The ‘Enlightened Archivist ‘

The ‘Enlightened Archivist ‘

What is an archive?  It is; a record, an account, a collection, a story, a symbol.1-YL mtg 2014

An Archivist files and catalogues the archives.

An ‘Enlightened Archivist’ learns from the process of the findings yet to be stored, or not.

Recently I became an ‘Enlightened Archivist’ as I decluttered my family house.   I organized many items according to subject matter and discarded many things as well.  I found many records and symbols that flooded me with meaning and attachment.  This process was emotionally difficult and time consuming yet it allowed me to reflect, sort and sift, allowing space for clarity and grounding.

As we accumulate so much in our consumer driven society we need to take inventory and keep what brings us joy and remove what is not serving us. During this time of gift giving, holiday merriment and shopping frenzy we can all get caught up on possessing more.  Ultimately, it is really the possession of good times that is accounted for in our memory banks.

We are all passive and active archivists, products of history, a part of family lineages, cultures and rituals.  We receive education, learn languages, and are engaged in celebrations and experience tragedies and triumphs.

I invite you to become an enlightened archivist and take note of your resonating symbols.  These items of purpose deserve a rightful place in your personal archives. They collectively are your ‘Ner Tamid’, the Hebrew word that means ‘eternal light’ which originally burned in our First and Second Temples.

Find your flasks amongst the disarray, re- claim them and keep them burning bright in your sacred temples.

Wishing you enlightenment,

Debbie

BTW- Did you know that the Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia (JMABC) have tours of their 3400 square foot space in Richmond, B.C?  Call Marcy, Alysa or Michael for more information about their upcoming tours in the New Year.  (604-257-5199) www.jewishmuseum.ca

AND- Did you know that every copy of the Yossilinks newsletter is archived?!

Click here to visit Jewish Museum website: wwwjewishmuseum.ca or email info@jewishmuseum.ca

2 Comments

  1. Hello Debbie,
    You’re so right.
    I discovered the things we cherish and kept from our family home had more to do with memories than monetary value.
    Nice to visit with you today.
    Paula

  2. Debbie you are so right! Our homes are filled with seemingly meaningless stuff that actually says who we are. As a Personal Historian I love to help clients tell the story of all those tchotchkes on video so they can inspire the next generation.

    I had one client who showed off her silver tea service that she had inherited from her great grand bubbe. If only that teapot could talk! The stories!

    Everybody has a story.