Intention – Kavanah for Reclaiming Mikveh To be read before preparing for immersion God who hears our prayers, hear my voice. I stand between worlds of hope and fear. As I prepare my body to enter the mikveh, I also prepare my mind and spirit to release the past and allow pain to dissolve. As I immerse myself in mayyim hayyim, living waters, I begin a time of rebirth and renewal. Grant me the gift of safety – safety of body and safety of spirit. Source of All Life, in Your oneness, I find healing. In the promise of Your love, I am soothed. In Your wholeness, I too can become whole again. 1 May my strength increase, may my fears be released, may blessings, love, and joy surround me.2 May I know that I am loved and secure. Blessed is the Eternal One who gives me the ability to remember those blessings which are still mine to affirm and the strength to arise anew each day.3 I reclaim my immersion in the mikveh to be the spiritually pure, personal and private experience it is intended to be. ATTRIBUTIONS This kavanah was adapted from ceremonies created by Matia Rania Angelou, Deborah Issokson and Judith D. Kummer for Mayyim Hayyim Living Waters. 1
Zimmerman, Sheldon. “A Prayer for Prayer” in Healing of Soul, Healing of Body: Spiritual Leaders Unfold the Strength & Solace in Psalms. By Simkha Y. Weintraub. Woodstock, Vt: Jewish Lights Pub., 1994 www.jewishlights.com. Adapted. 2
Levy, Naomi. Talking to God: personal prayers for times of joy, sadness, struggle, and celebration. New York: A. A. Knopf, 2002. P. 119. 3
Anonymous. “When the Body Hurts the Soul Still Longs to Sing.” Ed., Nancy Flam [San Francisco, Calif.: Jewish Healing Center Mayyim Hayyim Living Waters Community Mikveh and Paula Brody & Family Education Center Mayyim Hayyim | 617-‐244-‐1836 | mayyimhayyim.org