Reflections on Vayeitzei, Sacred Listening & the Invisible Blessings in Our Lives
Parashat Vayeitzei • Genesis 28:10–32:3
“Surely God is in this place — and I did not know.”
— Genesis 28:16
There is a moment in this week’s parasha when Jacob awakens from his dream and realizes that God has been with him the entire time. What changes isn’t God’s presence — but Jacob’s awareness. Something softens, opens, awakens. He shifts from simply moving through the world to listening within it.
That inner shift is where spiritual life begins.
Jacob’s dream is filled with angels moving between realms, carrying messages and blessings. But the story reminds us that angels aren’t only found in visions. Many of the angels in our lives walk beside us in very human forms — friends, mentors, colleagues, nurses, family members, teachers, and even strangers whose kindness touches us at just the right moment.
Vayeitzei is one of my favorite Torah portions, and I included a few variations and sketches in the Visual Midrash section of new book, Illuminated Journey (available in January!).
This week’s prayer, “Unseen Angels,” is dedicated to those who make a practice of blessing others through their presence, their compassion, and their way of being in the world.
Unseen Angels
A Prayer for Parashat Vayeitzei
Source of All—
Shower bountiful blessings
upon the angels who make a difference
in my life, and in the world.
Those whose non-judgmental
acceptance of what is
allows me to stand in—and embrace—my truth.
Those whose positivity and cheerful attitude
help me view challenges
from a different perspective.
Those whose passion for what they do
excites me about exploring
new directions in my own endeavors.
Those whose willingness to risk failure
encourages me to experiment and evolve.
Those whose ability to listen
and practice mindfulness
reminds me to be present.
Those whose determination
to make the world a better place
inspires me to do the same.
Sacred Listening: A Practice for This Week
Since today is National Listening Day, it felt like the perfect moment to reflect on the spiritual discipline of listening— in Hebrew, שמע / Shema — a word that means far more than “hear.”
To Shema is to:
- Listen deeply
- Pay attention
- Bear witness
- Take something in
- Let it transform you
Sacred listening invites us to:
- Notice what we might otherwise overlook
- Create space for stillness
- Be present to what is true for us in each moment
- Recognize the ubiquitous presence of the Divine
A Practice for the Week
Sacred listening doesn’t require silence.
It requires presence.
I invite you to choose one moment each day — perhaps when you first arise, or just before going to bed, to pause and be present. Ask yourself:
What is speaking to me in this moment?
What blessing is waiting to be recognized?
If possible, record your thoughts in a journal, notebook or sketchpad. Below are a few of my journaling pages to give you some ideas.
Guided Journaling Questions
- Who are the “unseen angels” whose presence has supported, guided, or encouraged me recently?
- What helps me shift from simply hearing to truly listening — to others, to myself, or to the Divine?
- What message might be waiting for me in the stillness if I pause long enough to listen?
- Like Jacob, what awakening or awareness am I being invited into right now?
Closing Blessing
May this week deepen our capacity to be present,
and open new pathways to connection, compassion, and creativity.
May we strengthen our ability to sense God’s presence
in every place and every moment.
May we embrace the opportunity
to climb another rung on the ladder of life
secure in the knowledge that God is surely with us.
May the light of God’s love surround, uplift and flow through us.