On the ninth of Av, we are mourning the destruction of the Holy Temple and the ‘Exile’ hat is the aspect of our distance from the Shechina. During this day we do not engage in the Zohar or Torah study because they give us light and pleasures. On this day we study what’s related to the destructions to feel the lack of the great Light that was revealed during the times the Holy Temple existed.

We can eat until a few minutes before sundown. Check myZmanim.com for local times

Below is Zohar Eicha to read/scan on this day.

Even though we rise from the floor after midday, we shouldn’t celebrate but we rise and raise hopes for the coming of Mashiach, today, to end all pain and suffering in the world. We make it a holiday only after Mashiach comes.
After midday, we can go back to studying Zohar.

Water meditation below the Zohar.

Download (PDF, 159KB)

Meditation on the water before the beginning of the fast

The Ari also taught us a ‘trick’ to balance the body energy and remove the thirst feeling during the fast.

Before the fast begins we drink a cup of water in 9 gulps with the following meditation.

Prepare a full cup of water. I use an 8 oz size cup because I usually drink a lot before.

Turn the cup one time counterclockwise, meditate on the right of right and say “Chessed of Chessed” then drink a little. Place the cup back on the table.

Turn the cup again counter-clockwise for the left of right and say “Gevurah of Chessed”. Place the cup and turn it again for the center of right saying “Tiferet of Chessed”, drink and put it back.
Follow the sequences in the table above and on the ninth one of Tiferet of Tiferet we drink the rest of the water and begin the fast. This meditation brings balance to the body that is mostly water.

Before the last glass of water and meditation, I usually drink hot tea and brush my teeth, ‘washing’ the tongue from any food tastes as it may bother us later.

Please share this teaching. 

May you all have an easy fast.