CREATIVE SOUL JOURNEYS

Toronto Jewish Tribune

Journey to the Inner Sanctuary
By Shlomit Kriger

Apr. 2009

Women of diverse ages and backgrounds journeyed into their subconscious minds and through their souls during the recently held Painting Your Soul Canvas workshop held at Chabad of Markham and organized by the WOW organization of the Chabad Sisterhood.

Workshop facilitator Neria Cohen provided the women with insights into the Torah and led them through a guided meditation focused around various areas of Jerusalem's Holy Temple, which she explained is a model of the soul. She added that there is a need for each individual to sanctify her mind, heart, and behaviour in order to create a personal Temple that forms a conduit through which God's essence can permeate her being.

Cohen also indicated that there are two parts to the soul - the animal soul, which is more physically connected but is meant to be motivated by its opposite energy, the Godly soul. The animal soul tends to be more emotion-based, and each person has different dominant emotions that drive them and deter the soul from properly manifesting in the world.

Some people may be prone to much insecurity, anger, or laziness. She asked the women to keep in mind what they believed to be their key emotions throughout the meditation and to "sacrifice" them before entering the Holy of Holies.

After opening their eyes, the women began to form their own paintings, expressing their thoughts and feelings with each brushstroke. Some also used glitter, beads, and feathers to add a more personal touch. As the participants shared their creations with one another, Cohen explained that in Judaism various colours represent different emotions. For example, purple indicates the endurance to counter fear, while red stems from power or contained anger.

In a recent interview, Cohen added that this type of workshop affects all participants in different ways. "It really depends on what they're dealing with in their lives at the time, what it connects with," she said. "The imagery I use comes from the Torah, and all Torah imagery speaks to the neshama (soul).

"I also discovered through my own experience with painting that this could be a way to enter into a meditative state where you have an internal conversation between yourself and the canvas. It also allows you to connect with your right brain, which is creative, intuitive, and non-judgemental."

Growing up in a traditional Jewish family in South Africa, Cohen was regularly involved in such cultural activities as lighting the Shabbat candles and having Friday night Kiddush. However, she yearned to learn more about the reasons behind each of the mitzvoth (Jewish commandments) and their spiritual components. "Chassidus (the teachings of Jewish mysticism) explains that for every mitzvah there is a spiritual light that is being drawn down to the soul from God," said Cohen.

Following her completion of an honours degree in drama, film, and English, Cohen moved to New York, U. S., where she worked in post-production. She soon got involved with Chabad-Lubavitch and became more interested in Judaism. Then about 15 years ago, she went to study in a seminary in Tzfat, Israel. That inspired her to become religiously observant and continue engaging in studies of Jewish mysticism.

After settling in Brooklyn, N.Y. a few years later, Cohen decided to combine her passion for Jewish mysticism with her artistic background through workshops that would involve participants in "active learning." Her other workshops include dance and meditation and a Tu B'Shvat Seder. She also runs a Women's Shabbaton.

For more information, visit www.neriacohen.com.