Spiritual Energy of Kislev
Kislev is a month with very special meaning. In Hebrew, kis means “pocket.” Lev means “heart.” Put them together, and you get a little piece of poetry -- “Pocket of the heart.”
Kislev asks us to reach down deep and close a hand around our hearts’ desires. Bringing these out in the light is the beating heart of Kislev. Now is the time to rekindle our dreams.
Last month, in Cheshvan, we were “in the muck.” Sifting through the hardship of the post-holiday let down, we were hustling hard to make good on our Rosh Hashana resolutions (see Cheshvan resources for more), this challenge reflected in the story of the famous flood.
Not loving the direction humanity was headed, the Divine sent powerful rains to wipe the slate clean. But, a few made it out. Noah, his family, and all the animals lived in an ark, waiting for God to dry up the land. Plenty of time to reach down into their heart pockets and take a good look at what was inside.
What happened after the flood is just as important: the Divine sent a rainbow. Hope.
“In this new month of Kislev, we enter a time of miracles and gain the ability to see the full spectrum of light, all the more brightly as winter comes on.”
Kislev offers a healing quality of sleep. In Jewish thought, sleep is the time when our souls ascend to a higher world and “see the light.” And speaking of light, this month we also celebrate Chanukah, which is all about bringing light to dark moments and rejoicing in miracles. Combining the themes of illumination and vision, our spiritual teachers say Kislev is an auspicious month to meditate on life’s purpose, move past our own limiting beliefs, and receive guidance--perhaps in our dreams--about how to live fully.
Each person walks through the the world with a passion, dream, and desire to make an impact. But somewhere, somehow, we get tripped up--by self-doubt or fear of rejection or failure. Our untapped potential leaves us depressed and shackled to pessimistic minds and scared egos.
During Kislev, we’re commanded to have faith, follow our hearts, and move forward, even if we can’t make out a clear path. A funny thing, faith. We really can’t comprehend it; faith desires pure presence. Faith asks us to step forward with trust and fearlessness. In Kislev, challenge yourself to move beyond logic. And keep your eyes open for miracles along the way; there might be a rainbow out there guiding you towards your dreams.
“Find a way to move forward. Stop looking for excuses about why you can’t. The mind, desperately wanting to understand, seeks answers. ”
Kislev urges us to try something different. Take a break from thinking. Like its name says, drop in to the pocket of the heart.