Return

Dear Friends,

Tradition teaches that as we enter the month of Elul
the Divine Mystery reaches for us with love
and calls, Return.

Return to awareness.
Return to relationship.
Return to the wisdom of your heart, to the truths of your soul.

Return to a willingness to begin again,
to enter fully into this endeavor of life
and be part of a new creation waiting to take form.

I can feel my soul cry in anguish,
Return?
Return to what?
There is so much pain,
so much chaos.
so much to grieve.

The call continues,
Return.
The deep sadness, the aching pain,
rises from what you love,
from what you value and care about so deeply. 

Return.
Turn toward the love that is under the pain. 
Turn toward relationship.
Turn toward the soul’s capacity to care.

This turning doesn’t make the sadness disappear,
It doesn’t negate the turmoil or nullify the pain,
but it does bring us into connection
and help open the way forward.

Joy and beauty, sadness and pain,
are all here
and we are made stronger when we locate their roots in love. 

May Elul guide us with gentle care.
May this season renew our hope and devotion.
May our hearts be strong and filled with courage.
Psalm 27:14

Much love,
Rabbi Yael