Monthly Meditation: Hitbodedut
Last month in Tishrei we felt the Divine presence during High Holidays services and in the shelter of the sukkah. This month of Cheshvan invites us to practice accessing that same Source wherever we are, especially in solitude.
Hitbodedut is an unstructured and spontaneous style of Jewish meditation. It’s a solo practice: an out-loud, stream-of-consciousness conversation with G-d. The main goal of hitbodedut is to develop a more personal relationship with the Divine and to gain clearer understandings of one’s personal motives and desires.
Imagine the Divine Source as your best friend, as Rebbe Nachman of Breslov encouraged. Without thinking or pre-planning, just let out whatever is inside of you. Say it aloud, as you are able — maybe it starts as a self-conscious mumble and strengthens into a hearty conversation.
A hitbodedut meditation can be very cathartic, helping us uncover wounded parts of ourselves. Rebbe Nachman claimed hitbodedut is best practiced in nature. He famously said:
“When a person meditates in the fields, all the grasses join in [her] prayer and increase its effectiveness and power.”
Find a spot outside where you are alone and feel free to begin speaking with the Divine. Open your heart and pour out your worries, sorrows, desires, gratitudes, and dreams to the higher universe. Don’t feel like you need to use “prayer language”; just speak in your everyday words and rest assured that it will be more than sufficient. It’s even traditional to shout or scream!
If your Well Circle meets someplace with easy access to nature, you could set a timer for 10 minutes or so and each wander independently. Otherwise, simply introduce the idea of hitbodedut with your group, brainstorm outdoor spaces they might visit for this practice, and encourage your Circle to try it on their own sometime in the next month. At the Well Circle for Kislev, they can report back on what they experienced.
Let’s Discuss
What is something you believe in? What’s something you’re inspired to take action on?
What is something you keep hidden? What would it take to open up about it? How would you feel?
What is your relationship with your sexuality, especially as it relates to getting what you want outside of the bedroom?
Looking for more ancient wisdom to guide you?
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