When we vocalize a divine name, we combine these five elements. Below is the Hebrew letter *alef*. The *alef* is a sign, one of the basic elements of the vocalization. For Abulafia, and much of Jewish tradition, the *alef* is the letter of unity, the root of all letters and all existing things. It is both the first letter of the alphabet and the number one. Familiarize yourself with its shape. <p style="text-align: center; font-size: 200px; font-family: 'David', serif; margin: 0; line-height: 1;">א</p> Now, let's experientially explore the basic elements of the practice one by one. What we want to do is to bring our awareness/presence to each element in its turn. Once we have tasted each element by itself, we will begin to combine them into different permutations. It is awareness/presence that combines [מצרף] the elements together into the הזכרה / *hazkarah* / vocalization of the name. > [!tip] *Ma'aseh* - Practice > **Getting Centered in Awareness/Presence** > > Sit comfortably on a chair or cushion. Face forward with your neck and back straight, but not rigid. Breathe in and out. Let go of verbal thoughts; turn your attention away from any talk shows going on in your head. Relax. Imagine that any thoughts and feelings that pass through your mind are like clouds passing through the sky. You are the sky, not the clouds. Evoke in yourself the space and flow of awareness/presence. Let's practice this for a few minutes. > > In order to help clear your mind of verbal thoughts and evaluations, try asking yourself: "What is the next thought that I am going to think?". The momentary pause that follows that question, before an answer emerges, is the space for which we are looking. (This method is borrowed from Eckhart Tolle's *The Power of Now*). > > **Breath** > > The breath is in some ways the most powerful element of the vocalization. It is a very effective way of evoking awareness/presence. Let's now focus that awareness on the breath. Feel how the air enters and exits your body. Focus on how it feels while letting other thoughts fall away. Focus your attention on your breathing. In this state, slowly inhale and exhale ten times. > > **Voice** > > Now we'll add the element of voice. As you exhale, and for the full length of your exhalation, say one long *Ohhhh* (as in Joe). Your vocalization of the *Oh* should end as you run out of air and so reach the end of your exhalation. > > As your breathe and vocalize, notice how this practice is as much about the body vibrating as it is about the sound that your ears hear. Let your awareness sink into your voice as you exhale. Try to let go of all verbal thoughts and movies about your life. Vibrate like this for ten exhalations. > > **Sign** > > Look at the letter *alef* above. Notice how it comes into existence through the contrast of colors on your screen or page, as seen by your eye and interpreted by your brain. Focus your attention on the letter as you breathe. Clear your mind of everything except the letter. Close your eyes and imagine the letter. Breathe silently for ten breaths with your mind focused on the letter. > > Now, continue for another ten breathes, vocalizing the *alef* with your *Ohhhhh*. Notice how your breath, and the vowel that you vocalize, give movement and life to the letter *alef*. In this way you are binding the *alef* to your breath and to the vibration of your body. The cord tying it all together is your *awareness/presence*. > >**Movement** > >Above, we have already touched on one of the most important meanings of *movement* for the practice of vocalizing divine names: The vowel which *moves* the letter, as when you give movement and breath to the letter *alef* through the vibrations of your voice. > >Abulafia's practice involves another form of movement related to the movement of the vowel: Moving your head in a motion that recalls the placement or shape of the vowel in Hebrew. You'll learn more about this below. For reasons explained later, the sound *Ohhh* is associated with turning your face up towards the sky. > >Let us explore this experientially. First, sit comfortably with your neck straight and your face forward. Inhale. Now, start to exhale while vocalizing *Ohhhh*. As you vocalize, slowly turn your face upward, so that you exhale the last of the air from your lungs as you finishing turning your face upwards (your maximum height is as high as is comfortable; be careful not to strain your neck). Then, without inhaling, turn your face back down so that you are centered and facing forward, and then inhale. When you exhale again, pronounce the *Oh* and turn your face upwards again. Do this 5 times. Focus your attention on the motion. > >Once you've got that down, don't just move your head, but also direct your heart (which in pre-modern Jewish sources is the seat of your thoughts) upwards with the motion of your head. I like to imagine that my awareness is flowing out of my heart and ascending out in front of me as I raise my face towards the sky. Do this 5 times. >[!info] Hazkarat Hashem = Intention + Awareness + Breath + Sign + Voice + Movement > Once you finish practicing the motion, sit and reflect: You have now experienced the five elements of vocalizing the divine names: intention, breath, voice, movement and sign.