hi Dina,I love the mikveh! I'm a Conservative rabbi and was involved with Mayyim Hayyim in its early stages. Much of what I teach my congregants is what you write above. Just get wet - try it - go for it! All of the rules make sense once it's part of a lived life. Although I don't insist on "all the rules". In fact, I encourage women to only wait the Torah ordained days, not the extras. I encourage men to go too. I bring men and women for tons of reasons - marking divorce, becoming the parent of a bar/bat mitzvah, starting chemo. Mikveh is a spiritual and very personal experience. To add to your words on wholeness, I'd say mikveh is about becoming ready. It's about transitions. It's about a spiritual change. So dive in! :)Also, since mikveh is about relationships (husband/wife, etc), it's also about the relationship with the mikveh guide (or mikveh lady in other communities). Once you have the trust of the mikveh guide and you've established a relationship with the mikveh, it becomes a very different experience. I no longer feel like I'm trying to do all the rules so I "pass a test." Now it's all about me and my spiritual journey, a connection with my body and with my husband, and ultimately, with God.- Rabbi Ilana Garber
hi Dina,I love the mikveh! I'm a Conservative rabbi and was involved with Mayyim Hayyim in its early stages. Much of what I teach my congregants is what you write above. Just get wet - try it - go for it! All of the rules make sense once it's part of a lived life. Although I don't insist on "all the rules". In fact, I encourage women to only wait the Torah ordained days, not the extras. I encourage men to go too. I bring men and women for tons of reasons - marking divorce, becoming the parent of a bar/bat mitzvah, starting chemo. Mikveh is a spiritual and very personal experience. To add to your words on wholeness, I'd say mikveh is about becoming ready. It's about transitions. It's about a spiritual change. So dive in! :)Also, since mikveh is about relationships (husband/wife, etc), it's also about the relationship with the mikveh guide (or mikveh lady in other communities). Once you have the trust of the mikveh guide and you've established a relationship with the mikveh, it becomes a very different experience. I no longer feel like I'm trying to do all the rules so I "pass a test." Now it's all about me and my spiritual journey, a connection with my body and with my husband, and ultimately, with God.- Rabbi Ilana Garber