Pour Out Your Heart Like Water: A Personal S’lichot RItual

 

During the month of Elul, in preparation for the High Holy Days, Jewish communities hold S’lichot services. S’lichot means both “apologies” and “forgiveness.” The intention of the service is to open our hearts so we can truly engage in teshuvah–turning to and returning to our truest soul-selves.

 

Sephardic congregations begin S’lichot services a month before Rosh Hashanah; Ashkenazi congregations begin S’lichot at the beginning of the week before Rosh Hashanah (or, if Rosh Hashanah falls on a Monday or Tuesday, the previous week). Some communities begin reciting the S’lichot prayers at solar midnight, some at civil midnight, and others recite the S’lichot prayers at dawn each morning. The core of the S’lichot service is the reception of the 13 Attributes of the Divine, “Holy One, Holy One, Compassionate and Gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in kindness and truth; Preserver of kindness for thousands of generations, Forgiver of iniquity, willful sin, and error, and Who cleanses.”

 

For those unable to access a communal S’lichot service, or in addition to the communal service, a private, personal S’lichot ritual can be a powerful way to enact teshuvah, the practice of turning and returning to ourselves.

S’lichot prayers are traditionally recited at night. Since, in Jewish time, the day starts when the first three medium-sized stars become visible in the sky, a personal S’lichot evening ritual can be a comforting way to end the day and begin anew. This ritual can be carried out once or at any time and as many times as desired.

 

 

a candle–in choosing your candle, consider what kind of candle you need for this ritual, perhaps a special scent, color or shape

a bowl large enough for handwashing

water sufficient to fill the bowl to a depth suitable for handwashing

a small handtowel

pen or pencil

water soluble paper

 

1. Light your candle:
Light your candle, focusing on your intention (kavannah) for this ritual: are you motivated by a need to apologize or a need for forgiveness, or both.

 

2. Handwashing:
Consider using warm water so that your handwashing is a soothing experience. If you are not scent-sensitive, consider adding rosewater, rose petals or a few drops of a favorite essential oil to elevate your senses.

As you wash your hands, set your intention to ask for Divine forgiveness or to make an apology to the Holy One by reading and reminding yourself of the Thirteen Attributes.

Conclude your handwashing by reciting this excerpt from Lamentations 2:19:

“Pour out your heart like water In the presence of the Infinite One.”

When you have finished washing, thoroughly dry your hands with the hand towel.

 

3. Write or draw on your dissolvable paper your apology and/or your request for forgiveness.
Take the time that you need to compose your apology or request for forgiveness . It might relate to a habit or attitude that does not serve you or a regret for something that you have done or not done. Or, it may be something that you want or need to release or from which you want or need to be released.

 

4. Dissolve the paper in the water
Mindfully place the dissolvable paper in the bowl of water. One option is to float your paper on the top of the water and watch it dissolve. Another option is to slide your paper into the water holding it as it dissolves in your fingers.

As you place your paper in the water, allow the Divine voice to flow through you, telling yourself aloud, in a whisper, or silently: “You are forgiven/Your apology is accepted.”

 

5. Pour out the water
There are many ways to dispose of the water when your paper has been dissolved. You may choose to nourish a plant or tree with it. Or you may pour out the water in any place and any way that you consider an appropriate conclusion to your ritual.

 

Inhale and exhale fully, blowing out the candle.