Having counted the days of the omer (see What is Counting the Omer?) for a number of years, taking care to say the blessings every evening, but having difficulty connecting to the process, it had sadly become quite arduous. This year, 5781 – 2021 I decided to take a different approach, making one drawing per day, in the morning (when I am most creative), taking time to focus on the daily combination of sefirot/qualities. I drew with pen on paper, no erasing, no do overs. Interestingly, I grabbed a stack of old pin-feed computer printer paper to draw on, and though I did not count the pages, there were exactly 50 pages in the stack, all connected as one book. See the images below.
Correspondences of the Seven Sefirot of the Omer Period that inform my thoughts about the quality combinations for each day
[“Sefirot” refers to the kabbalistic notion of the divine emanations.]
Here are Counting the Omer Images for the year 5781/2021:
Just Being, in loving love of what is. Chesed Sheb’Chesed.
The Push, being and oneness gives way to process. Gevurah Sheb’Chesed.
Beautiful, love in that sweet spot. Tiferet Sheb’Chesed.
Firmly planted, reaching, spanning earth, sun and moon. Netzach Sheb’Chesed.
My roots go down. Hod Sheb’Chesed.
Clouds of Glory fill me up. Yesod Sheb’Chesed.
…and from here, Shefa flows into the world. Malchut Sheb’Chesed.
Submitting to the critic, under a rain of loving kindness from my angel. Chesed Sheb’Gevurah.
Push pull, holding back speech. Gevurah Sheb’Gevurah.
With Aba and Ima. Tiferet Sheb’Gevurah.
The long, difficult, and precarious climb, Kingfisher spies his catch…meanwhile, back on the farm. Netzach Sheb’Gevurah.
Holding up and protected by Earth, submitting to the power of the storm. Hod Sheb’Gevurah.
Sitting close but not in the torrential falls of Shefa, revitalized by the gentle mist, nursing a baby. Yesod Sheb’Gevurah.
A river issues from Eden to water the garden, and it then divides and becomes four branches. Malchut Sheb’Gevurah.
Loving compassion, beauty in nature. Chesed Sheb’Tiferet.
Focusing in on one corner of the wonders of nature. Gevurah Sheb’Tiferet.
Fires within fires, the cave of Machpelah, portal to Eden. Tiferet Sheb’Tiferet.
Lingering along the trail, picking flowers, enjoying the company. It might take longer; it is precious time spent. Netzach Sheb’Tiferet.
Humbling being a part of the miracle of life, and witness to such wonder and joy. Humbled by the beauty of exuberance. Hod Sheb’Tiferet.
All who dwell on Earth, come feast. Yesod, Sheb’Tiferet.
Diving into Shechinah’s swimming hole. Malchut Sheb’Tiferet.
Mysteriously, my usual burdens are not dragging me down today. Chesed Sheb’Netzach.
Sometimes, we have to pause on our long journey. Gevurah Sheb’Netzach.
Tending the fire. Tiferet Sheb’Netzach.
Enduring the verb, Enduring the adjective, Enduring bonds of Family. Netzach Sheb’Netzach.
You go on ahead, I’ll catch up, I take it a little slower these days and that is fine with me. Hod Sheb’Netzach.
Enduring bonds of love: Earth and Moon, Grove of Trees, Man and Woman. Yesod Sheb’Netzach.
Channeling Shechinah, hitting that sweet spot. Malchut Sheb’Netzach.
Showering love on the next generation, no competition or envy, just nachas. Chesed Sheb’Hod.
When Torah comes through, the ego stands back and trembles, coming to peace with leadership. Gevurah Sheb’hod.
Not consumed by flames of passion, a bush among the lambs grazing in the orchard. Tiferet Sheb’hod.
Feeding the hungry. Without even being seen. Two handed, full hearted help for the long haul. As Torah says: For there will never cease to be needy ones in your land, which is why I command you: open your hand to the poor and needy kinsman in your land. Deut 15:11 Netzach Sheb’Hod.
One of billions, One in a million, one of a minyan. Hod Sheb’Hod.
All sefirot, from Keter to Yesod, are all full cups raised to sanctify Malchut, Kingdom, Earth. Yesod Sheb’Hod.
Almost Shabbos. Standing in the magnificence of the mountains, cleaning and preparing to welcome the Shabbos bride. Malchut Sheb’Hod.
To truly bond, have compassion, meet a being where they are, dive into their world. Chesed Sheb’Yesod.
Making space for all aspects, under one roof, in one skin. Gevurah Sheb’Yesod.
Tenderness and patience, just being with a hurting friend. Tiferet Sheb’Yesod.
Planting for future generations. Netzach Sheb’Yesod.
Singing with the choir, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Hod Sheb’Yesod.
Riding the magic carpet, the power of the bush. Yesod Sheb’Yesod.
Learning to ride, getting encouragement. Malchut Sheb’Yesod.
The world is our playground. Chesed Sheb’Malchut.
Limiting availability, time to daydream. Gevurah Sheb’Malchut.
Teaching life skills. Tiferet Sheb’Malchut.
Creative powers grounded in the body. Netzach Sheb’Malchut.
Sovereigns tending the Earthly Garden. Hod Sheb’Malchut.
One with the wave. Yesod Sheb’Malchut.
A tree of life to all who grasp her. Malchut Sheb’Malchut.
Humbled at the Mountain of Revelation. Shavuos 5781.
