During the month of Iyar there is a practice of counting the Omer. Each night from the second night of Passover until the night before Shavuot, we count. Why is it that G!d has commanded us to count the days in between the Exodus and receiving the Torah? It is more than just about building a relationship with G!d, it is also about growing up so that we are able to hold space for the Torah (a HUGH responsibility). Every time, my daughter Raizel Chaya makes a new noise or moves her body in a different way, I am in awe. Every day she grows so much and yet she is just a baby! The Omer is a chance for us to grow so much and to realize that although we may not be babies in the physical sense, we are most certainly babies in the spiritual sense. We have so much to learn although sometimes there is a block to learning and life continues as if we know all of the answers ahead. During the Omer, I invite us to try to chip at the wall and maybe make a little hole so that by Shavuot, we can let new friends in, new ideas in or a new way of seeing in. The tea for this month is calming and soothing - great for just before bed, for teething babies or for stress and anxiety. It has Catnip, Chamomile and Mint.

Catnip | Nepeta Cataria

Got a teething baby? Catnip is your go to herb. Back in the day parents used to hang a small bag of the herb around colicky infants’ necks so help sooth them. Now it is more common to give it to them in a tea. It has a long history of use as a tranquilizer, sedative, digestive aid, menstruation promoter, and treatment for cramps and flatulence. When adding this fragrant herb to your tea blend, think about your current teething pains and what you can do to manage it. As we count the Omer, we can meditate on our sometimes painful relationship with G!d and ways we have been able to work it out with G!d.

How do you work on your relationship with G!d?

Chamomile | Martricaria Chamomilla

Chamomile is used externally to treat wounds and inflammation and is used internally for fever, digestive upsets, anxiety and insomnia. There are several oils in the plant that have a relaxing effect on the smooth muscle lining of the digestive tract, making her an antispasmodic. Of course, when we are working on our relationship with G!d, we can get nervous and for many that means an upset tummy. We know that when we stand before Hashem, we cannot hide. Every single part of us is exposed and that can make us feel uneasy Not only can chamomile help sooth our belly aches, but she can also help reduce anxiety.

What are other ways that you have been able to find peace and calm in moments of extreme vulnerability?

Mint | Mentha Piperita

Peppermint is used externally for itching and inflammations and internally as a digestive aid and treatment for menstrual cramps, motion sickness, morning sickness, colds, cough, flu, congestion, headache, heartburn, fever and insomnia. In the Talmud we read, “As a remedy for heart pain, let him bring three egg-bulks of mint, and an egg-bulk of cumin, and an egg-bulk of sesame seeds, and let him eat them together.” I don’t know about you but one of the many reasons I pray to G!d is to help heal my broken heart - whether it be loss, confusion, angst etc. During the Omer, we go through 7 of the attributes through which G!d is revealed: Loving Kindness, Might, Beauty, Victory, Praise, Foundation and Kingship. As we spend one week in each of these attributes, we have a chance to think about how we relate to each one and how we manifest them in our own lives. I am reminded of the complexity of G!d, relationships and even myself and my heart.

How do you find peace between your many selves?