New Blog, New Dreams

Greetings all,

Just wanted to let you know I am going to be starting a new blog, one that reflects more where I am in my life. My children are grown and need me differently. Although I am still very much a country girl, I am resolved that my life has me here in the city for now. That means I am going to learn more about urban farming and square foot gardening. Also I am pursuing my dreams of being an herbalist, growing herbs, making medicine, tinctures, teas etc. On top of all this I have discovered that my passion for motherhood has transferred to mommies to be, childbirth education and my doula work.

So why the need for a new blog? Well, call it a fresh start and a new beginning. I feel less like a farmgirl and more like a village wise woman. It is something I have wanted for some time, someone I have aspired to. Many folks and some of my friends have told me, "You ARE a village wise woman!" So what am I waiting for? So here goes, another part of the journey. I hope you will all join me over here at Village Wise Woman. I am sure the journey will be interesting and full of twists and turns, but most of all joy!

"The key to everything is the way you start. All beginnings are hard, because you need to swing things around from one direction to the very opposite. But once you have made a start, you will soon begin getting used to your new direction and it will no longer be so difficult. Therefore you must marshal all your strength and steel yourself to make an energetic start. Each time you must begin again with ever renewed fire and passion for G-d. Start as if you had never begun before." Likutey Moharan 1:67

Encouragement for Your Day

I found myself responding to a post elsewhere and realized that, as usual, the medicine that flowed from my 'pen' and intended for another, was indeed meant just as much for me. I thought I would share this with you too, perhaps it is just the medicine you need to strengthen you throughout your day.

"Dearest, how many of us have shared this pain and had these exact thoughts. It seems to be the plight of the human existence. Expectations tend to lead to disappointment and yet, how can we not hope have expectations. It is what wakes us in the morning and drives us through our day. Voices call out to us from the past, voices that urge us to move forward and to go on. On the wall in my room is a voice, "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined." (Henry David Thoreau). Another voice tells me to "be the change I want to see in the world." (Ghandi). And lastly, another comforts and urges me in one full breath by reminding me "All beginnings are hard, because you need to swing things around from one direction to the very opposite. But once you have made a start, you will soon become accustomed to your new direction and it will no longer be so difficult. Therefore you must marshal all your strength and steel yourself to make an energetic start." (Rebbe Nachman)
Know, that no matter how you feel, there are those who love you dearly and within this love is where you must find the energy to move and continue on. You are correct, you either make an impact or you don't. Do not underestimate the power of the sleepless night. It is when the mysteries of the Universe reveal themselves. Do not underestimate the power of a pebble thrown in the river, or the flap of a butterfly's wings, tidal waves and tornadoes have been the result of such seeming trivialities. You are doing it, you are accomplishing. Right now you are resting, recharging and learning. Although they feel passive and even sad, they will empower you to move forward and with even greater light. Step by step, you will make it. You were meant to shine, and although I am not sure of a whole lot in my life, of this one thing I am most certainly sure."

The Secret...of Rebbe Nachman

Rebbe Nachman of Breslov teaches us :

You are wherever your thoughts are. Make sure your thoughts are where you want to be.

Make sure you don't allow your thoughts to become chometz--leavened. Don't dwell on bad thoughts or desires at all.

When a person purifies his heart and expels all unholy thoughts from his mind, thinking only good thoughts, he can bring about real miracles.

A person's entire destiny-for good or ill-depends on the thoughts in his heart.

If you allow yourself to be depressed about these kinds of thoughts (negative) it simply feeds them with more fuel. It is no good being upset or afraid of them. Just don't pay attention to them. Try and be cheerful.

The simple fact is that it is impossible for two thoughts to be in the mind at one and the same time. It is therefore an easy matter to rid yourself of bad thoughts by being quite passive. Simply don't think them. Think something else instead-think about Torah of devotion to G-d, or even about your work, and so on.

A person's thoughts are in his power completely. He can turn them in whatever direction he wants.

You must be very careful about what you think: a thought can literally take on a life of it's own.

...thoughts have great power.

Guard your thoughts carefully can literally create a living thing.

This morning I learned to look at the sky

This morning I was not feeling so well. Physically I am great, but since I am not a purely physical being there are other parts of me that are not at peak today. As I was aimlessly wandering about Cyber World (not a recommended pastime) I wandered over to Azamra.org and found my Rebbe there waiting to teach me something and bring my focus back to Hashem. Here is what I learned and I share here with you.

Look up at the Sky!

Rebbe Nachman of Breslov had a follower who was poor but very pious.

Taking advantage of some business opportunities he started becoming more prosperous. But the more his business commitments multiplied, the less time he had for his spiritual pursuits. Eventually he even stopped visiting Rebbe Nachman.
The Rebbe's window overlooked the main street in the town. Once he looked out and saw this man hurrying to the market. He called him. The man was ashamed and could not pretend he had not heard.

"Did you look up at the sky today?" asked the Rebbe.

"No."

Rebbe Nachman pointed to the market-place and asked him what he could see. "Horses, wagons, merchandise, lots of busy people..."

"Fifty years from now," said Rebbe Nachman, "there'll be a totally different market with different people, different wagons and different goods. You won't be here and I won't be here. So let me ask you: Why are you in such a hurry that you don't even have time to look up at the sky?"

Rebbe Nachman told the man to take at least a few moments every day to look up at the sky in order to remember that worldly life passes all too quickly and only the heavens endure.

This is something everyone should do. The mundane world can be so absorbing, but very soon it will be gone. Look up often at the sky in order to put things in their proper perspective.



:::Philly is off to look at the sky and thank Hashem for her many blessings:::

Traveling Through Torah

Try to go through all our holy books in the course of your lifetime, so that you will have visited every place in the Torah. Wealthy people constantly travel from place to place, spending enormous sums in order to be able to boast about where they have been. In the same way, in this life you should visit all the holy places in the Torah. Then in your future life you will be able to take pride in having visited every place in our holy literature. For in the world to come you will remember everything you have ever learned.

Rabbi Nachman, Sichot Haran #28

I found this over at the Azamra website. Check out this exciting new learning opportunity they are offering! It is called Know Your Bible Take part in AZAMRA's Internet Bible-in-a-Year Study Cycle and get acquainted with the world's greatest Book of eternal wisdom – for an investment that could be no more than 10-15 minutes a day.

Rebbe Nachman and "Measure for Measure"

God repays man "measure for measure". Nowhere is the repayment more exacting than in the Land of Israel. But this is really a great kindness. If we know that God repays us according to our deeds, then by thinking about the situation God sends us, we can gain an insight into our own behavior and learn how to improve.

Rebbe Nachman: Advice, Land of Israel, 14

Something to think about…LITERALLY

Guard your thoughts carefully, for thought can literally create a living thing.

The higher a faculty, the further it can reach.
You can kick something with your foot, but throw it higher with your hand. You can reach still further with your voice, calling to a person very far away. Hearing reaches yet further, for you can hear sounds like gunfire from a very great distance. Your sight reaches even further, seeing things in the sky.
The higher the faculty, the further it can reach. And highest of all is the mind, which can penetrate the loftiest heights. You must therefore safeguard your mind above all else.

Rebbe Nachman of Breslov’s Wisdom #46

To Encourage us to Dance!

The Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her in dance with timbrels. And Miriam chanted for them: Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously/Horse and Driver He has hurled into the sea.
Shemot 15:20-21


Sarah was often ill. (Rebbe Nachman’s daughter) Her suffering deeply pained the Rebbe, who often spoke of it. Once the Rebbe came to visit, and found her greatly distressed by a toothache. “Even if it is difficult, you must force yourself to be happy,” the Rebbe told her. Then he explained that by vividly imagining being joyous, she could come to experience true joy -- so much so that she would wish to dance. Through this, she would be cured. Sarah took her father's advice to heart. Closing the shutters of her house, she began to dance. Before long, the pain had disappeared (Until the Moshiach, p. 334).



By moving about or dancing, you can awaken feelings of happiness inside yourself.
~~~Rebbe Nachman m’Breslov


The righteous women who left Egypt were so confident that G-d would perform miracles, that they took tambourines into the desert. So, too, with the final Redemption, the righteous women must -- and certainly do -- trust so completely in the imminent Redemption, that they will begin immediately in the last moments of exile, to play music and dance for the Redemption.
(The Lubavitcher Rebbe, 13 Shvat, 5752-1992)



It was the woman who accepted the Torah first at Mount Sinai, and, it was the womans heroic efforts in Egypt that ignited our deliverance. And once again, it will be the woman's song and dance that will lead us into the swing of Moshiach. (http://www.foreveryjew.com/women/nidah/index.htm)

Quotes Especially for Ladies

Here are some quotes I found from Rebbe Nachman (The Alef Bet Book) that I thought would especially encourage us ladies:

Lighting the Sabbath candles promotes peace.

Teaching schoolchildren brings about an increase in tranquility.

A modest woman is rewarded with good children.

A person who has trust in G-d fears nothing.

Trust in G-d brings peace.

Words spoke calmly are accepted by those for whom they are intended.

By moving about or dancing, you can awaken feelings of happiness inside yourself.

Whatever you need -- big or small -- pray for it.

Dedication to my SIL: A quote from Rebbe Nachman...you were right sis!

Rebbe Nachman says, "The whole battle is over a hairsbreadth. In other words, If someone wants to be victorious all in one go, it's impossible. But if all you have to do each time is move one hairsbreadth forward, you can! All you have to do is take a little step from bad to good."

Here's to all our baby steps closer to Hashem! Joy in the journey!

Mighty Ones in the Holy Land

Here I am in the U.S of A and I am missing my children so much. I was reading "Crossing the Narrow Bridge, a Practical Guide to Rebbe Nachman's Teachings", and I came across this quote from Rebbe Nachman that has comforted me greatly.

"Once, Rebbe Nachman gave lesson about the greatness of the Holy Land: To be a Jew means to rise time and again, to be forever reaching to ever greater levels. Whoever wants to be a Jew can only do so with the merit of the Holy Land. Getting there is a major battle. But when a person merits arriving in the Holy Land, he is called a "mighty one," for he has won the battle. (Likutey Moharan 1. 20 end)

My children are mighty ones. I pray I too can be a mighty one and merit to be in Eretz Israel soon.

A Quote from Rebbe Nachman

“ It's very good to speak out your heart to God as you would to a true good friend. ”
--Rebbe Nachman

Do you want to want?

Rebbe Nachman taught that the magnitude of the obstacles to any spiritual goal is in direct ratio to the importance of the goal, but the obstacles are sent for one purpose only: to increase one's desire. With sufficient desire it is possible to overcome all obstacles.
This is a beautiful and very important quote. Too often it is very easy to desire something and yet not have the tenacity to follow through with it. It seems especially in matters of spiritual importance Hashem will allow obstacles in our way. I do not know so much if it is a test or a way of proving to ourselves how devoted and serious we are? Maybe it is both? Will we go to any and all lengths to achieve the goal set before us? I read once where one of the Rebbe's talmidim said to him that he wanted to be a good Jew. The Rebbe responded with "but do you want to want?" I often think of that. Do I really want to want? How deep is my desire and devotion. They say anything worth having is worth fighting for. Indeed this is true. Although some things in life do come easy, these things do not sharpen us and refine us like the fire of adversity or trial. Like the athlete or musician who may have a natural talent, they will never truly become great or even appreciate their gift unless they challenge themselves time and again. The refinement is what make us who we are, for better or for worse.

Old Habits

Don’t make the mistake of those who think they can’t change their old habits. If you really want to change, truly and wholeheartedly, and you’re willing to invest the necessary effort, you can overcome and change any habit. ~~Rebbe Nachman of Breslov