Jewish Magic, Healing & Art Part II Song & Symbol
In Part II, we will focus on music and mystical symbols in ancient Jewish teachings and folk practices, as well as new systems of meaning making. In this course we cover Jewish astrology and priestess archetypal star mapping, the Sefer Yetzirah ספר יצירה (Jewish mystical text that predates the Kabbalah), the symbols of plants and animals, anointing oils, honey magic, the Kabbalistic system of counting the Omer עומר, and liberation magic.
Because music is a way to embody our learnings about mysticism and magic, there is a special focus on music and learning songs together in Part II. Song and vibration has always been a practice in Jewish spirituality for communal experience, for individual transcendence, for infusing magic in mundane everyday tasks, and for creative expression.
We will also learn from amazing guest teachers who are queer Jewish magic practitioners, artists, healers, community organizers and change-makers. These teachers center ritual, magic, and social change within their art practices and will guide us in doing hands-on activities together, share their unique perspectives on symbolic systems in Judaism and teach us songs. In addition to our study of ancient Jewish teachings, we’ll receive inspiration from these contemporary artists, community organizers, and ritualists who are innovating work and creating art for the healing of all beings.
Together we become the living dream of our ancestors.
This is Part II of a two-part series. In Part I, we covered water rites, amulets, mirror magic, Jewish time, incantation bowls, amulets, the Sefer Yetzirah ספר יצירה, and plant relationships. Part I is not a prerequisite for Part II, and at the same time, the learning is cumulative. The live cohorts are highly interactive however, if haven’t taken Part I and you’d like to, an asynchronous version of the course is now available. Sign up here.
Your Teachers and their session descriptions:
Mazal Masoud Etedgi
Mazal Masoud Etedgi (they/them/theirs) is a trans/non-binary artist, arab/mizrahi/amazigh jew, first-gen, spoonie/chronically ill person, herbalist, Drama Therapist, clown, and cultural organizer. Maz utilizes imagination, play, and ritual as tools for liberation, healing and connection. You can find their herbal medicine apothecary at www.bsamimapothecary.com @bsamim.apothecary
In this class, Maz will meld the worlds of song, Spontaneous Prayer (Diwan) and herbal medicine! They will teach a piyut (poem/song), diving both into the melody and sounds, as well as the textual meanings of the song. We will also partake in a Spontaneous Prayer/Song practice (Diwan); witnessing each other calling out to the Divine. And to close out with sweetness for the herbal part of the class, we will each create a delicious and medicinal herb-infused honey.
Nomy Lamm
Nomy Lamm is a musician, illustrator, creative coach, a kohenet/Hebrew priestess, and the Creative Director of Sins Invalid, a disability justice based performance project. Nomy sings cosmic power ballads for the rise of the matriarchy in a band called The Beauty, and creates ritual tools for embodied Jewish feminist practice, including the Dreaming the World to Come planner and podcast, and the Omer Oracle deck. They live in Olympia, WA on occupied Squaxin / Nisqually / Chehalis land with their partner Lisa and their animal companions Dandelion, Momma, and Chanukah. www.nomyteaches.com
Nomy will teach about the Kabbalistic Tree of Life and the Counting of the Omer, a mystical portal of 49 days that extends from the second night of Pesach up to Shavuot. Students will learn about the Sephirot (emanations of the divine) and practice connecting to them through voice and vibration.
Rayna Grace Matthews
Kohenet Rayna Grace Matthews (she/her) is a ritual Priestess, a wild lover of the cosmos, a songstress and a story-teller. A self-taught star-gazer, Rayna Grace loves to watch the star and moon cycles and to share these wonders at events and gatherings as a starguide. She also brings earth-based prayer leadership to the one synagogue in the northern California small town she calls home. When not leading star tours or services, Rayna Grace is growing alongside three incredible young humans and her beloved wife. The family's most joyous moments are living room dance parties and playing music together. She can be contacted to book star tours and facilitate life cycle rituals at rayna.grace.matthews@gmail.com
In this session, we ground through embracing the Dark as an act of liberation and personal homecoming. We will explore Jewish astrology and Priestess archetypal star mapping as a way to connect deeply with the cosmos.
Rebekah Erev
Rebekah Erev (they/them) is a queer artist, teacher, ritual leader/kohenet, community herbalist, dreamworker, cultural organizer and healer. For over two decades they have practiced and taught a Judaism steeped in the old ways, ancestral and earth reverence and visions of the world to come. They celebrate diaspora with Queer Mikveh Project, a community, advocacy tool and art practice.
In Rebekah’s sessions we will explore the ancient pre-kabbalistic mystical text, the Sefer Yetzirah and the archetypes of animals, plants, and mystical emanations. For the last decade plus Rebekah has been studying this text and connecting animals and plants with each Hebrew letter, focusing on the lesser known stories and folk magic connected with them as well as developing a renewed mythology. For two years they taught a class called: Embodying the Hebrew Letters where their students became a part of the collective imagination and associations. We’ll dive into all this in the three sessions with Rebekah.
Dates:
This cohort takes place over 6 consecutive weeks 4-6pm PST (with a ten minute break). Most classes are on Tuesdays and please note, there is one class that takes place on a Thursday.
Tuesday, February 21st
Tuesday, February 28th
Tuesday, March 7th
THURSDAY, March 16th
Tuesday, March 21st
Tuesday, March 28th
Access Information: This online series of live sessions will be hosted on Zoom. ASL interpretation and live closed captioning are available upon request—please fill out this form to share your access needs. You are welcome to join our cohort regardless of your spiritual background; if you have beginner or advanced knowledge of Judaism, interest in converting to Judaism, or are a Jew by Choice. No prior knowledge of Judaism or Hebrew is required for participation in this cohort.
Ritual Boxes: The Ritual Box is a physical item that’s been curated to accompany you through Parts I & II. This provides a hands-on opportunity to engage with the rituals and materials covered in the courses. You can learn more and purchase the ritual box here . Ritual Boxes will ship February 15th, priority mail USPS. (this is a separate item and not included in cohort price.)
Cohort Includes:
- Six live sessions, each 2 hours in length.
- A 1-on-1 15 minute session with Rebekah.
- Hands-on practices, rituals, meditations and activities facilitated by Rebekah and guest teachers.
- Access to session recordings until April 15th, 2023.
Cost: This series of classes is available on a sliding scale. Payment plans available, please fill out this form.
You can determine your place on the sliding scale below. You may fit anywhere between the $350-$750 range. See the green bottle graphic below from Alexis of Worts & Cunning Apothecary about the sliding scale system to assist you in identifying what your payment for this class should be.
Three full scholarships are available for this series for Black folks, Indigenous folks and People of Color. We encourage you to apply with this simple form.
As an act of Ger (Guest laws and Land Back), a percentage of proceeds from this class will go to supporting the work of Rose Island Farm.
Enrollment fees for this course are non-refundable.
Jewish Magic, Healing & Art Part II - Song & Symbol
sliding scale $350-$750
Testimonials from the last cohort:
“This course has been transformational for me… this is really it for me. The intersection of Jewishness and magic is where I exist daily (since conversion) and this class is a complete PORTAL. Thank you for your offerings. I am so lucky to be able to take this class. I can’t express it enough.” - Maria Minnis
“Rebekah offers so much beauty, magic and learning! I loved receiving the delightful box of supplies for creating and practicing. I enjoyed learning from inspiring guest teachers. Rebekah holds such a welcoming and affirming space. I am excited for the next course!” - Sherry
“I am really grateful to have had the chance to participate in this cohort! It was wonderful to learn from so many amazing teachers and meet other folks with similar interests. I appreciated the opportunities that were offered to build community.” - Sharon S.
“Wonderful! I loved learning from Rebekah, the cohort and my chevrutas, and our visiting teachers. Everyone brought such amazing knowledge and insights, and so much beautiful artwork.” - Addie
