Cheshvan begins on Monday night October 28th. After the craziness of the high holidays, we suddenly enter the stillness of Cheshvan. The days get shorter and cooler, and we begin to spend more times indoors. The trees lose their leaves, the wind has a crispness to it and all of a sudden, we may be overcome by feelings of nostalgia and longing. The tea for this month will help us embody the stillness, nourishment and letting go of this time.

Chaga ~ Inonotus Obliquus

In Autumn we eat mushrooms to strengthen our immune system. Chaga is a dark mushroom used for all types of infectious diseases and is particularly helpful for digestion. In both Chinese Medicine and Judaism, Autumn is the time of the Large Intestine. According to Chinese Medicine, the emotions connected to this time, and to the large intestine, have to do with letting go and moving forward. In the Jewish tradition, we read the Torah portion of Lech Lecha this month. In this Parsha, our patriarch Abraham demonstrates the ultimate form of moving forward: leaving his known world for the great unknown. In order to have the strength to leave what is familiar, we need to be physically and mentally healthy and strong. Chaga helps us build our physical strength and immunity during a time when we are vulnerable to getting sick.

How are you finding time to take care of your physical body during this time?

Black Cohosh ~ Cimicifuga Racemosa

Black Cohosh is a dark, gnarled, root that that can be helpful when leaping between states of being. Often used for childbirth and menopause, she moves what does not desire to be moved. She is also helpful for those in abusive relationships or patterns of addiction. In the Jewish tradition, the great flood begins this month, and we read the Torah portion about Noah and the flood. Noah is commanded by G!d to build an ark (תבה) because it will rain for 40 days, destroying the earth. He enters the ark on the 17thof Cheshvan.This month, we too enter our own little arks, a place that can be lonely, scary and dark. We witness the death and decay of nature, grieve the loss of summer and turn inwards. Rather than jump to the next thing, we sit in the unknown. Whether it be a simcha or a loss, stopping to process is a fundamental part of Judaism. It is something we do every week when we celebrate Shabbat. Black Cohosh, Autumn, Noah’s Ark etc. are all allies in the divine cycle of grief, stillness and celebration.

What practices do you use to find stillness in a busy world?

Yarrow ~ Alchillea Millefolium

Yarrow tastes bitter and pungent an appropriate flavor for the month of Cheshvan also known as Bitter (Mar) Cheshvan, as it is a month with no holidays. Historically she has been used to treat wounds and nowadays is used for stomach cramping, internal and external bleeding, and fevers and digestion. The sense of the month of Cheshvan is smell. According to the Jewish tradition, the redeemer aka Mashiach will arrive this month. Our Sages teach us that one of the names of Mashiach is Yinon (“shall rule”). Yinon is a cognate to nun, the hebrew letter of the month. We read in Tehillim, “May the name (Yinon) endure forever, as long as the sun.” It is said that this redeemer will not judge through sight or hearing but through smell. Why smell? It is our purest sense because it did not take part in the sin in the garden of Eden (Adam and Eve eating from the tree of knowledge). Modern science also differentiates smell from our other senses noting its intricate connection to memory. We use smell to find our partners (pheromones are real), feel comforted (smells like home) and even detect fear and disgust. Smell is our guide. Yarrow works similarly. A guiding plant, she is an ally to the wounded warrior. She helps heal and orient us on our path. When we feel disoriented and are unable to smell the good from the bad, Yarrow is our friend.

What tools do you use to keep focused on your dreams?

Shatavari ~ Asparagus Racemosus

Shatavari is an Ayurvedic yin tonic that nourishes the reproductive system, which is ruled by Scorpio, the zodiac of Cheshvan. She supports women’s hormonal systems and is an aphrodisiac. This month, we commemorate the death of Rachel who died giving birth to her son Benjamin. Rachel was one of the many women in our tradition who struggled to conceive. Those who have no children pray to her so that she may intercede on their behalf. In Judaism, G!d holds three keys: the key to the womb, grave and rains (Taanit 2a). It is no coincidence that in the same month we mourn Rachel, Jews in the land of Israel begin to pray for rain, as rain is what allows our earthly seeds to grow. However, prayer does not exist in a vacuum. As we read in the Talmud, “We do not depend on miracles.” Prayer must be accompanied by practical wisdom. Shatavari is just one of many herbs who have assisted women struggling with infertility and all sorts of reproductive struggles.

May we remember that in all aspects of our lives, there is a balance between faith and action... Where could you use more faith? or more action?

Saffron ~ Crocus Sativus

Saffron represents the unification of opposites. She is our tea unifier. Pluto, one of the two planets that rules this time, is known to harmonize what seems at first glance to be dissonant. Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, whose yahrzeit is on the 16thof this month, would not call Cheshvan mar (bitter). He would look at the word mar backwards – and call this month ram Cheshvan, the Great Cheshvan! Why would he call it a great month? After all, it has no holidays and comes at a gloomy time of year. The idea is that we take all of the energy from the high holidays in Tishrei and bring it with us to Cheshvan so that we can generate a connection to G!d even during darker days. According to the Talmud, she was among the spices used in the Ketoret, incense offering, offered in the Temple in Jerusalem. Today she is used to regulate the cardiovascular system and help lift depression, clear asthma and coughs, and reduce fevers. During a season where the days are getting darker and colder, she is the sunlight in our cup.

How do you bring sunlight to cloudy days?

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