Uprooting Corruption: The Sacred Art of Letting Go a Devotional
New Moon Via Negativa Devotional
Invocation
Blessed are you, oh Yah, in the world around us, in the face of the sun and the moon, in the heart of all we meet. Blessed are you, oh Ehyeh, in the heart of the living, in the mind of the thinking, in the soul of your children. Elohei ha‑Elohim, great God of gods, The One in many. Adonei ha‑Adonim, true Sovereign respected within and without. Empty our hearts of favoritism, holding none above another. Empty our minds of vanity, believing you can be bribed. Empty our spirits of bias, so we might live in the holy truth: All are equal in the life of God. God lives in all life. Life is perfected through love.
The Sacred Moment
Today, the new moon veils the sky, cloaking the heavens in silence and shadow. May we feel the call to surrender, to sacred unknowing, to the holy hush that dwells beneath words. In the deep darkness of the New Moon, we walk the path of the Via Negativa: the way of release, of letting fall what no longer serves, of listening for the presence hidden in absence. Our souls ache not for answers, but for peace within the questions, for a love that meets us in the void.
This is a moon to release, to empty, to rest.
Theme: Uprooting Corruption
For Yahweh your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the terrible; he doesn’t show partiality, nor take a bribe.Deuteronomy 10:17
As we stand on the threshold of new beginnings, much like the Israelites on the plains of Moab, we hear the words of Moses reminding us of the sovereignty of our God. He is the God of gods, the Lord of lords, and cannot be swayed by bribes or corrupted by power. In a world where political corruption and partisanship seem ever-present, we are called to remember that the Divine is impartial, beyond the reach of human influence or wealth.
In this meditation, as we celebrate the via negativa, we take a deep journey inward, seeking out the roots of partiality, favoritism, and division within ourselves.
As Jesus taught, “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand (Mark 3:24–25)." Our goal has to be to heal the rifts that arise within us. That does not mean that we ignore or paper over our differences, but we strive to bring consensus. We have to do that through protests, but also through finding ways to heal those divides in the long term. If we don’t, we are just filling the role of Ha-Satan, the accuser whose role is to point out problems, but only for punishment and recrimination, but never for the healing of the situation.
(Jesus) summoned them and said to them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan?’
(Mark 3:23)
To Jesus, Satan is the adversary or accuser, the one who opposes and casts accusations. He is the tempter and divider, who sets us against one another so we we fall and be torn down, the source of lies, deception, and violence. We can so easily see the power of Satan in the actions of others, but if we allow this to breed partisanship within ourselves, we are doing the work of Satan. He is the force behind oppression and bondage, any voice or impulse that resists God’s justice, mercy, or love.
Yes, we have to oppose evil where we see it, but when we assign that evil to a group we make healing and restoration impossible. We have to stop evil, and restrain the power and loopholes that allow evil to flourish, but we also have to cut down the tree of evil at its roots so it cannot regrow. We cannot do that if we allow ourselves to believe that defeating a person, movement, or group defeats the idea it’s self. If we do not heal the ground and remove the seeds from it the tree will grow again in new form, resistant to the means we used to cut it down before.
We understand that when we act from a place of division and bias, we align ourselves with the spirit of the accuser, losing sight of our divine calling.
Jesus also reminds us in Matthew 25 that we will be judged by how we treat the least among us—those who are vulnerable, marginalized, and in need. As we let go of partisanship, we do not turn a blind eye to injustice. Instead, we look at actions and seek to understand the deeper roots of corruption and division, striving to heal the underlying wounds of humanity. By doing so, we align ourselves with the divine standard of compassion and justice, seeing each person through the lens of love and dignity.
As we let go of partisanship, we do not turn a blind eye to injustice. Instead, we look at actions, we seek to understand the deeper roots of corruption and division, and we strive to heal the underlying wounds of humanity. We acknowledge that true transformation begins within, as we allow the Divine light to cleanse us of our own biases and fears.
In this sacred space of reflection, we remember that we are all bearers of the divine image, called to build a world of justice, equity, and love. Let us walk forward with open eyes and open hearts, seeking to repair the world from the inside out, guided by the impartial and unbribable love of our God.
Practice: Facing Evil and Cutting the Root
Settle into your breath, and let your body come to stillness. With every inhale, invite awareness. With every exhale, release tension.
1. Beholding Corruption
Bring to mind a form of evil or corruption that troubles your heart: a specific injustice, a cultural pattern, or a personal wound.
See it clearly, but do not turn away.
Notice any anger, grief, or fear that arises.
Say inwardly:
“This is not the whole of reality. This is a branch, not the root.”
2. Acknowledging Distraction
Notice if a particular person or group comes to mind as “the face” of this problem.
Acknowledge them, but gently set aside the temptation to focus blame or hatred there.
Say inwardly:
“These people are caught in conditioned thought and action. They are not the root. They are not the enemy.”
3. Wishing Freedom
In the empty space we just made, let lovingkindness arise, even if only a spark:
“May they be free from suffering and the causes of suffering.
May they awaken from conditioned thought.
May I, too, be free from hatred, delusion, and all that feeds this evil.”
If it feels authentic, extend this blessing even further to all who suffer because of this evil, including yourself.
4. Naming the Root
Now, look deeper. Ask: What is the root of this evil?
Is it greed, fear, ignorance, pride, separation, woundedness?
Picture the problem as a great tree, see its many branches and leaves, but the root is singular and deep.
See yourself holding a bright axe or shining blade of insight, compassion, and truth.
With intention, bring it down and cut the root.
5. Cutting the Root
Visualize the root being severed.
As the root is cut, the tree begins to wither and lose its power.
Feel relief, openness, and space where the problem once loomed large.
Say inwardly:
“May the root of evil be severed.
May compassion and wisdom take root in its place.”
6. Closing with Freedom
Rest in this space for a few breaths, letting lovingkindness flow out to all. Start with friends, then strangers, then enemies.
Trust that even as you meet evil with clear sight, you do not need to become entangled with it.
You are free, and your freedom blesses the world.
If another evil, corruption, or outrage enters your mind, repeat the process. When you feel ready, open your eyes. Carry the clarity and compassion you have cultivated into your next encounter, ready to see past distractions, wish well for all. Journal your insights into the causes of suffering and how we might cut the root and starve it of its power.
Closing Blessing
Holy One,
Source of justice and compassion,
We have turned inward to face what wounds the world and our own hearts.
We have named evil not to become entangled in it,
but to meet it with truth and lovingkindness.
Grant us the courage to see past distractions and blame,
to wish freedom from suffering for every soul:
even those caught in the snares of ignorance and harm.
May your Spirit empower us to discern the roots of evil,
not merely its branches,
and to sever those roots with the axe of wisdom,
the light of compassion,
the strength of community,
and the grace that flows from you.
Where we have uprooted hatred,
plant seeds of reconciliation.
Where we have cut away division,
grow forests of mercy.
Let us walk forth in peace,
rooted in your impartial love,
clear-eyed and open-hearted,
servants of healing,
laborers in the work of making all things new.
Amen.