The Origins of Eshet Hayil
Scholars say that the custom of singing Eshet Hayil at the Friday night table was initiated by kabbalists in the 17th century, who viewed Shabbat as an occasion of mystical union with the Divine. They understood Eshet Hayil allegorically as a representation of the Shekhina, the feminine presence of God.
September is the month the Sun shines on the Divine Feminine who nurtures life in the womb. The Haab year, 13 Earth/CABAN is an Ascension and Answered prayers for Mother Earth. At the harvest, fields are cleared and old growth is turned over in the soil to become fertile with the wisdom we learned through the first 9 months of the Year. It’s difficult for women to celebrate themselves, and just as difficult for men to celebrate their own softer side. The duties of the one who serves as a “mother” are perpetual movement in the everyday work that goes on behind the scenes.
The hardest work for a Human “mother” is to accept that we can’t be perfect. We can only aspire to be, by facing the truth we can never be, until our life is wholly turned over to the Holy Spirit within. We’re lucky if we learn in time to nurture our self in a second life, after the children are gone.
The traditions and the meaning for Eshet Hayil is drawn from the final chapter of Proverbs: 31. Wendy Zierler, explains the ancient song about a ‘woman of valor’ and shares a link to the song of Eshet Hayil, courtesy of Mechon Hadar on SoundCloud.
Explaining this ancient song about a ‘woman of valor’ by Wendy Zierler
“There is allegory, and then there is literal reading. Singing Eshet Hayil was also an occasion to offer appreciation for my mother, who cooked, baked, and sewed, and had now prepared the Shabbat dinner that we so much enjoyed. The valorous woman in Proverbs 31 never sits still, let alone rests. Her light never goes out and she rises from her bed when it is still dark. Was that not just like my own mother, who teemed with nervous energy, walked more quickly than anyone else in the family, and had this uncanny ability to wake up in the middle of the night in response to the sound of my footsteps approaching my parents’ room?”
On a Friday 13 Shabbat in the Year 13 Earth/CABAN may we celebrate the Divine Feminine aspect that is shared with every child born of Earth, and the gifts that offer the potential to be a “woman of valor.” It was written in the Seed of every Human Being. The Father that conceived Human life, can do anything. Women have suffered the role as second-class human beings throughout this era of Humanity. It won’t go to our head, when we’re kneeling in humility to all our Human limitations for what we dreamed we could be. May we take it to heart for the Seed of a New Life that lies ahead.
We can give credit where it’s due, to a Divine Mother and Divine Father all in one as the Elohim. May we honor the Perfect Mother Earth who never stops turning us to the Light of Divine possibilities. Everything we give to her, she uses to nurture a New Life.
Proverbs 31:30-31
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
THE EARTH MAGIC OF GRATITUDE:
I’m grateful for the Holy of Holies that can do anything when we have the courage to Dream for our Highest Hopes and Aspirations, and bring it as the Offering to the One who sees the beauty in the “everyday” duties that are born from a Heart of Compassion that feels what we feel. May we give credit to Mother Earth for all she does to insure life carries on in a good way. May we claim invisible forces of Love we can’t see so we can imagine a Divine Example of what the Creator intends to be. There are Forces of Nature yet to be discovered that every child shares with “the Divine Mother” of us all.
I celebrate the Divine Feminine of Compassionate Love and Discernment that shines in you. Eshet Hayil is a Divine birthday song for all of us. As a song shared by generations, the power of the symbol has been multiplied through every repetition. Time is ordered to celebrate a New Life that holds the potential for a Divine Balance. To realize the Dream we only have to Choose the Seed to have and to hold through the Dreamtime of Winter, and plant at the 2025 Spring Equinox. Thursday, Mar 20, 2025 is 4 Road/EB, a Day intended to Stabilize the Road to Destiny, and a Day when we collectively see the Light of a New Life. We could share “10 Days of Awe” as we’re carried into the New Haab Year, 1 Wind/IK on March 30, 2025. 1 Wind/IK, Destiny Kin 222, is a Year divinely ordered to raise the Truth of the Word and the Promise of a Covenant for who we are becoming, and by Divine Design, who we shall be.
What we are incapable to do for our self, we can Ask the Holy Spirit within to sing to us.
love, in lak’ech ala k’in (I am another you, and you are another me)
We were all created in the image of the 2 as 1, by the Name Elohim.
Debra, 9 Eagle/MEN
THE TRECENA OF JAGUAR/IX: CREATING A LIFE FROM SPIRIT
MAYAN CALENDAR DAYKEEPER’S JOURNAL
11 Seed/KAN, Cherokee, Dragon/UKTE’NA, Destiny Kin 24, Position 4
September 13, 2024, 09/13/2024; Last Round: December 28, 2023, 12/28/2023
Archangel Zadkiel represents the Messenger of “the Creator’s light made real.”
THE TRECENA OF JAGUAR/IX: Vision Quest, a Journey of Spirit to the Light of a New Day
Visit the 13-Day Trecena Guide for resources regarding the daily aspects and events of the trecena.
“Tzolk’in Field Guide: A Daily Practice for Personal Discernment”
by Debra Malmos, 9 Eagle/MEN
“Tzolk’in Field Guide: Volume 1, Seasons 1 and 2” (Download PDF)
“Tzolk’in Field Guide: Volume 2, Seasons 3 and 4” (Download PDF)
1 Jaguar/IX is the 2nd trecena found in Volume 1, Season 1.
Also see Daykeeper Resources for calculators, calendar links. The Spiritual Tools page offers ways from many Divine Traditions that you may use to expand your Spiritual Practice.
11 Seed/KAN (Cherokee, Dragon/UKTE’NA) – Day 11 of 13 of the 1 Jaguar/IX trecena
The Jaguar was one of Ian’s totems, the reason for the IX in “MayanMajix.com”
Descriptions by Ian Xel Lungold (12 Sun/AHAU), wisdom and Tzolk’in calculator preserved on MayanMajix.com
Galactic Tone 11: Resolution; 11 assists every new thing to find its place in the universe in the process of ‘fitting in.’ some modifications must occur. Eleven is the energy of dynamic actions facilitating change, simplification and improvement.
Seed/KAN: Family, sexual activity and the magic of germination are the characteristics of this sun sign. Natural net workers, Seed people strive to free themselves and others from debt or oppressive patterns of the past. Abundance is gathered by Seeds as if with a cast net. Seed persons are public defenders who work toward uniting community by discovering hidden traps and secret influences of others. To generate true abundance, Seed must learn to appreciate all gifts and lessons received and conduct profound investigations into its self. In the absence of gratefulness and the courage to face oneself, Seed finds itself in less than less fertile environments.
A GOOD DAY TO: Plant, make new contacts and reconnect with others.
Cherokee, Dragon/UKTE’NA O’STO: Dragon’s symbol is Draco winding between the Little Dipper and Big Dipper. Dragon is the Corn Spirit, symbol of dual personality of Corn Mother and Maiden; fertility and pro-creation from generation to generation. The word dragon means “eye, to look at, to see clearly”. Spirit brings energy of Lawgiver, Justice, vigilance and protective, loyal unto death. Ley lines in China are “dragon lines”, energy is sometimes called “orgone energy”, pyramid power or magnetic force. Pyramids and kivas are collector portals for this energy, known as vortexes. Dragon energy beats a path everywhere, stirring things up with a big stick in tune with the beat of the drum, heartbeat of the Earth.
[Text in italics was the primary source of inspiration for my journal. These are the sources that started my journey and they are the reference for interpretation each day. By providing the original text, I hope to offer a way to see what inspired my thoughts and by including all the aspects – allow for something more to inspire you. Mayan descriptions are those written by Ian Lungold. Cherokee descriptions came from multiple sources. Links to sources and other resources of study are offered on the Daykeeper Resources Page. ~Debra]
