Each spiritual tradition has prayers and blessings that encourage us to be more
intentionally loving and mindful toward ourselves and all beings. These wind prayers reflect some of the many compassionate intentions found in Jewish
tradition.
Wind
prayers are meant to be exposed to the elements––wind, rain and snow, sun,
dust––so that their messages of peace, prosperity, forgiveness and loving
kindness may be carried into the world by the same sacred physical elements that
make up the world. Tattered, faded wind prayers are beautiful, for they are
fulfilling their purpose.
The
large Hebrew letter found at the top or in the center of each Wind Prayer is the
Aleph. The Aleph is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and is silent. It
represents the great void, or vastness of G–d we may experience in
contemplation or deeply passionate moments. This quality is called Ain Soph in
the Jewish tradition. From right to left, the prayers are as follows (note by
the numbering that in some cases there is more than one prayer on each of the
five flags):
(1) THE
PRIESTLY BLESSING (UPON A WOMAN AND UPON A MAN) (Numbers
6:24
)
May
the Holy One bless you and watch over you.
May
the Holy One surround you with light and be gracious to you.
May
the Holy One fill you with light and grant you peace.
(2)
PRAYER FOR PROSPERITY: BIRKAT HASHANIM
Bless
for us, Adonai our G–d, this year and all the varieties of its produce for
good; and bestow blessing and dew and rain for blessing upon the face of the
earth. Satisfy us from Your bounty and bless our year like other good years.
Blessed are You, Source of Prosperity, who blesses the years.
(2)
PRAYER FOR PEACE: SIM SHALOM
Grant
peace, goodness, and blessing, grace, mercy, and compassion upon us.
(3)
LOVING MY NEIGHBOR
For the
sake of the unification of the Holy One––blessed be He and the Shekinah [the
feminine face of G–d; the manifestation of G–d in the world] I hereby accept
upon myself the mitzvah of my Creator to love my neighbor as myself.
[If you
always assume the person sitting next to you is the Messiah--or any
being--waiting for some simple human kindness, you will be moved to weigh your
words and your actions. Explained another way, many Jews believe that one cannot
begin to pray, a process in which the acceptance of G–d upon oneself is the
central experience (through the recitation of the Shema), unless one has first
accepted the obligation to recognize the presence of G–d in each person. So
before we can really begin to pray to G–d as individuals, we need to connect
to our community by saying these words.]
(3)
SHEMA
Hear o'
Israel
, the Lord is our G–d, the
Lord is One.
(4)
PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS
I
forgive those who have angered or upset me, harmed my physical body, my
possessions, my honor, or anything pertaining to me, whether accidentally or
intentionally, by speech or by deed, in this incarnation or any other. May no
one be punished on my account. May it be Your will, Adonai my G–d, and G–d
of my ancestors, that I always walk upon the path of holiness and that I do not
lapse into unconsciousness or indifference. May I receive the power to transmute
past unconscious thoughts, words, and deeds into radiant awareness and loving
right action.
(5)
PRAYER FOR COMPASSION: AHAVAH RABAH
With
boundless love You have loved us Adonai, our G–d. With great and overflowing
empathy is Your empathy for us.
(5)
PRAYER FOR HEALING: ANA AYL NA
O G–d,
I beseech You, heal her.
Heal our
bodies, open our hearts, awaken our minds.
[This
prayer is associated with Moses' plea to G–d to heal his sister, Miriam, hence
the term heal "her."]
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