For years, I’ve dreamed of building a Mussar practice. Ideally, I want to do this with others, but maybe I need to start here before I’m able to bring others along.
What is the Mussar?
My Jewish Learning describes Mussar as “a Jewish spiritual practice that gives concrete instructions on how to live a meaningful and ethical life.” While I love being a Jew, sometimes the ambiguity of being in a religion of questions versus answers is tiring. I like rules. I like guidance. Mussar does not necessarily tell you how to be, but it helps you look at specific traits, evaluate yourself within those traits, and bring them back towards balance.
The idea (as is my understanding) is that we all have the traits of compassion, humility, simplicity etc. But these traits live on a spectrum and we often stray from that middle path. The middle path allows us to live the most ethical lives available to us as flawed people in a a flawed society.
My exploration of the middot, the soul traits will likely be wandering and non-linear, but I’ve always hoped that living transparently imperfectly serves the greater good. The foundation of my practice is in the book Everyday Holiness, by Alan Morinis. If that is not sophisticated enough for your liking, then this probably isn’t the blog for you. 🙂
How I imagine this going:
I am going to pick a soul trait that feels relevant to me at any given time. I am going to read texts, listen to podcasts, watch videos, or otherwise engage with the world through the lens of that middot. I am going to share my experience. I am going to ask questions.
First Middot will be: Compassion
I can already share the following things that will be guiding my process for this middot:
Books:
- Everyday Holiness, Alan Morinis Chapter 10, Compassion
- Self Compassion, Kristin Neff
- Sefer HaMiddot, Compassion and Mercy
- Kissing Girls on Shabbat, Sara Glass
Shows:
- The Bear, Hulu
Poems:
- She Let Go, by Safire Rose
Artists:
- Clare Rojas
- Mini Evans
And You Shall Love 