This past week, the Jewish tradition celebrated Rosh Hashanah—a two-day festival of deep introspection, renewal, and spiritual rebirth. It is a time to release regrets, practice forgiveness toward self and others, and begin a new year with soulful attention.
It’s a Sabbath-kind of religious holiday.
“Remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy.” The fourth of the Ten Commandments offers a potent reminder to all who long for a contemplative life. Sabbath is more than a day on the calendar; it is a healing time, a mindset, a spiritual tool. At its heart, Sabbath is a shift of awareness—an intentional pause where we attune to our inner wisdom and the quiet invitations of Spirit.
Sometimes Sabbath is one day of the week; other times it becomes a rhythm woven throughout daily life. However we practice it, Sabbath invites us to listen—to the still, small voices that arise when we grow quiet.
Without such pauses, our lives lean toward reactivity. We stress, we react, we amplify our problems. Sabbath interrupts this cycle, calling us not to strive or fix, but to rest and receive. It is not merely a pause from life, but the activation of sacred living.
Farmers know that letting the land rest restores its fertility. Our souls are no different. We need dormancy—moments of stillness that become fertile soil for renewal and creativity. Sabbath can take many forms: a quiet walk, a screen-free morning, times of journaling, meditation, or prayer. At its core, it is anything that nourishes presence rather than depletes it.
Without true rest and inner quiet, our spirits suffer from a kind of malnutrition. The gift of Sabbath is that it spiritually aligns and balances us—it recharges us, enriches our awareness, and reminds us that life is more than productivity. Sacred life is presence, breath, beauty, and blessing.
And so, the ancient wisdom speaks across the ages: Remember the Sabbath. Remember to step back, to rest, to listen. Remember to honor the sacredness woven into time itself. Remember the Sabbath—and in doing so, remember and embrace what makes life truly holy.