Announcing Our New Spiritual Disciplines (Mussar) Journey: The Turkey Prince and You

Next week, I’m starting a new spiritual discipline series for our paid subscribers in The Vault and it’s about a book that absolutely wrecked me in the quietest, most inconvenient ways.

It’s a small book called Under the Table and How to Get Up, inspired by an old story from Rebbe Nachman about a prince who believes he’s a turkey. I know. Stay with me. This is not a children’s fable moment. This is a why am I crying over a turkey moment.

I first went through this book in my Rabbi’s Mussar class several years ago, and coming back to it now? Whew. It hit harder. Not because it’s dramatic, but because it’s honest in a way that sneaks past your defenses.

This book got to the root of how we sometimes see ourselves: small, wrong, hiding, unworthy of the table… and I’ll be honest: it made me cry in places. Not the cute, demure kind LOL. The oh wow, that’s uncomfortably accurate kind.

Here’s the story that the book is built around:

A prince once became mad and thought that he was a turkey. He felt compelled to sit naked under the table, pecking at bones and pieces of bread, like a turkey. All the royal physicians gave up hope of curing him of this madness. The king grieved tremendously.

A sage arrived and said, “I will undertake to cure him.” The sage undressed and sat naked under the table, next to the prince, picking crumbs and bones.

“Who are you?” asked the prince. “What are you doing here?”

“And you?” replied the sage. “What are you doing here?”

“I am a turkey,” said the prince.

“I’m also a turkey,” answered the sage.

They sat together like this for some time, until they became good friends. One day, the sage signaled the king’s servants to throw him shirts. He said to the prince, “What makes you think that a turkey can’t wear a shirt? You can wear a shirt and still be a turkey.” With that, the two of them put on shirts.

After a while, the sage again signaled and they threw him pants. As before, he asked, “What makes you think that you can’t be a turkey if you wear pants?”

The sage continued in this manner until they were both completely dressed. Then he signaled for regular food, from the table. The sage then asked the prince, “What makes you think that you will stop being a turkey if you eat good food? You can eat whatever you want and still be a turkey!” They both ate the food.

Finally, the sage said, “What makes you think a turkey must sit under the table? Even a turkey can sit at the table.”

The sage continued in this manner until the prince was completely cured.

This story doesn’t rush the healing. It doesn’t shame the prince. It doesn’t yell, “Get up!” from across the room. It sits with him. It meets him where he is. And then…slowly…it invites him to imagine more.

That’s what we’re going to do together.

Each week, we’ll take one small piece of this story and use it as a doorway into reflection; about humility, empathy, growth, and the ways we’ve learned to live beneath our own calling.

We’ll use practices drawn from Mussar to notice where we’re still sitting under the table, and what it might look like to rise without pretending we were never there.

I’ll offer prompts, reflections, and gentle exercises… not homework, not spiritual boot camp. Just honest work. And if you’ve never done anything like this before, you’re fine. Truly. I’ll guide us the whole way.

If you want to read along in the book itself, you can; it’s available online, though it’s pricey and not that easy to find. You do not need it to participate. I’ll give you everything you need here. But for those who are curious, I did find a listing on Amazon Under the Table & How to Get Up. Optional, not required.

This series feels tender and important to me. Not flashy. Not performative. Just real. And I’m really glad to be doing it with you.

The first installment drops next week. 💛

If you are not a member of The Vault, you can lock in a lifetime discounted price by joining before the new year!!

👉🏻 Step inside The Vault and start your next chapter in the Word today.

Merry Christmas everyone!

If this post hit home for you, send it to a friend who could use a little Bible-study glow-up today.
You’re reading one of Substack’s Bestseller Publications and that’s because of readers like you. Thank you for showing up, sharing, and growing with this community.

If a monthly subscription isn’t feasible but you’ve been blessed by this space and want to support the work, you can always leave a one time tip here. Every gift, big or small, keeps this ministry thriving. 💛

🔥 Want to go deeper?
Step further into the Word with our paid subscriber community. When you upgrade, you unlock The Vault… and if you’re ready to go all in, the Founders Level opens every door.

When you upgrade, you step into The Vault—a space built for women who want to move from inspiration to transformation:
🔐 Weekly devotionals that help you apply the Word, not just read it
🌿 Weekly teachings that uncover the Jewish roots of Jesus’ life and ministry
💬 A private, judgment-free community where iron truly sharpens iron
✨ Our weekly spiritual discipline program (Mussar)—for real growth, not guilt
🎁 30% off all digital products + a FREE 4-week “Word Girl Faith Workout”

👑 The Founders Level is for the women ready to go all in. It opens every door:

You get everything in the Vault PLUS:
🎧 Weekly audio teachings for your on-the-go soul
💻 Monthly Q&A Bible Study Calls (Starting in January)
📓 Bible studies and reflection tools
🕊️ Early access to every new release
🖊️ An exclusive journal + 50% off all digital products

This isn’t a subscription, it’s a spiritual investment. When you join, you’re not just unlocking content… you’re aligning your life with the Word and walking shoulder-to-shoulder with women who are hungry for truth, boldness, and biblical beauty.

👉🏻 Step inside The Vault and start your next chapter in the Word today.