This piece of artwork was created by blowing a set of the 4 basic shofar sounds and running the sounds through software that graphically analyses the sound waves.  The resulting image was then used as the foundational structure for this piece.

The 4 basic shofar sounds of Tekia, Shevarim, Terua, and Tekia Gedola are depicted starting from the bottom of the piece and progressing upwards.

The sounding of the shofar is discussed in great detail in the Kabbalah.   In one of the many kavanot (meditations) of the shofar blowing, the sounds of the shofar are associated with aspects of giving, receiving, harmony, and oneness.

These 4 states of consciousness correspond to the 4 letters of the Divine Name   י-ה-ו-ה .

The kavanot of the shofar blowing breaks down on one simple level into the 4 aspects as follows:

Tekia————-1 long sound—————giving————י

Shevarim——–3 shorter sounds———-receiving—- —-ה

Terua————-9 very short sounds——harmony———-ו

Tekia Gedola—-1 extra long sound——–oneness———-ה

The long whole sound of the Tekia reflects an inner state of joy, overflowing with thankfulness.

The 3 broken cries of the Shevarim reflects when we are feeling broken and in a state of lack.

The sound of the Terua is so broken that it is whole.  The Terua is associated with faith and prayer.

It is taught in the Kabbalah that when we reach our truest prayer of the heart, all our brokenness is brought to wholeness in the realization of complete oneness and unconditional love at the root of all creation.