Meditations for Hannukah
by Rabbi Rami Shapiro

Like all Jewish holy days, Hanukkah can be understood through four distinct, yet interconnected perspectives: Nature, History, Psychology, and Spirituality.

From the perspective of Nature, Hanukkah honors the Winter Solstice, the darkest time of the year. Here Hanukkah involves us in a shamanistic rite magically renewing the sun by building a progressively stronger fire in our menorah.

From the perspective of History, Hanukkah marks the first campaign for national liberation: the Maccabees leading the people in overthrowing the Greco-Syrians who occupied the Land.

From the perspective Psychology, Hanukkah marks a time for wrestling with our personal demons; those aspects of our life history and personality that appear to defile the purity of our soul. Notice I said "appear to defile" for in truth nothing can defile the soul which is a manifestation of God. We imagine defilements and act as if they were true, but there is a way to uplift all this to the Light and find healing in a greater truth. It is the healing in the Light that is the spiritual perspective of Hanukkah: the power of light at work in our lives.

This Hanukkah we invite you to work through all four perspectives, but we will concentrate on the levels of Psyche and Soul. Each day you will receive email instruction from us guiding you through an eight day spiritual exercise. The aim of this exercise is to cleanse the temple of the soul by bringing light to one of the demons that seems to defile it.

While the instructions are somewhat detailed, we suggest you simply read them over and then adapt them to your own needs. Hag Sameach Hanukkah.

The First Night: Honoring the Dark

Hanukkah is about the dark times of nature, self, and soul. The dark is often frightening, but it is also fertile. There is fecundity in the dark that hearkens back to the womb. There is a birthing to be done at Hanukkah, but there can be no birth into the light that does not beginning with darkness. Tonight is about honoring that darkness.

Before lighting the Shammas sit in the dark. Close your eyes. Open your heart to the darkness that haunts you. Do not name it or give it form. Simply admit its presence. Sense its heaviness; feel the despair that is often tangled up in it; see it as a thick shroud clouding your mind. When you are ready whisper softly: "My soul is the candle of God," and light the Shammas. This is the ner tamid, the timeless light that is your true essence. Focus on the flame. Become aware of the darkness that surrounds it. This is the darkness of your heart projected outward. Just allow its presence to be there. When the darkness is real to you offer aloud the following kavannah, statement of intention: "Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah, the opening moments of my cleansing and healing. I enter into this Hanukkah period to embrace the dark and the demons it shelters; to honor the pain that so often enshrouds my soul; to bring light to the shadows of self that I might free the demons to be their true selves: angels of light trapped in the dark by my fear of the dark." When you are ready say the Hanukkah blessings and light your menorah.

The Second Night: Welcoming Your Demon.

Sit comfortably in the dark. Allow the outer darkness to invoke the shadowed places within yourself. When they are present to you whisper softly: "My soul is the candle of God." Now light the Shammas. Focus on the flame. Become aware of the darkness that surrounds it. This is the darkness of your heart projected outward. Call to it and invite one of your demons to come forth. This can be a particularly painful memory or fear; an aspect of your self that has not been healed and which still haunts you. Allow this demon to make itself known to you. When the presence of the demon is felt say softly: "Welcome to Hanukkah, a week of cleansing and dedication. This can be a time of great release for us, but I need your help to bring it about. Tonight is the second night of Hanukkah, please work with me this week, and both of us will benefit." Sense the demon complying with your request. Then say your blessings and light your menorah.

The Third Night: Naming Your Demon.

Sit comfortably in the dark. Allow the outer darkness to invoke the shadowed places within yourself. When they are present to you whisper softly: "My soul is the candle of God." Now light the Shammas. Focus on the flame. Become aware of the darkness that surrounds it. This is the darkness of your heart projected outward. Call to it and invite your demon to come forth. When the presence of the demon is felt softly say: "Welcome to Hanukkah, a week of cleansing and dedication. This can be a time of great release for both of us, but I need your help to bring this about. Tonight is the third night of Hanukkah, and I need to know your name. What shall I call you that will show me who you are and the role you play in my life?" Sit quietly and wait for a reply. It may be a proper name, a short phrase, or even a feeling that you will have to name for yourself. When you are ready, thank your demon for this information, say your blessings and light your menorah.

The Fourth Night: Listening to Your Demon.

Sit comfortably in the dark. Allow the outer darkness to invoke the shadowed places within yourself. When they are present to you whisper softly: "My soul is the candle of God." Now light the Shammas. Focus on the flame. Become aware of the darkness that surrounds it. This is the darkness of your heart projected outward. Call to it and invite your demon to come forth. When the presence of the demon is felt softly say: "Welcome to Hanukkah, a week of cleansing and dedication. This can be a time of great release for both of us, but I need your help to bring this about. Tonight is the fourth night of Hanukkah and I wish to learn what role you play in my life. Why are you a part of me? What message do you bring? What are you trying to teach me?" Listen for a reply. It may come in words or through feelings. When you have heard the demon's reply say: "Thank you for revealing this to me. I will think about what you have told me. Please come back tomorrow that we may continue this act of healing." Now say your blessings and light your menorah.

The Fifth Night: Learning from Your Demon.

Sit comfortably in the dark. Allow the outer darkness to invoke the shadowed places within yourself. When they are present to you whisper softly: "My soul is the candle of God." Now light the Shammas. Focus on the flame. Become aware of the darkness that surrounds it. This is the darkness of your heart projected outward. Call to it and invite your demon to come forth. When the presence of the demon is felt softly say: "Welcome to Hanukkah, a week of cleansing and dedication. This can be a time of great release for both of us, but I need your help to bring this about. Tonight is the fifth night of Hanukkah and I wish to thank you for being in my life. By way of doing so I will share with you the insights that have been granted me since we spoke last night." Sit quietly for a moment and then speak aloud the truths about yourself and your demon that have come to you since the previous evening. When you are finished, thank your demon for the gift of insight; say your blessings, and light your menorah.

The Sixth Night: Praying for Your Demon.

Sit comfortably in the dark. Allow the outer darkness to invoke the shadowed places within yourself. When they are present to you whisper softly: "My soul is the candle of God." Now light the Shammas. Focus on the flame. Become aware of the darkness that surrounds it. This is the darkness of your heart projected outward. Call to it and invite your demon to come forth. When the presence of the demon is felt softly say: "Welcome to Hanukkah, a week of cleansing and dedication. This can be a time of great release for both of us, but I need your help to bring this about. Tonight is the sixth night of Hanukkah and I wish to bring you a gift, a gift of my prayers. It was I that cloaked you in darkness; tonight I will enwrap you in light. In a moment I will light these lights, but first I will pray for you. I will pray for your healing, for your integration into my light and soul in a way that honors your truth and my growth. Your fear of the light was simply a response to my fear of the dark. I will pray that your truth shine brightly and that the shadows no longer enshroud you." Now pray for your demon any way you wish. As you say your blessings and light your Hanukkah candles, imagine your demon embraced by light.

The Seventh Night: Lifting the Demon into the Light.

Sit comfortably in the dark. Allow the outer darkness to invoke the shadowed places within yourself. When they are present to you whisper softly: "My soul is the candle of God." Now light the Shammas. Focus on the flame. Become aware of the darkness that surrounds it. This is the darkness of your heart projected outward. Call to it and invite your demon to come forth. When the presence of the demon is felt softly say: "Welcome to Hanukkah, a week of cleansing and dedication. This can be a time of great release for both of us, but I need your help to bring this about. Tonight is the sixth night of Hanukkah and I wish to bring you the gift of light." Take a moment and imagine your demon sitting opposite you. Now slowly imagine your demon moving closer and closer to you until you can feel its presence on your skin. Relax even further and allow the demon to enter into you. Feel its presence. Now say the blessings for the Hanukkah candles. Light each candle slowly. After each candle is lighted close your eyes and feel the light emanating from the center of your heart. It grows with each candle. By the time you light the fourth candle the light within you is now touching the demon in you as well. With each successive candle imagine the demon fading into the light. With the eighth and final candle the demon is completely transparent to the light from within your heart. There is no more darkness or shadow. It- you- are all light. Stay with that light for as long as you can. When you are whisper softly: "My soul is the candle of God."

The Eight Night: Surrendering to the Light.

Sit comfortably in the dark. When you are ready whisper softly: "My soul is the candle of God." Now light the Shammas. Focus on the flame. This is a projection of your soul, the light you bring into the world as a candle of God. Close your eyes and imagine the flame glowing in the center of your heart. Feel its warmth radiating through your body. Feel its light form an aura around your form. Say the blessings and light each candle with the following kavvanah:

1. Feel the flame of God in your head.
2. Feel the flame of God in your spine.
3. Feel the flame of God in your left arm.
4. Feel the flame of God in your right arm.
5. Feel the flame of God in your pelvis.
6. Feel the flame of God in your left leg.
7. Feel the flame of God in your right leg.
8. Feel the flame of God in your feet.

Sit or stand before the fully lighted menorah yourself aflame with God. Feel the warmth and light of God in you, with you, as you. Know this is the cleansing that is Hanukkah. Know this is the healing that is Hanukkah. Know this is the rededication of self to soul that is Hanukkah. Know the true miracle of Hanukkah: you aflame with the fire of God.