This week focuses on Hod, the counterbalance to Netzach. After a week of focusing on endurance and ambition, propelling ourselves forward, we turn to a place of respite as we appreciate how far we’ve come and all that we have. 

Hod encapsulates gratitude and humility, awe and splendor, and simplicity. The focus is on noticing and appreciating all of the world’s magic, for realizing that there is majesty and splendor all around us, in the simplest of things. 

In expressing gratitude, we fortify ourselves. Pausing to appreciate what we have and how far we’ve come re-energizes the journey. Accessing our humility provides perspective and places us in the larger context of spirituality and Divine presence.  

Please note, my playlists include explicit content; any explicit content is labeled with a capital E on Spotify. 

Gratitude: The Undercurrent

Gratitude is the undercurrent of Hod, because it is both the foundation and the mechanism through which we find humility, notice awe, and appreciate simplicity. Gratitude balances us; it provides the anchor of humility keeping us grounded and the compass through which we navigate our encounters and process our experiences. 

Kacey Musgraves is heavily represented on this playlist, because so much of her music is about appreciating the world around her, in simple and pure ways. On her song “Dinner with Friends,” she sings about all of the little precious moments that remind her how special and precious life itself can be. 

Speaking of which, The Lathums have a song aptly titled “How Beautiful Life Can Be,” and there is a collection of songs with “thank you” in the title included too. A collection of music illustrating gratitude reminds us to be appreciative of the world in the same ways as the singer, and it inspires us to identify the specific gratitudes of our personal experiences.  

One way to practice gratitude is to begin with the ways we have not been as appreciative as we could have been. On her song “Taking Things For Granted,” Joy Oladokun sings about this, imploring us not to take anything for granted, to look beyond the surface for meaning and compel us to notice the beauty surrounding us. Similarly, on “Horses” Maggie Rogers speaks to a deep longing for a time when simple pleasures and freedom abound. 

The song “Almost (Sweet Music)” by Hozier expresses gratitude for the musicians who have come before him, inspiring Hozier to make his music. Songs like this can light the spark within us to pursue our own creative endeavors, and to alight our spirits through gratitude for those who have paved the way before us.

Awe, Splendor, Majesty: The World Around Us

When we are genuinely thankful for what we have, we notice how majestic the world can be. There are many songs about magic, wonder, awesomeness, glory, and happiness on this playlist. It can be understood as an evidential collection of the world’s splendor, as well as inspiration for us to notice what we personally find splendiferous. 

Kacey Musgraves encapsulates noticing majesty with songs like “The Architect” and “Heart of the Woods.” She notices a myriad of simple beauties and joys. Noah Kahan with his song “Everywhere, Everything” expresses appreciation for a deep love, and the minute, simple interactions that build up that depth. 

On her song “Honey,” Samia captures the awe that can be experienced when we choose to view the world through the lens of gratitude and simplicity. As she sings, “it’s all honey,” if we choose to see it that way. 

Humility: Staying Low to Feel High

Humility in the context of the sefirot is not about bringing yourself to the lowest point. It’s about humbling ourselves in the context of the powerful magical universe, of Divine energy. It’s a reminder that we are small in the context of the world, but not insignificant. 

Some artists have explored their sense of self as a way to seek this humility. “Dear Reader” by Taylor Swift and “Bigger Than Me” by Louis Tomlinson are completely different examples of an artist understanding their role and presence in the larger context of the world. Whether you’re a global superstar or an everyday “commoner,” we are all simply citizens of the earth.  

Another example is the song “Cheese” by GROUPLOVE, which tells us to “stay close to the cheese,” though it doesn’t exactly tell us what the cheese is. My interpretation, inspired by the band’s explanation, is that it’s like the precious moment of a smile captured on camera. We are meant to memorialize the feelings of awe and gratitude experienced in life’s simple moments. 

Through gratitude and humility, we stay connected to the universe, to the Divine, and to each other. Listen to the playlist, notice the world around you, and appreciate all that you can.