Bringing God Into My Daily Life

The goal of this 10-session seminar is to bring a greater awareness of God into our daily living.

The routine of life can get us “stuck.” We can become desensitized to the depth and beauty concealed within in our daily moments. Sometimes we may imagine needing grand opportunities for inspiration and change, yet improving our lives begins with changing a single moment.

Some moments we experience mindlessly, as if sleep-walking. Other moments we live attentively, appreciating their beauty and depth. How is it possible to live our lives more profoundly, with a greater sense of God and our spiritual natures? Sometimes God is not hidden far away; sometimes God is hidden very close by.

Each session includes the three Ayeka elements:
• Jewish texts
• Guided writing exercise
• Spiritual chevruta questions to help personalize the ideas

First session: Ayeka – Where are You?
Our hiding from God. The story of Adam’s hiding behind the tree in the Garden of Eden is an eternal human paradigm which each person replicates in various ways in his or her life. What about my life would be different if I were more spiritually connected?

Second session: Consciousness
God’s hiding from us. “Awareness of the Divine begins with wonder”.  Is there only awareness of the world, or is the world a suggestion, an intimation, of something much greater? When I look around me, do I have a greater sense that the universe reveals God or that it conceals God?  What is holding me back from living with a greater sense of wonder?

Third session: Waking Up
My waking moments. Now that we have explored the natures of our hiding and of God’s hiding, we will focus on beginning our day with greater spiritual awareness. What is one thing I could do to enhance my morning routine with more attentiveness to the presence of God? 

Fourth session: My Body
The human body. In our first waking moments we become aware of our body. Often we kvetch about and are disappointed with our bodies. How would my life be different if I were more aware of the awesome and spiritual nature of my body?

Fifth session: Getting Dressed
The clothing we wear. Every day I choose which clothing to wear. How can I become more aware of the spiritual effect of my clothes on myself and on others? Are there any clothes in my wardrobe which no longer reflect who I am? 

Sixth session: Eating
The food we eat. What thoughts or emotions drive my eating habits? How can I sensitize myself to the presence of God even in the mundane moments of my eating? What distracts me from appreciating the spiritual moments which are potentially present in the simple act of eating?

Seventh session: Going Outside
Seeking God outside. Every day we walk outside, usually on the way somewhere, nearly oblivious to the infinite beauty of the natural world. What can help us to stop and take note of the spectacular moments outside? When and where in my daily routine could I stop to take in the holiness concealed in the details of nature?

Eighth session: Working
At work. Most of our adult time and creative energies are devoted to our work. Working provides one of the prime opportunities to bring God into my life and the lives of those around me. The word ‘melacha’ (work) is from the same root in Hebrew as ‘mal’ach’ (Divine messenger). Are there times when I sense a Divine calling in my work? In what ways could that change the way I go about my work?

Ninth session: Going to Sleep
Sleep is an essential part of our day, not only physically but also spiritually preparing us for tomorrow. According to the Kabbalah, to properly prepare for the next day we should imbue it with moments of forgiveness. What small step could you take to bring more spiritual awareness to your nighttime routine?

Tenth Session: Closure
Participants are invited to prepare a few minutes presentation describing something they learned from other members of the group, and how participating in this Ayeka module has affected their daily living.

We strongly suggest facilitating all 10 sessions in each module, however if time and group technicalities make this difficult, then we suggest choosing at least 6 of the topics which most resonate with you – sessions in which the sources, experiential exercises, and personalizing questions pluck a deep and personal chord.