Just a short essay to launch us into the new year. Yes, new year. I think the Jewish tradition captures our seasonal cycles best in the post-modern world. The Jewish New Year, known as Rosh Hashanah (literally "head of the year"), trace back to the Hebrew Bible, where the Torah establishes the first day of the seventh month (Tishrei) as a "day of blowing" or "remembrance of blowing" (Leviticus 23:24, Numbers 29:1). The two-day celebration (September 22 to 24 this year) marks the beginning of a new year, though admittedly that new year designation is a later developement.
But, I digress.
New Year’s is an opportunity to engage in new practices, and I’d like to give you a little nudge into considering a daily devotional practice. Most people already have a daily ritual - checking their email. “Not only do 40% of individuals initiate their workday by checking emails, but an additional 19.8% choose to kickstart their mornings by opening instant messaging apps such as Slack and Skype,” according the Forbes magazine. Many people I know spend their first hour reading the news. Sheesh, no wonder we are a neurotic bunch of anxiety monsters.
What if you started your day differently? Here are three ideas.
Silent Breakfast - This has been my practice for about a year now. While I’m not able to do it every day, I’m making it my regular go-to devotional practice. I simply rise a little early, make a simple breakfast of berries, granola or oatmeal, and a coffee. I sit outside, most of the time, and just reflect, listen, and munch. Sometimes I’ll ponder my dreams from the night before, other times I’ll offer thoughts of gratitude or perhaps ruminate on what I should write for my Substack essays. :)
Read a Poem - I picked up a little printed booklet of Walt Whitman’s Song of Myself, and occasionally I’ll roll over in bed and read a few stanzas. But I’ve also made use of Poem a Day, delivered to my inbox. Hmm, I guess that means I’m checking my email first thing. But more often than not, I’ve got this delightful little book edited by Stephen Mitchell called The Enlightened Heart. It’s an anthology of sacred literature from all the religions of the world. I’ll randomly flip through to a poem from that resource.
Three Gratitudes - This last one is for those of you raising kids, getting off to work early, or just leading that frenetic life. Your spiritual life is raising children, making breakfast, and doing your job with full integrity. So you need something quick and doable. You can do this one on the way to work if you don’t get a chance to ponder after the alarm goes off. Simply think of and name three things you are grateful for each day. I find this brings me back to a right attitude about life. You could also make this a breakfast table conversation. (Hint: Younger ones can name just one thing) Need a reminder? Set a gratitude alarm or place a handmade sign on the fridge or dashboard in your car that says “Three things” or “Gratitude.”
As we all enter the new year, with school openings, projects, or the turning of the seasons, let’s recalibrate our devotional activity from email or morning news to something that will nourish our souls and feed us for the work of troublemaking, resistance, or general human productivity.
More to Come,
James Hazelwood is a writer and photographer, living in Rhode Island. He is the author of several books on contemporary spirituality, including Ordinary Mysteries and Everyday Spirituality. His website is www.jameshazelwod.net
Thank you, Jim. Wise words.