I am grateful my ancestors thought to create a prayer to bless the transition from sleep into waking. In the Talmud, it is said that sleep is 1/60th of death, and there is an idea that our soul wanders all night while we sleep and is restored to us upon awakening. If you have ever spent time with a toddler you really know that transitions are hard for humans, but many times, we just rush through them or dissociate or pretend they aren’t happening or act out. I know when I start my day with even one moment of acknowledging this tender moment, which is akin to being born again, it blesses the rest of my day. I love this ancestral gift we were given: here is how to greet the dawn and stretch out your limbs in gratitude. And like many queers, femmes, non-Zionists, sick and disabled people, I’ve struggled with the traditional Birkot HaShachar; I do the thing many of us do at these moments – just hum a new version inside myself to tune out the ableist part, the chosen people supremacy part, the part where we thank HaShem for not making us femme. I’m like DOES NOT APPLY. And still, I love the parts that help me attune to the miracle of being alive another day. I am delighted to offer this adaption of the morning blessings, which I wrote in collaboration with my friend and Nishmat Shoom comrade, Randy Furash-Stewart. In the spirit of living text, feel free to play with the words and movements to use in your personal and community practices. (and if anyone is excited to translate it into Hebrew, Ladino, or any other language, please do, and share with us!)
QUEER MORNING BLESSINGS/BIRKOT HASHACHAR
Dori Midnight and Randy Furash-Stewart
Our morning blessings offer us a way to gently awaken to the miracle of creation in our own bodies. We offer these blessings, which are inspired by traditional morning blessings, and movement prompts to start your day, and of course, feel free to move as you are moved.
Each of these names is either a direct translation of G-d’s name or an interpretation based on attributes of the Divine in Jewish tradition.
(caress your eyes)
Blessed are you, AWAKENER, life of all worlds, who removes sleep from my eyes and slumber from my eyelids.
(feel your feet upon the solid ground)
Blessed are you, GENEROUS CREATRIX, who stretches forth the earth upon the waters.
(receive light, take in your surroundings)
Blessed are you, SPLENDID LIGHT, who illuminates and shines upon everyone and everything.
(dust off your shoulders, run your hands across your limbs, touch the fabrics touching you)
Blessed are you, HOLY FASHION DESIGNER, who delights in the way we dress ourselves as altars.
(move from tightness to stretching wide)
Blessed are you, LIBERATION WORKER, who moves us to stretch and expand towards freedom.
(feel yourself)
Blessed are You, DIVINE APPLE ORCHARD, who delights in my delight and is praised by my pleasure.
(touch your heart)
Blessed are you, NAMELESS AND INFINITE, who made us in your image and reminds us that all bodies are sacred and holy.
(place a crown upon your head and lift your chin)
Blessed are You, WINGS OF GOLD, who crowns my people, all people, with splendor.
(Take a breath that fills your whole body, hold it for a moment, and let it out)
Blessed are you, HOLY BREATH, who reminds me to be both full and empty.
(open your palms in front of you)
Blessed are you, ABUNDANCE, who helps me remember I have everything I need.
(let your body move as it wants to move)
Blessed are you, THE WAY, who meets me where I am.
(close your eyes and rest)
Blessed are you, SOURCE OF LIFE, who I draw on for strength and who reminds me that rest is a sacred act.
(embrace yourself )
Blessed are you, FABULOUS ONE, who loves me just as I am.
(place your hand somewhere that needs extra love)
Blessed are you, WEAVER OF BEING, who shaped the human being with wisdom, making for us all the openings and vessels of the body. It is known that we are miracles and all bodies are miracles.
Blessed are You, WONDROUS HEALER, for revealing infinite paths of healing.
