Lechi Lach, Go, Go Unto Yourself: A Different Kind of Journaling Worksheet Rabbi TZiPi Radonsky

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1 Lechi Lach, Go, Go Unto Yourself: A Different Kind of Journaling Worksheet Rabbi TZiPi Radonsky Teruah, Awaken to the Spiritual Journey You Are On I was house sitting for Tracey and Joan and their gardens and animals outside of Boone, NC in August of 95. It was a relaxing weekend of hiking and creativity. On Sunday morning as I prepared to leave I soaked in one more stillness and as I meditated I heard the Still Small Voice of my heart say you are going for a trip around the world. With my next out breath, I laughed out loud and on my in breath I asked when! My heart responded immediately, September of 96. Years later when I told a new friend, Roger Kamenetz this story he, told me that I was being told like Abraham to lech lecha, go, leave your home and family to a place I will show you. Only then I did not know the connection to my ancestor and that I was beginning to circumcise my heart on my own spiritual journey. In 1995 when I finally convinced myself that the message was for me I only knew that I was excited about going on an adventure. On August 29 th, 1996 at age 53 I began a solo journey away from the familiarity of people and place and traveled through 15 countries for about a year. When I came home I began writing about the travels in letter-form for a book to give family and friends; some letters I had originally written along the way and some were still in my head. I needed to cleanse myself of the stories and put them down for people to read at their leisure. I pulled the letters together and named the book The Spiritual Pilgrim Discovers Home. When I stopped in Israel, country #11, I experienced a longing to be around my people. When I arrived back in the USA my attention went toward the study of Judaism and of becoming a rabbi. Several years after the book was self-published I began looking at the trip with new eyes. I noticed themes that evolved within each country and how they relate to universal truths and to the core teachings of Hebrew Wisdom. We will do and then we will understand is what the Hebrews said in response to receiving the ten sayings, AKA Ten Commandments. They perhaps knew that through being an active participant in your life you will grow and come closer to knowing G!D, the Source of All Blessings and Love. So if you are: interested in further circumcising your heart with tenderness then set such an intention, kavanah. Since you are already on a spiritual journey you might want some additional perspectives such as exploring one or more of the questions below. If you want to continue to glean incites from your life and motivate yourself to action consider a discipline of exploring these Hebrew Wisdom themes.

2 Questions and chevrutah, study in partnership, is a main means of studying Hebrew Wisdom and her holy texts. When looking at the questions below: muse on them, write on them, draw from them and create from them find a friend who will do the same and share your ideas and feelings. It is important to be witnessed and heard and seen and known! Hopefully you will do this enquiry with love; there is no wrong way to do this. Please go at your own rhythm noticing what that is in various moments. Take a country a month, explore the theme, answer one question, or sit with all the questions and see which one speaks to you and draws you in. Then start there. Remember this is your journey. Have fun as life is too short to do it any other way. What is like breath to me? The Inquiry Begins In Japan I went to pray for shalom, peace How do I define peace and where do I find it in my life? How can I share experiences with the next generation to support growth not destruction? In Thailand I attended a 10 day meditation retreat and I, hitbodedute, was alone with my G!D How do I become comfortable with silence and being alone with me?

3 How am I balancing my awareness of my core goodness and the pain my behavior sometimes brings to others? What saved my life today? In Malaysia I bought and sent allergy medicine to a friend in USA tzedakah, giving from the heart When am I generous with my time? How am I building a support system that helps me live in integrity? When am I open to new friendships and experiences? In Indonesia I wanted to experience the spiritual beauty of Bali and found tifferet, beauty, being in equanimity, compassion for myself How can I distinguish between awe and fear? When do my expectations blind me to the beauty of the moment? What do I do when my values are challenged? When I dance with the needs of the moment and risk? In Australia I was welcomed as a ger, the other and began being aware of the importance of welcoming the stranger within and without How do I treat myself as if I were my own lover? How am I willing to get to know people who seem so unlike me? How does my work inspire me to grow? In New Zealand I learned about guest consciousness and staying awake to the Present moment as mitzvot linking me to the Source of All Blessings and the doing of being human How do I act as if G!D is in the details? When am I aware of any part of myself that I do not like? When am I willing to admit I am loved?

4 I landed in Singapore on Shabbat, a day of rest, community and a taste of the world to come When does G!D make sure I notice Presence? How am putting myself into new places to learn? How am changing my views to be less judging and more kind to me? In India I learned to receive all she had to give and said henanini, here am I What are my callings in this life-time? Have I lived them all? How am I looking at my ancestors to learn more about me? Who befriended me today? In Nepal I hiked into the Himalayas and with my guide while holding onto tikvah, hope, constantly learning how to live Now What is my relationship to my body and the earth? How do I listen to her? How do I seek connection and separation from people and things? When happens when I am confronted with other s financial wants? In Israel I met my people in a new way and felt blessed, borach, brucha, blessing What do I do when I notice the emotion of loneliness? How often do I walk in my life not knowing what gifts I bring? When do I remember what I did not know I knew? On the island of Create, Greece I revisited a dream and turned, teshuvah, return, turning, repentance How am I letting go of the past to move into the future? How am I able to see the past in my life and embrace it as a part of who I am? In Plum Village, France I learned about community, adah, community When do I see myself as my own teacher?

5 How can I thrive as an individual and be a vital part of my community? Who is my community? On the way to Florence, Italy I lost most of my belongings and realized all I had ~ modeh ahni, How grateful am I When do I let go and trust? When am I aware of G!D s presence in my life? How do I welcome the stranger who is my people s enemy and embrace conflict? In Amsterdam, Holland I practiced listening in various ways ~shma, listen When am I aware of my place among women of my culture? How do I create a physical and spiritual home that reflects who I am? How do I react when I meet a soul sister? Arriving in USA completing the journey I realized although I had traveled far I had never left Home ~ chesed, lovingkindness supports me no matter where I am When do I know I am home? What does home mean to me? How do I celebrate those moments? Who do I invite in? When do I know G!D is within me? You have reached the end of my journey where does yours connect to mine? Blessings of joy and love on where ever your curiosity takes you, TZiPi

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