Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 13 Shevat, 5785

Good morning! We are almost through the harshness of the beginning of Shevat.  This moon cycle has been a doozy! In two days (well, starting Wednesday night), we will be into Tu B’Shevat – the new year for trees!

We are almost at the fulcrum of the energy of this moon cycle.  We will shift from the shadows of reaction leading to revolution and rebirth and into the shadow of desire – that will encourage us to develop a lighter attitude of life. And we will shift into energy that will help us navigate getting what we want out of life.

You see Tu B’Shevat is a new beginning. It requires action to a point – trees being planted on our part.

But for us?  If we are a tree – there really is no action to take – we will begin emerging from winter, and the energy will move us towards bloom and blossom.

The question for us is whether we are ready for the bloom? And what have we been planting within us that we are wanting to bloom?

Have we been sowing and digging into the soil with the seeds of abundance? Harmony? Peace? Bliss?

This will come to light.

The choice is ours.  What we are we project.

For me? Safety has been a significant energy I have been navigating. How to be in a place of physical, emotional, and spiritual safety.

What about you?

Here are my thoughts from last year;

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 20 Shevat 5784
Parsha Yitro: (Exodus 18:1 – 20:23)
Third Portion: Exodus 18:24 – 18:27

Good morning! Today is a super short portion. Before we jump in, I am reflecting on my thoughts from last year.  Yesterday, Jethro confronted Moses.  And today’s portion, we see how Moses reacts to difficult feedback:

24Moses obeyed his father in law, and he did all that he said.

25Moses chose men of substance out of all Israel and appointed them as heads of the people, leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, and leaders of tens.

26And they would judge the people at all times; the difficult case they would bring to Moses, but any minor case they themselves would judge.

27Moses saw his father in law off, and he went away to his land.

Moses obeyed his father in law off. And then? Jethro left.

The Parsha this week is called Jethro; and yet, three days in? Jethro is gone? What? Why?  Something to reflect on.  How the impact of someone can have on our lives – and have it be super short – like how short today’s portion is!

And. I am reflecting on the questions I asked last year:

But my thoughts are; how much does embarrassment and shame get in the way of our fullness? Or our creativity?

Moses listened.  He wasn’t embarrassed. He just received. And he adapted. And remember – Jethro gave his advice to Moses – unsolicited!

How we respond to unsolicited advice? Could be what impacts some major events in the future. I think we will see the rest of this week, how Jethro impacted Moses and the children of Israel.

What are your thoughts?