Blessing for Myself and for You, by Kohenet Ilana Joy Streit • the Open Siddur Project

Categories: Well-being, health, and caregiving, Rosh Ḥodesh Adar (אַדָר) Alef & Bet

Tags: 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, Prayers as poems, teḥinot in English, תחינות teḥinot

Excerpt: A poem-blessing for trailblazers of many kinds, to honor everyday courage and to inspire trust and self-compassion. . . .

Content:

Blessing for Myself and for You

may you keep breathing
each moment
in and out

may more and more of your cells
be kissed by oxygen

may you keep trusting your feet, your path, your heart,
your feet, your breath, your heart,
may you feel and trust in everything that helps you breathe easier

may your bare feet be caressed by
cool stones
may you stop often to bask on sun-warmed stone

may you know that the path of trailblazing has been walked by many souls ahead of you

may your roots
be your roots
may they descend from your feet
and know that they belong just to you

may you inhabit the crown
that is yours to wear

may you ḥevruta with Esther, making banquet after banquet
for as long as necessary
and then with one breath, altering the course
of history-herstory (whether real or imaginary)

may your fruits
be your fruits
may you taste them, may you share them
and may their seeds spread, until everyone has juice
dribbling down their chins

A poem-blessing for trailblazers of many kinds, to honor everyday courage and to inspire trust and self-compassion. May we get the support we need as we midwife the world to come.

“Blessing for Myself and for You” (alternately: “The Trailblazer’s Blessing”) was written by Kohenet Ilana Joy Streit in January 2016.

[Financial contributions are most welcome, and support further creation and sharing of Ilana’s creative work. You can see and hear more of Ilana’s creative work on her Patreon page. Or to make a one-time contribution, Venmo (@Ilana-Streit).]