“Acorn struggles in pain to crack the hard shell and emerge. For it senses that out there… exists more and it knows it. It feels that there is a sun, even if Acorn hasn't seen it. It has felt some warmth and energy and it aches for more.” -Robin Rumi

Can you feel a sense of emergence in your life? Despite the complete chaos happening concurrently and yet outside of ourselves. I do. And yet how does one go about the business as usual of living life, being on purpose, being of service, and doing our part?The answer is staying connected to nature and the seasons. Right now my kin is nature and it is holding me and I am offering it my reverence in reciprocity. A sense of normalcy comes with continuing my process of living in harmony with nature’s rhythms that is how I live during good times and crazy times. I know that the sun and moon will rise tomorrow. And this moment between the darkness of winter and the emergence of spring is like the pause between the inhale and the exhale; this in-between time is short; I am savoring it. Savoring the last few moments before all the seeds of my visions burst from their shells and seek out the light, arriving in Divine Timing; in simplicity; and seeking my attention and my creative action.

That is what happens when you design your life around seasonal cycles; listening and honoring their rhythms as your own. Because you too are a part of the natural world, and these rhythms are OUR rhythms too. Cycles are not just reserved for the plants, the cosmos, and the creatures. But we have been "trained" to ignore the natural world and separate from it, as opposed to the plants and creatures who don't know any other way, in fact it is a matter of innate survival. While we are at a crossroads in how our survival will play out, I would strongly recommend remembering that we are a part of not apart from nature. When we ignore the cycles and our own rhythms, we EITHER overwhelm ourselves by trying to do to much, too soon, or before its ready OR we stagnate and don't ever spend time dreaming into our visions, or if we do, we quickly forget about them or never take the next step of emergence and then passage into creating aligned action and bringing our visions into form OR we find ourselves in mental "confusion" around making decisions and what we should or shouldn't focus on. In the times we are faced with the mental confusion over what we should do and what our part is becomes even more muddled with how we can do something about the daily dismantling of our way of life. But what I would say is stay the course, you know what you are here to do and how you are being directed to do it. Just do it in harmony with nature and what you know to be true for you. The work you were doing before is a part of the work that is desperately needed now.

When we connect in with what the natural world is doing, slow down, pay attention, and notice that if we honor that, we naturally follow those cycles and when we do things begin to flow, our visions + our creative energy naturally begin to come into form. Yes, we have to put in the work, but it is SO much easier when we have nature on our side. It is so much easier when we get clear on what we really desire, and only choose to put our life force focus into those things, and say no (or maybe later) to the rest. And release the pressure valve we tend to place on ourselves.

This year I really did honor the darkness of winter to let my visions, the messages I was receiving, my "phrase" for the year brew in the cauldron. I did not even "logically" understand everything at first, (and most of us don't) so I just allowed them to be nourished, to grow in their own time or to wither if there wasn’t enough energy to sustain the vision or idea. I did not rush, I did not try to DO anything with the information except let it keep informing me, I stayed out of my head, I created art, and I waited. And the waiting turned out to be wise, because then I was presented with a completely unexpected opportunity. The one that fits in with my overall purpose and path, and that now I can constellate around with focused attention. I am not saying it was comfortable, but I AM saying I am grateful that I did this, because I am so much more informed on what wants to emerge than if I would have gone gangbusters with all the ideas and messages I was receiving in December and January…which as it turns out is completely different than what I originally thought. My energy would have been all over the place in chaos, rather than the focused potency it will now have as we emerge into spring and pass into summer and with clarity on the next step in the journey, the next chapter in the myth.

Normally I consider this a seasonal threshold, but in truth we are in a huge collective threshold, sitting in the dismantling and wondering what will be birthed anew once what was old finally takes its last breath…and it will, this too is a cycle. We are always in a cycle of death and rebirth, on all levels. Most people walk around oblivious to that, or can’t put these words around it, but that is exactly where we are. And now we are emerging into a time where it is not for us to wait and see what some external force decides for us, but for us to do the inner and outer work required that creates what is next for us as individuals and as a collective.

So as we approach the emergence Spring (with the Spring Equinox being March 21st, which is a time of equilibrium and righting of the ship) and the emergence of more light (physically and energetically) the invitation; if you desire to live more in harmony with the natural cycles, is time to begin discerning which Visions, Dreams, Goals, and Aligned Actions you want to give your time, financial, and energetic resources. The invitation is to not only do this for your work, but also your LIFE....which I notice most women leave out of the visioning picture entirely. But that is a whole other conversation. Spring is ruled by the Air Element, the Air element rules the mind, winged creatures are air creatures, and they are capable of both visioning, and then when they see their prey (nourishment, food) they take swift and decisive action. They would never see their prey if they always have their nose to the ground, walking around aimlessly, or hyper-focused on only what is right in front of them. You must make the space to look at things from a higher and more expansive perspective.Now is the time to bring in the mind....but remain in service to the heart. Which is usually where the incoherence is. When we "think" about our visions and goals first, we are ignoring what our hearts really desire, and we overwhelm ourselves going after things we don't even want, or with a bunch of to-do's that don't bring us any pleasure. Many of us don't even know what our heart and soul desires are. But when we spend time in the heart, listening, feeling, and tapping into what we truly want, AND THEN bring in the power of our beautiful minds to bring it into form, well....we make magic.

I really don't know how to prove that this way of living in cycles will change your life, because it is experiential and it is transformational, and it is A PRACTICE. One that is worth it, and has changed my entire life. I achieved most of my goals before living this way, but it was a struggle, it was never fluid, I wasn't in my joy, and ultimately I burned out, I was anxious all the time and I self-medicated to deal with it. I now connect deeply with my own Inner Wisdom and with nature, beauty, joy, creativity, and community AND I bring my visions into form. The ones I know I truly desire. Which isn't ALL THE THINGS. I don’t focus what isn’t mine to do. Living this way comes with tight boundaries around how much outer chaos I let in. I let in enough to be informed so I can be of service with what is mine to share. It comes with a lot of “no” but also a lot of aligned “yes.” This requires spending time in discernment to know the difference.

So invite you to try this way of designing your life. It certainly won't "hurt" you, and it may just shift everything.

I would love hear, how your year is going. What have you been visioning and dreaming? Are you making goals and aligned actions? Have you been able to do those things or are you stuck in the quagmire of all of the chaos we are living through? That may be exactly what the powers that be want. Our society to be stagnant and confused. Remember it is out of the chaos that comes the light. It is out of the chaos that the new is born.

And most importantly, are you having fun yet?

Remember, I am always here with an open heart, open eyes, and open ears. And love hearing from you in the comments. I always appreciate a restack as well!

There has been a lot going on in my world, a lot of things have come full circle, an unexpected opportunity, and some shifts and changes here in the Maven’s Nest are afoot.In part the changes have to do with the opportunity, in part because of some epiphanies. And my year is all about making space for epiphanies. And lastly, because of the current collective situation we find ourselves in and what I believe one of my parts in it is and how it intersects with one of my core values.

So first I will talk about the logistics….so for PAID readers please pay attention. Then as much as I can share about the opportunity that has arisen, and I hope woven through my story I plant some seeds and wisdom that may apply in your own life and help you “save some time and energy” and to not ignore what you have always been called to but maybe the timing wasn’t right, and to know what to let go of because it’s not yours to do.

So first things first and then I will tell you why. I will be shutting off the paid membership and everything I do here will be complimentary. For those of you who are paid members you will receive a message of that happening and I think you will get a pro-rated refund depending on when you paid last. But what that also means is (for reasons I will share below), I will not be writing on my self-imposed schedule, and I will be putting the Dreaming and Scheming Circles on hold for now.So there will be no circle on Monday 3rd. I will be reintroducing them when I know what my life and work schedule will look like, and I may move them away from a weekday to be more accessible.

So now the why. First and foremost one of my core values is wisdom/mentorship shouldn’t be reserved for the privileged. And while I do think spiritual coaches and teachers absolutely need and should be sustained and compensated I am not one of those. I am sustained in other ways….more on that below. But truly I don’t think sharing wisdom…coming from me or with each other in community should be gatekept. That is why I say I am a Wisdom Carrier, not a Wisdom Keeper because that means I am keeping it behind a gate or in my heart waiting for something in return. Reciprocity for me, IS the community, it is not just the giving but also the receiving of wisdom. In truth that is always what it has been about for me, and it will play out in my new opportunity as well. And that will be both a community structure but also my primary work with a financial component. As we are facing unprecedented times in our structures and people are not being sustained in so many ways, not only financially, but emotionally and spiritually I am making the choice to give freely of what I have been blessed enough to learn and study over these last few decades. And I hope to receive your wisdom as well. There is no other way for humanity to move forward if we cannot sit with each other and share wisdom and be generous of heart and soul.

And that leads me to my new business venture and a little backstory for those who have not known me a long time. But I will start with a message I received from doing some Gene Keys work. (Do I have any Gene Keys junkies here? If so, definitely leave a comment) If not, I can take you down the rabbit hole, and it IS a rabbit hole. But one of the pieces of my life’s work and purpose is:

Creating Communities of Coherence

I have always known this and so that is what I do. It is usually done through constellating around a form of healing, spiritual, or creative arts (or many of them given that I am a multi-passionate maven). I left corporate America and began studying and working in herbalism and bodywork in 97, and I went down a lot of rabbit holes from there. Yet I also love strategy, design, process, systems, and supporting emergent leaders. But the overarching purpose is creating communities that are aligned and energetically coherent. And it is about caring for and tending the hearth. What is becoming more and more apparent (and yet I tend to ignore it) is that for sure it is locally and in-person and the online connections are an outreach of that, but not the main gig. Am I capable of doing it all online? Yes. I have the technical, instructional design and marketing skills to do it. Do I want to do that? Yes and no, both/and. But not with a content calendar and Social Media posting timeline. Been there, done that, and tried to do it yet again here on Substack and it just doesn’t align for me anymore. I want to drop in here when I have something to say of value and not on a schedule and certainly not to build a huge audience of students and clients.

I ran a brick and mortar community and creative space from 2018-2022, yes the pandemic hit in the middle of that, which meant I paid rent for nearly two years and yet was trying to cobble back to an online format to pay for it, and it never did. It was a service based business and I did it alone. Yes I had community, but I did not have support with the business. The lines started to blur between community tending, circle facilitation, clients, teaching, and friendships. My friendships started to feel transactional.

And I also loved every moment of it until I didn’t.

It was always intended to be a five year journey and then go “location independent” after that, and NEVER do a brick and mortar again. Oh how the ancestors and guides are chuckling at me now.

But between 2022-2024 I was in what is known as the Messy Middle in Transition Coaching circles. I really didn’t know what to do next and I had some personal family things going on, so I mostly just tended the hearth but by summer of 24 I was getting antsy. I knew something was on the horizon and knew I had to emerge from the cocoon. So I thought let me focus on building Substack. I had been here a while but not doing much. I NEEDED a sense of community again and because I don’t want to play the social media marketing game I thought this was the answer and so I went to work on redesign, content calendars and all the things I know how to do when I am feeling antsy but am still very much in the mystery. But it didn’t feel as aligned as I had hoped. And here we are.

AND I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE

But I will be showing up differently and more generously but on my timeline and with a different intent. And it is not to grow a paid membership community. So I hope you stay with me as I figure out how it will look, how I will connect with you more deeply, and how I may give you the opportunity to write and share your stories here.

Concurrently to these realizations and epiphanies I was doing my visioning process which I do between Winter Solstice and Imbolc. I stay open to what wants to come through in messages from my wisdom, my ancestors, my guides, the animals and plants and all the synchronicities. I sit in wonder. They all told me in one form or another to own my magic. But also to honor my divergent wisdom, AND on top of that the ways of my ancestors which involved a lot of syncretic folk medicine, plants, and the weaving of science and spirit that is ever present in the natural world.

And to pay attention and DO NOT say no to what continues to show up and reveal itself to you. That is indeed your calling and to continue to ignore it will not be taken well.

So in January what showed up was an opportunity to acquire a local business. I can’t say much yet until it is finalized but it involves community both with customers and a magical staff of women that I get the opportunity to mentor, AND the plants that get the opportunity to mentor me. The plants have never left me alone even when I try to leave them alone. They have come telling me to work with them countless times since 1997, they come to me in my dreams.Sometimes I listen, sometimes I don’t. This time I am. At 53 this could be my last shot to take it seriously and create a legacy with them at the helm. They are also my (and yours) ancestors and allies. And of course the community, and the support I will have this time around. It was almost impossible to say no. This time I will be doing it differently. The plants, the brick and mortar community as being my part to play has come full circle. This time I am older and wiser. Gentler and more humble. This time community and kinship with each other and the natural world is without a doubt necessary to our survival. I also realized that working with and studying the plants as part of my work is in its “Saturn Return” year. So I am not at all surprised that this showed up for me now.

The timing is right on time for what I am and always have been meant to do.

My inquiry to you, is what is calling you? What has always called you? What have you tried and maybe failed at….but maybe it wasn’t a failure, maybe it was that the timing wasn’t right, or that it wasn’t the thing that failed but the approach. How can you show up to that thing, and maybe do it differently this time? Please share your story in the comments.

-Where in my life am I NOT treating myself with unreasonable love and compassion? Why? And what steps can I take to move towards more self-compassion?

-What is exciti…

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This week for those of us that celebrate the seasonal turns of the wheel we are celebrating Imbolc AKA Brigid's Day on February 1st. (In ancient times these were seasonal celebrations that last more than one day -often a week or more.)This marks the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and The Spring Equinox and I cannot be happier that we are welcoming more light into our days. Imbolc is considered a "fire" or light ceremony, where the light is beginning to penetrate the dark, and nourish the seeds that have been sitting dormant. And even when we can't "see" activity and growth with our outer eyes, there is a stirring beginning to happen. It is evident and yet still mysterious. This time marks the beginning of the fertile season, the time to really illuminate what we want to birth into the world, and begin to get inspired by our own magic and ability to bring those visions we set and dreams into form.

Working with these cycles gives us the opportunity to slow down, to not rush things, as a seed cannot be rushed from a seed to a blossom. It is time to light the candles and really distill down the visions and intentions we set in January, and choose which seeds we will penetrate with our light (and life force energy), which ones we will tend, and give those that are really lighting us up, the time and attention it takes to mother them into form.

As I write this, I am feeling like a caterpillar emerging into a butterfly. I have spent the last two years in the imaginal cell soup, the messy middle between one thing ending, imagining into what will emerge next, and the re-generation into something new while still carrying the DNA of who I was and what I have done up until this point in my life. I have remained open to the mystery, while being in angst around not “doing” anything. I am impatient and things were not moving quickly enough. But I sat and I waited for the next Divine directive. There is no timeline or rush when we know we are here to be of service and we are waiting for the next Divine directive. The Divine can be a trickster and the test of my patience and trust, and ability to listen to my own intuition that over these last two years said “no not this, no not that” and in my frustration I would constantly ask “THEN WHAT??” In the end I was rewarded for my patience and trust and the what just recently appeared in the most aligned way possible. Can’t say just what the what is right now, but I will when I can! What I do know is I was holding onto some stories about what I didn’t want to do again, or so my mind thought because it was hanging on to past experiences. But in working with releasing those stories, and maybe how I did certain things in the past I realized it wasn’t the thing, it was the container and lack of support I had surrounding me. Both energetic and in the humans around me.

What stories do you need to release to birth what is next and to nourish the vision into form?

I am also musing on time and how much of a currency we can make of it. I am so glad I do not put the pressure on myself to complete ALL THE THINGS by December 31st (or even do much of anything the last two years besides tend my hearth and my beloveds…which is SOMETHING). Because holy mama it's already February.I am already certain that the visions are at once so simple and yet bigger and longer term, and know my ventures and visions reach far beyond 2025. I know I have to do less to receive more, or do less of certain things but more of others to feel prosperous and purposeful.

What in your life is being called to do things differently?

I know for me, I am doing my scheduling differently. I normal do the opposite of what the common business wisdom and coaching is out there, and I am nothing if not unconventional. The new opportunity that is coming up for me, will really turn things on their head compared to my current lifestyle. I will have to be very intentional about what I do and when I do it. I will have to lean into timelessness. This opportunity will also give me a chance to do leadership differently than the over-culture and aligned with who I am and those who I lead and inspire. And that is what I have been yearning for these last few years. My excitement is palpable.

Loves I invite you to spend this week shining a light on distilling down what you want to nourish into life in the next cycle, whether that cycle is a month, a season, a year, several years, or a lifetime. And then start deciding how you want to nourish those seeds and bring them into form.

And as a homage to Brigid light a fire, make a commitment to yourself and your creative fire, speak your intentions into your favorite scarf and tie it around a tree on Imbolc. Wear or have that scarf in your “space” throughout the year as it will carry those intentions as a remembrance even when you might forget.

Hello Dreamers and Schemers,

It’s time again for our February 3rd at 1PM Mountain time Dreaming and Scheming Circle for paid members! As always I am super excited about sharing wisdom with each other. I am looking forward to gathering on the theme of Facing and Embracing our Fears as Catalyst for Change.

My circles have a “flow” that contains the energy yet gives space for everyone to speak their voice and their wisdom into the space. Here is the “flow”, not meant to be rigid but meant to hold us. Please have your preferred method of journaling with you. Session will be recorded and sent to paid subscribers.

Flow

• Introduction to me and the theme

• Circle guidelines brief review

• Poetry or Prose reading

• Grounding

• Introduction round and “inquiry” # 1

• Inquiry # 2

• Discussion on allies and helpers

• Quiet time for journaling using prompts that were sent out

• Wisdom share

• Practices for the month

• Claiming and Closing

To learn more about the intentions of the Dreaming and Scheming Circle go here. To receive the zoom link below please upgrade your membership.

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The Vow. A very apropos card for Aquarius as these energies are about speaking your intentions with your true inner voice. As I said in my New Moon https://substack.com/home/post/p-155935683?source=queue

Abracadabra- I create what I speak.

This Vow card takes it one step further in that what you speak is seen as a devotion, a promise and a Divine directive that calls in your Divine, guides and ancestors to support you. As you set intentions for the month, year, or your entire life path, choose your words and your vows wisely because what you wish for will happen, so be sure it comes from a devotion to the path your are choosing. Remember you are making a promise to yourself, the collective that you impact (which is all of it), your Divine, and your ancestors. This doesn’t mean you need to control how the intention comes to fruition, and this is not about writing down goals and to-do lists, but it is creating the container for your higher vision.

Sit with your intentions and feel for the resonance in your body and then speak them and listen for the resonance in your words. Understand your intentions can come from a place of grace and devotion to your path no matter where it leads and not from a place of how much you can “produce”. Do speak your intentions out loud, because sound has energy and frequency that will amplify what you wish to do in both your inner and outer worlds. I would also as always include a vow of reciprocity and to give as much as you receive from these intentions.

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We are approaching the first New Moon of 2025. The moon will move into Aquarius at 7:26 am EST. This is the first in a series for my paid subscribers that discusses at a high level the energies of these signs at the New Moon, the energies of the elements, and some suggestions for creating your altars, as well as, prompts and things to focus on while setting your intentions. The New Moon is the time to set intentions for the current cycle, and then use the rest of the moon cycle to deepen into that intention and take aligned actions. Some months you may choose to focus on an inner intention vs an outer intention or both. I highly recommend only choosing at MOST 3 intentions for a moon cycle, or if it is a deep intention you may choose to work it for a seasonal cycle and layer on the energies of the next few New Moons.

I want to give a disclaimer that I am NOT an astrologer, but I do work with the Moon, Elemental, and Seasonal cycles in my life and work design. (If you want suggestions for astrologers to follow or get personal readings from please let me know.)

This New Moon will be bringing a LOT given that Pluto moved into Aquarius for its approximately 20 year cycle so we have that layered on top. Being an Aquarius ascendant and someone who loves shadow work I think this is like the icing on the cake!! This moon will impact every sign and Aquarius is about innovation, stepping out of your comfort zone, and at the risk of sounding cliche “being the change you wish to see.” With Pluto’s shadowy nature being played out in the collective right now, many of us are on edge. So you are being asked to look at your shadows around taking risks, speaking your truth, taking up space, and putting your innovative ideas out into the world. Collectively we are being asked to use technology for good, innovate, understand what our part is to play to be of service to something greater, and to stop playing in the shadows of waiting for leaders to save us. This 20 years will be about humanity taking the reins, even though it doesn’t feel like it right now. We are just at the beginning and seeing the darkness and the chaos, which is necessary in the cycles of death and rebirth. But take heart that creativity is born out of chaos. So tap into your own creative genius and set some intentions around bringing that to light. Your intentions for this New Moon may be for the overarching essence of what you want to bring forward this year.

This is one of my favorite weeks of the year because February 1st is also Imbolc or Brigid’s Day a cross quarter day in the Wheel of the Year and marks the beginning of Spring and the Midpoint between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. This is about adding our creative fire to path and purpose, and the acknowledgement that the seeds are stirring under the soil. There will be a separate article on Imbolc later this week.

 Why Work with the Moon?

Working with the moon as a way to honor cycles and rhythms has been practiced since the beginning of time. The moon sets the pace with a rhythm, a cycle of beginnings and endings that never fails. She is always present even when you cannot see her. As humans and especially as women we have a natural connection to the moon, that watches over our menstrual cycles (or if we do not bleed there is still opportunity to tap into her rhythms and your own) the ebbs and flows of the ocean, and our intuition and imagination.

Looking at the moon brings a sense of peace, comfort, safety, and illumination. She is a constant yet is always moving and transforming. She transforms from dark to new to half, to crescent, to balsamic, to full and birthing and back again. She represents the cycles of death and rebirth that happens every single month and that represents every cycle of our own journey. She works in phases, as do we as humans when we wake up to that fact, instead of trying to “get it all done” according to some external arbitrary timeline. Our whole lives are a series of phases that we dance to and from and back again. When we tap into that power, honor it, and work with it, we have a powerful ally that assists us in bringing our visions into form. Working with the moon helps us to remember there is something bigger than ourselves and that connecting into nature helps us to do “our work” here on this planet.

As the moon travels around the Earth her phases change and at the same time, she moves into a different astrological sign approximately every 2.5 days. Each of these transitions in both how she shows up and where she shows up in the sky comes with a different “energy”. I also believe that the season of the year also represents our cycles of life and different energies depending on the element of nature that is most strong at that time. So, working in resonance with the phase of the moon, the astrological sign, and the seasons is what I have found to be the most powerful way of setting intention, and bringing it into form with the assistance of nature.

Setting Intention with the New Moon

Setting intention with the New Moon is powerful because the New Moon is the beginning of the moon phase cycle, and once we are aligned to what is calling us forward we use the other phases to bring more energy and joy to the intention, bring gratitude for what we have, and then release attachment to outcome while we birth that intention into the world. In the New Moon we first sit in the emptiness and the darkness of the New Moon, we tap into our inner knowing in a way we can only do when we “empty out” and step out of the mind chatter, so that we can fully receive the information our wisdom wants us to know, we allow the Mother (or the Moon or whatever your belief system is) to take what we do not need, so we can just be still and listen, and allow our intentions to rise up through our heart and souls and not come from the logical and linear mind. That is how we access what we truly desire and give it the energy required to manifest. We use this practice to learn what is real and true about what would we would like to bring into form, NOT what the external world says we should want, be or do.

Once we have grounded into the Earth, called in the power of the moon, and released we are then able to plant the seed, allow the intention to gestate and be nourished during the other phases of the lunar cycle, and then be birthed at the Full Moon.

To receive the specific guidance for Aquarius please consider upgrading to a paid membership.

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As I have mentioned I take ALL of January to be in a visioning and dreaming state, making no decisions on what seeds, goals, ideas, and aligned actions I am going to take just yet. I allow myself to steep in all of it, to slowly add the ingredients to the cauldron, stir the pot, add some spices, take little tastes along the way to see if the flavors are melding and in the beginning of February a luscious stew emerges that I can then serve up to myself, my family, my communities, and the larger collective. A part of my discernment process of what wants to go in the stew is paying attention to synchronicity, often in the form of possibilities and how paying attention to them is so important to being in my flow, knowing I am on the right path, and honoring the work I am here to do and receive messages on how I can be of service to the greater whole. This year is also presenting me with the unexpected and some surprise opportunities that add a choice point and a layer of discernment that makes paying attention to synchronicity even more important than usual. The definition of synchronicity (originally coined by Carl Jung):

"The simultaneous occurrence of events which appear significantly related but have no discernible causal connection."

It can get deeper and more esoteric from here. It also can be something that shows up in your day to day outer world and at the same time in your dream time or quiet inner time. I find that for myself synchronicities show up in the simple every day things. Animals around me, signs, seeing certain people, things I read and music lyrics. The key is making the space to pay attention, notice these things and make the connections especially with anything you are internally processing. It is about sharpening your ability to recognize patterns and make the connections. I find this is a skill that society is lacking in general and will write a whole article on recognizing patterns in the outer world and the people in power. We have been conditioned through our constant focus on productivity and reliance on Social Media rather than being reliant on our own creativity, intuition and our imaginal realms and that is where synchronicity lives. Our soul speaks in image, metaphor, and symbols, included in that is synchronicity and patterns. Synchronicities lead to epiphanies. It has happened in my life over and over again. I can assure you I get no epiphanies doomscrolling. Do you?

You have to make the space to notice what is happening within and outside of you and recognize the connections.

I find that if we don't slow down and pay attention that the synchronicities can go right over our heads. And we definitely don't make the space for seeing how these things may connect to what is going on in our inner world. Because by definition they are seemingly unrelated. However, when you look at the patterns you see that there is a weaving of a message that begins to make sense to you, AND it is often coming from nature, the imaginal realms, and/or the "collective" and that is often a clue on how you can be of service to the greater whole. And truly that is what our souls came here for. Synchronicities are messages from the Universe that give our souls context for where we are in time and space and in the web of life.

"Synchronicity is the glue that places you into context.It is how the Universe wheels around you and serves you. As you serve the Universe, so it serves you." -Richard Rudd

This quote when I read it hit me like a lightening bolt. Particularly at this time of year when everyone is talking about Vision Boards and Manifesting. Or this year, politics and our sense of having NO input to what we want from our leaders nor measurable impact on the insanity going on, it can leave us feeling hopeless. But all we can continue to do is understand what we are here to be in service to and act upon it. I believe most of the teachings out there on manifesting have been so distorted and misleading, and have actually caused people a lot of pain and suffering. (Which I am happy to discuss individually why I believe that). A lot of people talk about how the Universe is limitless and therefore we can manifest anything we want.Maybe. But humans are not limitless, and Mother Earth…thanks to humans constantly taking from her is also not limitless. What is left out of modern (not ancient nor indigenous) Law of Attraction and manifestation teachings is that this is a RECIPROCAL relationship. We are here to serve the Universe and the greater good, and in turn it will serve us. But sadly, most manifestation and vision board processes only discuss how we can GET more and more from the Universe (and in turn often sucking ourselves dry trying to manifest ALL the things). Not how we will give back to it. And that is quite frankly one of the reasons why I believe the planet is suffering. A 1,000's year old pattern of just taking; the Human Grift.Synchronicities are gifts the Universe gives us when we pay attention and those are both messages for our personal visions, but also how to serve something bigger than ourselves.

So what are you giving BACK to the Universe?

The Universe is giving us synchronicities all the time; bread crumbs that are leading us down our paths if we are paying attention. We receive these through signs in the natural world, timing, symbols, words and phrases that come up in and seemingly unrelated contexts..like reading a personal development book and then seeing the same theme in a movie or meme, or on a billboard trying to sell you a car. But the Universe only gives us the hints, it is up to us to tap into our intuition and ask what those glimmers are trying to tell us.Asking the question how connected to the next version of my story or where is this sign trying to point me if I am trying to make a decision is an important part of the process. It is how we begin to co-create our reality with the Divine instead of being oblivious or resistant to it. Also, you have to say YES sometimes and take a leap even if you don’t know the outcome. You won’t know the outcome, one actual Universal Truth is everything is in mystery, but part of the reciprocity is trust.

My grandmother always said, “things come in threes.”

I believe that to be true. If something comes up through any of your senses three times trust me when I say, “pay attention”. It also means if you send out any ill will towards others it will come back to you three-fold. Yet another reason to not be an asshole and to not think you need to harm others in order to manifest what you desire.

Often we can only begin to connect these things in our minds, if we are willing to step out of our logical minds and tap into our intuition. This can be done through whatever ways feel resonant for you. Spending time in a bath, journaling, doing a creative or art making process, and see what symbols and information comes up, meditation, movement-yoga, dance, running. The key is asking the question before you begin your practice and then seeing what comes up. You can ask "what is the Universe (Divine, God, ancestors, guides, psyche..whatever works for you) trying to show me when I see or experience_______ over and over again." And I will ask, how is this message or sign leading me home to myself and what I am here to do? In my morning practice, I just ask to see the information I need to see, I say a little mantra “Mother I work for you, show me” and then pull an oracle or Tarot card for the day and pay attention to how the images or information synchronizes throughout my day, and then journal on my day before bed, looking for patterns and connections and seeing how they apply to whatever I am dealing with in the present moment, or using it to vision into the future.

Working with synchronicity is a powerful process that sets you up to be in flow with life rather than swimming against the current. It is also a way to discern what is your part and your way of being of service in this crazy world and in direct action in your communities. Because we are going to need to be of service in order to make it through. The time of expecting leaders to save us is over. In fact, all we can do is pray our leaders don’t intentionally harm us, but all evidence is leading to them doing exactly that or being complicit to it through non-action. I hope I live long enough to see the “three-fold” return of this behavior in the annals of history. We are going to need to be in service to each other, because as Ram Dass said “we are all just walking each other home.”

I would love for you to spend this week paying attention to synchronicities and how they connect in with your life and that of service to the greater whole. And would love to hear about your experience or any epiphanies you have.

Love and Light,

Dina

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Today's guest is Dina Tibbs, an expert in transformational group facilitation, guiding people toward why their soul is here on the planet as a coach, mentor, and soul companion. She's also a breast cancer survivor.

This is a great conversation about the metaphysical and spiritual. Deep topics include coming to terms with the possibility of dying, experiencing awe in all things, not taking life too seriously, and truly being present in every moment, along with so much more!!

You can find Dina at https://mavenandsagecounsulting.com

You can find her writing at https://www.mavens-nest.com

We talked about the book Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How it Can Transform Your Life by Dacher Keltner

Let me know your takeaways from this episode!! My hope is this inspires you whether you or someone you love has been affected by cancer.

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Well it has been wild already and we are only two weeks into 2025. First, my prayers go out to the people of California. Despite all the lies and rhetoric, know that you are loved and that us prayer warriors are praying for your safety and recovery. Here is a link to a verified Go Fund Me page to donate directly to people in need, with what they need.

Here in the Nest we had our first Dreaming and Scheming Circle of 2025. It was great fun! Wisdom was shared, epiphanies were had. We talked about what it means to Commune with ourselves, with nature, with community. We discussed being in symbiosis with the trees like a koala, allowing them to diffuse our energy when we spend too much time in EITHER solitude or out in the world receiving input, and that the trees help us find equilibrium between the two.

The practice for January is to remain in receptivity, to walk through the world slowly and to listen for the resonance before setting goals and making to-do lists. Do an input inventory and check in with how much “input” you receive that is not yours.

February’s Dreaming and Scheming Circle is the 3rd at 1 Mountain. Theme: Finding Empathy, Acceptance, Compassion. Goddess knows we need more of that right now. This should not be edgy, but apparently compassion is radical. So come be an edge walker. To learn more about the circle and other goodies that I offer in the Paid Membership go here.

Tomorrow is the Full Moon in Cancer and January’s moon is called the Wolf Moon. Cancer is always about love and nurturing. So I like to think of this moon as an opportunity to show our Wild Love to ourselves and those around us. It is the time to get an understanding of what nurtures us at our deepest levels. There are many other things going on in the cosmos, too many for me to get into because while I pay attention to astrology I am not an expert. I have several astrologers I adore and trust with my personal readings. Reach out if you want some resources.

I think of Full Moons as the pregnant pause, the crowning. Everything is illuminated so we must discern what to give our energy and attention to for the rest of the moon cycle. It is also a time to be in gratitude for what we do have, rather than manifesting more “stuff” that takes our attention away from the present moment.

Remember we are in Winter, the element is Earth. This season is all about setting our foundations and understanding what nourishes and sustains us and then saying no the rest. It’s about gathering the bones. Be still, know that your answers come from the flame of your heart, the quiet of the snow falling, the sound of the wolves and coyotes howling, your answers will not be discovered on Social Media or bought in Walmart.

Each Full Moon I choose a Goddess to play with for the month. And to my delight this month’s is Saraswati. She along with Hildegard von Bingen are two of many of my spiritual ancestors. More on Hilde later. But they both were multi-passion mavens and inspired the name of this publication. Saraswati’s domain is art, language, knowledge, music, and poetry. The swan is her animal ally and one of mine. She represents mastery. Learn and then learn some more. My favorite thing on the planet. Learning. But then we must share that wisdom, because knowledge becomes wisdom through experience and practice. And most importantly we must enjoy our pursuits.

She gives us the message to focus…and that message keeps coming through for me. To be careful not to start a lot of things with enthusiasm, but then get bored and move on. I am so guilty!! I love the energy of beginner’s mind but there is also huge satisfaction in mastery. The inquiry is what would you like to learn and master? Discern what you really want to put your attention, intention, and energy towards and refrain from scattering yourself. I also read something elsewhere that will be very present on my vision altar for the year:

“Playfulness + Strength= Spiritual Mastery.”

So for me if it doesn’t bring joy and if it isn’t playful it’s probably a no. Being a maven I usually have many pursuits happening at once. I am able to. Some I do master, some I don’t and that is OK. As long as it’s fun. Over the year I will share some of my pursuits. Right now, I have re-ignited my art journaling practice, and I am ALWAYS playing with fiber in some way, shape, or form.

My writing this month will continue on the theme of Gathering the Bones, slowing down, and a very personal piece that is coming through inspired by reading Kristin Hannah’s The Women.

What are you reading this month? I wanna hear all about the books!!!

I am also getting a chance to go dip my toes in the sand and listen to the waves crash for a few days. My beloved husband surprised me with a trip for Christmas. And this coastal born, now land-locked woman NEEDS some Vitamin Sea. My soul and my skin feels parched and only the ocean can cure it.

Would also love to hear how your month is going. What inner wisdom are you receiving? Are you taking is slow and listening, or are you off to the races and feeling overwhelmed?

I invite you to play with us in circle next month and give yourself some space to Dream and Scheme.

Stay Enchanted,

Dina

PS. I would also love to hear what you want to read more of. I would love it if you completed the New Reader Survey.

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Thank you to the wise women who attending the circle on Monday, we had an amazing time and a lot of wisdom was shared. For those of you unable to make it here is the recording, as well as, the resour…

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Monday January 6th at 1PM Mountain time is our first Dreaming and Scheming Circle. I am looking forward to gathering on the theme of Slowing Down to Receive.

My circles have a “flow” that contains the energy yet gives space for everyone to speak their voice and their wisdom into the space. Here is the “flow”, not meant to be rigid but meant to hold us. Please have your preferred method of journaling with you. Session will be recorded and sent to paid subscribers.

Flow

• Introduction to me and the theme

• Circle guidelines brief review

• Poetry or Prose reading

• Grounding

• Introduction round and “inquiry # 1

• Inquiry # 2

• Discussion on allies and helpers

• Quiet time for journaling using prompts that were sent out

• Wisdom share

• Practices for the month

• Claiming and Closing

If you are not currently a paid member and would like to attend one complimentary circle, redeem your one complimentary post to receive the zoom link.

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Here are the January Dreaming and Scheming Journal prompts. Given that theme is Slow Down to Receive I invite you to really slow down and just “be with” the prompts. There is no need to answer them all if you don’t want to. Slow down, take some breaths, speak them out loud and choose the ones that cause a visceral response. That will be the first clue that some reflection on that question will be beneficial for you. If there are any that repel you, those may be calling you to go deeper.

You can choose to journal in any way that resonates for you. Written, spoken, visual-art and/or collage. I usually do a combination of visual and written. You may also decide to pull an oracle card to get more information on your inquiry or as a way to pay attention to synchronicities.

Prompt 1--What would I like to receive from myself to nurture my physical, emotional, and spiritual desires?

Prompt 2- How willing am I to open up to receiving what I need and desire? How can I open even more?

Prompt 3- If you resist slowing down, or if you resist just receiving information without “doing” anything with it, dig in and ask why that is.

Prompt 4--What support do I need from others (and the Universe) to feel held or to help me achieve my intentions?

Prompt 5-What part(s) of my life feel easeful and graceful? What parts would I like to bring more ease and simplicity to. What steps can I take to do that?

Prompt 6--What part(s) of my life am I feeling at my edge or in discomfort? What do I need to let go of and surrender to in order to step through that threshold and into ease and grace?

Prompt 7-If you are visioning for 2025 what do you think your year is about on a holistic level?

Prompt 8- How can you take an even more expanded view of your vision and desires and trust that the right path will be revealed to you over time and surrender to the mystery. How attached are you to "having it all figured out" and are you willing to let go, empty out, and let intuitive information come through?

Enjoy! And I hope to see you in circle January 6th where we will share wisdom on these prompts and what came up for you.

As if on cue my soul and body went into Deep time as soon as Christmas was over, and this is what naturally happens when you live in harmony with nature’s cycles instead of trying to resist them. I am swimming in the soup of dreaming and intuiting what this next year will be about for me. I am really deep in it and it is lovely, spacious, grounding, healing. I have no desire to be “out there”, although I fed my inner sassy and completely inappropriate girl with going to a comedy show last night with my husband and son to ring in the New Year. If you don’t know him, Brad Williams is hilarious, do yourself a favor check him out on Netflix/Youtube and prepare to laugh your ass off. The comic archetype is necessary in this shitstorm we are living in. The comic or jester plays a critical role in holding us steady and I will write more deeply on the comic archetype in the future. If you don’t watch or listen to a lot of comedy I encourage you to add it to what you want to do more of. The more inappropriate the better. It really teaches us to get over ourselves. And when you go to a live show, there is a sense of connection amongst so many different people from different walks of life, coming to realize this is all a cosmic joke and we take ourselves way too damned seriously.

Now is the time to receive all the information, and then later begin to discern what resonates, weave it into a loose structure and decide what is “just for you” and what is to be shared with the world as part of your sacred work. A big part of the messages I am getting is about the importance of Divine Play, laughter, and just sheer cheekiness. One of the messages I received from my oracle reading for the year is “The combination of playfulness and strength is a hallmark of spiritual mastery.” I will definitely be working to embody this in 2025.

Before I get back to my visioning time, and some art making I wanted to write and wish you all a Happy New Year and share with you what is emerging from the intuitive information I am receiving for what will be shared in the Dreaming and Scheming Circle membership and the writing pieces I will be sharing for all of my subscribers.

First to learn more about the Dreaming and Scheming circle and what you receive go here. Our first live circle gathering is Monday Jan 6th at 1PM Mountain time. I have turned on the complimentary 7 days of membership so that gives everyone a chance to experience this first circle. Zoom link and preparation will be sent to members over the weekend. But here is what January is about:

• Remaining slow and deliberate and opening to receiving information and inner wisdom before rushing to create goals and to-do lists.

• For paid members, besides the live circles you will receive January journal prompts, discussion on an animal and a plant healer for the month, and wisdom from a historical mystic.

• For everyone, I will be writing on the theme of slowing down, receiving, getting to the “bones” of things before adding more layers and complexity. And some personal stories of resistance to the Maiden archetype that keeps coming up for me over and over again.

I hope you have a wonderful and prosperous 2025. Eat some lentils or black eyed-peas for luck and abundance and just enjoy! There is plenty of time to be off to the races.

This video was originally offered as a Facebook live mini class in 2020, during the pandemic so it was quite a joy to watch and reflect on what has changed, what has stayed the same, and the collective slide backwards into the dynamics we are in now, like as a society we didn’t learn absolutely anything from the pandemic. Maybe we will this year.

I do have a soapbox I stand on about of vision boards and the whole idea of “manifestation” seems to only be about self-serving efforts, and on top of that only reflect our work lives and often leave out the whole rest of our lives and what our souls yearn for in terms of joy and fulfillment. And true manifestation from an ancient and Universal perspective is about reciprocity, not just the question of “what can I get”. I have already seen on the inter-webs..people starting the vision boards, coming up with their words for the year, and what they want to “manifest” and it is just so stuck in the productivity=personal value and worth, that I need to share how to do it differently, in a way that is soul and life affirming, and in Divine timing with the cycles of nature.

This video will give you a little taste of my energy and the energy of Dreaming and Scheming circles, however those will not be me “teaching” as much as holding sacred space on a theme, and then opening it up for all to share their wisdom. To learn more about the monthly themes and intent of those circles go here.

The class is about 90 minutes so grab some tea, coffee, wine and settle in. Also, if you have a vision board, book, planner from 2024 have that available while you are watching.

So often when we create our visions for the year we skip right past the "VISIONING" part and go straight to goal creating and to-do list making. In this mini-class I share 5 things to reflect on and create around that allows you to SLOW it down, and really feel into how you want to show up in the world (inner and outer), really DREAM into what's possible, and THEN create a vision from that place. The goals, to-do's, and action items can come later. You have plenty of time. Enjoy!

The Five Things I Dive into:

1. Consider what thresholds you are crossing vs. hardline endings and beginnings

2. Reflect on this year and celebrate yourself, before just moving on and creating more action items!

3. Identify and release any “shoulds” and external expectations that are not in alignment for you

4. Rather than the “what”, consider the “who”. Who do you want to be in your essence, how to do you want to show up and be present to your life. The “what” I am going to do question can come AFTER you make choices on how you want to walk through the world.

5. Create a no-holds barred possibilities board and don’t confuse your visions with your to-do lists. This is a dreaming time.

See you next year!!!

I looked at last year’s reflection and almost every year prior and it starts off with..it has been one heck of year. 2024 is no exception, especially with all the political and social chaos that distracted so many of us from our inner and outer work and what our souls are here to do. What I will say that I know at the core of my being is that if we wait for things to change “out there” we will be waiting a long ass time and squandering away our sovereignty, our joy, our awe. If you go back in time like I just did you will see for one reason or another every year has its trials, tribulations, obstacles, shitstorms, and Underworld journeys that we take by choice or because we got hit with the cosmic 2x4. It’s just part of the human condition and the soul’s journey. So let’s not way for a non-existent paradise (it exists but only in the imaginal realms) to do our inner work, to do what our souls were put here to do no matter how risky it may seem, be of service to something larger than ourselves. Here on Earth as it is right now, don’t do it for karma points or to “ascend” do it because your soul came here at this time, in this place with an assignment. Everything is in the mystery, so just do what your soul is calling you to do. Slow down long enough to hear it. Stop overcomplicating everything. Say no to anything not life-affirming.

Now it is the time of the seasonal cycles for me to go back behind the veils for just a little while longer, but this time to sit with the ideas that have finally started brewing after a two year “messy middle”. For those who don’t know I intentionally closed a brick and mortar women’s transformational and creative studio two years ago. I have been sitting with my soul and listening for the next expression of how she wants to be of service. So this is the time of year to go into Deep time and dream things into being. I go behind the veils from the Solstice through New Year and then emerge and get things “put on paper” through a vision altar process I do every year with a full emergence on Imbolc (Brigid’s Day).So before I go into the dreaming time I wanted to tap in with you, share a few things for you to reflect on between the Solstice (which will occur exact at December 21st 4:19 AM EST) and the Gregorian New Year. I do not consider this my spiritual (or even my modern day time management based) New Year.

You don't have to have every thing completed by December 31st, and a whole new set of goals and overwhelm on January 1st. Take your time; life comes in cycles; not hard stops and starts. For most cultures around the world January is still the dreaming time, and for many the New Year isn't even January 1st. And every year carries with it a different energy. For me this year the "dreaming" feels much more active rather than passive, AND at the same time I am not rushing into anything and being very receptive to what the Universe is putting right in front of me on the path AND what it is taking away. I invite you to NOT rush towards your dreams and trying to figure it all out in your mind, or to rush to create a vision board, word or phrase of the year, or list of goals. It is not necessary, however this year my word actually did come through early and loud and clear, the ancestors confirmed it, through a you cannot make this shit up session I had with one of my deeply intuitive soul sisters. It is Re-generation. So my visioning time will be to intuit, dream, and muse upon all the ways that plays in my inner and outer life. I have ideas.

Here are some things to reflect and journal on for the Solstice, before you go rushing into creating a vision board that will collect dust after January. Be with what is emerging, and what you are FEELING in your physical, emotional, and spiritual bodies. Maybe some words, phrases and intents are beginning to form for you, and maybe not. DO NOT be afraid of the dark, and immerse yourself in it over these next several days and then honor the return of the light:

• Celebrate your successes and all the things you did complete. All you have done and become this year. How you have shown up, first for yourself, and then for others.

• Reflect on those things that maybe did not come to completion, or work out the way you planned. Love yourself, know that you did enough, and then make a choice to let it go or carry it into the next cycle. (Remember again, there are no rules or timelines to complete things except the arbitrary ones you put on yourself)

• Sit with, and make a choice on which stories and repetitive patterns you are choosing to release once and for all, and choose the new story. Again loving yourself, and knowing that those old stories did serve you in some way, but that it is time to give yourself space for what wants to emerge. I am letting go of my preconceived expectations which result in “anticipatory” disappointment, which takes me out of my present joy.

• Take the time to really slow down and open up to the Inner Wisdom and information that is coming through to you and don't rush to make meaning or create a to-do list out of it. Just listen, pay attention to synchronicities, symbols, dreams, animals and plants revealing themselves to you. And as I said above pay attention to who and what the Universe is placing on the path in front of you. Pay attention to connections both new and old. This may not be a time for new vision but a re-vision and refinement. Again each year presents a different energy.

• Take time to tap into your heart and soul, AND REALLY DREAM, be open to what's possible even if it's in the mystery. Consider how you want to "show up" for yourself next year, and then consider how you want to show up for others and your work in the world. Do this from your heart and soul, not your head, and definitely not from what the external world thinks you should be doing or in reaction to chaos and the media. Take a digital detox. For real. You will only miss more chaos you have no control over.

• REALLY reflect on what support you need in all aspects of life. What connections, relationships, teachers, mentors, friends, colleagues do you want to strengthen? What do you want to learn? The time of lone wolf is over and we need to open up to both giving and receiving support. Define over the Solstice what that might look like for you. The messages I am getting so far is this is likely my BIG work for this year. Re-visioning, re-defining, and refining what connection looks and feels like for me. I have been somewhat of a hermit during these last two years of my messy middle, and some family relationship stuff I have been navigating. I am really going to musing upon how I want my friendships to look and feel and connecting more personally and in a reciprocal way.

So far during my visioning time a few phrases and words have come to me, but a lot from last year are still with me and I am still working, or better said they are still working me.

Re-generation- this means a lot across all spectrums of my life and work.

Sacred Sight- sharpening my inner oracular sight. Being the eyes and ears for the ancestors. This is what they told me, I have yet to fully understand what it means.

Innovation- this was a word from last year. I took one path based on what I thought it meant and realized that wasn’t it. That what happens when your logical mind overrides what your intuitive intelligence says. So I am working with what it really means to me and honoring my soul gifts.

Shapeshifting

As I said, some things will remain in the mystery for now as I go deeper into what this might look like. I will say it again, there is no rush to figure it out. See what and who the Universe puts in front of you, and follow the breadcrumbs. Feel in your body what to say yes to and what to say no to, or maybe later. Really tap into what is important and let the rest go or marinate for a while. Take time to understand your Essence and how you want to show up in the world, which is way more important that WHAT you do. You can always revisit things during the year. I ALWAYS refine and plant the seeds in March at Spring Equinox. This is just the ending and beginning at the same time. 

So those are my reflections so far. I know much more will emerge as I take some time off. I would love to hear what has been emerging for all of you, and how I can best be of service to you next year.

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This is the time in the cycles where I invite you to take a pause, reflect, allow yourself to be steeped in the unknown, in the darkness of this time of year. In preparation, for the light and the illumination that comes on the Winter Solstice. There is a reason why I celebrate the Solstice with such joy. It is because this space and time I take in the unknown, is very uncomfortable for me, and yet I do it anyway. My card carrying inner Impatience Queen revolts. I do it because I know without the pause, and the excavation into what is longer working, in my personal, spiritual, emotional, physical and work life is necessary in order to make space for what is ready to be birthed. That doesn't mean it's easy, it just means it's necessary.

Often, when we willingly embark upon this journey different feelings comes up, and we are invited to be with them. I often get a little melancholic, inspiration seems far, far away, which is even more difficult for me, as it is my sacred assignment to inspire myself and others. So when I am not feeling inspired, my ego likes to tell me I will never have another inspirational idea again. Which of course, I know is not true. What I really know is when I allow this pause, I am making room for something probably bigger than I would ever dream possible, if I didn't allow this time, and/or keep cranking out ideas to the external world. This year I am actually very inspired, so I am having the internal dialogue of “should I keep moving and working on these ideas or should I still take the space to let them brew in the cauldron?” I know the answer.

I actually have no problem living in a constant cycle of destroying and creating. If x doesn't work I detach from it and create y. Many people have a much more difficult time letting go but my grip on things or permanence is fairly loose. However, that can be exhausting, and sometimes I destroy things too easily without preserving the pieces that need to move forward with me. I tend not to carry a lot of baggage but once in awhile I realize I left the diamond in it. It's when I am in the winter energy of letting go, PAUSING to wait, and then creating the re-birth that is difficult for me. And for most of us. It is the fear that I will "let it all go" or all that is not working...which right now seems like a lot, and have nothing left. A complete and total rebirth and re-creation. I know that is not true, I know I have created a lot to celebrate, and to continue to nourish and somehow my soul is yearning for something new, something mythic, because that excites me. But what I really know when I go deeper is that this next cycle of time for me is about Re-generation which takes on many meanings for me.But it is not about destroying what was and creating something brand new. It is about weaving together the old and new, refining, regenerating, stewarding. And so I sit in the emptiness waiting for what that might look like, and what that could mean. I know the texture of it but I don’t know the shape of it yet.

I always ride a roller-coaster between wanting to change nothing and build upon what I have created and to create something brand new and novel. But what if there is a sacred third? And I know there is, hence why I stay in this internal, reflective deeptime, until the Solstice when things become illuminated, and they always do. And as a time to celebrate the letting go and the rebirth, the illumination with my family and community. It's why I adore the Solstice and celebrate it every year. I know there is an emergence into the light, that would not be possible if I didn't spend some time in the dark, despite its discomfort.

So loves, are you willing to take this pause, to really SEE with fresh eyes, what wants to flow to and through you? Are you willing to surrender to and trust that voice that tells you to pause and wait before you act? And for Goddess sake refrain from doing a vision board, strategy, and list of goals. Now is not the time. Now is the time to go deeper into the dream.

I would love to hear what is beginning to emerge for you, from this place of quiet and darkness.

I will leave you with a favorite chant for this time of year to really bring you to that place. I wish I could remember where it came from.

Set sail, set sail

One thing becomes another in the realm of the Mother

I visualize myself crossing the River Lethe with the Goddess Mnemosyne the Goddess of Memory (deep time memory) and the mother of the Muses. Crossing to the Underworld where I forget the vestments I no longer need and remember what I am really here to do. The journey is lit by floating candles and there is always a sense of mourning and excitement allowing for both things to be true.

This week I am reflecting on expansion, and how we are all being called to expand what we think we know, and our perceptions in order to feel more aligned with what is going on within ourselves and the world. The outer world right now is a shit storm and one reason besides the obvious is that most people cannot see perspectives beyond what is right in front of their nose, and that their perceptions are in a state of contraction because of the onslaught of external noise, biased news, echo chambers, and perceived division and “otherizing”.

In the natural world however, we are in the darkness and approaching the Winter Solstice. There is nothing more expansive than the dark. We often fear it, so we spend all our time “out there” in the madness matrix of social media and news rather than “in here” with ourselves and connected to nature; paying attention to what it is doing and the signs and synchronicities it offers us. Going inside often requires us to do some internal housekeeping and clearing out and the weeks before the Winter Solstice is an ideal time to do that before we start visioning what’s next and adding to our goals and to-do lists.

Every morning my practice is to ask my Inner Wisdom what I need to hear and receive for that day. There was a time about a year ago that Inner Wise Woman (who curses like a sailor...then again so does my outer wise woman) kept saying "You don't know shit." This went on for several weeks and was a call first into humility and secondly to expand my lens of perception and expand into possibilities that I couldn't quite see yet. And so now I make it a regular practice to ask my Inner Wisdom and my Divine to show me what I am not seeing. To assist me in stepping out of my limited day to day survival lens and up into the visionary and symbolic realms while at the same time remaining very grounded in the Earth and natural world because both spaces have information to offer us. I usually use free form writing, collage, working with plants and animal guidance to move into those realms because our logical minds are only capable of seeing what is behind us or right in front of us, but without a way to step into the intuitive intelligence you cannot see what you cannot "see". You have to step into the imagination.

I believe collectively it is TIME again to step out of what we think we know and expand our minds and our hearts to see things differently. I think it is the only way to maintain our own alignment and not get caught up in engaging with all that we see "out there." Our job is to shift our own minds and expand into what we are here on this planet to do, not waste our precious energy trying to change the minds of people unwilling to look at things through a different lens. I have needed this reminder the last several months, because hey my brain seeks to prove itself right, or find the echo chambers just like everyone else’s does. But what I realized is I really don’t know shit, none of us do and everything is in the mystery. What I do know is trying to change closed minds or get into the us vs them narrative brings me further and further away from what my soul is here to do. I assure you it brings you further away from it too. We didn’t come here for this, we came here to connect to ourselves and all beings. So, ask yourself, “what did I come here for?” And then listen for the answer. Then take some action that is life affirming. For me it is returning to some of my ancestral roots in the fiber arts and the plant/folk medicine realms, and to do my practices before engaging with anything outside of myself. My rituals must become the star of the show again because I can feel my shadow side overtaking the expansive qualities of the dark and while I love my shadow as much as I love my light I know when it is moving me out of alignment.

Many of us have been in a "contracted" state for months, some of us years, maybe even a decade, hunkering down, cocooning, being with the ones we love, only spending time with those who think like we do, or maybe being engaged in a fight, even a sacred one will ultimately lead to contraction even if it is a valiant and worthy fight. This is NOT to say that those of us involved in sacred activism and community engagement should stick our heads in the sand and spiritually bypass everything that is going on, but we need to rest, we need to continually check in with ourselves and what is in alignment, and we need to do this regularly in order to maintain perspective and to make choices for the highest good.

We also emerged from a pandemic and most of us still haven’t processed that. In one moment it seems like that was yesterday and in other moments like it was a decade ago. We just moved on and tried to “get back to normal.”Some of us enjoyed the slow down, some of us did not, and for some of us that changed from day to day. But like all Universal Laws (which I love because Universal mystical laws account for science, everything in the natural world including the body, spirit, psyche and soul) we can only contract for so long before we naturally expand whether we want to or not, we can fight it or we can let nature takes its course. When we breath our diaphragms contract and we can only contract for so long until we MUST expand, and so it is for our minds, bodies, and souls. If we don't allow the natural instinct to expand, we feel like we are constantly gasping for air.

My invitation to you this week is to sit with what you would like to clean up and clear out in your field of perception and perspective and then what you would like to expand into. Perhaps it is time to break out of the cocoon, remove the invisibility cloak and bring a piece of your work into the world, maybe it is time to expand your mind and learn something completely new and out of the ordinary for you. Maybe it is time to expand into a physical practice that tests your limits. Maybe it is time to take a dare, connect with people you would not ordinarily connect with learn about the world from their perspective and maybe even understand we are more alike than we are different. Don’t pretend to KNOW, because you don’t. Any and all of these things will move you into the next state of being, which is inevitable one way or another. But when you make the choice from your own Inner Authority of how you want to expand, what you want to expand into, and how you want to walk in the world it feels so much more natural and aligned as opposed to holding your breath and waiting for outer conditions to meet you in a past self that no longer exists.

I treat life as one giant experiment with lots of little parts, one where if I try to hard too force and control the outcome, it rarely turns out as I imagined. On the other hand, if I remain curious, have fun setting up the experiment and the conditions in which I am running it, and remain open to the results more often than not I am thrilled with the outcome because it is beyond what my linear brain could even imagine, and a "failed" experiment often provides me with the data needed to run an even better experiment. Life is alchemy.

Experiments are often run to either prove, but also often to disprove a theory. Certain conditions and even controls are set up and then we witness the outcomes. If things aren't working out as planned, then either release the reins on the controls, change the conditions, or let the experiment go, because maybe the timing wasn't right, or maybe it was just the wrong experiment for us, maybe some other scientist should be running that experiment. That is how I try to view everything in my life. Sometimes experiments just don't work out, but more often than not our experiments don't work out because we refuse to change the conditions, and yet expect a different outcome. This is what I see happening in society, politics, work places, pretty much everywhere. We keep the same conditions and the same processes (or philosophies/beliefs) in place and somehow expect a different outcome. The lack of experimentation, curiosity, and creativity is astounding. Or we are so caught up in how things "should" look, and that it needs to look a certain way, that we miss entirely the beauty in how it actually "does" look. Or we are running an experiment that is not ours to run. But mostly we do not trust the experiment.

As young children everything we do is an experiment, from the first sounds coming out of our mouth, to the first step we take, to picking up the first crayon to make a mark on paper. And we trust in the outcome, we don't even think about it. If the first step results in falling down, we try again, and do something a little differently, each and every time until we are walking. Picking up the first crayon and drawing a house, when looking at it through a conditioned adults eyes looks like scribbles and not a house at all, but through the child's eyes it is a house, and she is damned proud of drawing that house. Who says what a house is supposed to look like anyway?

Our minds are programmed to run our experiments, set our conditions, and decide our outcomes based on past experiences and often failed outcomes. This is where running an experiment to disprove a theory can be important. This is where if you have a deep desire for something but have not been able to achieve you open your mind and your heart to first looking deeply as to whether or not it is something you truly desire or if it is something the external world said you SHOULD want. If you decide it truly is what you want, then you change the conditions, and the controls, and you decide you are going to disprove all of the past outcomes, by releasing the expectations of the outcome and just be curious and have fun running the experiment.

One of my biggest experiments to date is the one where I thought I could never draw or paint, at least not with the conditions I was doing it under. I gave up on that experiment very early in life, and then in 2013 I decided that was something I truly did desire so I changed the conditions. The biggest condition I changed was seeking out the teachers and the support I needed to LEARN. Sometimes we think we can do things on our own, teach ourselves things, when in reality we don't know everything, and finding those that can teach us can be life changing. Just because we don't do something completely on our own, and we seek help does not mean the experiment is a failure. In fact when we add the wisdom of others, collaboration, and community into our conditions for success we succeed beyond our wildest dreams. We also have to step into the discomfort sometimes, the discomfort of not knowing what we are doing, the discomfort of letting go of some stories we are holding on to for dear life, so that we can write new ones, and be brave enough to try new experiments.

Every single time I step to a blank canvas with brush and paint in hand, I have no idea the outcome, I am not even sure I always know the experiment, and there is generally a little twinge of fear. What I do know is the conditions are limitless possibilities, open mind and heart, a hefty imagination, a whole lot of humor and fun, and yes even tears, and a connection to the Divine. The rest is a mystery, but 99% of the time I am happy with the results of my experiment, and for the other 1% I know there is always another canvas and more paint.

So invite you to choose and share one place in your life where you can run an experiment, maybe for a week or a month, do things a little differently than you have been doing, and witness the outcomes with the mind of a scientific observer. Please share it with me in the comments.

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