The longing to be seen, the trauma of emergence
There's a lot of talk in these spaces about emerging into the fullness of your power, sovereignty and radiance. I want to say YAY to that but also, WAIT.
There's a lot of talk in these spaces about emerging into the fullness of your power, sovereignty and radiance. I want to say YAY to that but also, WAIT.
For people (like me) who've experienced trauma around being visible, trauma around claiming center stage or speaking truth to power, emergence is not as simple as just being brave.
Sometimes, we have to do some work to heal the wounds of being humiliated when we spoke our wisdom out loud. Work that allows us to build trust in our self and to feel safe being smart, being funny or just being ourselves.
That work takes a while.
It has helped me to know that the work that I do to heal myself is also helping to heal this wound in my family and in the world. My healing is important and no matter how long it takes, it's worth doing.
After reading this post, a friend asked: Can you recommend someone who does work like that?
Um... I do work like this, I said.
I was surprised she didn’t know that. So I’m taking a moment to say it again: I do work like that.
I work with sensitive souls who, when they are at their most real, sometimes (often) feel too big, too loud, too exposed. People with so much light to share who have had trouble sharing it and have become, over time, people who would rather be alone than pretend.
People like me - and perhaps, like you.
I work at the edge where emergence feels uneasy. Where crossing that last bridge feels risky. I walk beside people, a listener and companion - without judging or fixing or labeling them.
Across bridges, through deserts, down soul chutes, up creative ladders. We roll up our sleeves and dismantle prisons, using the scrap metal to build surfboards. We crawl on our knees, spelunking mystery caves, discovering gemstones and artifacts and carrying them to the surface and building museums to house them.
In my imaginal office, my clients and I sit on clouds, swim across oceans, scan the past and the multiple universes where alternate selves teach us secrets about ourselves. We hear echoes of lost selves, songs of new projects, and the rustlings of spirit animals in the brush nearby.
On our imaginal adventures, on the stage of our sacred theater, we approach perceived limits from weird angels. Sitting inside of pain and listening to its walls, tossing tennis balls of resentment beyond our borders.
People come to me to talk out an inkling, an impulse - all the way through. When they want a witness - not a diagnosis. A companion, not a fixer. When they want to change paths, complete passion projects and expand the very notion of potential.
This is just a sketch of what happens in my sessions, in my classes - in a single conversation with me.
Spiral Journey 2023
It’s only July but one person has already signed up (Update: nine people have already signed up) for Spiral Journey 2023. I’m delighted that the work is already calling the next cohort. For more info, go here.
Sunday Sanctuary is returning
It’s like church - cuz a) we talk about the divine (aka unconditional love), and b) we explore spiritual solutions to material situations (aka prayer, visualization, blessing). It’s not like church cuz a) I’m not a minister, and b) we don’t do commandments. To me there’s no such thing as sin and I don’t care what god you worship or don’t believe in god at all. You are welcome here. Non-denominational spiritual straight talk. Support from a circle of soul friends. Oh, fair warning: we talk about angels sometimes cuz they’re real - and you might as well get to know them. Details to come.
If you’re interested in Spiral Journey or Sunday Sanctuary, let me know (by responding to this email) and I’ll get you on the mailing list.
One last thing… I’ve started a quiet secret stash of my memoir work over here.