How to Rise
We have not even to risk the adventure alone; for the heroes of all time have gone before us, the labyrinth is fully known; we have only to follow the thread of the hero-path. And where we had thought to find an abomination, we shall find a god; where we had thought to slay another, we shall slay ourselves; where we had thought to travel outward, we shall come to the center of our own existence; where we had thought to be alone, we shall be with all the world
- Joseph Campbell
I want to start today by saying how grateful I am for this amazing community. I know it's been a few months since I last wrote, but I've still felt so connected here the past few months as I journeyed into and through the largest Rite of Passage of my life: Marriage.
On October 8th, I married my long-time partner and best friend in an intimate ceremony on a beautiful farm with our closest family & friends present. After almost 7 years together, we stepped into a deeper level of relationship than we ever knew existed. And we did so full of intention on not just simply having a legal ceremony, but to also step fully into a state of Sacred Union.
In many ways this was the opportunity for me to truly walk my talk and put all of my practices to use. Because I never expected the deep amounts of rearranging, re-calibrating, and ultimately- rebirth that was to come with the event.
For many weeks before and after I had no words for what I was experiencing. I went from states of pure joy, bliss and happiness to moments in those final days of feeling like many old parts of me- stories, identities- were dying their final deaths.
In the midst of the happiest days of my life, I was facing some of my darkest shadows.
Everything in me that resisted. Everything that stood in the way. Everything that was no longer in alignment with this next Vision of my life.
YES IT WAS INTENSE, BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING- IT WAS INCREDIBLY LIBERATING.
There were times when I tried to stick with my 'plan' by sitting to write here or record a podcast, yet all I kept hearing was:
Wait. Be still. Listen. Face what is lurking here. It will come. It's almost time.
And so I released attachment to my 'plan' for the rest of the year, and trusted that I would know what to do next. I've been writing & musing, finding inspiration from new sources & more than anything- listening deeply. Facing some of my deepest shadows and really getting true about what I want, how I wish to show up, and how I'm of service in the world.
JUST AS I TEACH MY CLIENTS TO DO- FROM FELLOW ENTREPRENEURS TO EXECUTIVES TO MEN TO MOTHERS TO COUPLES WALKING THE PATH OF COURAGEOUS LOVE.
It's humbling for me to come and admit this to you here. That sometimes- even in the midst of amazing things happening- we all have moments of dancing with the chaos. But then I wouldn't be standing up for what I believe in by only posting the highlight reel.
The fact of the matter is, in this process of stepping into Sacred Union with my love, much of my former identity of strong, independent female was challenged. I was brought straight into the heart of what TRUE sovereignty is and how to remain a sovereign being AND join in Union with another. With this Initiation, all those places where I was allowing my heart to remain closed or others opinions to stand between me and my beloved needed to be utterly stripped away.
AND THE RESULT? ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING.
Not just in how it applies to my marriage, but the deeper levels of understanding it brought to me of how my own work is evolving, and what needs to come next. I feel more alive, more free, more full of peace than I ever have in my life. Journeying to those depths was worth every single tear, moment of doubt and times where I felt like I was in the abyss. So. Worth. It.
WHAT I DID NOT EXPECT, WAS THAT LAST WEEK OUR COUNTRY WOULD BEGIN TO GO THROUGH A SIMILAR RITE OF PASSAGE.
I can't ignore that the world as a whole is in a massive Rite of Passage. Many are hearing the Call- for Truth, for Peace, for Union.
And all of those places where our hearts are closed and we remain divided- well love they are coming to the surface to be faced.
Many are saying now is the time to RISE.
AND TRUTH IS, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I HAD ALSO BEEN HEARING IN THOSE WEEKS AND MONTHS OF STILLNESS AND LISTENING.
What is a Rite of Passage after all? An invitation to RISE.
This Rising follows a very specific path, as Joseph Campbell says above, "the labyrinth is fully known." And in many ways, it comes down to these main stages:
THE REASONING
Whenever we embark on any new beginning that comes with The Call into something deeper in our lives, there are moments where we doubt. Moments where we need to find our courage. Moments where we need to commit- solidly. Firmly.
Our mind will play all kinds of tricks on us during this process. I can't do it. I'm not strong enough {or smart enough, or skinny enough.... or insert your own version here}. Sometimes those excuses even surprise us. And so we venture into the land of Denial- I'm not ready. How is this possible. It would be safer to turn away.
When the trauma and the rage come to the surface. When the chaos swirls that the task is insurmountable, the cross too much to bear, the event that sparked it all too hard to face.
But of course it's not. Of course we can't turn away. Of course this is what you desire.
So the next step is Finding Courage. This is where we get in the body, get moving, and build up your physical, emotional, and mental strength to prepare for your journey ahead.
Ready to start your business but scared? Ready to have a baby but something in you is terrified? Ready to be in a relationship but don't know where to begin? This is when we learn to become friends with fear and work WITH fear, so fear no longer holds you back.
Once you become friends with fear {or at least learn to dance with her} then it's time to truly step into your Commitment.
THE RECKONING
This is often the time when we begin to incubate- stepping into the metaphorical Womb to brainstorm, ask questions, get to the heart of the how's, when's and where's. This is where creation begins to take shape and where the image of what you are desiring begins to crystalize.
Which leads to the first steps. ACTION. And with action often comes, Initiation. Walking through the fires of the transformation as we take steps that we never thought we would take. Push through edges we never realized were there. Face our old patterns and shadows that have been standing in the way of bringing your visions into reality. We walk through these fires of Initiation together- because we all walk through them, and we never need to do so alone.
What comes after is pure brilliance- The Phoenix rising from the ashes. A new lease on life. A fire on your wings propelling you further than you could have gone before you learned to dance with the Fire.
THE RELEASE
A cycle of Purification, Redemption, and learning to traverse The Great Mystery of death and rebirth comes through.
Because that's the thing about any change, commitment or Rite of Passage. You WILL come out the other side an entirely new person. Things may look the same from the outside {or not} but inside will begin to completely transform.
So there is a letting go of anything that is not meant to come with you to the other side. We learn how to harness the powers of Purification and Redemption so you can do so with Grace- and of course a little Fire.
THE RECLAMATION
Every great transition and Rite of Passage involves a period of time where we alternate between states of rapture & Devotion to states of feeling like we are in a Fall to Grace in the midst of the Leap of Faith.
I repeat: we all experience these feelings during any time of great change. There will be temptation for Spiritual Bypass. There will be moments of feeling like we may hit the ground hard in that free fall. There will be moments of Miracles around every corner. And sometimes, it will feel like all of the above are happening all at once as you get closer to your Vision.
The thing is, the closer we get to what we are moving towards, the more it can feel like it will never happen. Like a miracle is needed. Like there is no way we can cross the final bridge and make it to the other side.
It's often in these moments where the support of others who have been there, who are there, is the most precious. Because it's in those moments when we feel the full Grace of the transition and journey we embarked on. And the opportunity for Service truly comes into play.
THE INTEGRATION
When the dust has settled, the event has taken place, the Vision has come alive, it's time to integrate into the Alchemical Freedom of the process that has taken place. Sometimes this Integration involves resting in the nook of the Vision finally realized, and sometimes it means taking a step back to truly take in all of the changes that took place on your journey.
Last year, I closed enrollment in Alchemy Rising {my school for Embodied Women} for many reasons. But I knew the door was not closed forever and the time for it to return would come again. That the when would become clear.
What I did not expect is how it would return. I could wax poetic about it all day there is so much fire in bones about what this school has become- and is Becoming. But I will let you see for yourself in a few weeks.
BRAVE HEARTS- THE TIME IS NOW.
And very soon I will be sending out a special invitation with the details of how you too can walk this journey in a FREE offering in whatever you are currently working through in your life.
Until then, know that there is more I have to say, more I wish to share, more I can't wait to show you. And finally, I feel like I'm back- more inspired, more embodied, more on fire with the potential of what we are collectively creating. But for today, I send you gratitude & love, and invitation to reach out and connect.