Netivot
The Netivot are pathways or archetypes that embody different aspects of Jewish priestexx energy. The twelve Netivot were identified by Rabbi Jill Hammer and Taya Mâ Shere, the founders of the Kohenet Hebrew Priestess Institute, based in their explorations of biblical women and the mystical Jewish text the Sefer Yetzirah, as well as Elizabeth David and Carol Leonard’s Women’s Wheel of Life. We also find some of these archetypes explored through the work of Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, and undoubtedly by others we do not know of.
The Maiden or Na’arah is the pure wisdom of youth, the uncorrupted belief in what is possible. Meyaledet, the Midwife, dedicates herself to bringing forth what is new and essential. The Neviah is the Prophetess, whose visions become action. Eim, the Mother, tucks her creations under her arms and shows them their world. The Wise Woman, Chachamah, has learned from her experience and knows what and when to give. The Tzovah is the Temple Keeper, who tends her space and her community with dedication and tenderness. The Queen, or Gevirah, has inner strength and outer influence; she makes things happen. The Mourning Woman or Mekonenet honors and digests the gifts of grief. The Ba’alat Ov is the Witch, who knows the ways of the spirits and communicates with their realms. The Doreshet is the Seeker, open to being changed by the journey ahead. Ohevet, the Lover, meets the world with a kiss, a wellspring of pleasure. And the Leitzanit is the Fool, a sacred annoyance who brings needed reorganization and honors chaos. Each Netivah holds a specific energy that we live into at different moments in our lives. They show up for us, and we show up as them. We hold all of these pathways in our kaleidoscopic selves, mirroring the Weaver or Oreget, who tends the many threads and makes them one.
Netivot by Month
Tishrei ~ Gevirah / Queen
Cheshvan ~ Mekonenet / Mourning Woman
Kislev ~ Ba’alat Ov / Witch
Tevet ~ Doreshet / Seeker
Shvat ~ Ohevet / Lover
Adar I ~ Oreget / Weaver
Adar II ~ Leitzanit / Fool
Nisan ~ Na’arah / Maiden
Iyar ~ Meyaledet / Midwife
Sivan ~ Neviah / Prophetess
Tamuz ~ Eim / Mother
Av ~ Chachamah / Wise Woman
Elul ~ Tzovah / Temple Keeper