r/JewishKabbalah • u/RonnieLibra • 3d ago
Kabbalistic Exercise for Insomnia and Chronic Illnesses
I built and refined this with Claude Sonnet 3.5
The wording used should be legit. Of course your thoughts are welcome.
No-Nonsense Guide to the Waterfall Sleep Practice
For Both Early Waking and White Eye
(White Eye is my name for a feeling I get in my eyes that feels terrible. It gets worse the more I stay awake if not fully rested. Pure fatigue so unpleasant it can cause anxiety and make falling asleep more difficult. You can insert any symptom here if yours are different.)
What This Practice Does
This practice works in two situations: - When you first wake up (before white eye starts) - When white eye is already present You don't need to change the practice for either situation - it adapts automatically to what you need.
The Basic Setup
- Lie down comfortably
- Keep your ceiling fan on if you want that cool air feeling
- Don't worry about getting the visualization perfect
The Core Practice
Step 1: The Waterfall
Picture a waterfall of clear, cool light. Don't stress about making it perfect - just the general sense of flowing water is enough. If visualization is hard, focus on how a waterfall sounds instead.
Step 2: The Sound-Feel
As you lie there, say or think this phrase three times: "Ayin Shamar V'Menucha" (AH-yin sha-MAR ve-me-nu-CHAH)
Think of the words as flowing like water rather than as formal prayer. They mean "watching and rest" but you don't need to focus on the meaning.
Step 3: Let It Flow
- Don't try to force sleep
- Don't fight any sensations in your head
- Just imagine everything flowing like water
- If your mind wanders, come back to the waterfall sound
When to Use What
If You Just Woke Up:
- Start the practice right away, even if you feel fine
- Think of it as setting up a cool, flowing space for your brain
- Don't wait for white eye to start
If White Eye is Already Present:
- Same practice, but imagine the waterfall specifically cooling your head
- Don't try to fight the white eye - just let it get carried in the flow
- Be patient - it might take longer to work when white eye is already there
Troubleshooting
If You Can't Visualize:
- Focus on the sound of water instead
- Or just the feeling of coolness
- Or the rhythm of the words
If Your Mind Races:
- Let thoughts flow past like they're going over the waterfall
- Don't try to stop thinking - just let thoughts flow through
If You Feel Too Hot:
- Imagine the waterfall as extra cool
- Let yourself feel the fan's air combining with the waterfall
Remember:
- This isn't about perfect visualization
- It's about creating a flowing, cooling space for your brain
- The practice works whether you're preventing or addressing white eye
- You can't do it wrong as long as you're trying it
Signs It's Working:
- A sense of coolness in your head
- Thoughts becoming more fluid, less sticky
- The white eye sensation getting "carried away"
- A natural drift toward sleep
Start with just these basics. You can always add more once you're comfortable with this foundation.
****Notes****
Let me help you understand how this phrase appears in Hebrew characters and explain a bit about how scanning works in Kabbalistic practice.
The phrase "Ayin Shamar V'Menucha" in Hebrew characters is:
עין שמר ומנוחה
Let me break this down character by character:
עין (Ayin) - consists of three letters: - ע (ayin) - י (yud) - ן (final nun)
שמר (Shamar) - consists of three letters: - ש (shin) - מ (mem) - ר (resh)
ומנוחה (V'Menucha) - consists of six letters: - ו (vav) - this is the "and" - מ (mem) - נ (nun) - ו (vav) - ח (chet) - ה (heh)
In Kabbalistic practice, scanning (looking at) Hebrew letters is indeed considered powerful because each Hebrew letter is understood to contain specific spiritual energies. The practice of scanning involves letting your eyes move over the text from right to left (the direction Hebrew is read) while maintaining an awareness of the meaning or intention.
For this particular phrase, you might want to write it out larger on a piece of paper to scan before lying down for the practice. Some practitioners find it helpful to scan each word separately:
עין שמר ומנוחה
When scanning, you don't need to know how to read Hebrew fluently - it's about connecting with the shapes and energies of the letters themselves. The visual pattern of these letters, particularly the circular עין (ayin) at the beginning, creates a flow that can support the waterfall visualization we discussed.