The other day I met up with a woman who only knew me through my online presence. She said: “You’re not like I thought you’d be. You’re more fiery.” 🔥
I was a bit taken aback, but then I realized that she had a good point. I have been hiding a little bit. Most of us do this to some extent; play it safe, try not to offend anyone, don’t say what we really think.
Maybe you can relate?
Here’s a proposition for you: let’s agree to be more fully expressed versions of ourselves in 2018! What might that look like for you? What would you say? What would you wear? What would you let go of? What do you stand for?
I can be fiery! And I’m guessing you’ve got some things smoldering inside of you too, just waiting to be ignited.
What am I fired up about? Here are just a few things:
- 🌎The environment. I watched a few huge old trees get chain sawed down in my neighborhood last week, and it broke my heart. They made a sound like they were crying as the final pieces toppled down. (Great books to learn more: The Hidden Life of Trees, or The Legacy of Luna: The story of a tree, a woman, and a struggle to save the redwoods.🌳Did you know that trees are becoming an endangered species? Yup, I’m fiery about trees.
- 🐷Animals. Profits are put above animal welfare, and systemic abuse and torture are the norm in the food, entertainment and educational industries. Read Sacred Cows and Golden Geese to learn more.
- 🍎Health. Our disease-care system is actually contributing to illness and not truly empowering people to be healthy. (Watch Cowspiracy, What the Health, or Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead on Netflix to learn more).
- 📊Education. Our one-size-fits-all system of education is failing and damaging so many kids. (Read Sir Ken Robinson or watch his popular Ted talk which has been viewed almost 2 million times to learn more.
Put simply:
If we want real, lasting peace and health, we’re dreaming the wrong dream; playing the wrong game.
We don’t need different rules or different leaders in this game, we need an entirely different game.
The good news!
You and I have tremendous power within us to create change and to bring about the world we want to see. And it doesn’t mean you have to go picket or start a petition or run for office (although I applaud you and support you if you want to do any of these things!).
I propose that who you are and what you radiate into the world is equally as important as what you do. Let’s start playing a different game!
Others will see how much fun we’re having, how healthy and happy we are, and will want to come see what it’s all about. This brings me to the next thing I’ve been hiding.
Shamanism
Yes, shamanism. I’ve been studying and practicing intensively for the past year. It has been a game changer for me and the potential that this holds for all of us is enormous. I have seen healings that I wouldn’t have believed if I didn’t witness them myself.
What is Shamanism? It’s a practice that has been around for thousands of years and which involves direct connection with the spiritual world for the purposes of healing individuals and the community.
Shamanism is based in nature and respects and honors all of life. To learn more, you can read any of the many wonderful books written by my teacher Sandra Ingerman or read this article she wrote on the topic.
Shamans believe that all of life is connected and that everything is alive and has a spirit, including the earth, animals, the moon and the elements.
I have known this in my bones and in my heart since I was a small child, but it was something else I kept hidden since it seemed so abnormal. Only now do I have language and a framework around it.
I think this is why I was drawn to medicine, because that was the socially acceptable way to be a healer in today’s culture. Yet the western medicine I learned could neither satisfy my soul nor contribute to healing on a greater level. I knew we humans were capable of so much more.
All this is to say, I am ‘coming out’ about what I consider to be true health and vitality and want to share it with you!
What about mindfulness?
Many of you know me through a mindfulness workshop or retreat. I am not abandoning mindfulness! In fact, I feel like the mindfulness is a vital component to all of this. I will still be teaching straight-up mindfulness but also creating new and innovative offerings.
The first of these introductory offerings is launching on January 15th. It’s a 14-day class called “Dream it Into Being, 2018.”
We will use our attention, imagination, the power of a conscious group and other shamanic principles to co-create something beautiful.
If this is intriguing to you, I hope you’ll join me. 🌟
You can learn more here.
It’s the Solstice!
Today is actually a very spiritually significant day!
Solstice is a great time to be quiet, reflect on your whole self, even the “shadow self,” the part that you might be keeping hidden, that you might fear is too much for others, too fiery, too opinionated, too different.
Maybe you can find the courage to bring a small piece of that shadow-side out into the light. You could do this by expressing an opinion that you’ve kept to yourself, or wearing the clothes that you love but you fear might not look right to others.
As Rumi says, “there are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.”
Maybe you write a letter to the editor or to your political representative expressing something you’re passionate about but that you’ve been keeping to yourself.
Over the holidays maybe you speak your truth (lovingly and kindly, but firmly) to that relative who puts you down.
What are you ready to let go of so that you can become more of who you really are? You could spend some time journaling on these questions, connecting to and honoring nature, and setting some intentions for what you want to create.
Come on over to the blog and leave a comment that reveals a glimpse into the real you. Let us know something that you’re passionate about so we can see you and honor you!
Solstice is a powerful turning point and a potent time to slow down and reconnect with your essential self. 💥
This felt like an auspicious day for me to be more transparent with you all about who I am, what I stand for in the world, and in which direction I’ll be moving.
You might be hearing from me more often in 2018 as I have some exciting offerings planned. I want to inspire you and remind you of how powerful you are and how together we can create the world we want to see.
I want to help you find true health, abundance and peace from the inside out. That is the necessary precursor to health, peace and abundance on the planet. 💛
Thank you for being part of my tribe. Thank you for reading this blog. Thank you for all the goodness you bring into the world every day. 🙏🏼
May you shine your light brightly and honor the fire within you. As Nelson Mandela said:
“There is no passion to be found playing small–in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”
Wishing you well and cheering you on,
Erin
PS- Don’t forget to check out my latest offering to help you dream your best life into being in 2018. It will be a combiation of mindfulness and shamanism. We’ll use the power of the group to co-create.
Click here to learn more.
