Lech Lecha: Embracing the Jewish Call to Self-Discovery and Intuition
Have you ever felt a nudge toward something you can’t quite explain? Some inner pull calling you toward something new or different? In the Jewish tradition, Lech Lecha, the third parasha, explores this feeling when Abraham (then named “Abram”) hears a call to “go to yourself.”
To me, lech lecha is an invitation to connect with intuition. I like to believe that something greater than myself is sending these messages—you can call it G-d, the Universe, a higher power, or whatever feels right. I’m not overly concerned with defining the source, but I am deeply committed to honing my ability to hear it. When I ignore it, anxiety builds up inside me, I lose my sense of direction, and I enter into an existential crisis. Answering the call is what brings us onto our path and creates a sense of purpose that infuses our existence with meaning. This, I’ve found, is the way out of confusion and darkness.
In the yoga world, we often use the quote, “When the student is ready, the teacher appears” (the source of these words is up for debate). This can be taken literally, like finding a book or course on a topic of interest, or more figuratively, like realizing a repeated experience—such as a bad date—invites you to practice new levels of self-respect. We say this to help ourselves trust that the guidance, lessons, or teachings we need will arrive at the perfect time, when we are ready or open to integrating them.
The second part of the aforementioned quote is shared less often: “When the student is truly ready, the teacher disappears.” In other words, eventually your relationship with your intuition—your ability to notice signs and hear the call—becomes so strong that you no longer require the teacher’s guidance (or at least, not as often). This connection with your inner knowing is the essence of lech lecha.
I’ve heard the call many times, though I didn’t always recognize it as such, and I certainly wasn’t always comfortable with the uncertainty that can accompany it. It didn’t exactly feel responsible to listen to the voice in my head that said, “Go to Bali and learn to surf,” but it did turn out to be one of the best decisions I ever made.
As I’ve followed the signs and acted on those intuitive pings, I’ve felt the uncertainty involved with lech lecha. This call to “go to yourself” might mean stepping into the unknown without a map or a clear destination. Trusting that with each step the bigger picture will reveal itself requires a leap of faith, and perhaps this is the root of our very human desire to believe in something greater than ourselves.
What I’ve learned is that those moments of listening to the call, often without external validation, have always brought me closer to who I am meant to be. Lech lecha is a practice; you have to give it the chance to earn your trust by showing you the good stuff on the other side of the message. The people I’ve met, the places I’ve been, and the things that I’ve learned ultimately helped position me to do what I’m doing now, but it has certainly been hazy along the way.
I believe everyone can hear lech lecha if they are ready to listen. Where might your own “lech lecha” be calling you? What new path, however uncertain, might be waiting for you to hear and act?
