4 worlds

Today is Erev Shabbat. I can't write or update the OOCC (online omer counting community) on Shabbat, so I sit down now to write in preparation for tonight's omer counting. It feels too soon, like it shouldn't count. The past 3 nights writing has turned into my actual counting ritual and it feels disjointed that these words are not the ritual but preparation for the ritual.

4 is a very strong Passover number. Four cups of wine. Four questions. Four children. The haggadah's discussion of the four kinds of questioning and positioning of the four children provides enough types for each of us to find ourselves. Not too few that we exclude ourselves, not too many that we need to be even more terminally unique.

The seder is a microcosm and the number four carries us into the macrocosm of the four elements of creation and the mystical four worlds. In a beautiful article available in full at http://www.telshemesh.org/four/, Rabbi Jill Hammer writes:

"By meditating on these fours, we come to understand both the multiplicity and the oneness of creation. Balancing our energies among the four "corners," earth, water, air and fire, the physical, the emotional, the mental, and the spiritual, we come to give proper attention to the multiple aspects of our lives. Fourness can break us out of the dichotomies that twoness sometimes present us. Twoness can be a stark binary opposition: darkness/light, male/female, good/evil. Fourness isalways more complicated. Fourness is like a table: for the table to stand, each of its four corners must be equally strong."

Tonight my practice will be a meditation on the foundational fours. Follow me:

1. Starting on hands and knees in table pose, bring attention to each of your corners. Left and right hand directly under shoulder, fingers spread wide, energy running from the middle of upper spine down across the shoulders, thru the arm, pressing hands into the earth.Knees under hips, energy running from lower back, to hips, down thighs, pressing knees, calves and tops of the feet into the floor. A balanced table. The world of the physical, creation, doing. Four deep ocean breaths.

2.Flip the balls of your feet so the balls are pressing into the floor, continue pressing your feet into the floor and lift your hips toward the ceiling into downward facing dog. Inhale breath into lungs, exhale stretch your tailbone toward the ceiling lengthening the back, press heels toward the floor stretching backs of legs. Close your eyes and notice what you feel. Posed in an inversion pay particular attention to your emotions allowing the muscles of your face and jaw to relax. Four full slow breaths.

3.Lift your head and look forward. Keep arms strong and step one foot at a time back into push up position – plank. Here is what I call “Yisrael”, transforming struggle into striving. What are you thinking? Are you thinking that you can't do this, that you're not strong enough? Are you so proud of how strong you are? Be curious of these thoughts but don't hold onto them too tightly. Continue your breath work, taking four generous breaths. Inhale, exhale, head reaches away from your feet. Inhale, claim your strength, exhale let go of your struggle. Inhale, thoughts may be valuable, exhale, but breath is vital. Inhale, let your thoughts be quiet, exhale breathing holy breath.

4.Knees first, lower onto your belly. Stretch your arms out above your head, long body head to toes. Then, relax your body from fingertips into shoulders, neck to belly, hips to legs, feet and toes. Allow yourself to be held by the ground below you. One quiet breath. Existing here. Body still, emotions peaceful, mind still, spirit connected. Forehead, heart and center all face the earth in a surrender to what is. Let yourself be breathed. A second breath. Honor any images, word, color, nuance that arises for you. Third breath, inhale the gift of life, exhale with trust. Walk your hands into your body and press up into sitting in any comfortable position. Hands on heart, inhale, four worlds, full foundation, exhale... tonight is the fourth night of the omer.

Shabbat Shalom, Heather