Plants, amulets, practices, rituals for protection from throughout the Jewish Diaspora, from ancient times through the present.
Immersion Description
In this immersion, we will dream deep into the rich lineage of protection magic from throughout the Jewish diaspora, from the Levant/SWANA/MENA regions, the Balkans and Mediterranean, Southern and Eastern Europe, from ancient times through the present. For thousands of years, Jews have woven rituals and remedies for protection against sheydim (often translated as “demons”) and ayin hara (evil eye), enlisting the support of plants, amulets, sacred symbols, ritual, prayer, and texts. We will learn about ancient boundary and blessing practices, amulets, incantation bowls, mezuzot, and plants for protection, and discuss ways we can integrate some of these practices in our lives. As we re-enliven and reconnect with these ancestral traditions of protection, the prayer is that these practices support us both personally and collectively, grounded in a theology of abolition, presence, and collective care.
You may be wondering: is this the same workshop we offered in the spring or a part 2? This immersion is a remix & repeat. You are welcome to take it again, but it will be much of the same information offered in the spring, combined with emergence and the addition of small group co-study (chevruta).
Immersion Includes
The immersion is three sessions over five weeks, with optional chevruta (small group co-study) gatherings in between.
Thursdays: October 7, October 21, & November 4
Immersions will be 3 hours long, with a 10 min break in the middle.
Each session will include lecture-type knowledge sharing, beautiful slide shows and handouts full of resources, optional small break out groups and personal reflection time, guided meditations, and suggestions for home practices.
All sessions will be recorded and available for 60 days
Week 1 ~ October 7: Introduction to Jewish Protection Magic
Diaspora, assimilation, and reconnection
Jewish protection magic for healing and liberation
Demons and evil eyes
Mechanisms of Protection
Week 2 ~ October 21: Garlic in our Pockets: Plants for Protection
Week 3 ~ November 4: More Amulets & Rituals for Protection
Exchange
Sliding scale: $72-$333 (for all three)
When choosing the tier on the sliding scale please be honest with what you can afford. If you can pay at the higher end, please do so as that gives space for folks who can’t.
For more information on sliding scale please check out this amazing work!
For lower rate/scholarships please email herbancura@gmail.com with subject Jewish Protection
A portion of proceeds goes to Gaza Mutual Aid: directly to families in Gaza & Mass Bail Fund.
REGISTRATION CLOSES OCTOBER 4th
Access Information
*ASR Captioning provided
*Spanish translation available
*The immersion is open to everyone ~ we aim to make learning as accessible as possible and we will do our best to support your learning, providing basic definitions, translation/transliteration for all non-english words, and space for questions.
Virtual Gathering
5:30 - 8:30 pm EST
Link will be sent 3 days before the knowledge share
This immersion share will be recorded and available for 60 days.
Facilitator
Dori Midnight practices community-based intuitive healing, weaves accessible, liberatory ritual spaces, makes potions, teaches, and writes liturgy and spells for collective healing and liberation. Drawing on traditions from her Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jewish lineage, Dori's work is enlivened and supported by a web of teachers and co-conspirators in Disability and Healing Justice work, queer liberation, and multi-rooted, diasporic Judaism. Dori lives on unceded Pocumtuc/Nimpuc land (Western Massachusetts) with her family, where she tends a garden full of flowers and garlic.