits to event organizers that feed the hungry. I called the local Councilman’s office the week before my goal to confirm donation collection sites that I had researched and seen posted.

For my hired gardeners to have their weekly chores planned out, and to save the Friday afternoon before CITRUS SUNDAY, and BIG SUNDAY events, and to have my 34 year old grapefruit tree heavily pruned, schedules needed to be made.

On Thursday, my caring sister Faye called to suggest that I call my gardeners and remind them to bring the right tools with them on the necessary next day. As if I had not been stating my plan each of prior weeks, I then called the gardeners on Thursday with that same reminder. (I do this also at Tu B’Shvat time to prune fig trees.) I know that Jose does not want me to call and remind him, but I did, after hesitating. Sure enough, by the next day, Jose forgot after 3 weeks of planning and began other easier pruning. I don’t know that he had the best tool, a saw, with him, but he had a pruner with him. (The same large pruner he had forgotten in a bush by the street a couple weeks earlier, and luckily I found it, and called him so he was not wondering where it was.)

Jose is a smart guy, but acted as if he had no idea what I was talking about with the fruit tree. I then tried to explain that this was a good deed to give away the fruit, and not sell it, thus it had to be pruned now, as scheduled.

Rafael, the young assistant, said, “Muy caliente", very hot, and I agreed knowing it was over 100*. Normally in compassion I would say, “go home early and don’t finish”, but this time I did not. I said, “Con Cuiudad” with care, and Rafael then scuttled up the tree trunk and branches with the long pruner, and positioned himself to begin saving the grapefruit for donation. It was shady in the heavily canopied tree. They gardeners have water, and hats with them.

(It’s not fair to me that they always come to me in mid-afternoon at the hour’s hottest time, and I tell them not to stay long, although I pay them fully for the hour which is always much less time. I pay them when it rains or when they think it rains, or if too windy, and for their holidays.)

It was best to take down 5 feet of tree’s height with the fruit on branches, I had decided. In advance, I called a local nursery to make sure that seasonal timing was good for tree's health, and my sister 'Googled' internet for same info and helpful details. Voila-- good season. I had been waiting for when new spring baby grapefruits were not so big. To me it is terrible when with heavy winds, unripe green large fruits are thrown to ground, and all that nourishing growing time is wasted. I'd lost over 100 grapefruits in prior days' unseasonal heavy Santa Ana winds. I gave away many.

I picked up all the golden grapefruits and packaged them in bags and boxes. Unfortunately many split open and were ruined with the fall to ground. Can’t give those away. I always offer grapefruits to the gardeners, and bring them bagged to others. I cut some quickly, like oranges, and with giant slurps, ate them. No more meditative, slow with serrated knife sectioning and eating with a little pointy serrated spoon for me.

Only after I had ten big bags filled, I called Food Forward, an organization that forwards produce to needy people. I realized that the citrus was to much and too heavy for me to be lifting, carrying, and needed help. Food Forward people send out volunteers to do the picking, and I had saved them that people power. My intention was to drop off all the fruit at one of the many local donation places. Within an hour of calling, a pair of young strong women wearing body support belts, showed up with a big truck, and were very happy to repackage the grapefruits into big boxes and put them on the truck and haul them away. I had remembered to tell them to bring better boxes than mine. The gals said that each filled box was 'only' 40 pounds. I was concerned for them. I was grateful that these gals could help me meet my goals, and I could help them meet theirs in a 'green' way.

This harvest experience was NETZACH sh b’Hod, and sharing with success-- the splendors of G*d’s Grace.

Now I am on Food Forward's address list for future years so that once again, I can harvest my grapefruit for those in need. That feels good to do this mitzvah / good deed.

This Valley neighborhood is 'historic' for its old grapefruit orchards from many decades ago. The two citrus trees I planted 34 years ago on Tu B'Shvat when my daughter was two. There used to be a swing set between the trees when they were young.

Grapefruits, Garden of Joy

A Selfie of 'Forced Perspective' with Grapefruit and Pruner

Garden of Joy

Grapefruit

Garden of Joy

Boxes and Bags of Grapefruit

Garden of Joy

Food Forward for Citrus Sunday

Rachel and Brenna

Harvesting Grapefruit

Garden of Joy

Harvesting Grapefruit

Garden of Joy

Grapefruit Tree post pruning and Orange Tree needing pruning

Garden of Joy

Permission by Joy Krauthammer, needed to repost/copy/reprint/use. Request in Comments, FB, or write/call personally.

~ ~ ~

SEPHIRAT HA OMER

About Me

FULL MOON - day 31 TIFERET sh b'HOD

BALANCED BEAUTY - day 31 TIFERET sh b'HOD

HEALING WITHIN HUMILITY - day 32 NETZACH sh b’HOD

VICTORIOUS SPLENDOR - day 32 NETZACH sh b'HOD

SEPHIROT DANCE - day 32 / 18 (reverse set) NETZACH sh b'HOD

DETERMINATION WITHIN SPLENDOR - day 32 NETZACH sh b’HOD

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