Calling Our Ancestors into the Sukkah

Here's an ancient mystical tradition that may interest you: When we enter the Sukkah* each evening, we make an incantation to our ancestors, the matriarchs and patriarchs of Jewish life. They are called USHPIZIN, the sacred ancestral guests who dwell in the invisible realm.

We ask them to guide and illuminate us with the merit of their holiness and love. Traditionally, this is Abraham and Miriam on the first night. Isaac and Leah on the second night, Jacob and Chanah on the third night, Moses and Esther on the fourth night, Aaron and Sarah on the fifth night, Joseph and Tamar on the sixth night, and David and Rachel on the seventh night. Each evening corresponds with a sephirah, or quality, from the Kabbalistic Tree of Life.

But why not extend this tradition and use it to invite in our own well and wise ancestors and teachers who dwell on the other side, who may be waiting to be called upon to help guide us?

Even if you don't think you do, it's important to remember that each of us has someone, either from our own bloodline or from other willing, wise, and bright souls, teachers and friends who have died, to help us. Who are you calling in to support your harvest this season?

Sharing this chant with you: Ulu ulu ushpizin kedashin... enter, enter holy guests... be seated here in my sacred space, in my sukkah (or other intentional space).

Are we willing to entertain the possibility that there are benevolent forces beyond us who want to help us, want to heal us, want goodness for us and our world? Let's suspend our disbelief and ask for loving, wise guidance. I believe it is available but we must ask in order to turn on the spigot of goodness waiting to flow our way!

I shared this teaching in the first gathering of my online course with Kabbalah Experience. Grateful to gather with so many students from across the country and to embark into this sacred journey into Jewish mysticism and ancestral healing.

(*this is the harvest hut used during the Jewish fall holiday)