Casting Blessings for Beginners

Blessings, like stones, may be cast in all directions and by all people. They are easily said, easily sent on their way. And, like a stone cast into water, blessings cause a ripple effect. Not only is the person being blessed affected, but all those who come into contact with that person. This is the joy and the burden of blessing casting. When you first begin, it is not easy to think about casting blessings throughout the day. Here are some ideas to start with.

• Waking Up When you waken in the morning, even if it is to the sound of a bleating alarm clock or a crying child, thank God for the miracle of another day of life. Realize that there are literally thousands of little things that could have gone wrong in your body during the night to prevent you from wakening. Yet, none of them did and here you are. Thanking God now could be your first blessing of the day.
  
  Blessed are you God, Creator and Sustainer of Life, who has wakened me to another day.
• Eating a Meal “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” How many years has this saying been popular? You could make it the first time you thank God, and the loving partner who prepared it for you, for a meal. By setting the tone for gratitude each day, perhaps your breakfast blessing will become the most important blessing of the day. (Remember, you can give thanks for each meal you have any given day!)
  
  Blessed are you God, who brings forth food from the earth.
• Eating a Snack Even if you‘re only enjoying a quick treat, or a bite to replenish your energy, you can still be thankful that you have it. For me, chocolate particularly comes to mind as a treat to be grateful for. What‘s yours?
  
  Blessed are you God, whose word brings all things into being.
• Seeing beauty There is beauty all around for those of us who will notice it. When I first moved from the forests of Northern California to the Sonora Desert in Arizona, I thought I would miss the lush beauty I had lived in. I had visited Arizona before moving and was impressed by how brown and dusty it was. Then, I moved in January and I opened up my eyes. There are trees all over the desert, the cacti are such interesting varieties of color, and the spring wildflowers will knock your eyes out! The sun and shadows are different as well. It took some looking, but when I opened my eyes to notice it, I found beauty all around me.
  
  Blessed are you God, filling the world with beauty.
• Emergency Services If you are like me, you see or hear lots of emergency vehicles going by. Ambulances, fire engines, paramedic units, police vehicles all put on their lights and⁄or siren only when they are headed into an emergency situation. Someone else‘s life may be in danger, and they may be putting their own lives at risk to help. When this happens, I always ask for blessing on them. It takes less time than they do passing me by.
  
  Bless them and keep them safe. Give them the courage,strength, and wisdom to rescue and treat those they are going to now.
• Escaping Danger From time to time, each of us has a close call. Whether it is the fender bender that didn't happen because you noticed in time, or the accident scene you pass when you‘re late and think that it could have been you . . . LIfe is never random, though it may seem so. Be grateful when you are spared suffering.
  
  Blessed are you God, who bestows beneficial kindness.
• Seeing Someone After a Long AbsenceIn our highly mobile society, it is common to go weeks, months, even years without seeing some friends and family members. No matter how well we keep in touch, there is nothing like seeing the person and talking face to face. What a wonderful occasion for gratitude!
  
  Blessed are you God, who created us, gave us life and sustained us to this moment.
• Going to the BathroomMany people are surprised to hear that there is an “official bathroom blessing” that Jews all over the world say. However, when you think about it, there are few more important functions for our bodies. Remember thinking about how your body worked all through the night when you thanked God for waking you this morning? Well, this is a chance to express your gratitude for a healthy body that processes whatever you put into it and gets rid of toxic or useless “stuff” without any harm coming to you.
  
  Blessed are you God, who has made my body with wisdom
  
  
• Ending Your DayFrom a spiritual and a practical standpoint, it is a good practice to review your day before going to bed. Practically speaking, this will help you focus on what got done (a sense of accomplishment) and what remains to be done (tomorrow‘s to–do list) each day. Spiritually speaking, it will bring into your consciousness all the things that you can be grateful for each day.
  
  Thank you God, for being with me today.
  
  
• Going to Sleep As you settle down to sleep, take a deep breath and let the stress of the day go. Give your concerns over to God and let your muscles and mind relax. This makes a good last blessing of the day.
  
  God of life, shelter us in your tent of peace.

Blessings on you as you go your way.