The Counting of the Omer is the ancient Jewish ritual of blessing and counting each of the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot.
The counting began as an agricultural ritual. Our ancestors would pray for an abundant spring harvest by waving a sheaf, an omer, of barley toward the night sky. Over time, this agricultural rite was replaced by liturgy and the counting became the way to mark the Israelites' journey from bondage in Egypt to revelation at Mount Sinai.
For the Kabbalists, the Jewish mystics of the 16th and 17th centuries, the Counting of the Omer became a time of spiritual exploration and cleansing, a way for us to prepare our souls to receive the divine guidance that comes to us each year on Shavuot.
Counting the Omer is a 49-day mindfulness practice aimed at helping us pay attention to the movement of our lives, to notice the subtle shifts, the big changes, the yearnings, the strivings, the disappointments, the hopes and the fears. It is an opportunity for deep introspection, a call to notice our inclinations, our default responses, our reactions to shifting emotions and circumstances. The Counting of the Omer seeks to cleanse and renew our nefesh, ruach and neshamah (layers of body, mind and soul) so we can respond to the circumstances of our lives with compassion and wisdom.
The mystical tradition teaches that these 49 days between Passover and Shavuot are divided into seven-week periods, with each week containing a specific spiritual quality. The qualities are guided by seven of the 10 sefirot, the Divine emanations through which, the mystics believed, God reveals Godself in the world.
Week One: Chesed -- Generosity, Love, Compassion
Week Two: Gevurah -- Strength, Judgment, Discernment
Week Three: Tiferet -- Radiance, Harmony, Balance, Truth
Week Four: Netzach -- Eternity, Vision, Endurance
Week Five: Hod -- Presence, Gratitude
Week Six: Yesod -- Foundation, Connection
Week Seven: Malchut/Shechina -- Majesty, Divine Presence
On each of the 49 days, two of the qualities intersect with each other so that each day is unique.
The invitation is to count each day and, as we do, to meditate and reflect on the spiritual qualities. Week by week, day by day, let these qualities focus our attention, pose questions and challenge our perceptions.
The Israelites' journey took place in the vastness of the desert where they encountered their deepest fears and their most expansive visions. It was in that desert that they heard the Divine speak, instructing them how to live in relationship to themselves and all creation with awe, reverence and gratitude.
The Hebrew word for "desert wilderness" -- midbar -- is the same word for "speak," midaber. The mystics teach that when we leave our routines, habits and expectations and allow ourselves to go into the unknown -- to traverse the wilderness of mind and spirit -- we open ourselves to receive Divine guidance. "God midaber in the midbar." The Divine speaks in the wilderness. Our task is to open and to listen.
What follows is a guide for the journey.
Some of these offerings might speak to you deeply. Others will seem less relevant.
Pay attention to the stirrings of your own heart and the yearnings of your soul.
Take what is helpful and leave the rest.
May the Journey be for Blessing.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.