Shana Tova! Happy New Year!

So it's the Jewish New Year... Rosh Hashanah! Shana Tova! Happy New Year! Well, it was the Jewish New Year this past Friday through Sunday September 15th-17th! (in a moment it will be Yom Kippur-the day of atonement) But back to Rosh Hashanah... Supposedly Rosh Hashanah is the birthday of the universe and the day that G-d created Adam and Eve! It's also called "The day of Remembrance" for on this day Jews commemorate the creation of the world and the Jewish nation recalls its responsibilities as G-d's chosen people. Rosh Hashanah is also considered to be a day of Judgment for all of mankind! On this day man is judged for all of his actions and all that will transpire and occur during the coming year is recorded! Rosh Hashanah is also a day of repentance. During Rosh Hashanah Jewish people around the world ask G-d for forgiveness for mistakes they've made over the past year and remind themselves not to repeat those mistakes in the coming year. On this day (or rather two days, because Rosh Hashanah actually lasts for 2 days) we listen to the shofar being blown to remove judgment and invoke mercy. We also observe a ceremony called "Tashlich" whereby we cast our sins into the water! The two days of Rosh Hashanah are said to constitute "Yoma Arichtah" (one long day).

Now, honestly I've only really been making a sincere effort to observe Jewish (Israelite) holidays and laws for approximately the past 3 years? I think it was around 3 years ago that I started writing articles about my Jewish experiences. It was only around 3 years ago that I started observing Shabbat (and reading/ studying the Torah)... and I haven't missed one Shabbat (or Torah reading) since I started. It was around a year and a half ago, almost 2 years ago, that I gave up meat and poultry altogether when I decided to eat strictly kosher and didn't have too many healthy kosher meat options near my neighborhood. Then a little over 6 months ago I gave up fish and eggs and just ended up just going completely vegan. Around the same time that I decided to eat kosher I started observing the mikvah ritual (a Jewish ritual bath.) A little over a year ago (maybe a year and a half ago?), after reading some passages in the Zohar, I was inspired to start covering my hair at all times... To some, my newfound Judaism and the actions I've taken seem fanatical and extreme. But for me... I love it...I love it all! I really do. Shabbat has actually become my absolute favorite day of the week. Shabbat is a delight. Connecting to the most high is a delight and one of the highlights of my existence here in this physical mundane world.

Now observing Jewish holidays is not an easy endeavor for me at all and my observances are far from perfect. I was not raised in a religious orthodox home. Far from it! So I am not used to all the rules... and there are tons of rules! Yes, it is very difficult for me to find the time, strength and motivation to recite all the prayers or attend synagogue (which is not my cup of tea at all.) So I only do what I feel comfortable doing. I only do what I feel called to do. And I have a rule to keep things simple, so reciting tons of prayers is not going to work for me anyway (unless I am guided to do so and thus feel like doing so...for when I am guided by divine spirit the motivation is thus born unto me). But in my opinion reciting Hebrew prayers all day long is not going to bring me closer to G-d unless it is something that I enjoy doing. Enjoyment, happiness, love... These are feelings and emotions that bring us closer to the divine. I believe that if something doesn't feel right than we shouldn't be doing it... even if a religious leader tells us we should... In the end, we are all our own religious leaders! We are all connected to and one with G-d.

However, as time goes by I find that my observance methods seem to improve. I feel as though I am creating a deeper bond and connection with source energy, the most high, the divine spirit...G-d. I suppose the most important thing is that my heart is in it... I feel driven and compelled to connect with the most high divine creator at all times... and I find that the Jewish rituals and observances help me to strengthen my connection with the grand architect of the universe. Even if the reality is that Judaism is outdated, 3 dimensional, still in the age of pisces, and watered down...and perhaps quite sad and negative in many respects? Yet somehow I find light, love, guidance and truth within it. There is no good or bad... simply good concealed in what appears to be bad. And I do my very best at all times to dig for and focus on the good. I always follow the intelligence of my intuitive higher self which leads me to exactly where I need to be and what I need to do at any given moment. I am truly blessed and feel grateful for this guidance.

I would also like to add that I believe their is wisdom, beauty and truth to be found within many mystical, religious and spiritual systems besides Judaism and I always make sure to stay open to all sources of light that come my way. For in reality G-d is everywhere and in everything. I believe we should never become so immersed and indoctrinated into one system that we neglect to see the beauty and wisdom that exists in others. But back to the Jewish New Year...

So it was interesting what happened on Thursday morning... The day before Rosh Hashanah officially began! I usually have two clocks in my bedroom. I have one clock that is always running early. It is an old clock. I am unable to set the alarm on this clock or change the time on it. I can try pressing the buttons but they are all stuck. None of them will work! One can easily become frustrated trying to change the time on them or trying to set the alarm. I've given up trying! So in an effort to get up on time I had to bring another clock into my bedroom. I would set the alarm on this 2nd clock so I could wake up to take my step daughter to school in the morning. But this 2nd clock started to malfunction! The time on this clock always seemed to lag behind and then the clock wouldn't ring when I needed it to, so I had to start making the time on this clock about 10 or so minutes later. Finally, I realized I just couldn't depend on this clock either so on Wednesday night, September 13th, I took my step daughter's alarm clock (that she doesn't use anyway) and placed it in my bedroom along with the two other clocks. On Thursday morning, after reciting my morning prayers, I looked at all 3 clocks as they sat next to one another in a row (clock 3 to the left, clock 1 in the middle and clock 2 on the right) and in that moment I had an intuitive flash.

The 3 clocks represent the 3 phases of time that we believe to exist... past, present and future. But in the end all 3 clocks represent now because time doesn't exist so therefore everything is now. Past, present and future is all now. The first clock represents the past. It is an old clock. The buttons don't work and the time can't be changed. I can't even set the alarm on this clock! This means that the past cannot be changed. What has happened has happened and we must let it go now. No matter how much we think about the past, regret the past, wish to change the past... no matter how much we try to press buttons to change it... The buttons won't work. They are stuck. We are stuck in the past. We must let the past go and move on. The 2nd clock represents the future. This clock always lags behind so I have to change the time to the future to get back to the present... Ha ha! Does this even make any sense? I think the point is that the future represents the past in the sense that past events will keep repeating in the future until we change something... in the present! We must change our consciousness to effect change in our own lives and the life of this planet as a whole. Rosh Hashanah represents a time and an energy in the year that repeats every year. It's a cycle of rebirth. We have access to this energy every year at this time which means that this past energy will continue to repeat itself in this energetic cycle. The past (or at least this past energy) is destined to repeat over and over again because of this cycle that we all live in. Thus my 2nd clock continues to go slower and slower and ends up hours behind at which point I must reset it to a future time. The future is reminiscent of the past and can easily slip into the past at any given moment! When we go into a Mercury Retrograde phase (an astrological phase that happens 3 to 4 times a year) we are basically energetically travelling into the past. And interestingly, right now we are in a post mercury retrograde shadow phase, so past events, people and situations are still resurfacing.

Finally, the 3rd clock represents the present. It's the only clock that actually works! Therefore the present is the only time that actually exists and the only time that we can make substantial changes in our lives and therefore change our future so it doesn't slip back into an unwanted and undesired past. The 3 clocks are really one clock. (Just like the 2 days of Rosh Hashanah are really one long day!) Past, present and future is really one long time which is now. If we want to change the past which continues to replay in our lives and will continue to replay into our future, then we must change the present... we much change now! Holding onto regrets from the past will only cause frustration, anger and/or sadness and will not change anything! The only way to change the past is to change our thoughts and perceptions about the past right now in the present! This will inevitably invoke change in our future so we don't have to repeat the same disappointing/ regretful events in the future (which also exists now!)

So how do we change now? We change our thoughts. We change our attitudes. We change our perceptions. We change our feelings. We change our movements. We change our habits. We change what we eat. We change who and what we listen to. We forgive those who have wronged us. We release regrets. We forgive ourselves! It's a New Year... Are you ready to change for the better? The only way to change your past and your future is to change now in the present. So what are you waiting for? The time is now o'clock!

So I thought this article would end here... However... Something very interesting happened after I wrote this article, but before I published it! My future clock that slips into the past stopped working altogether! It became stuck on eight minutes to eight (or infinity to infinity). Basically, the past is infinite and the future is infinite... time is infinite! In a moment of ecstasy over the brilliance of this material manifestation in my broken clock I couldn't help but wonder how far in the past my past clock was... So I counted the minutes between my working clock and my past clock.... My past clock was exactly 8 minutes in the past! Infinity again! 888! Past, present and future is all infinite and all exists now! So if you really want to make a positive change in your life, in the lives of those around you, in the life of this planet- the time is really now and now is infinity! Now is forever!

Ofcourse, after all this, I had to take a closer look at the number 8 and the number 888! In Judaism 8 is the number of transcendence. It is about going beyond and above physical reality. In kabbalistic teachings the number seven symbolizes perfection- perfection that is achievable via natural means, while eight symbolizes that which is beyond nature and its (inherently limited) perfection. The number 8 also symbolizes that a Jew is not subject to the natural realm. He has the ability to break free from this world and its limitations. On the 8th day after the birth of a Jewish boy he is circumcised. The divine wisdom of Torah is associated with the number 8. The Mishkan (Sanctuary) is associated with the number 8. The 8 blood sprinklings of Yom Kippur were performed by the high priest who wore 8 special garments. The inauguration of the sanctuary was on the 8th day. Animals were only suitable for sacrificial offerings from the 8th day onward. There were 8 poles to transport the main vessels and 8 types of spices: 4 for oil of anointment and 4 for incense. The transcendence of the number 8 is specifically present in the Jewish festivals of Shemini Atzeres, Atzeres (Shavuos) and Chanukah (8 candles on a menorah). The Messianic Epoch is intrinsically related to the number 8: "In the year after the 7th the son of David (Mashiach) will come." Mashiach, the anointed one, is expected to inaugurate a new existence that transcends the natural world. The otherworldly stature of 8 alludes to transcendence not only of the laws of the physical world, but also of our own limitations and errors. It refers to freedom from defilement following cleansing through penitence. The spiritual purification process for the ritually impure often requires a 7 day count. On the 8th day the person can arrive at a purified state. "The righteous may fall 7 times; he will arise." it is upon the 8th occasion that he starts a new phase. For a more detailed account of the significance of the number 8 in Judaism I suggest reading a really great book called, 'Jewish Wisdom in the Numbers' by Osher Chaim Levene with Rabbi Yehoshua Hartman.

According to scripture, seeing 888 is a symbol of new beginnings, change, and abundance. The angel number 888 represents new beginnings, abundance, prosperity, wisdom, and balance. This lucky number contains a message from heaven telling you that you are blessed because you have earned it through the good things you have done for yourself and others. This time, G-d is rewarding you. You will be showered with great wealth and riches in your life. If you are currently struggling financially, seeing the angel number 888 means that more money will come and the success of your future will be realized. You are meant to enjoy this abundance with your family and share it with others. Financial abundance and prosperity are why your guardian angels let you see this angel number, 888. You may be feeling unlucky in life due to your financial struggles at the moment, but you have to worry no more, for the 888 number is an answer that good fortune is on its way to you! You’ve worked extremely hard, but you’re still struggling financially. You’ve always wanted to live the life you’ve imagined for yourself; you want to travel the world, buy whatever you want, and enjoy life without worrying about money. The 888 number indicates that wealth will come your way. You’ve kept faith that favors will come your way someday. You refuse to give up, and as a result, you are vibrating at a frequency and power that make it possible for your desired wealth to come to you.

On the other hand, this number represents an eternal life symbol. The angel number 888, which comes from the powerful number 8, contains the spiritual meaning of infinity. It has no beginning or end and thus continues indefinitely. In light of this, the infinity symbol represents immortality, limitlessness, and eternal life. 888 is also a sign of completion and signifies a cycle that's about to end just as a new one is set to begin. You should consider seeing the 888 number exciting news because your angels are telling you about an upcoming, positive change in your family life.

In Christian numerology, the numbers 8 and 888 are associated with Jesus, or Christ the Redeemer. This representation can be justified using gematria or by counting the letter values of Jesus’ name in Greek. The numerological representation of Jesus, 888, as the sum of the numerical value of his name’s letters, means “the Lord of all things.” The profound meaning of the number 888 is directly linked to the manifestation of G-d in the flesh to save mankind of its sins. In Chinese numerology, the number 8 is a very powerful number—888, meaning triple fortune. The number 8 is frequently associated with good fortune, wealth, and spiritual enlightenment. Well, this is all very exciting! I love when the universe speaks to me through numbers!

Ha ha! You think this is all just a weird coincidence? Well, welcome to my crazy world! This is all just another normal day for me living in the consciousness of infinity! I shall now leave you with this wonderful quote I just found in my email...

"Repentance is not when you cry; repentance is when you change."

Author Unknown

Wishing you a Wonderful Happy New Year full of positive changes that will not only benefit you personally, but will also change our entire world for the better... NOW... and INFINITELY!

Peace and Blessings to all!

* This article is dedicated to my mother (JBFH), May you finally let go of the past and be free to find happiness and joy in your present state of being!

Jennie H is a Reiki Master Energy Healer, Co-Founder of Self Saviorz Society California Non-Profit 501(c)(3), Poet, Author and Entertainer with goals to help raise the vibration and consciousness of humanity!