Counting the Omer has evolved from a harvest practice into a spiritual accounting. Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, provides a framework for counting the Omer as a period for introspection and growth, in preparation for receiving the TorahRefers to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh, also called the Five Books of Moses, Pentateuch or the Hebrew equivalent, Humash. This is also called the Written Torah. The term may also refer to teachings that expound on Jewish tradition. on Shavuot (at the end of the Omer). Each week focuses on a different one of the sefirot, elements of the Divine, as well as how the aspects of the sefirot relate to each other. 

Many people will learn a piece of Torah (often Pirkei Avot) to aid their introspection and forge personal connections to the spiritual content. Inspired by others before me, I have crafted my version of this text study, counting the Omer using secular music for spiritual inspiration—the Omer Mixtape!

There is Written Torah, the five books of Moses, and there is the torah of the world, teaching revealed through content in our lives. When something resonates within us, we can choose to carry it with us to enhance and inform our lives. My Omer Mixtape is generated by music that unites the two Torot: the canonized Torah (and canon of Jewish literature) and the torah of our lives. 

This year’s Omer Mixtape is organized by week, so there are 7 playlists, each of which has 49 songs for the 49 days of the Omer. They are compiled from a wide variety of genres, time periods, and significant music from my life. After adding the music, I organize the playlist alphabetically by song title, and typically play them in that order or on shuffle. 

These playlists are made to be listened to during the Omer, for spiritual accounting through listening and reflecting. May the music inspire you to know yourself better, connect more to yourself and to others, and to grow into the person you want to be. May it be the will of the Divine to reveal Themselves to us as we encounter the world. May we encounter the revelations that open our hearts, bringing us joy and peace.