(c) 2016 Barry Bub Exponential lovingkindness, Hessed Sheh b' Hessed at drum circle on Siesta Key Beach where an elder was giving out free hugs
(c) 2016 Barry Bub Gevurah sheh b'Hessed. Image of boundaries /containment within water at the Harbor here where we live in Pelican Cove, Sarasota, FL

NOTE: Wondering what is the OMER? Information is at the end of this post.

My sweet hubbatzin Barry and I began an omer practice this year of going out together on an Omer Walk while contemplating the qualities paired for each day by the original Kabbalists. We then select a photo he takes each day that fulfills our discussion of the two sephirot.

Some from our walking group are now joining in--if you create an OMER WALKING (rolling, swimming, etc.) GROUP and create a piece of art, poem or reflecting, you are invited to post here. And, here's a link http://www.reclaimingjudaism.org/teachings/omer-calendar-2016  to this year's Omer Walk Calendar with instructions for how to engage in contemplation of the Omer-associated sephirot, and for posting on your fridge or phone. Chag Sameach!

*Originally an Omer was a measure of wheat that was an offering brought to the Temple in Jerusalem for 49 days from after the second seder to help feed those working there, leading up to Shavuot. Today we count the Omer as a way of feeling ourselves walking in the shoes of the ancient Israelites after they left Egypt and on the last day of the Omer we arrive at Sinai, on Shavuot to receive the Torah.  Through the covenant of accepting the Torah, the mixed group of slaves from various nationalities who left Egypt, became a free people, the Jewish people. In this blog we explore a second metaphor as well, the Kabbalists' Tree of Life, the Etz Chayyim.