This year I took an amazing course with Joanna Powell Colbert to help me figure out what the heck I’m doing with myself and actually get moving on it. I also did a private coaching session with her, both of which I totally recommend. I think I’ve mentioned this before. Anyway, I’ve been in the process of doing a lot of work around understanding who I am and what I’m all about — beyond the desire to escape from corporate America. The work of understanding ourselves is really the work of a lifetime, but there are moments of clarity that give us goals to work towards.
The past few months have been a gradual process, but it seems like things are speeding up and gaining great momentum. The first step I took was retiring the Rosh Chodesh Guides and launching the newsletter (subscribe).
The next step has been really honing in on what my dream is and the work I want to do in the world. That’s still a work in progress, but I wanted to share with you all my newly defined “mission statement.”
My name is Carly Lesser (a.k.a. Ketzirah – קצירה), and I am a Kohenet, Celebrant, and Artist. I work with individuals and groups to explore, discover, and create meaningful rituals and ritual artwork to mark moments in life– from personal moments and holiday celebrations to weddings, baby namings, and life transitions. I also provide guidance and spiritual companionship to those in need on their spiritual journeys.
My passion is helping Jews who are unaffiliated, earth-based or in interfaith / inter-denominational relationships connect more deeply with Judaism and make it relevant in their every day lives.
I’ve realized that my constant passion is around exploring and creating ritual and ritual objects — and helping others with this. I love working with couples and families to create/officiate weddings and baby namings and have been blessed with a pretty steady flow of this work in the past year. I also love digging into the roots of holiday traditions and rituals to discover or create some new, yet ancient, way to connect with the holiday. I’m hugely influenced by Vanessa Ochs
By Joanna Powell Colbert. Used by Permission of the Artist
I’ve shared my spiritual journey with you all for the past seven years on this website. I’m excited about what the future holds and hope you are too — for yourself and for me! What I can say is that 2012 is going to be a year of big transitions. I’m excited to spend the year focusing more on the art of ritual and all that entails. If you’ve been a reader I hope you’ll consider working with me on personal and life-cycle rituals for you, your family, and/or your community.
This is work we do together. It’s work that feels like play. It’s work that enhances our lives and the lives of all those around us. I choose joy this year. I choose success, but I choose a success that comes with a sense of purpose and ease. There’s still lots of work to be done, and it will be hard work, but every “win” doesn’t have to come with huge struggle. This year it’s time to move on from the Hanged Man and embrace the Three of Earth; working with the flow of the universe. I choose to joyfully follow the Divine light illuminating the path before me.
Tags: calling, definition, understanding, vocation, work
