Elevation – The World is a Narrow Bridge

Devora Gila Berkowitz

Devora Gila Berkowitz is the creator of EaseandFlowSoul.com, helping high-achieving creatives, healers, coaches and others reach their next highest level of healing so they can make a bigger impact in their family, life and business.

Her experience as a singer-songwriter and teacher of vocal workshops led her to produce a popular album for Jewish women called Hodu Lashem, named for her gratitude in being miraculously saved from a terror attack on the way to one of her recording sessions.

The 20-year healing journey that followed, while training with some of the world’s masters, helped in her recovery from PTSD as well as multiple sclerosis. This led to her developing a unique healing method that addresses the underlying energetic root causes of stress-related physical and emotional conditions.

Today, Devora Gila serves her clients as a Divine Energy Healer, Medical Intuitive, Emotional Wellness Coach and Spiritual Mentor. Her clients come from a wide range of fields including holistic healing and therapy, empowerment coaching, spiritual leadership, entrepreneurship, marketing, theater production, real estate and finance. Above all, Devora Gila finds joy in helping her clients co-create miracles with their Divine Source for their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being so they can move forward with calm, clarity and confidence.

How do you go from the pressure of pushing yourself to ease and relaxation?

And how do you go from feeling the stress of “go, go, go” to connection to your Divine Source?

Find out right here…

[0:42]Devora gives a spiritual explanation of why we overwork ourselves and what you can do about it.

[3:55] Short, calming exercise to the sounds of waves on a beach.

[6:44] Devora tells her personal story of how being an overachieving Harvard graduate and “perfect mpm” led her to hospitalization with a rare disease. She shares her insights into how getting chronically ill saved her life and what she did to being about a miraculous healing.

[17:15] Short case study of what can be possible when you learn how to stop pushing yourself. A stress-out high achieving career mom becomes a relaxed and happy woman.

[20:06) 10-minute meditation for getting out of overdrive and into calm, relaxation and connection to your Divine Source.

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Elevation

Ein Od Milvado: Emunah Meditation to Transform Your Relationships

PREPARATION

Choose a challenging relationship in your life
Visualize the person in your mind’s eye
- What emotions do they bring up for you?
- What is the tone of that relationship?
- What memories arise?
  - Bring up the emotions triggered, feel them, and describe them
Realize that the person is a puppet of Hashem, placed there to awaken these exact feelings

Meditation Steps

Access Devekut through any techniques you have learned
Picture the soul of the person in front of you
Imagine that whatever happened was generated for you by Hashem, designed to trigger your darkness so that it can be transformed into light
- Smile
- Remember that Hashem loves you and that this all comes from Love
- Try to say thank you, if you can
Flip around your feelings by turning them back to Hashem.
- Hurt? Vulnerable? Sad? – Remind yourself that you’re surrounded by and loved by Hashem. See how you’ve chosen to see yourself as separate from Hashem’s light – this is an illusion. They may have done something to hurt you, but you don’t have to *feel* hurt. Ask Hashem to return you to the Light.
- Stifled? Trapped? – Hashem is showing you that you have veered away from His Light, a place of unlimited freedom and expansion. Release that feeling and step back into alma d’cheirut (the World of Freedom)
- Betrayed? – Realize that HaShem is the only One in whom we should trust. Release dependence on man for your physical/emotional needs and turn back to Him. They may have acted in an untrustworthy way, but you don’t have to embody the feeling of betrayal.
- Belittled? Trivialized? Why is my sense of self-respect based on that person? Know that you are infinitely holy and valuable as you dwell in the Divine Light. Release dependence on that person for your sense of self-esteem. Turn it back to HaShem.
Go through each of the feelings one by one, and see how each feeling is a blessing from HaShem which becomes apparent once you become aware of it and turn it to the Light, to HaShem, thereby transforming the energy of that darkness. Go through each memory of this person in the same way- flooding each one with light, seeing HaShem in the situation and saying thank You to Him for bringing up those challenges.
- Remember to have compassion for yourself as you do this, and that every middah has good at its root
- Connect to the tzadikim, holy places to give you strength
Picture the person in front of you again
- Look at them with tremendous compassion, choosing to see their Divine soul which is higher than their actions and mistakes
- Empathize with their soul, who is also frustrated at their mistakes, also struggling with their own anger, pain, sadness or hurt
- Smile at it, and let it smile back at you
- Shine light onto that soul, so it can shine light onto its body and begin to heal. Look at it with love
- Dialogue with their soul, and ask it to help them with their challenges – it also wants healing
- Ask HaShem to shine light onto their soul, Daat Elyon,so it’s more empowered to help its Daat Tachton
When you look at that person, how do you feel about them now? Take some time to reevaluate how you view them. Pray for that relationship.
Thank HaShem for the experience!

©The Elevation Project – Rav Doniel Katz

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Blogging, Elevation

The Mind/Body Connection

The MIND/BODY CONNECTION in the writings of the Rambam (1138-1204): “It is known…that internal psychological movements (ha’hafalos nafshiyos) bring about dramatic physical changes in the body, clearly visible to all. We find verification to this in the following: Take an individual with a generally strong/healthy constitution (adam chazak ha’binyan), whose voice is strong and pleasant, and whose face is illuminated with light. If something, some greatly distressing event occurs suddenly, his face will fall and lose all its luster, the light of his face will change, his posture will droop, and his voice will become raspy and thin/weak. If he wishes to raise his voice and speak with all his strength, he simply is unable to do so. He feels feeble, and he may even begin to shake uncontrollably due to this weakness. The pulse of his veins [blood circulation] will be feeble, his eyes will dilate, his eyelids will become too heavy to lift, the outer surface of his body will become cold, and he will lose any desire to eat. The physical cause behind all these symptoms: his natural body heat and blood has sunken and contracted into his body.

Conversely, take an individual who is weak, whose visage is off-color, and whose voice is weak. If something joyous happens, he will become stronger, his face will shine, his voice will become powerful, his movements quick/agile, and the pulse of his veins strong. The outer surface of his body will become warm and joy and happiness will become readily apparent on his face and in his eyes. All this will become readily apparent without any need to look deeper. The physical cause of all these: is the activation of his natural body heat, and the blood rising up to the surface.

The same is true of those who are anxiety-ridden (baaley pachad) on the one hand, vs. those who live with hope and anticipation [that things will always be better]. The same is true of those who are mistaken/confused in their thoughts on the one hand, vs. those who are successful in life. For there are times when a person can, as a result of his grief and bad luck, lose his eyesight. The face of a successful person, on the other hand, radiates, and the light of his eyes shines, to such an extent that the light of the day seems to grow brighter in his presence. This is all clear and does not require long explanations.

It is for this reason that doctors/healers warn us to pay attention to subtle internal psychological changes (tenuos nafshiyos), to constantly keep an eye out for them, and to make every effort to equalize them (le’hashvosam) while a person is still healthy, and in the event of any sickness as well. Indeed, no other treatment or physical procedure takes precedence over them. The doctor/healer should understand that the heart of someone who is ill is contracted/constricted, whereas the soul of a healthy person is expansive. He should therefore make it his business to remove psychological causes (hispaaliyos nafshiyos) that bring one to emotional stress (kotzer ruach), for this prolongs health, and in addition, it is first and foremost in the treatment of sickness.”— Rambam, Hanhagas HaBerius (Health Treatment), Shaar Gimel (end), pp. 32-33 (Hebrew translation by Moshe ibn Tibbon of Rambam’s letter to Al-Afdai, son of Saladin)— English translation by the wonderful Avraham Sutton.

Initial Post by Rav Doniel Katz

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Healing Meditation by Miriam Adahan

Miriam-Adahan-Meditation Download

Okay, so take a moment to position yourself as comfortably as you can, allowing your body to feel supported and safe. Remember that there is no right or wrong way to do this and that you can accept or reject anything you hear during this meditation. And each time you hear it, you might hear different parts say, wow I didn’t hear that before. You will notice different things. You don’t have to pay full attention. Your mind will wander at times because that’s what minds do. So gently allow your eyes to close if they’re ready to do so and you’re willing to do so.

Let your hands rest comfortably on your abdomen so that you can feel your stomach rise as you breathe in. And settle back down when you breathe out. Notice how your breath moves in and out of your body like the waves of an ocean and a gentle healing powerful rhythm. This part of you that is able to observe your breath is your holy neshamah. Your precious eternal soul, a resource of never-ending love, guidance, compassion, and support. Like a driver in full control of the steering wheel, direct your attention to your breath each time your mind wanders.

Remember the steering wheel steer it just gently back to your breath. Take a breath in and a long cleansing breath out. Be aware of that precious nanosecond of sweet peacefulness at the end of each breath and allow your body to relax deeper and deeper as you take another breath in and out. Send the calming energy of your breath to any place in your body that might be tense or tight. Allowing the tension to release on its own. With the out-breath feeling your breath going into those places, soothing and healing, and know that your stillness is a gift to the universe.

Any unwelcome thoughts that arise just steer your attention back to your breath. You have to serve this time to nourish the cells in your body with calm consciousness in this frantic and frenzied world you need to nourish yourself with stillness and peacefulness. It takes time to get used to feeling Hashem’s love. Take this time. Think of every in-breath as a blessing and every out-breath as a thank you. If painful emotions or thoughts arise during this exercise, just notice them with the neutral eye of a camera lens without playing with judgment and then send them out with an exhalation so that just for a moment your mind is empty, free, and clear. Like a lake with no ripples. Now, scanning your body. Start with your head. Exhale and allow your breath to relax any tension in your eyes. Your nose your ears, your tongue, your mouth, your chin. Now move your awareness into your neck and shoulders we all carry so much tension there. And with an out breath, notice any tightness or heaviness and just breathe healing energy into this area, releasing all the excess tension, responsibilities, worries and judgments, and fears that may have accumulated over time allowing them to float away effortlessly.

Now move your awareness to your arms. And what’s your next out-breath release any tension in the arms, the elbows, wrist, hands, and all the fingers moving your awareness into your chest. Inhale through your lungs releasing any tension in this area.

Your stillness is a gift to the entire universe and to each and every one of your cells. Now like a driver, move your attention to your heart. Feeling the powerful rhythm of your heart as it beats confidently and reliably. Always with you. A sign of God’s love for you and becoming aware of the infinite power of your heart. Let each gentle breath nourish you as you breathe in and out.

Now direct your attention to your spine and release all the tension that might be stored there. On the top is your neck. All the way down. vertebra by vertebra all the way down down, releasing to the base of your spine so that you should be calm and comforted. Now release any tension in your hips and bottom. Softening the tight muscles on the out-breath and sending calming breath into your legs, knees, calves, ankles, feet all the way to the tips of your toes.

Think of your body as a loyal friend. It’s been with you since you were conceived, it has survived so many difficulties with so much courage and patience. Along with you. You have survived shattered dreams, loneliness, frustrations, betrayals and hurts all of which are perfect and necessary for your growth.

You cannot make the memories disappear. But you have the power to acknowledge the many strengths that you developed as a result of these experiences you have gained a sense of your own wisdom, courage, and compassion and at times you have sensed invisible forces which are guiding you on this journey towards greater and greater healing. As you become more deeply relaxed, know that you will heal more and more as you let go of harsh expectations, impossible demands, and limiting judgments. And now the sense of sweet peace sends soft waves of soothing comfort to your entire body as you learn more and more to accept your sorrow, and this is your mission. Release your anger. Forgive yourself, your limitations and embrace your strengths and gifts, and talents.

Know the certainty that you are being held in the hands of God who loves you and has never left you not for an instant on this long and sometimes painful and lonely journey know with certainty that your awareness is expanding, that more and more you are feeling cherished, important valued at good enough as you are right now, regardless of other people’s opinions. It’s your truth your self-acceptance, your self-love, and encouragement that are so necessary. And now as you are learning to step forward unafraid with courage and wisdom, return to the physical world, as I count down from four to zero: Four preparing to return. Three, knowing that you are bringing back with you the gift of faith courage, compassion, and inner stillness. Two with a full intention to heal your body, mind, and spirit. Getting ready to step forward with this rich sense of inner stillness and courage. One bringing sweet peace to the world and to those around you and to every cell in your body. And zero opening your eyes feeling fully awake and refreshed. Returning to the world with renewed strength, courage, wisdom, and faith

God bless you all for giving me this opportunity to spread light and love to the world. Thank you all for listening and for being part of this amazing adventure, this amazing healing journey and as you step forward, know that you are healing, that you are growing stronger.

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Elevation

Protected: CHIUS: Mastering Your Energy & Life Force

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Elevation

Tikkun hamiddot

SABEINU M’TUVECHA

A 9-step TIKKUN HAMIDDOS process

BASED ON THE BAAL SHEM TOV’S “HAALOT HAMIDDOS”

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REALIZATION:

I find myself in a challenging life moment that has knocked my daas into exile, leaving me unhappy with one or all of my thoughts, feelings, speech or actions.

While my animal nature seeks to blame the external situation or person on my state and response, a moment of daas-awakening allows me to shift from blame to the ultimate reframe: it’s not really them – it’s me.

I realize that my middos are triggered because I’m expecting to have them somehow satiated by the external world rather than the internal world.

The external situation is just a Divinely ordained trigger and stimulus that is awakening me to the disconnect I’m carrying within that needs healing, re-aligning and elevating.

SUPPRESSION:

As opposed to repression, suppression is the healthy, conscious and intentional exclusion from consciousness of middos ra’os - destructive thoughts or feelings.

Suppression means not allowing the destructive desires of the middah to continue to flare up and control your consciousness and sending you into exile - thus containing it and forcing it out of the realm of your machshavos and dimyonos, dibbur and maaseh.

This can be achieved in numerous ways, including:

showing the destructive middah force and aggression from your daas;
expressing compassion, validation and love for it;
or finding where the destructive middah is located in your body and visualizing its color and shape.

Use whatever tool works for you – since, in this moment, you are fighting for your life, mind and soul.

IDENTIFICATION:

We must now seek to clarify: What is the middah and what is it lacking?

Become fully aware and cognizant of the true nature of the middah that causes this destructive response in thought, speech or action.

What middah is it – exactly?

Peel down through its onion-skin levels to find its most core feeling and desire.

Use these questions as a guide:

What’s the middah behind the middah?
The feeling behind the feeling?
The need behind the need?

Remain cognizant that no matter how dark the middah feels at its root, it is really a fallen version of something truly Divine, currently in a state of exile, disconnected from its Infinite source and seeking to return to its positive expression.

This adds an essential tone of rachamim/compassion to the process.

When the base level desire is finally identified, now ask and sense: what does it feels its greatest lacking is?

SATIATION:

Now that we have identified the middah’s fundamental feeling of lacking, let’s flip it to understand what is the hamtaka or antidote -- the positive emotion or energy that it most desires and that will most satiate it?

Ascertain the complementary Divine emotional state that will repair the current sense of constriction.

Which particular light, energy, sefirah, Divine name or middah will counteract the lack? (e.g. If you feel disrespected, you might need honor, reassurance, respect).

Alternatively, determine the positive equivalent of the fallen middah to which it may be desiring to re-connect (e.g. Crippling fear seeks to be elevated and transmuted back into Divine fear).

IMAGINATION:

Now recruit your dimyon back to the side of your daas, and create a precise Machshava Map of positive images, beliefs and emotions to counteract the lacking.

Directly present the middah with what it most desires.

Proceed to cycle around that map, visualizing and generating the desired complementary state to satiate the emotion.

And remember – your heart doesn’t know the difference between reality and that which is vividly imagined.

ILLUMINATION:

Launch beyond machshava level to deveikus level in order to connect to the Infinite and all-abundant light within.

There is nothing we seek in the external world that cannot be more powerfully felt, experienced, satisfied and satiated right now and here from your Divine source.

Draw in the complementary Divine light that heals and elevates the middah ra’oh.

Either feed it that which it most needs (e.g. send the crippling fear Divine love) or elevate and re-integrate it back up to its Divine equivalent (e.g. elevate destructive fear into Divine fear).

ELEVATION:

Don’t stop until you can feel the melting and dissipating of the external part of the middah i.e. the klippah.

This will allow you to feel more relaxed, calm and open again.

After that, you may also choose to experience the inner holy light of the previously destructive middah now elevating and re-integrating back into your daas.

This experience of transmutation can bring with it a rush of expanded, blissful state of consciousness called gadlus hadaas (greatness), and sometimes even a download of deep psychic insight, too.

Through this process, you have created a cosmic rectification: returning the “fallen Divine spark” back to its Source and allowing it from now to function in its fully rectified, elevated and Divine state.

TRANSFORMATION:

Bliss and deveikus are not enough.

Now comes the opportunity for complete birur, purification and clarification of our animal self.

The next step is to choose to allow the transcendent light we are experiencing above to penetrate back down into our thoughts, beliefs, feelings and actions and, in the process, heal, re-order and re-align them on each respective level.

Don’t be afraid to bring up any remaining darkness and consciously contrast and compare it to the sense and sensitivities of the light. This causes the final dregs to wash away, leaving a re-constructed and newly aligned self in the Divine image.

DIVINE SELF-DETERMINATION:

Now, project that new, emunah-filled perception back into the original challenging situation or dynamic that triggered you.

Be conscious and appreciative of how your beliefs and perceptions about the original issue have shifted.

Now that you’ve realigned our mind and heart to the Divine intent, you can re-enter the world of action with new and expanded opportunities for your choice of response.

Proceed to act in a new way, with a new direction, that generates new results and destiny.

Alternatively, if the moment for action has passed, or the current circumstances no longer allow for a different response externally, make it internally!

As our tradition teaches: positive intent to act, combined with strong visualization, is considered by Hashem like an action itself, and has the same transformational effect on our consciousness and our destiny.

Thus: while in deveikus, take the time to visualize in depth the challenging scene that occurred, but this time envision yourself enacting the right choice in the end - that which you would choose if you were given the chance again.

Replay and watch and re-choose over and over, rewriting the script and generating a different ending, until your heart is rewired, and nature is rewired, forever transforming your consciousness and destiny.

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