Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 8 Tishri, 5785
Parsha Ve-Zo’T Ha-Berakhah – “This is the blessing”: (Deuteronomy 33:1 – 34:12)
Fifth portion: Deuteronomy 33:22 – 33:26

Good morning! Today’s portion and my reflections from the past two years have been really deep for me.

Two years ago, as I was studying this portion, I was setting down a snapshot in time. I did my “I make 50 look good” photo shoot.

I reflect on who I was two years ago – I see a boy. Someone fresh and new on his journey. He was emerging from the shadows with the first light of the sun hitting his face.

A year ago, I wrote this – and it feels deeply personal:

For me – I wanted to be more “open” in 5784.  To not be so locked in.  Yesterday was a major test of that – I had made promises to myself out of woundedness in the past – things I would or would not do.  And I came face to face with how that closed me off of moments I was experiencing.

It was a good reminder yesterday and today – to just be open.  To let go. To forgive. To heal.

A year ago, I was 13 days into 5784. I desired to be more “open” and not be so locked in. I spent the rest of 5784 uncovering where those promises I had made in the past (from a place of woundedness) and looking to release them in healing and be free and adventurous.

The results of releasing the promises we made from Trauma to survive? Releasing them in healing is indeed freeing. I could NEVER have imagined my life a year ago being where it is today.

The difference between expectations of a moment and expectations of a future are stark. I was talking with a friend who did something that wasn’t aligned with their values and our friendship. They were concerned I would be disappointed.

We discussed how the feeling of “disappointment” in another? Kind of masks the sadness we feel within.  I was indeed sad. And? The connection between us had not been altered.  Their decisions were purely theirs. Their life is purely theirs. How could I be disappointed in a behavior they made freely – as a separate human being? For me to expect someone to behave in a certain way? That is different than me placing boundaries for my behaviors should someone else do something that is not aligned with my values.

We discovered together? Disappointment is easier to feel than sadness. Because if I feel disappointed, the focus of my feelings is on someone ELSE’S behavior and NOT my feelings.

How often do we project onto others the avoidance of our own feelings?

This is the wounded trauma to let go of. To release others for their behaviors.  And to be in touch with how our body responds.

This feels much more freeing to me. And has put me in a MUCH different space than that boy from two years ago that made “50 look good.” Today, I see a much more settled and grounded man – more comfortable in his own body. More comfortable navigate the world around him.

And? He’s proud that the mission he set out for in 5784? He accomplished. A life more open.

And I am incredibly grateful for those amazing humans that went with me on this journey in my personal life. I am sad for the loss for those who did not come with me. I am excited for the new people who have joined me. And I am excited for the future.

You see? Today’s portion? All about flow. Being on solid ground. And? Drinking from the stream. Eating from the stream.

Grounded and flowing. It’s an edge. A juxtaposition.  This is the energy to dig into as we navigate the Torah portion today:

22And of Dan he said: “Dan is a young lion, streaming from Bashan.”

23And of Naphtali he said, “Naphtali is favorably satisfied and full of the Lord’s blessing. Possess the Sea and the south.”

24And of Asher he said: “May Asher be blessed with sons. He will be pleasing to his brothers, and immerse his foot in oil.

Streaming, the sea, oil. All about flow. Lion, satisfied, pleasing and blessed. That is the foundation.

We are to be young. Hungry. Satisfied. Flowing.

The Tyler from two years ago? Young Lion. Last year? Satisfied and full of blessing.

Today? I have manifested and produced things in my life I could never have imagine.  I have drawn more into my sphere who I see are pleasing. I am now immersed in the flow of oil.

I love this!

25Your locks are iron and copper, and the days of your old age will be like the days of your youth.

The days of old age will be like the days of youth. Yes. This has been my life.

26Jeshurun, there is none like God; He Who rides the heavens is at your assistance, and with His majesty, [He rides] the skies,

And to be reminded – the Universe is at our assistance. Because once we are settled and grounded. Once we allow ourselves to flow? It’s time to FLY.

The message today? I Fly. IFLY.

All of you. IFLY

All of us. IFLY

Those are my thoughts. What are yours?

Here is my reflection from the last two years:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 13 Tishri, 5784

A year ago, I did my “I make 50 look good” photo shoot.  Since that time, what a year it has been as we reach the Aries full moon tomorrow night.  As an Aries, this is a significant moon for me – as it is the full light of the the energy within being revealed in this new year.

The full moon in Aries is all about breathing, pausing, slowing us down.  This is the time for reflection on the work we did in Elul, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur. Because the day AFTER the Full moon on Thursday night? We enter Sukkot.  The Feast of Tabernacles. When we take what is within us, and make it external.  When we harvest the first fruits of Hashem being enthroned as King within our Hearts.

It’s time to check in on the intents we set in Elul; the things we wanted to leave behind in 5783, and the lessons we wanted to bring with us into the new year.  How are we doing here?

For me – I wanted to be more “open” in 5784.  To not be so locked in.  Yesterday was a major test of that – I had made promises to myself out of woundedness in the past – things I would or would not do.  And I came face to face with how that closed me off of moments I was experiencing.

It was a good reminder yesterday and today – to just be open.  To let go. To forgive. To heal.

And that is connected to today’s portion:

Moses is blessing Dan, Naphtali, and Asher.

To Dan – Moses says; “Dan is a young Lion – his land drinks from a stream that runs from Bashan.

To Naphtali – “Naphtali’s land brings satisfaction to those who live in it; and it is filled with God’s blessing.” Moses then encourages Naphtali to go into the sea and spread out their fishing nets.

To Asher- “May Asher be blessed with sons. He will be pleasing to his brothers through producing special oils, and he will have so much oil that he will be able to immerse his foot.”

What I find is that With Dan – we see a Lion on Land, drinking from the streams of Bashan.  With Naphtali, we see Land being satisfying for those who live in it – however, Moses encourages them to the sea.

We see two brothers being encouraged to enjoy their land AND adventure out to water – one from a place of refreshing and drink, and the other from a place to provide food.

We are called to eat and drink from the water.  And as I envision the stability of land – which is good – we are also called to go to the water as it will provide. Sustenance.  The sea will quench our thirst. It will satisfy our hunger.

Water is not solid. Its fluid. Open.  It is risky. On Yom Kippur we read about Jonah.  The sea was not kind to him – and YET – a fish was provided for protection.

This juxtaposition between the solid land and open sea is an interesting one I am reflecting on.  If we get to complacent on the land, and never risk the sea? We will wither. If we spend too much time at sea, the land will die. Balance. Harmony.

This is the lesson of today’s portion (I think).

What are your thoughts?

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for Tishri 18, 5783

Chag Sameach! It’s our fourth day of Sukkot! We are halfway through the festival and the harvest! May this be a deep spiritual time for us as we journey to our freedom and liberation!

Today’s portion wraps up the blessings from Moses. I find it interesting we are reading this at the mid point of Sukkot. The first half of Sukkot has been all about the blessings in the Torah. Its future focused. Let’s dig in;

Today, Moses is blessing three tribes; Dan, Naphtali, and Asher.

To Dan – Moses says; “Dan is a young Lion – his land drinks from a stream that runs from Bashan.

To Naphtali – “Naphtali’s land brings satisfaction to those who live in it; and it is filled with God’s blessing.” Moses then encourages Naphtali to go into the sea and spread out their fishing nets.

To Asher- “May Asher be blessed with sons. He will be pleasing to his brothers through producing special oils, and he will have so much oil that he will be able to immerse his foot.”

Before we close with Moses’ final blessing to all of Israel, here is something I’m chewing on.

How can we see these blessings internally?

• How much is our spirit like a lion, drinking from a stream which was once belonged to those who came against us? Remember, the Israelites defeated Og, King of Bashan to make it here. What have we overcome in our lives that now feeds us and energizes us like a Lion?
• How much are people spiritually satisfied in our presence? When they connect with us, how much are they blessed? do we even WANT them to be blessed?
• How many spiritual children are we producing? I’m not talking about literal kids; but is our faith and our freedom and liberation freeing for others? That’s a critical question.

This is what I’m chewing on. What are your thoughts?

Ok. Let’s finish out the portion:

Moses then turns and speaks to all of the children of Israel;

Deuteronomy 33:25 “May your locks (on your border towns) be (strong like) iron and copper. May the days of your old age be like the days of your youth.”

33:26 “Jeshurun, there is none like God! (God), who rides the heavens is at your assistance! (He rides) the heavens in His majesty!”

This is really interesting. The idea of shielding and locking our spiritual lives is something I’ve been learning. We must protect our spirit. It’s not something we can do passively. And by doing this? Maybe the “days of our old age be like the days of our youth.”

I’m excited to share in the near future just that from my life. This past weekend I did my first ever professional photo shoot. Mostly for a revamp of my 3Dleadership.org website – which really was mothballed for COVID and hopefully will relaunch soon, AND a new website I’m developing tikkunolam47.com which will focus on more spiritual and mindfulness practices. I will be reposting the Torah thoughts from this past year onto that site; and hopefully create more engagement – and learn and share more about what I’m learning about Kabbalah and Chassidis. The idea of Judaism being spiritual and relational between Hashem and I (and us) is something that has risen within me on this journey this year. I’m excited to share those things with the world!

All of that to say, I think when the pictures are Public, you’ll see at 50, my life is like that of my youth. I like to call the photo shoot “making 50 look good.” It was a challenge for me to allow myself to do it – a lot of emotions and judgment internally. But I’m super glad I did! More to come on that.

So those are my Torah thoughts. What about you? What do you think?