Illumination

Illumination and incantation from Tishrei

Each month begins with words of intention written by Dori Midnight, held inside adornment created by Sol Weiss. These words are incantations, enchantments, spells, poems. They are inspired by prekantes and tkhines, women’s vernacular prayer practices from her Sephardic and Ashkenazi ancestors. Prekantes and tkhines are words that women had access to while for centuries they were kept out of the academy and synagogue. Prekantes and tkhines speak of the material issues of their lives and prayers of their hearts. They are home based practice, spontaneous, and often connected to an embodied ritual, using the everyday magic of the kitchen and the garden: salt, honey, water, plants. We invited Dori to write these words as she has been one of our primary teachers of the magic of the months, bringing plants and spells to our tables. We invited Sol to weave visual art around the words to bring them to life in a different way, as they have illuminated the seasons and Torah for our movements. We are so unbelievably grateful they said yes. 

These spell-poems are here as an offering to connect readers with the kavannah and spirit of the month, and align with the season and symbols. Since these incantations are rooted in personal, spontaneous prayer practice, you are invited and encouraged to make them your own. Thkines and prekantes always directly address or petition the divine in an intimate way. Dori has chosen to connect with multiple names and aspects of the divine in each spell, as well as switching between “I” and “we,” “me” and “us,” in the tradition of being one connected to many, personal intentions as part of a mycelial web of collective longings. This range of pronouns and names for God is offered in the spirit of many doors, many access points to relate to our experience of source, mystery, life itself. We invite you to exclaim or chant these words at your Rosh Chodesh circle, write them in your journal, place it on your altar, read after the announcing of the new month on Shabbat.

For Times Such As These cover illustration and design by Lindsey Cleworth.