Freedom's Just Another Word

As the Jewish holiday of Pesach (passover ) approaches the word "freedom" takes its place at center stage. To be honest, freedom is almost always center stage of my life. It's that Aries independent nature in me and it's that bird spirit longing to soar high.

I had a dream recently in which someone gave me the gift a freedom- it was something simple like a small glass jar and I didn't think of it much in dream-time but when I awoke , wow what a powerful dream.

Passover is the recounting of the story of the Israelites' journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom- alas yes that freedom is met with a 40 year wandering in the dessert. Mitzrayim (Egypt) is sometimes translated as "the narrow place" opening the channel to view the Israelites' journey to freedom as a parable for moving out of the narrow places in our lives towards , more movement, more choice, more freedom.

Is Janis right when she sings the words of Kris Kristofferson -is freedom just another word "for nothing left to lose?" I mean perhaps so in the case of our wandering ancestors in the desert - it may have well been their anthem at that point

As I evolve, grow, change I have come to explore my relationship with freedom in a deeper way. I used to think freedom meant no attachments- no responsibility. As I grow into my freedom, cultivating it like any daily practice, I feel more connected to all my relationships and filled with a greater sense of responsibility then ever before. So now I am no longer struggling with questions of what true freedom is, but free (hahaha) to learn how to live in a way that honors and expresses that freedom and myself as a free being.

May we each journey more into ourselves and our truest expression of freedom


With gratitude,

Chana Leah

Already here

I am here. Berkeley, California. Next week I move into my new home with my sister. My birthday is coming in a few weeks and I already feel the new decade upon me- in fact I declared emphatically to my housemate "The new me is here!"

I was dressed in all green and had tied a makeshift green turban to my head- this for sure added tot he dramatic and humorous emphasis of the statement. The thought process was most amusing and I can still trace it on two levels.

The most time-place material related was the supplements I held in my hand and the private ritual satisfaction I have developed over years of traveling that celebrates anytime I finish a jar as it is a chance to lighten my load. What I realized in contemplating these supplements and this process was that, along with having a home these days of supplement weary travel are over. My supplements can live in my house as long as I want/need them too.

On some other level I had also been feeling the changes of the spring equinox. The balanced energies of the masculine and feminine, the equanimity of even sunlight and darkness over the whole Earth heralded in my birthday and the new way I have been feeling. So I know I don't turn Thirty for a few more weeks but ...

Why I love being on the road.

There is something that comforts me being on the road. I think I love anything that evokes the feeling of flying ( except flying!) . Moving through space, wind pushing against you or the machine. It puts me in my body - especially skiing. I even wrote my college essay application on skiing but that's for another post.

I drove the longest solo haul of my life yesterday- 11 hours from Utah through Nevada stopping in Winnemuka and Reno then on to Berkeley, CA.

Missing Hustler County

I miss upstate New York. Before living in Israel in 2009, it was my home for four years. New Paltz, Rosendale, Accord, Woodstock (technically Lake Hill) I lived in all of them.

As much as I developed some of my closest relationships whether it be through the Red Tent, Elat Chayyim , 60 Main , or our Lodge community my relationship primarily or rather was with the incredible land, -the resonating quartz filled ridge. I am in touch with my friends, my spirit family but it is not so easy to be nourished by that land from across the country.

My new place is different. To this point I have no connection with the land in Northern California. ( I am ashamed to say I haven't even had a chance to go explore the redwoods yet)
I made a conscious choice in moving to the bay. It was a choice to be close to my family, connect to a community of people with common values and mindset and to embrace the abundance of life with grace and ease.

I know all of these things and I feel good and empowered with the choice but sometimes I just got to say "I Love New York".

My new website

Finally, I have a website of my artwork. Please visit www.janlaurengreenfield.com to view some of my work. One day I will figure out more of these internet tools and link my blog, website, facebook and the other stuff I've go tout there in virtual space.

Besides, the whole big brother thing, sometimes I don't like take up space that I am not using. I think it comes from being a semi-professional nomad these past few years- it was like 10 houses the past 5 years and streamlining my belongings.

Speaking of nomadic ways - I got a house ! I moved to Berkeley and have committed to two years in the East Bay. Whoa. What a trip ! What a process. I have already gotten antsy being in the same place for 4 weeks so we will see how it goes but I am so excited to really ground intentionally in this community.

Oh, by the way I also write for jewishpartisans.blogspot.com.