Read a spiritual exercise on devotion.
Inspired by a paper written by her mother and a mystical dream, Shoni Labowitz (Miraculous Living: A Guided Journey in Kabbalah Through the Ten Gates of the Tree of Life) has retranslated and reinterpreted the Biblical stories of eight women. Her intention, which is fully and imaginatively realized, is to bring to life "a rich and vibrant feminine tradition of sexuality and spirituality." Here is a work of wisdom that will appeal to all those who believe that the physical is a gateway to inner-spiritual mysteries. Rabbi Labowitz puts on display her wide and rich knowledge of Kabbalah and her sensitivity to contemporary women's concerns and yearnings.
"If we are open to it, the Bible can be a map to the sacred mysteries of a woman's pleasure and passion," she writes. Leah offers insights into the process of befriending one's body. Rachel reveals the riches of menstruation. Eve teaches women to pull down the wall between sex and God. Jochebed demonstrates birthing as a spiritual experience. Deborah is a model of finding one's purpose and independence. Miriam shows how women can blossom in menopause. The prophet's widow is an example of moving beyond loss. The unnamed women of the Bible speak to those who have had hysterectomies. And Naomi illustrates the blessings of cronehood.
