The Omer Project - #omercountcards2021

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What is an Omer

Omer was a biblical unit of measurement, sometimes translated as “sheaves.” Beginning on the second night of Passover, Jews count the 49 days (7 weeks) between Passover and Shavuot on the 50th day. This is called Sefirat HaOmer, counting the Omer. 

In 2021, Sefirat HaOmer begins on the second evening of Passover, Sunday, March 28 and ends on Shavuot Sunday, May 16.

What is The Omer Project?

The Omer project will be a deck of meditation cards based on the Kabalistic journey of the soul through the 7 weeks days ending on Shavuot.

Here’s a fun video from BimBam with more information about Sefirat HaOmer which gives some context for what I’m doing as well.

The seven sefirot (attributes) are assigned to each of the seven weeks. We contemplate how they interact with each other and manifest in ourselves and the way we address the world around us.

The approach I’m using for the art of my card deck was originally inspired by Pamela Colman Smith’s work for the Arthur Waite’s Tarot deck.

I assigned a primary image for each of the sefirot, as well as a secondary gesture to indicate the action within another’s week. The final week, Malchut, is a little special so it’s backwards in that the primary is the gesture and the secondary is the image. I will leave you to contemplate the gestures.

Week 1 – Chesed – Loving-kindness 
Symbolized by the cups and water

Week 2 – Gevurah – Discipline, Strength
Symbolized by the standing stones

Week 3 – Tiferet – Harmony, balance
Symbolized by flowering trees

Week 4 – Netzach – Endurance, Perseverance
Symbolized by fireballs

Week 5 – Hod – Humility, Splendor
Symbolized by crates defining the space inside them and out.

Week 6 – Yesod – Bonding, Foundation
Symbolized by rings and links

Week 7 – Malchut – Sovereignty
Represented in the letter, shin, as crowns, influenced by Sefer Yetzirah

Count With Me

I’ll be posting each card image on my Instagram feed this year. Follow the Instagram Hashtag, #omercountcards2021 for my daily posts. You don’t need an Instagram account to see the posts but you probably will need an account to follow the tag.

Each day we count, we recite the blessing:

Baruch atah A-donai E-loheinu Melekh Ha-olam asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al S’firat Ha-omer

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to count the Omer.

And then we give the number for the day.

The Card Deck

The Omer Mediation Card Deck will be available for purchase at some point after Shavuot. I’m still working on finding a printer, so I’m also not sure about the cost. Initially, I expect to make to make a small print run so the cards will likely be digitally printed rather than offset, but that can change depending on interest.

Please click here to leave your name and email address with MailChimp so I can let you know about ordering a card deck when they become available. I promise I will only use your contact information for that purpose unless you’re a long lost relation I’ve been trying to track down.

Additional resources for Omer meditations