Ma'ayan

Tu B’Shevat in the Forest

Journeys· RECENT Workshops

On a gorgeous February afternoon, we gathered in the woods to celebrate the New Year of the Trees.

We breathed, sang and circled in celebration of our tallest relatives. We had an elemental seder under the February limbs of the Oak with chant, meditation and communion with the trees. Our journey took us through the four kabbalistic worlds and the four elements of Assiyah (Action/Earth/Rootedness), the world of Yetzirah (Emotion/Water/Flowing), the world of Briyah (Thought/Air/Knowing), and finally, the world of Atzilut (Spirit,/Fire/Essence.) We honored these four worlds through four cups of wine or juice and four courses of nuts and fruit.

  • forest art with words

McKenzie, You are a spiritual artist!

What a beautiful ritual you shaped for Amy’s conversion… it had beauty, heart and LOVE. It was a pleasure to collaborate with you! Yishar kokhech!
Rabbi Dayle Friedman, she/her
Interim Rabbi, Congregation Bet Haverim

McKenzie's magic is in her creativity

and how she holds space for everyone to participate in their own way. She thought of every little detail to make the event special ... Everyone left the evening feeling grounded and part of something greater than themselves, and my daughter felt extraordinarily loved and supported.
Ariela F.
from a Red Thread Ceremony for her daughter

I will never forget the power of my conversion, thanks to McKenzie’s skills.

Her intuitive, artistic way of creating, together with her deep understanding of Jewish ritual and tradition, birthed an experience far beyond what I could have imagined. McKenzie saw the inherent majesty and meaning in the conversion process, and made it not only visible, but embodied. We became an ecstatic bunch of women, singing and laughing together in such a simcha!
Amy L.
from a Conversion to Judaism ceremony

McKenzie guided our group powerfully

embodying her deep commitments to connection, gratitude, justice, the earth and all of its inhabitants. She breaks through daily existence patterns and breathes fresh fiery love into each moment. Throughout the planning and the ritual she listened deeply to the possibilities and needs of the moment. A thunderstorm arrived in the middle of our outdoor ritual and she wove it in with grace so that it made the moment even more meaningful. Her powerful vulnerability and full presence is a gift to be inspired by.
Sara G.
from a Birth Blessing Ritual