This is a reality I witness a lot of people struggle against. Wanting a straightforward path to follow their hearts. A clear step-by-step A to Z process. They feel confused and disappointed in search of their hearts in this way.
Over the years I’ve been asked the same question in different forms. The essence of this question is how does the spirit world connect to our practical everyday life? And recently someone asked me this question about plant spirits.
When I follow the thread of when poisonous plants showed up in my life, I continue to discover that they called me much sooner than I consciously recognized. In fact, every few months they show me another moment in time when they called me and I wasn't quite ready to say yes. For example, recently my husband started reading a book that I read not quite a decade ago. And guess who stars in the first chapters of the book? Poisonous plants :)
From the impact of childhood traumas to the ancestral burdens we carry, there is wisdom in the poison of our wounding.
Recently I was catching up with a dear spiritual friend of mine that I haven’t spoken to for quite some time. But we’ve had deep spiritual conversations and attended retreats together on and off for the last eight years.
Bridgekeeper. This is a title I heard given to me from the Spirit world many years ago on retreat. It’s a word that keeps returning time and time again. During meditations. During dreams. Synchronicities. And during sacred reflection time.
As I’ve turned this word over in my mind, heart, and soul, I’ve come to know that part of my sacred work in the world centers on bridge keeping. Which of course makes me a bridgekeeper.
Podcast listener Leslie had a big dream recently. “I knew this dream was a solid message.” The kind that sticks with you for life.
She’s been slowly opening up to her ancestors. Feeling the call strongly as she’s back on the land of some of her ancestors in Colombia.
If I were to sit down with you right now how would you answer the following question: where do dreams come from?
Would you have an answer or be stumped? Would you tell me that dreams are your brain firing randomly? Or would you tell me that your soul leaves your body to travel to different realms?
This topic is often contested by many. My experience is that people tend to fall into almost dogmatic camps. Digging their heels in the ground and adamant that dreams can only be one thing.
The veils between the worlds start to thin as winter draws nearer.
Daylight shortens and nighttime lengthens.
And the botanical world around us begins to turn energy and focus inward.
So it’s no surprise that so many people I’ve spoken to in the last two weeks are having more dreams. And vivid ones. It’s literally the season for dreaming.
When I first started exploring my dreams, internet searching was my go-to for meanings. The problem was, the meaning didn't always fit.
For example, I’d dream about an animal. But when I searched for the meaning online I’d find patchy results. In rare cases, a website's musing on the animal felt spot on. But more often than not, I sat there scratching my head wondering...am I missing something?
As young as age 3-5 I have a memory of one of my first reoccurring dreams. Like a thrilling movie playing on the large screen, for years I dreamt about being dragged and then locked in a prison cell. When I got older and became politically active, I sensed the dream was about being a political prisoner and this puzzled me. What young child dreams over and over again about being a political prisoner?
On the surface I had a lot of success. I accomplished my goal of working in the federal government. I owned a cute brick townhouse at the end of a sleepy cul de sac. I had close circles of friends that I spent hours laughing with. But something deep inside of me ached. And the feeling haunted me.
Unconsciously I did what so many of us do. I pursued the goals socialized into me and took them as my own. I abandoned my soul’s desires and essence to “fit in.”
Sending messages to us in bits and pieces that span over the course of a day, a week, a year, or even years.
Have you ever recognized in hindsight how all the pieces of one area of your life fit together? Suddenly the wider perspective and clarity you wanted is obvious. But you couldn't see it before in the messy middle.
Even though I know this, I still sometimes try to push for clarity. Wishing I can nudge my intuition onto the timeline in my head versus the pacing of my soul.
When I fall into this trap, I suffer. Like a person trying to draw a map in the densest fog. I struggle to chart my next steps when I can’t even see my hand through the mist. Eventually I must slow down to surrender.
I sensed burnout in myself earlier this summer and started slowing down. I gave myself more rest and turned my focus towards nurturing my creativity. These shifts nurtured me, but I needed more.
I wanted to feel the inherent goodness in life. Not to cover up the challenges, but to balance out the challenging feelings I hold.
Last summer I took two months off of social media to clear out the volume of the external world. I wanted to hear my inner channel more. I realized that other people’s ideas of success were slowly creeping into my unconscious mind. And it was time to clean them out!
Watch my complimentary masterclass to learn how to trust your intuition more and follow your inner guidance.
