Crossing the Omar Bridge
birth canal between life and death
From the cruel womb of safe slavery
We are birthed leaving crushing waters
follow a clouded burning mystery
Moving from infancy into uncertain freedom
Bridge between self and other
We are lost in the fearsome wilderness
Expelled again from our original infant Eden
Midwifed from singleness of self-evolving
wandering in the wild as 49 days pass
until we see our self as cell and selves
as cells of other’s selves
Our being self-segment of family and tribe
We journey through the Sacred Tree
Sustained by Miriam’s well
Living water constancy of sustenance
A promise of hope
Every year remembering pains of birth
And once more cross our wilderness of primal fear
To stand below a cloud enshrouded mountain
Once more Chosen to see self as cell
of a greater whole accepting
as a people responsibility for the other
Mother and Father Neighbor Stranger
and our Holy Earth
The ritual:
- Have a glass of water handy.
- After reading or (preferably listening to the poem), close your eyes.
- With your eyes closed, bring your attention to your breathing.
- With each breath, relax and ground your body until you can visualize yourself on that journey.
- Look around in your mind’s eye to observe where you are.
- See a well appear in the distance. It’s Miriam’s well waiting for you. As you take a sip of your water imagine it nourishing you and givng you what strength/inner quality or calling you require to continue your journey.
- Ask yourself: What unique quality do you wish to cultivate that will help you prepare yourself for becoming part of a People and Greater Whole?
- Ask: What will help you know, and value your unique gifts and contribution?
- Take a moment to again sip your water and let yourself breath in the gift from the well for that day.
This ritual may be done at the beginning or end of each of the 49 days as you follow the steps of the omer.
