ROSH CHODESH IYAR

Month of Healing & Light

Rosh Chodesh Iyar - Taurus

The month of Iyar is connected to the astrological sign of Taurus. Kabbalists explain that Iyar (Aleph, Yud, Yud Resh) is an acronym for Ani Hashem Rofecha – I am G-d your healer. Through this connection to healing, we can hopefully realize that healing is within each of us. We have the ability, through meditating on the Letters of the Month and by maintaining absolute certainty in the Light, to connect to the unadultered self – free of disease and any physical issues that we face. Taurus is ruled by the Planet Venus, the Roman goddess for love and beauty. The Hebrew word for Venus is “nogah” which means light and the month is also called the “Month of Light”. It is interesting to note that Venus, unlike all the other planets in the solar system, rotates clockwise, from left to right – or from the side of judgement to mercy. We can learn from this that during the month of Iyar Taurians have the opportunity fuse the energy of light and judgment – converting the desire to receive for the self alone into the desire to receive in order to share. Taurians are typically very comfortable people, content with their relationships, possessions, finances and general well being. They are considered to be optimists and rarely, if ever, see bad intentions in others. They are content within the Light they receive. In order to break out of their comfort zones, the energy of judgement from Venus forces the Taurus to make decisions and judgments for the best outcome within situations they are presented, as opposed to being complacent within the Light. 

Letters of the Month - Pei & Vav

According to the “Sepher Yetzirah”, the Hebrew letters are spiritual frequencies that created the universe. A different Hebrew letter controls or influences the constellation and planet of the month. By connecting to these letters through meditation we can draw down specific energy to empower and enlighten us. The letters for the month of Iyar are Pei and Vav (http://www.torah.com/iyar-month-of-healing-and-light/). Pei created the planet of Venus and rules over the month of Iyar. The letter is shaped in such a way that it creates a “Bet” within it’s empty space – or conceals a Bet within it. This Bet is associated with the word “bracha” or blessing. The letter Vav created the constellation of Taurus. When taken together and meditated upon, Pei and Vav are used to connect us to the energy of healing in the month of Iyar.

Days of Connection in Iyar

Although the entire month of Iyar is within the 49-day, semi-mourning period of time called the Omer, Iyar contains several key days in which we can make additional connections to the Light. First, on Iyar 4 we have Yom Hazikaron, Memorial Day in Israel for the fallen soldiers from war and acts of terrorism. Immediately following on Iyar 5 is Yom Haatzmaut, Israeli Independence Day. The 14th of Iyar is Pesach Sheni, or the Second Passover. This day was created when the Israelites asked Moses and Aaron when to celebrate for the Pesach sacrifice missed by those who became ritually unclean from contact with dead bodies. The day assigned was Iyar 14 and is celebrated by many people by eating matza and maror at a mini-seder. The 18th of Iyar always coincides with L’ag B’omer, the 33rd day of the Omer and death anniversary of Rav Shimon Bar Yochai (Rashbi). L’ag B’omer is the only time during the Omer where it is ok to celebrate – either by (1) commemorating the Rashbi, the Holy mystic and author of the Zohar; (2) celebrating the day on which the plague which befell Rabbi Akiva’s 24,000 students ended; or (3) by remembering the Bar Kochba revolt by the Jews against the Romans in 132 AD. We end the month of Iyar with Yom Yerushalayim on Iyar 28, commemorating the unification of Jerusalem following the 1967 war.