Tag: well being

Announcement: Aromatherapy Partner

I want to announce that I am now partnering with Robin B. Kessler, CCA. She is a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist and the Owner of RBK Aromatherapy LLC. For more information about Robin, see my Partners/Consultants page.

Below is an excerpt from Robin’s website explaining what aromatherapy is and how it can help.

What is Aromatherapy?
It can be described as an art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize and promote a  health of body, mind and spirit.
Essential oils have been found to provide both psychological and physical benefits when used correctly and safely.  It is not just using essential oils, it is using other methods like herbs and resins which can be burned or infused in carrier oils to help soothe the body and spirit.

How Can It Help me?
Aromatherapy can help with Anxiety, Stress, Pain Management, Allergies, Concentration & Memory, Headaches, Skin Conditions, Confidence and much more.

https://www.rbkaromatherapy.com/

In reflecting on the inclusion of aromatherapy as an offering of my coaching practice, I find myself reflecting on an aspect of the Israelite Temple service. In studying the various korbanot, sacrifices, Gd commanded the Israelites to provide as delineated throughout the Torah, including in this week’s portion, Shelach, one will notice a common theme. The phrase רֵ֤יחַ נִיחֹ֙חַ֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה, an odor pleasing to Gd, repeats itself over and over as part of the descriptive nature of the sacrifice. Part of the sacrificial ritual is in the scent ascending to Gd as a sign of acceptance. Another element of the Temple rituals that also related to the olfactory senses was the ketoret, the incense offering.

In our times, without these sacrifices, we have found and created alternatives to allow these rituals to continue to play an important part in our lives. To bridge the gaps between us and our spiritual selves, we must constantly work towards enhancing our sense of wellbeing. There are many tools people choose to use, whether it is meditation, yoga, exercise, etc. One of the tools we can use is Aromatherapy.

I look forward to this opportunity to expand the offerings of New Beginnings Spiritual Coaching and Consulting LLC to further enhance the goal of supporting and helping you during your journey through the waves of life.

Need support to navigate the waves of life. Contact New Beginnings Spiritual Coaching and Consulting LLC at 732-314-6758 ext. 100 or via email at newbeginningsspiritualcoach@gmail.com.

Encourage the wishes of the ill

One of the challenges people face when visiting others who are sick, grieving, or in need of companionship and social connection is the ability to recognize that the visit is for the person being visited and not for themselves. Many times, we go with all the right intentions yet somehow it becomes our agenda that overshadows the good that our presence is meant to provide. I have witnessed many situations where the one being visited was doing something that many would consider “not the normal way we act” and get chastised even though the person was finding more comfort in the outside the norm activity.

This week’s Torah portion, Vayera, begins with the story of Abraham and the 3 visitors (angels, servants of Gd). The story is also understood to be a lesson in visiting the sick. The opening verse states:

וַיֵּרָ֤א אֵלָיו֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּאֵלֹנֵ֖י מַמְרֵ֑א וְה֛וּא יֹשֵׁ֥ב פֶּֽתַח־הָאֹ֖הֶל כְּחֹ֥ם הַיּֽוֹם׃

The LORD appeared to him by the terebinths of Mamre; he was sitting at the entrance of the tent as the day grew hot.

Genesis 18:1

Rashi, the pre-eminent medieval commentator on the Bible, offers a couple of comments on this verse which sees this as Gd visiting the recently ill Abraham, who was recovering from his circumcision.

וירא אליו

AND THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM

to visit the sick man. R. Hama the son of Hanina said: it was the third day after his circumcision and the Holy One, blessed be He, came and enquired after the state of his health (Bava Metzia 86b)

Rashi explains that Gd’s appearance is unusual in that most biblical references to Gd “appearing” are into a direct prophecy, so there must be another motivation. The motivation is to visit the recovering Abraham. From this read, we learn that visiting the sick is a Godly act, or to reference the title of a work by a close colleague, visiting the sick is To Walk in God’s Ways.

Rashi offers a further read of this visit. When Gd is “present” to Abraham, Gd “presumes” that Abraham needs to recover further. As such, as Rashi indicates:

כחום היום

IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY

The Holy One, blessed be He, brought the sun out of its sheath that he might not be troubled by travellers, and when He perceived that he was grieved that no travellers came He brought to him angels in the form of men (Bava Metzia 86b).

Rashi finds the description of the weather at the end of the verse seemingly out of place. As such, he presents a Talmudic read which suggests that the heat of the day was Gd’s way of caring for Abraham. By making the heat seemingly unbearable, it would allow Abraham the rest he presumably needed by keeping guests away. Yet, this attempt at removing extra work for Abraham backfired, as it caused Abraham further anguish. Rashi expresses the opinion that this caused Abraham to not only have the continued physical anguish of recovering from the recent procedure but also the spiritual anguish of the loss of a valuable element of who he was, the man of hospitality. As a result, Gd “changes” approaches and provides guests to Abraham to help uplift his spirits.

(As an aside, this comment could explain the strangeness of why Abraham is offered the prophecy about a son to be born both by Gd and then these messengers. The angels were not needed to tell Abraham the prophecy but by being sent, there needed to be a clear cut mission, not just, “make Abraham feel uplifted.” )

As we contemplate this deeper read of the verse, it presents a valuable lesson about visiting the sick and visiting the bereaved. We are there to serve the person, not to serve ourselves. Just as Gd realized Abraham needed the guests and the regular routine to help him heal, we too should recognize that the healing comes from finding ways to promote the individual’s personal sense of wellbeing.