3 Tevet: Tiny Tevet Treasure Hunt

Tiny Tevet Treasures’ pre-shabbat activity is a weekly excursion to a special spot, an encounter with (tiny tevet) treasure in our immediate surroundings. Today is one of discovery. Walk around your block or to your favorite local park or garden today. As you wander, find yourself drawn to one spot in particular where a tree or shrub is growing. You will visit this tiny treasure through the month of tevet.

After you prepare yourself to adventure comfortably outside, head out the door, ready to encounter your neighborhood anew. As you greet the day, feel your body directly connected to the earth. Sit or stand as able, close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths through your body. Feel your body evenly connected to the ground- rock from foot to fit until you find center, or shift the weight between your sit bones until you evenly meet the ground beneath you. Take a few moments to breathe through your body, from the base of your toes up your legs... through your core, back and neck... up through your head. Notice your breath rise and fall, and allow your body to find its way into connection with the ground beneath it.

Begin to tune into the elements around you. Can you feel any sun on your body? Is there wind brushing by your exposed skin? Are there birds calling or children laughing or horns honking? As you find yourself center, begin to notice what direction you are being called. Turn towards. Open your eyes (or keep them closed if you dare!. Let your body’s sense guide you to your tiny tevet treasure trove.

Walk gently towards it, perhaps around the block, or towards a green space in your neighborhood, releasing expectations of where you thought you might go. Feel yourself arrive. Re-center with some deep breaths through your body.

Upon arrival, spend time this heightened state of awareness. Engage each sense to truly behold where you’ve landed this morning… allow your vision expand as you take in the angles and layers in your gaze, breathe the fresh air through your whole body, taste it. Feel the earth beneath your body and/or feet. Perhaps you close your eyes, bend down, and feel the surrounding earth. Spend a few minutes with your eyes closed, just listening. Tune into the furthest away sounds, to the tones of your own in and out breath, and everything in between. Sink into presence, feel any resistance you experience to outdoor winter wandering melt away into the stillness of this moment.