I have always had an interest in comparative religion and have tried to educate myself as much as possible about other faiths and their observances. Joining the compendium of bloggers at The Daily Scribe has been a wonderful immersion into an ongoing multi-faith conversation. My fellow scribes are all talented writers who bring their unique perspective to the philosophy and practice of their religion and spirituality.

There are a number of Scribes who are Jewish and leading up to today they have been doing much writing, as you might expect, about Yom Kippur. Others in the group, while not Jewish, are following the spirit of this day to do some of their own "personal meditation, fasting, and reflection." I have other friends, outside the Scribe circle, who also take the opportunity during Ramadan, Yom Kippur and other holy days to attend to some of their own personal spiritual needs. It's not that these people don't have religious observances in their own faiths but that out of compassion, love and respect for those of other faiths they wish to observe on this day as well.

Witches know that the more people who are adding their energy to a particular working, the more powerful that working will become. Meditation done within the context of a group ritual is often much more powerful by virtue of the energy that the other participants are contributing. Is it any wonder, then, that many people are taking the opportunity today to dip into the collective spiritual energy being generated around the world for some spiritual work of their own? Not just to have a more powerful personal experience but to feel part of a universal collection of souls.

One of the posts on Yom Kippur that caught my attention was Simchas Yom Kippur at Reb Chaim HaQoton. It starts by saying that Yom Kippur is one of the happiest days of the year and goes on to explain why. This passage was particularly instructive:

...the repentance during the Ten Days of Repentance from Rosh HaShannah to Yom Kippur is a repentance out of fear (fear from Heavenly punishment and fear of the awesomeness of G-d), while the repentance during the holiday of Succos is a repentance from love. The difference between the two types of repentance is that repentance from fear only erases one's sins, while repentance from love transforms one's sins into fulfillments of positive commandments...

I am intrigued by the concept of two kinds of repentance, especially the idea that "repentance from love" can be a transformative power for good. Witches perform their work in a sacred circle of "perfect love and perfect trust." We too recognize love's power to transform.

While I don't prescribe to the idea of "sin" or that of a smiteful God who is going to be angry and do nasty things to you if you don't repent, I do embrace the practice of taking a day to look back over the past year, reflect upon things you've done that you regret or wish you had done differently, and make a plan for how to transform yourself, your attitude, your actions so that next year will be better. Yes, it's good to ask forgiveness from others, but it's just as important to forgive yourself. That is how I think atonement and forgiveness can make you happy.

In my recent post about the Wiccan Sabbat Mabon I wrote:

This is a time for spiritual reflection on the past year, what it has brought to us and what have we sown and harvested in our lives. It is a time to give thanks to the God and the Goddess for what we have been able to accomplish and it is an opportunity to cut away the chaff, the useless things and situations that are keeping us from realizing our truest potential and greatest happiness. How can we work to bring more balance to our lives? Since we are coming to the end of our Pagan year it also is a time to imagine what we hope and plan to accomplish next year. These things are our modern "harvest."

The spiritual work we are asked to do on Mabon is very similar to that asked of Jews at Yom Kippur. We do this now to prepare for the end of the year, the end of the harvest, the darkness of the winter to come, before Samhain, our New Year.

Another passage from Simchas Yom Kippur that I found intriguing was this:

On the day of Yom Kippur, every Jew's fate for the year is sealed, and it is one's final time to repent for sins.

A literal reading may suggest that this is your last chance to ask for forgiveness. From a larger, metaphorical position, I think it's possible to read this as meaning that as the end of the year approaches, these are the last days we have to wipe the slate clean to begin the new year clearer of spirit and of intent. In witchcraft, intent is the most powerful energy of all.

G'mar chatimah tovah (may you, finally, be sealed for good) and "May your observance bring you closer to the meaning that you seek." (The Velveteen Rabbi)

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 9:30 AM