Turn Sideways into the Light
The slightly sideways world that is woven into the world we believe is real
A selection from the archives—chosen because it holds a foundational teaching, one I often reference in my classes: the legend of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
These gentle people once faced a violent adversary and stood their ground. But when that adversary returned a second time, they chose a different path—one that speaks to something deep and timeless in us.
We need this teaching now.
As I worked on the post, updating it - adding new research, I was reminded of the other repurposing I'm loving right now: thrifting treasure, making my old home more beautiful without spending a fortune on new things. A pitcher becomes a vase for spring blooms. The sunroom lamp finds a new home in the kitchen. Blue bowls, each a different shade, stacked inside one another.
Like the stories we live in—nesting, layering, reflecting different shades of the same color. In that spirit, I offer this retelling of an ancient tale for our modern time.
xxoo
Amy
From the Archives:
Turn Sideways into the Light
I've been listening to the illuminating audio series What to Remember When Waking by Irish poet David Whyte. In it, Whyte recounts the legend of the Tuatha Dé Danann, a mythical race from Ireland’s past—"tall, magical people devoted to beauty and artistry."
When a more brutal people, the Milesians, invaded Ireland, the Tuatha Dé Danann fought them off twice. But faced with a third battle against overwhelming odds, they did the most remarkable thing. Out they came, in full and beautiful dress—flags waving, swords flashing—they assembled at the base of the hill and, as the invaders surged toward them, the Tuatha Dé Danann turned sideways into the light—and disappeared.
I am absolutely fascinated by this. Aren’t you?
When the foundations of the Soul Caller Training began to flow to me, I was given a very clear image: one person standing and taking one step to the side—one step onto a path that ran parallel to the world she was living in.
I was being shown the image of a person turning sideways into the light.
Synchronistically, while listening to David Whyte’s series, I was also reading Priestess of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley—a book that had sat unopened on my shelf for years.
Like the Tuatha Dé Danann, the priestesses and druids of Avalon—the mythical island at the center of King Arthur’s world—lived sideways from the world. Though they had walked among men for centuries, their wisdom respected by the people and called upon by kings, there came a time when, like the Tuatha Dé Danann, the ways of the world became too harsh—dissonant with the ways of Avalon.
It was then that the High Priestess enshrouded the island in mist. Instantly, the island of Avalon shimmered sideways into the light.
From that moment on, as legend goes, the confounding and magical mists have protected Avalon from the world. Some say it’s there still—only accessible if you know the way.
What is this way? Where is this sideways world?
It’s right here.
The sideways world is woven into every molecule of the world in which we live. It’s here. It’s now.
In fact, the sideways world is not “sideways” at all—it’s the real world. The world of suffering is the illusion. That’s the cosmic joke at the bottom of all spiritual teachings.
When we shift from defensive, dualistic thinking to open-heartedness, we suddenly see that we are not the victims of a world of woe. That is an idea—a misunderstanding. A story that has caused us to step to the side of the world of light and into a world of suffering.
And yet, all suffering is caused by holding ourselves separate from the world of light. But we get to choose. We get to make the world that we behold and live in. We co-create the world with every choice we make.
Our co-creative partners are the world itself—the land, the waters, the air, the plants, animals, and other life forms with whom we share this home—as well as the forces and flows of the non-physical realm. These forces support the continued unfolding of all creation—of all that we behold.
With this awareness, a new pathway shimmers into view—a path that opens onto a realm of timelessness, generosity, and light that was always there. A “sideways” dimension of light and mystery that runs parallel to the path we are on.
This parallel path—and the parallel world to which it leads—are just one step to the side of this one.
It waits there—patiently, silently, eternally.
It is there for you. It never gives up on you. It is calling you home. All you have to do to access it is…
Turn sideways into the light.
How to turn sideways into the light:
Choose toward love. Fiercely, fully, no matter what.
Respect your dissonance. When something feels off, trust that. Choose what feels more resonant. If you can't figure out what to choose, simply focus on gratitude.
Focus on gratitude. Even when it seems there is little to be grateful for. Look for something. Don’t stop looking until you find it. If you get stuck, focus a laser beam of gratitude on the world itself—on the soil that grows your food, the air that fills your lungs every two seconds, the body in which your spirit resides. Start at the foundation of gratitude and work your way up.
Ask for signs that the parallel path is real. This invites (and releases) the beings of light who support your unfolding to guide you there. When the signs arrive, follow them.
Fiercely follow guidance. No matter what. When you can't—when you're afraid—forgive yourself. Ask for guidance about what to do next. And when that guidance comes, follow it.
While you are fiercely following guidance, be gentle with yourself in all ways. Forgive yourself for not being perfect. Forgive others. Forgive the world for all the ways it’s let you down.
And then…
Turn sideways into the light.
A little history (because history is always fun):
According to legend, the Tuatha Dé Danann were Celtic gods with extraordinary strength and supernatural powers, including the ability to “tap and manipulate mystical energies for feats of magic—altering their appearance, communicating over long distances, teleporting through dimension barriers, and casting spells.”
After their shimmering disappearance, they descended into the earth to form an invisible world of their own in the hills and mounds, ruling the underground kingdoms as fairies.
Re-reading this post today, I’m reminded of other just-out-of-reach worlds:
Shangri-La (Shambhala)—the legendary kingdom of peace, wisdom, and eternal youth, hidden deep in the Himalayas. In Tibetan Buddhism, Shambhala is a real spiritual kingdom, visible only to the pure of heart.
El Dorado—this South American legend, originally spoke of a man (“the gilded one”). Later, the story transformed El Dorado into a mythic city or kingdom of unimaginable wealth and beauty, hidden in the jungle.
Kumari Kandam—a South Indian/Tamil legend of a lost continent believed to have existed in the Indian Ocean, home to an advanced Tamil civilization that sank beneath the waves, taking with it a sacred way of life. Which sounds a lot like . . .
Atlantis—the ancient, highly advanced civilization which, according to legend, grew arrogant and sank into the sea.
All of these hidden worlds share common threads: A lost treasure. Unimaginable beauty. Each calls to us—through longing—for a quieter, more peaceful way of life.
A world where intuition and magic are part of everyday experience.
These hidden worlds mirror the essence of Shekhinah and Sophia—divine feminine presences that are here and not here, immanent and mysterious, withdrawing and inviting all at once.
In Jewish mystical texts, Shekhinah is the indwelling divine presence—feminine, gentle, and near. She dwells with the people, especially in exile or suffering, but her full presence is veiled when the world forgets the sacred. She is the feminine face of God, the last sefirah (Malkuth), and she longs to be reunited with the Holy One.
Shekhinah is like Avalon: always present, but shrouded in mist.
She is the world behind the world.
In Gnostic Christianity, Sophia “falls” into the material world—often forgotten or misunderstood—yet she holds the keys to awakening. She represents both the descent of wisdom into form and the path of return to wholeness.
Like the Tuatha Dé Danann or Shambhala, she withdraws, becomes hidden—yet guides the soul who seeks her.
In all of these stories, there’s a withdrawal from dissonance, but also a persistent, loving nearness. There’s a mystical access point through love, humility, and awareness. There’s the promise of reunion—when the world is ready.
All of these traditions seem to whisper the same truth:
There is a world behind this one.
It never left.
It waits for you -
to turn sideways into the light.
Yes to all of this! I had a monk tell me when I was leaving the monastery after a retreat that I wasn't going back to the "real world." This, he said, is the real world. I've never forgotten it. All I have to do to get back there is Turn Sideways into the Light. Thank you for this.
Hi Amy! I'm curious if is the Tuatha Dé Danann who are said to be located in Glasgow , UK? Do you know?
I read something about Glasgow and how there was said to be a hidden portal there beyond which lay a kingdom of fairy like entities. I read this while on a train in Switzerland last December after having boarded in London. I wanted so much to go back and visit Glasgow before leaving Europe, but is was impossible. I'd like to go back .
I really loved this post - was this the one accidentally sent out to non-subscribers? (I am not even sure I subscribe , maybe I will look into it.
In any case , your post was a gentle gentle reminder of the ever-present potential to move sideways back into the Light. I have long known the Great Reality exists ..right along side the seemingly sold physical world. It has sustained me for 40 years, the ability to move back and forth in and out as needed.
Then, at times, it will amaze me that I forget!...a mindless sojourn into the darker chaos of this current collective human life finds me feeling stuck there, most recently almost despairing! ...how to survive and navigate when so completely overwhelmed by all that is happening, the cognitive dissonance I feel when there is no longer a sense of shared reality , no shared sense of truth. It started to make me feel crazy and afraid.
But as a friend reminded me today; of the simple touchstones; "a roof , a refuge of home, clothes , enough food ,and feet to walk on the earth. keep it simple. one day at a time. live . breathe, be grateful. "
I added to myself "Get off Instagram! stop the endless stream of clamoring voices ...too much! too much input! most of it fearful - maybe with good reason- but I realize my sensitivity cannot handle that kind of constant bombardment. It was making me ill.
Your post helped tremendously; I can enter the temple. at any time
finally coming to stillness, I see that the chaos lives mostly in my thinking, but I am free to not have to think at all, really. I call it 'dropping into my body' . In the body there is silence and aliveness . a childlike joy..and then clarity about the next simple action.
Thank you! Im more committed now to NOT roughly ,awkwardly straddling two worlds and trying to live in both. I will live in Home ..and visit the world when I have some light to bring there, awareness, Peace.
it's joy to read your writing again . love to you