The secret meaning of Shabbat

Embodied Kabbalah

Dana ganihar | baruch brenner

Is Shabbat more radical than we thought?

Is Shabbat only about pause and rest

or could it mean something much more revolutionary,

such as training us in a unique form of ‘non-doing’?

Many people today feel the need for and understand the importance of having a “free day” for their well being. As a day of rest and opportunity to accomplish their wishes, dreams, or to fulfill their potential; But we aren’t speaking about having a “free day”, but rather about something much more radical – entering a state of “Shabbat consciousness”.

The issue that the Shabbat wants to confront is not the lack of free time, but the exile of human beings from something essential to life, which is the “taste” of Life itself. Life for the sake of life; for its holiness and meaning.

“Shabbat consciousness” doesn’t mean mindfulness, but rather the option of ‘Lifefulness’.

The first step for entering this state is by “doing nothing”. But ‘doing nothing’ is not so simple. Through the generations, the “sages of the heart” created gates for us to enter unique layers of consciousness through which we can sense the bliss of creation, acknowledge the deep privilege of existence and the preciousness of life.

This course will teach these unique states of consciousness, The secret of “non-doing”, and how life can be blessed as it is.

This series’ aims:

To develop a ‘sensitivity of the soul’ toward Shabbat‘s processes;
Learning and practicing prayer gates for Shabbat‘s processes.
Learning how Shabbat can ‘retroactively’ bless our actions from the previous week
Understanding how the Shabbat consciousness can create a new attitude towards our everyday life – the “world of action”, and so in a kind of magic circle, the world becomes more and more elevated.

course details:

7 consecutive sessions on Tuesdays

course starts on January 2nd

time: 19:30-21:15 (Israel), 17:30-19:15 (London), 9:30-11:15 (LA, California), 12:30-14:15 (New york)

Dates: 2.1,9.1,16.1,23.1,30.1,6.2,13.2

Join the course

price: 210 USD
Please write to us if in need of financial assistance to info@shakio.org.

for registration click here

For more information:

ABOUT US

Shakio is a space for collaborative exploration founded by Dana Ganihar, an experienced Focusing instructor and a teacher of the philosophy of Eugene Gendlin, and Baruch Brenner a multidisciplinary artist, rabbi and certified Focusing instructor who investigates and teaches performance art and Jewish mysticism.

Baruch Brenner is an Israeli Focusing facilitator, theater director, actor, singer, teacher and an ordained Orthodox Rabbi. Over the last 25 years, he has been a leading innovator in integrating Jewish and spiritual practices with experiential work in theatre, movement and vocal arts. He was the artistic director of the Vertigo lab in the eco-art village, and a research fellow and member of Jerzy Grotowski theater ensemble.

Dana Ganihar, M.Sc., has been a Focusing Coordinator since 2007. Over the last couple of decades, she has led numerous workshops and seminars exploring the work of psychologist and philosopher Eugene Gendlin. Dana has initiated cooperative research exploring the potential impact of Focusing and TAE on diverse fields, such as biology, architecture, creative writing, and religion, in institutions including the Technion, Bar Ilan University, and Tel Hai College.

Dana has served as a board member of the International Focusing Institute for three years.

testimonials

“Standing in front of the gateways of prayer, taking time to breath, observe, listen. Doing this together, even if within zoom-frames, in conversation and silence, with the lucid guidance of Dana and Baruch..this is a gathering with new and known depths, personal and universal, temporal and infinite – we’ve been blessed to have this opportunity” Prof. Sara Sviri, Writer – The Sufi Anthology

“Focusing is the art of paying attention to what exists and what will come into being. Prayer is the opening of the heart to the infinite. Dana and Baruch attentively and delicately take us as partners on a wondrous path of practice and recollection of the secrets we all already know. Highly recommended!” Rabbi Dov Singer, Rosh Yeshivat Makor Chaim

“Working with Baruch and Dana has been a very important and deeply stabilizing experience. Especially when the Corona measurements hit us and fear and insecurity spread I felt I was coming home when entering our shared space. I am so unspeakably grateful for being part of this group where failure does not exist and trials are welcome. Where being human gains a whole new depth.” Judith Weisz

“The Art of Prayer opened for me gateways of love towards fellow humans, the world, the future..to the understanding of our communal becoming, and a participation in the processes of creation. Many thanks.” Sigal Golan, Psychotherapist

“The Gates of Prayer are a profound experience that have brought a deep peace and colorful joy into my conflict ridden life.” Inga von Staden

“Touching upon the inner language of authentic prayer, the mystery of communication between human beings and the infinite and connecting with the depth of human experience – this course has provided me with great inspiration. The experience, knowledge and originality of Baruch and Dana transported me from the conceptual to the actual tools of spiritual work”. Yair Harel, Founder – the Piyut Website

“The course opened for me actual gateways for entering into the my self and from there to explore the sacred space inside. It generated in me new awareness with the field of prayer, based on personal experience of observing my flowing life spring. This is a meeting with mind-diamonds that have been polished with accurate spiritual labour.” Rabbi Avi Luria