We have already discussed and corrected the actual New Year as Spring: Nisan according to the Lord's (Hebrew) Calendar. (See previous blog post.) We can now discuss why Elul, Rosh Hoshana and Yom Kippur are all still relevant to all of humanity and creation for that matter.
Many Hebrew scholars will tell you that it is the celebration of Adam's beginning. For lack of better words, it's Adam's birthday. That is true in a sense. However, it's not just Adam's birthday. It is every one's (soul) birthday. We are one united soul in creation.
Shema Yisrael, Adonai eloheinu, Adonai echad
Shema, Yisrael. The LORD our GOD is one.
Each of you has his or her own birthday when your friends and family celebrate the day you arrived to begin your life purpose in this world. As we get older, most people instinctively sense a need to change or improve when celebrating their physical entrance into this earthly world (a.k.a. your birthday).
The same is true on Rosh Hoshana. Except it is our collective soul birthday/anniversary. However, it would be more accurate to say that it marks 5783 years from the initial date of captivity.
It is a time (season) for all of us to reflect on how far we have come as a people. Let's call it a mid term exam.
What have we learned? We must we correct? How can we improve?
God hates stagnation. But don't compare yourself to others. Each person must self-assess.
Notice how you become super-sensitive as to what you have or have not accomplished since your last birthday? Notice how you start to set super goals? (lose weight, new mate, get married, new home, financial goals, new career etc.)
You crave alignment with your true and authentic self. It's a time when many of you make BIG changes in your life. If not now, when?
That's what many say to themselves. It's no coincidence.
Your spirit guide (we are each assigned an Angel to help us) nudges you. You suddenly have a LOUD inner knowing that says, you can do it. Go for it!
Well, it is true. God does come around on your birthday to see what you have learned or accomplished since the previous year.
Your good and sincere efforts are usually blessed and your complacency is punished mostly by feelings of failure. You know instinctively to try again for next year.
Rosh Hoshana is the same, BUT BIGGER. Just as humanity makes all these ridiculous goals at the beginning of the pagan new year, January 1 often with little change, Rosh Hoshana is the collective promise. Truth be told, the Sabbath Day is holier.
What have we learned since the fall of the Garden of Eden?
That's pretty big. Right? What have WE LEARNED since the beginning of the fall?
Have we learned our lesson? That should keep you busy the rest of your life. Truly.
Spring. Summer. Autumn. Winter.
We even called Autumn "the fall season" so we would remember. And we still forgot!
Remember? Just say, "YES I REMEMBER" by faith. At least until you do. It will all make sense as you gradually or suddenly awaken to the truth.
These quarterly/ seasonal "check ins" (every week if you honor the Sabbath) are meant to help guide, heal, restore and develop us (collectively and individually) step by step. Is it a time of judgement? In a sense, yes.
I call it a "self-assessment". It is for your own personal growth if you use it wisely.
God is less interested in our ceremonies, which is more ritualistic, than our own collective and personal development. Not only should you be interested in your own personal development (on your birthday and every day you wake up) but you should also be very interested in the overall development of your brothers and sisters (humanity's birthday/anniversary, Rosh Hoshana) - the collective soul.
LOVE your neighbor as yourself.
Elul is a season to re-align with God. Every day is a good day to do so. It's just more accessible (easier) during certain times of the year.
Idk. Something about those moon cycles I guess.
Alas, when we know that we have a "divine appointment" much like a regular doctor's appointment - but with far greater impact / consequences - we know that we are all accountable. We should prepare.
We are also more inclined to encourage one another to improve. This is especially so if our neighbors' actions help determine if the lights stay on or not. Right?
"Am I my brother's keeper?" I don't know. You tell me.
Your right arm cares about your left arm. Your nose cares about your eyes. Your heart cares about your head. Your body is beautifully and intricately woven together and so is the collective soul which has been mostly neglected since the first "birthday" (anniversary really) which started at the beginning of the fall from the Garden of Eden. That's when "time" was invented.
You can not measure the Eternal which is our true nature. But you can start counting from the beginning of Genesis which is the beginning of the delusion of our "separateness."
In a sense, it is more important than ever to love your neighbor as yourself. The restoration or destruction of our existence depends upon it. The collective soul will decide its own outcome based upon our willingness to participate in our own healing.
When we each see the entire planet as our (current) neighborhood, and realize the " forthcoming shift" will either be an upgrade or otherwise, people will take on more responsibility to ensure the best outcome for said, "collective neighborhood".
If you like a beautiful home, start cleaning. Begin with your self. Pray.
Repent of your own mis-deeds and that includes poor/divisive/destructive/perverse thoughts. You can also repent for the errors of your parents and theirs especially if they passed them on to you.
You are still accountable for keeping them as adults or releasing them (bad thoughts, habits, traditions). But the LORD will no longer punish you for your parents mis-deeds - just your own. (See Ezekiel 18:1-3 and Jeremiah 31:29)
Ask God how you can improve yourself and fulfill your own purpose. Then begin to love your neighbor by making charitable deeds a new way of life on purpose.
Do this daily if you can. And you really can do this. So can your children. Teach them kindness, love, respect, good deeds (charity).
Train up a child in the way they should go. When they grow old they will not depart from it.
Every act of kindness is a super mitzvah (good deed/healing act) for all creation. Every one and anyone
can and should participate.
Every act of kindness (no matter how small or large) matters. Yes, the King is in the field. God is watching.
Your life and that of your neighbor(s) depends upon it. Get started. Don't ever stop.
Remain optimistic. Bless others and be blessed.
You'll be amazed at your personal life and that of the world around you this time next year. Jerusalem.
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