Hod ShebeKhesed Beauty, Splendor, Glory, Vigor, Magnificence, and Pomp within Lovingkindness, Grace, Compassion, Benevolence, and Loyalty; qualities central to Jewish ethics.
Quality: Shabbat HaMalkah - Shabbat, The Queen
The Shabbat Queen, faithfully bringing us our Shabbat Souls, is Beauty, Splendor, Glory, Vigor, Magnificence, and Pomp within Lovingkindness, Grace, Compassion, Benevolence, and Loyalty.
Every Shabbat this ancient feminine representative of the Divine Presence descends into our world, our communities, our synagogues, our spiritual gatherings, and our homes with the gifts of connection, redemption, splendor, compassion, and so much more! Her arrival is not dependent on our readiness nor our worthiness. Shabbat HaMalkah welcomes us into the peace of Shabbat regardless of the state or condition in which She and Her angels find us and our homes. They settle into our spaces, our worlds with abundance. When we reluctantly bid Her and the angels farewell at the end of Shabbat, She weights our hand when we pour the wine or juice into the goblet Havdalah – the ritual of separation, ensuring we will spill the sweetness of Shabbat into our coming week!
Shabbat is not fussy, though we often treat Her as though She were. We criticize ourselves for not dressing up; for bringing home take-out, instead of cooking something special.
Shabbat doesn’t care about any of that. She is always gracious and welcoming. She is a place and space and time of rest and restorative healing.
Where are the places in your life in which you can bring Shabbat HaMalkah energy to heal you, heal others, and heal the world? How can you train your heart to be of "large mind" (John Sullivan, Living Large) such that magnificence within compassion and glory within grace emerges, welcoming all in whatever state or condition you find yourself and others?
Begin the graciousness with yourself. Be gracious and extend lovingkindness to yourself. Every week, welcome yourself fully home with Shabbat!
Blessings!
Sabrina
© Sabrina Sojourner 2020