Minding the Temple of the Soul: Balancing Body, Mind & Spirit through Traditional Jewish Prayer, Movement and Meditation

by Tamar Frankiel, Judy Greenfield

Overview

This new spiritual approach to physical health introduces us to a spiritual tradition that affirms the body and enables us to reconceive our bodies in a more positive light. Using Kabbalistic teachings and other Jewish traditions, it shows us how to be more responsible for our own spiritual and physical health.

Each chapter explores the meaning of traditional Jewish prayers, providing a framework for new thinking about body, mind, and soul. Simple exercises and movements help our bodies "understand" prayer, and show how the body's energy centers correspond to the Kabbalistic concept of the ten divine "rays of light," the Sefirot. And meditations and visualizations allow us to further enhance our spiritual awareness.

Using the structure of the Prayer Wheel, readers can move step by step toward wholeness of body, mind and spirit:

• Modeh Ani Awakening our body and our soul
• Mah Tovu Creating a temple for our soul
• Asher Yatzar Focusing on the gift of our body
• Bircat HaTorah Balancing our mind through the gift of Torah
• Elohai Neshamah Connecting with the soul using the Sefirot
• Elu D'varim Walking on a God-centered path

Clearly illustrated with photos and diagrams to guide readers, this active, creative approach allows us to tap the power of the Jewish tradition—to awaken the body, balance the mind, and connect with the soul.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781580237086
Publisher:	Turner Publishing Company
Publication date:	01/21/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	184
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Tamar Frankiel, PhD is recognized as one of the leading teachers of Jewish mysticism today. She teaches Jewish mysticism and comparative religion at the Academy for Jewish Religion, Los Angeles, and is the author of many books, including The Voice of Sarah: Feminine Spirituality and Traditional Judaism. She is co-author of Minding the Temple of the Soul: Balancing Body, Mind, and Spirit through Traditional Jewish Prayer, Movement, and Meditation and of Entering the Temple of Dreams: Jewish Prayers, Movements, and Meditations for the End of the Day. She lectures frequently on topics of Jewish mysticism. Frankiel lives with her husband and five children in Los Angeles.

Judy Greenfeld, second invested cantor at Temple Emanuel in Beverly Hills, California. She leads the New Emanuel minyan, a weekly progressive prayer service.

Table of Contents

Prayer Wheel: Beginning the Morning with Blessings Preface Introduction: The Soul in the Body 1 Awakening Modeh Ani: The meaning of the prayer and how to use it in our life. Opening to the Light: Physical exercises that awaken the body and the soul (the Sefirot) 2 Entering Sacred Space Mah Tovu: The body as a temple for the soul Creating Sarah's Tent: Meditation with movement 3 The Gift of the Body Asher Yatzar: An in-depth look at the meaning of the prayer Flowing Energy Meditation The Upper Torso and Upper Waters: Heart, lungs, and breath Heart Meditation The Lower Torso and Lower Waters: The kidneys and purification; food, sex and wealth. Healing Stream Meditation The Miraculous Body: Movement and meditation. 4 Clearing the Mind Bircat HaTorah: The gift of Torah The Cluttered Mind: How to overcome mental obstacles. Your Words Sweet in Our Mouths: Toward a deeper understanding of the blessings on the Torah 10 Minding the Temple of the Soul Balancing Mind and Body: The healing power of prayer. Creating a New Mind: Movement and meditation 5 Connecting with the Soul Elohai Neshamah: Understanding the prayer through Kabbalah The Soul and the Purpose of Life: The intent of the soul in a human incarnation. Maps of the Soul: Diagrams of the five levels of the soul and the ten Sefirot. The Sefirot: Exploration of the Sefirot using biblical heroes and heroines. Fulfilling the Soul’s Purpose: How to come closer to your soul Temple of the Soul Meditation. Journal of the Sefirot Elohai Neshamah: Movement and meditation. 6 Our Walk on Earth Elu D’varim: A closer look at the mitzvot Crossing Over: How Jewish action can place you on a God-centered path The Royal Way: A Parable: Envisioning yourself in your highest form Gift Meditation. Shekhinah: The Presence: Bringing the Divine spark into every action For Further Work Walking Meditation Angelic Clouds Meditation Notes Glossary Recommended Readings

Editorial Reviews

"A brilliant roadmap into the power of prayer as it was meant to be understood.... This book belongs in every health spa and at every retreat center in this country.... Magnificent."
—Caroline M. Myss, PhD, author, Anatomy of the Spirit; coauthor, The Creation of Health

"A fine source of Jewish wisdom for those who wish to learn, apply and practice this ancient wisdom in everyday life."
—Bernie S. Siegel, MD, author, Love, Medicine & Miracles

"A fascinating and creative work, this book clearly teaches us how to practice an embodied Jewish mysticism."
—Nancy Flam, cofounder, The Jewish Healing Center

"I was amazed and delighted... Bodily exercises and dances by which the body, the breath and the soul can teach each other how to walk a sacred path."
—Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Pathfinder of ALEPH, Alliance for Jewish Renewal; author, Godwrestling—Round 2

From the Publisher