The Month of Elul- The Sacred Return to the Soul
- Rev Dr Lora Coleman
- Aug 11
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 11
Every sacred tradition has seasons of remembrance.
Elul is Judaism's invitation to remember the soul.
ELUL- A Sacred Season of Returning
Imagine the soul as a beautiful mirror. Throughout the year it gathers dust and grime—not because the mirror has become broken in some way, but because living life has mired its brilliance. Elul is not about creating a new mirror. It is about gently polishing away what obscures the light that has always been there.
In Jewish tradition, time is not simply a series of dates on a calendar. Every day within a week, month or season carries its own energy, “cosmic opening” or spiritual invitation. Jewish mysticism teaches that throughout the year there are sacred “windows of time”—moments of time when certain energy and cosmic stirrings invite and support inner work. Elul, the month leading up to Rosh Hashanah (the Head of the New Year), celebrates the creation of humanity; the moment human consciousness entered creation. This time invites deep reflection, release, forgiveness, realignment and renewal as the New Year approaches. The reflection process allows us to realign with the highest version of our soul’s DNA as we go into the cycle of a new year.
Elul is a time of reflection and recalibration for all people of all faith, or no faith, because it is the celebration of the birth of humankind in the creation process.
Rather than rushing into a new year, Elul invites us to pause, exam and reflect upon healing, forgiveness, releasing and realigning with Spirit. It offers an opportunity to honestly look at our lives, release what no longer serves us, repair relationships where possible, and realign ourselves with the Divine and the deepest values of our soul's purpose.
In the language of Jewish tradition, this process is called teshuvah—often translated as "repentance," but more accurately understood as returning. Returning to our authentic self; what I like to call our “Divine Blueprint”. Returning to the Divine. Returning to the life we were created to live.
During Elul, the shofar is sounded every day, not only to hear with our ears—but also as an invitation to open hearing in the soul as each blast asks the same timeless questions: What in you is ready to heal, release or awaken"
Whether you come from a Jewish, Christian, interfaith, or spiritual-but-not-religious background, the invitation of Elul is universal. Every one of us benefits from taking time to reflect, forgive, learn, and begin again.
Throughout this month, you are invited to combine ancient Jewish mystical wisdom with contemporary psychology and contemplative practice as you spend time in deep reflection, release and realignment. Explore the habits, beliefs, relationships, and emotional patterns that shape your life over the last year and create intentional space for healing and preparing your heart for the new year ahead.
May this season become not simply a time of self-improvement, but a sacred return to the deepest truth of who you are through.
Reflection, Teshuva and Psychology
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