Eight Intentions and Visualizations for Chanukah (and the rest of the year)

​ 1.   Time to Think about Receiving
We know the holiday of Chanukah is all about Light and miracles. We also know we should bring Light to the world and transform darkness into Light. In order to do so, we need to be a source of Light ourselves. Let us not forget that the Creator is the primordial source of Light and blessings and we need to have open vessels so that we may receive them. Too often we sabotage ourselves by closing our vessels, ruminating negative thoughts about ourselves or our environment.
It is time to think about receiving. Let’s open up our vessels by ruminating positive thoughts of gratitude.
 
 2.  Receiving/Giving flow
 
Yes, once we receive, we need to give. Heaven wants to shower us with “Shefa” -abundance-. This abundance will always keep coming if we create a flow of giving as we receive.
Let us not forget the law of attraction, like attracts like. When we are a source of Light and blessings, we become a powerful magnet for an abundance of Light and blessings.
 
 3.  Eight Days of Chanukah
 
The number seven represents completion. Hashem rested on the seventh day and so do we by refraining from creating. Seven symbolizes a perfect cycle in nature. What is eight? Eight is beyond nature, beyond everything. Eight is supernatural.
By increasing Light during eight days and forcing ourselves -and G!d- to remember the miraculous nature of Chanukah, we create a slingshot propelling a potential of miracles for the entire year.
 
4.  About Miracles…
 
Which miracles do we wish to manifest? Do we want selfish miracles in order to fulfill our egos or do we have in mind the greater good? Are our prayers exclusively self-serving or are they directed around us?
 
 
 
5.  Visualizations. Earth
 
A good visualization is to see ourselves transported above earth. We can see our world from the perspective of outer space, a beautiful planet moving in a perfect choreography with the sun and the moon, creating days and seasons. Let us be in awe of this perfection. From our vantage viewpoint, it is also good to send blessings and love to our home planet, reflecting on what we can contribute to preserve it.
 
6.  Visualizations. Israel
 
From where we are, we can now zoom in and look at the State of Israel. We can let our heart overflow with gratitude for this small but totally awesome Holy piece of Land. Holiness and blessings radiate from there. From this vantage viewpoint, it is good to let our gratitude send blessings to this Land and reflect on our yearning to breathe its air and our desire to protect it.
 
7.  Visualizations. Home
 
We may now move west, zooming in our home State, then coming even closer to see our town from above. The land is a creation of G!d and we are one with the soil, the sand and water. Our thoughts of gratitude for the beauty of our home town and our blessings directed towards it are reflected right back at us, filling our souls with delight. Let us reflect on how we can contribute to preserve its beauty.
 
8.  Visualizations. Shul
 
We may now zoom in our community, our synagogue, our connection to the Divine, the Source of our Inspiration. We may visualize a flow of energy coming from the Universe towards the Holy Land and being directed right into our House of Study and Worship, filling it with the most intense spiritual Light. In this visualization, it is good to remember to be open to receive -and give- Light and blessings. It is good to remember to be a source of miracles in this world because only by being so will we -ourselves- live on the level of miracles.
 
May you receive an abundance of blessings and witness revealed miracles.
​Happy Chanukah!