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Rabbi Chaya Gusfield

Rabbi Chaya Gusfield, Jewish Renewal, rabbi, spiritual director, chaplain

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Writing/art prompts and art

July 11, 2022
Filed Under: Healing, Prayer, Writing/art prompts and art
1 Comment

Notes from a Rabbi Posing as an Artist: Working with Color

When there is a surprise of a combination of colors speaking from the soul, it is like finding the right niggun, melody, for the occasion. A melody having traveled through many generations, it guides us towards release, calm, or tears. Sometimes a yearning.  The colors come together often reminding me of the eulogy that came forth and spoke the truth, helping others grieve, remember, let go, and/or hold on.  The color creation stirs me, like the unexpected words flowing through me as I taught a class. There was an awakening of awareness, the Neon Yellow broke through all that was planned.

Color and flow are the Creator Herself. The Still Small Voice guides me to pick up Coffee instead of Cranberry, or Pool Blue instead of Turquoise, or Sunbright Yellow instead of Forest Green. And then add a touch of Gold, and to never forget the shades of Violet and Purple.  Except when Sunset Red or Flamingo is calling to join.

Other times I am disappointed. I didn’t listen to the voice telling me to stop, and I turned something stupendous into a mush of clashing colors.  I had to try one more color, one more technique, a little bit more alcohol, and now it’s ruined.  Sometimes when accompanying someone on the path to Home, I can’t stop talking. The opportunity for inspiration is missed.  Or there is the time when a meal is so delicious, I want more, and get sick from eating too much.

Less is more, but more is tempting.

I made five abstracts. One touches the soul, one is interesting, and three are dull and chaotic.  I am cranky.  Somehow, I forgot how much all the playing, listening, making mistakes, and trying again kept me alive. All of it.

And then there is the discovery of composition.  Something I “ruined” is transformed by changing its shape from a rectangle to a heart. A simple cropping, enlarging, or adding one color in the corner turns a collection of colors on the page to a story that draws you in.  Once again, when I think I have ruined the moment, there is an opportunity for recovery. I come back to the Sacred through a different door. As it is when I choose to sing a different prayer or melody, take a breath, and return.  I say I’m sorry, and bring myself to begin anew.

Each time I enter the world of creating, I encounter prayer, longing, and the Still Small Voice invites me to listen. Even more deeply.

And let us say Amen….

November 12, 2021
Filed Under: Healing, Music/prayer, Prayer, Writing/art prompts and art
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Prayer as Medicine

One of my favorite things to teach is ways to approach Jewish prayer so that it opens a place in your heart that is deeply personal.  The recipe I use is approaching prayer as medicine, unlocking it’s healing remedies through learning, singing, creative writing, sharing, and listening in a small group. We write about how we connect to the prayer and our classmates listen for the words that jump out and touch us. Participants have shared that after this class, prayers they thought they knew were awakened more deeply for them.  And the new prayers landed in their hearts.

Please consider joining me or telling a friend about my upcoming class of Prayer as Medicine, four Thursdays at 5 p.m. PST, starting December 2 and ending Jan. 13 (ever other week).  Limited to 8 participants, cost is $144.  Send me a note if interested. https://rabbichayagusfield.com/contact/

New art endeavors.  I end this post with a few new pieces of art I have made. If you like my art, let me know if you would like some cards made with your favorite piece. I’d be happy to order you some for a small donation to cover costs.  Check out Chaya’s Gallery https://rabbichayagusfield.com/home/chayasgallery/ to see your choices!  They aren’t titled, so take a photo and send it to me.  I’ll make you some cards….

Much love,  Chaya

August 26, 2021
Filed Under: Healing, Writing/art prompts and art
2 Comments

Incubation

Incubation
I am an impatient woman.
I like to cook fast and eat fast. My favorite meal is eating dessert first.
I don’t deliberate about what to buy in the grocery store.
I plant succulents because they are forgiving. They thrive after being stuck in the ground with little or no care needed.
I time how long it takes to get anywhere.
When I shop for clothes I know exactly what I want. There is no lingering.
I choose colors to paint the walls within minutes.
My art is impulsive.
This is not a problem for me.
Until now. Impatience is not serving my writing.
I have always been an intuitive writer. I sit down and the passions and creativity of the day pour out of my skin onto the page.
I feel alive. Letting the words fly into poem, prose, essay, gives life meaning especially during hard times.
This approach often helps me cope but the words I share may not be ready for others without marination.
Like this poem. I am ready for it to end. I want to press send.
It works for me.
Yet, a wise woman shared with me recently the importance of incubation.
Letting the words sit on the page for days or weeks.
Coming back and noticing how a little detail, color, sound, texture can bring us into a fuller image.
Removing words, rearranging sentences, listening to the piece.
Although this feels like someone is holding my hands down when I want to fly, I must heed her words.
I will let this poem sit until it tells me there is nothing more to say.

June 6, 2021
Filed Under: Healing, Prayer, Spiritual Direction, Writing/art prompts and art
4 Comments

Flying

 

She decided to let go of the ground she stood on.

I’m not sure why.

I don’t believe

She knows how to fly.

Not yet

I imagine she clings every day, but not today

She let go of her grasp

It was choking

Learning to fly she saw much more

Letting go of the ground she stood on, she walked into the sea without drowning

She saw the sounds that had been quiet

And felt the purple, gold, and orange erupt on her skin

Sometimes neon yellow or sailboat blue 

When she touched someone, they too found their unique colors

Bright, dull, opaque, merging, soft, interwoven, blended.

At times bursting with the flight of the red hawk or brown pelican.

Flying

June 3, 2021
Filed Under: Healing, Prayer, Spiritual Direction, Writing/art prompts and art
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Time to Make a Home in the Wilderness

Home: The house, the keys, the mailbox, the driveway. Heat, showers, plumbing, refrigerator, foundation.

 

Wilderness: keys to forgiveness, mailbox to my ancestors. Water flowing with surprise.

 

Wandering: I choose the key that shows itself before me. The path, lined with tears or song, dance, or stillness.

It is time to make a home in the wilderness.

Follow the path in the wandering.

Open the letters that come.

Here, take the key.

 

May 26, 2021
Filed Under: Healing, Prayer, Spiritual Direction, Writing/art prompts and art
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What do you want to savor today? What are you afraid to savor?

Let your creative unconscious guide you. Consider writing, using the written word portal above or this piece of art to help you answer the question.

May 13, 2021
Filed Under: Healing, Writing/art prompts and art
1 Comment

RED

I know you can only see red right now.

Yes, it is red

Yes, it is real

I know you can’t imagine or dream or remember a time of bright purple or violet, or maybe even a neon yellow with gold glitter tinting, but those colors are in their bottles waiting for you.

They speak.

“Yes, it is the time for red

It is red’s time.”

Let the blood red, pomegranate red, beet red flow.

Love the passion

embrace the anger, tightly, with the arms that are not ready to let go-

About injustices, about betrayals, about unnecessary suffering.

Nurture the anger

Don’t exile the deep red, the faint red, the pink, the magenta, the sorbet.

Welcome them all

Art by Yeshi Gusfield

 

In their various shades.

The rainbow colors are waiting for you, patiently, in their ordinariness, in their exquisiteness

For their debut in your life.

May 12, 2021
Filed Under: Healing, Reflections on Love, Spiritual Direction, Writing/art prompts and art
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Where Does Your Love Originate?

Enjoy the opportunity to reflect on the question and consider using this piece of art to help you.

Let your creative unconscious guide you. Consider writing, using the portal above to help you answer the question.
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