Vayeishev
What happens in the liminal space between waking & sleeping?
Reflection by Ariel Dominique Hendelman, the Or Halev Team:
“The parsha of Vayeishev finds Yaakov settling in Canaan, the land of his father Yitzchak. Here we meet Yaakov & Rachel's son, Yoseph, the Torah's second dreamer. Yoseph shares his prophetic dreams with the family, with fairly mixed results. His brothers grow jealous of him & throw him into a pit. `Here comes the dreamer,` they say, as they plot against him. `We shall see what will become of his dreams.`
In truth, Yoseph's dreams are a map to his soul journey. And ultimately, to the redemption of his family. Many of us who are drawn to meditation practice are dreamers, like Yoseph. We exist in the liminal space between waking & sleeping, where consciousness expands; where shadow & light dance; where matter & form are turned upside down & inside out. It is here in the dream realm that we can meet our subconscious desires, fears, frustrations, & bittersweet harborings. It is here where we can awaken to life renewed.
Rabbi Shefa Gold writes, `Yoseph is blessed with the powers of Breakthrough and Radiance that come from following dreams. Vayeshev returns us to his story and it is our story as well. Fate seems to play a strange game, lifting us out of slavery, letting our beauty shine, and then sending us back to the dungeon. Yet even in prison, the dreams keep us alive and will eventually open the doors to freedom and power.`
May our practice this week illuminate our dreams like stars in the night sky. May we find freedom & power in the seat of loving awareness & return again to the life that is breathing through us.”