Chanayni Elohim, Chanayni
Ki v’cha chasayah nafshi

You pour out your grace to me, Oh God,
When my soul takes refuge in You. (Psalm 57:2)
[Click (or tap) to see the entire Psalm 57 in Hebrew and English (JPS 1985).]

There are many names for God. When I invoke the name Elohim, I am sometimes startled to remember that this name is grammatically in the plural; I must explore that great Multiplicity if I am to find my way to Unity. On some days I call God “My Beloved”; on some days I call God “My Friend”; on some days I call to God as “The Great Mystery”; on some days I know God as the “Infinite Invisible”. Today as I face a world that is reeling in flux, I take refuge in God, and I call Her, “Spacious, Loving Awareness.”

Taking refuge in Spacious, Loving Awareness allows me to re-contextualize my own troubles, lean into a larger perspective, and surrender into this expanded moment. This act of taking refuge beneath the wide wings of Shechina, is what opens the apertures of my heart, allowing Grace (the Divine flow) to pour in. God is always flowing. It is only I who sometime closes in response to trauma, fear, doubt or wounding. Our spiritual practice is to open to that flow by taking refuge, giving ourselves over to God’s loving embrace.

To hear the chant, use the audio players. To download a chant, right-click a note and save (or download) the linked MP3 file.

• Taking Refuge in You
  
• Taking Refuge in You: 1st harmony
  
• Taking Refuge in You: 2nd harmony
  
• Taking Refuge in You: Mix
  

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Taking Refuge in You PDF. To download the chant’s notation, click Taking Refuge in You notation PDF.

Yom Ira Ani aylecha evtach

In the (very) day that I fear,
I will put my trust in You. (Psalm 56:4)
[Click (or tap) to see the entire Psalm 56 in Hebrew and English (JPS 1985).]

My practice is to notice, really notice when fear arises, so that in that very moment I can turn and surrender to the Great Mystery. It’s tricky because fear often wears a disguise. The disguise might look like anger or cynicism or irritability or numbness or anxiety or tension in my body. When I can catch myself, I can interrupt the pattern of fear hiding behind one of these masks. Then, I notice the fear, take care of myself with tender self-compassion, and open in trust to the Great Mystery, relaxing into the Divine embrace, which, in truth. has been holding me all along.

To hear the chant, use the audio players. To download a chant, right-click a note and save (or download) the linked MP3 file.

• Trust in You
  
• Trust in You: 1st harmony
  
• Trust in You: 2nd harmony
  
• Trust in You: Mix
  

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Trust in You PDF. To download the chant’s notation, click Trust in You notation PDF.

HaZorim b’dimah b’rinah yik’tzoru

Those who sow in tears will reap in joyous song. (Psalm 126:5)
[Click (or tap) to see the entire Psalm 126 in Hebrew and English (JPS 1985).]

Some tears lie fallow. They dissolve into dust or splatter on pavement, and are not planted. These tears leave us bitter and exhausted. Yet, when we know our tears as precious, they can be carefully and tenderly planted. We can do this planting for one another by giving each other the kind of attention that creates the fertile ground for tears. By acknowledging the value of grief as tears flow through us, we can plant each tear as a seed of joy. Our grieving can wash us clean, open the ground of our hearts, and clear the way for new life, new song, and surprising joy.

With this practice I reach into the stored memories of grief. I re-encounter my own tears, shed and unshed, and know my tears as precious seeds that can grow into greater love and compassion for myself and others. As I chant these sacred words, I let the power of my grief pour through my voice and presence. Memories fuel my intention – the intention to surrender to the power of transformation.

To hear the chant, use the audio player. To download the chant, right-click the note and save (or download) the linked MP3 file.

• Sowing Our Tears  

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Sowing Our Tears PDF.

Davkah nafshi acharecha, bi tamchah y’minecha

My soul with love goes after You;
while your strong hand supports me. (Psalm 63:9)
[Click (or tap) to see the entire Psalm 63 in Hebrew and English (JPS 1985).]

This is a practice that illuminates the paradoxical nature of my spiritual practice. I am seeking, reaching, longing for Devekut, which is God-consciousness, awareness of ultimate connectivity. With all my love I follow the glimmers of the Divine, bringing my heart, soul, commitment, effort, skill, wisdom and grace to the adventure.

On the other side of the paradox I lean back, and surrender into the Divine embrace. I totally relax to receive this support. I open in the stillness to the gift of this moment and let myself feel held, encouraged, nourished and supported.

To hear the chant, use the audio players. To download a chant, right-click a note and save (or download) the linked MP3 file.

• Davkah
• Davkah (round)

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Davkah PDF. To download the chant’s notation, Davkah Notation PDF.

Romemu YHVH (Havayah, Adonai, Shechina) Elohaynu

Raise up the Truth; lift up our love; honor the God within us. (Psalm 99:5)
[Click (or tap) to see the entire Psalm 99 in Hebrew and English (JPS 1985).]

Fred Rogers favorite quote was from Saint-Exupery’s The Little Prince. He had it framed and hanging on a wall in his office. The quote is: “What is essential is invisible to the eyes.”

When we exalt God in prayer, we are raising up, lifting up, and honoring that which is essential. Through our loving attention and passionate expression, we are making that essential spark of Divinity, visible and known. When we share that essential Divinity through prayer, it makes itself available to us as Truth and Love, so that we can live from the highest essence that is in us.

To hear the chant, use the audio players. To download a chant, right-click a note and save (or download) the linked MP3 file.

• Romemu Part 1
• Romemu Part 2
• Romemu Mix

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Romemu PDF. To download the chant’s notation, Romemu Notation PDF.