The moon of Elul is my favorite cycle of the year. It promises love and purity. And it does it in a way that isn’t light and fluffy, but actually has depth and staying power.  We all know that no relationship—especially one with yourself—is easy all of the time. But with the right tools and intentions and actions, even the most challenging of times prove to be harbingers of deeper intimacy and connection

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Elul provides the framework—a month long cycle—to do what is necessary to heal and transform everything that keeps us from being in deep and honest love with ourselves, other people, and the Divine. Little by little, we reveal the pain, hurt, miscommunication, and misunderstandings that stop us from being open to feeling, giving, and receiving the pure love within us.

Beginning tomorrow night, on Rosh Chodesh Elul, make a commitment to begin compassionately excavating at least one area of your life that would return you to feeling more of the love and purity you were born with as an infant.

No one knows, really, what that one area is for you—maybe not even you. But make the time once a day for the next twenty-nine days to pause and breathe and be aware. Slowly, the awareness will begin to seep into your consciousness. Your first commitment is making the time. You can sit on your porch and look at your garden. You can light a candle. You can arrive a few minutes early and sit in the car without the radio playing. You can turn off your phone and your computer and sit at your desk. You can lay in your bed just after you awaken. The moments you make to pause and be aware will begin to prime your inner heart to return to yourself, to love, to insight, to purity, to truth.