Having decided to change the format of these wonderful chats to the Equinox & Solstice, I found myself missing my monthly creativity. Today I sat down, communed with spirit and compiled a short video expressing the wisdom, serenity and love of our Elders in Nature. Enjoy!
~ The Soul Traveler
My guest, Evy O'Leary-Bennett, chatted with me on the subject of Spiritual Equality. It was a welcome discussion with many eye-opening shares and fun-filled quips.
Spiritual equality is a subject we don't often discuss. Looking at it from the impact it has in all aspects of our life enables us to move through our constraints bringing forward a communal way of living. We are all experiencing being human. We all have special gifts that blossom at different intervals.
As we venture further down our path, taking time to reflect on spiritual equality will set into motion the change we all desire in the world. Are we sharing our knowledge and ourselves to others in the manner of equality? As teachers and mentors are we standing in equality with those we are supporting, holding them in an equal role allowing for those moments of shared student/teacher exchange? As we are learning from others are we standing in our equality or are we taking the role of less than finding ourselves wanting to 'kill the teacher'? Are we viewing our shadow sides in equality?
We have come into this world, this lifetime, to remember who are truly are. We may be further along the path in certain aspects from others but we are not the one who is wiser, more knowledgeable in all the many aspects of our journey. We are all brilliant spiritual beings remembering, uncovering, and sharing our discoveries with the intent to support each other to becoming all that we are. Because this is a collective endeavor holding each other in equality enables the ripples to move further and further encompassing many who might not be reached. We are all both teacher and students in our journeys through this life.
Spending the August Fireside Chat with Evy in laughter and discovery broadened our relationship enriching both our reaches in our individual paths. Our desire is to share with you our experience of spiritual equality.
Would love to hear your views and experiences on spiritual equality. Hope you enjoy our chat as much as we did!
The Soul Traveler ~
Life is filled with so many turning points. They can be driven by us and sometimes we perceive them to be thrown at us.
Many years ago I stopped perceiving them as out of my control and sent by others. I have also stopped using change, closure, and endings. Those 3 simple words carry a heavy dose of societal fear. I don't believe that the true essence of these words is fear. No, we have created stories around these words that have driven us for many centuries deeper into fear.
Turning points still hold an essence of movement forward, a grace of accomplishment, and a base of self creation. This word carries an elegance of dance waiting to be performed. It holds within it beauty, presence, and mystery.
This week holds a particular turning point for me. This week I complete the final year of an apprenticeship. Three years ago I was gifted a teacher to support me in unlocking a deeper sense of my true essence. The first year was filled with an immersion into a grounded contemporary shamanic apprenticeship where I discovered a deeper understanding of my innate connection to this ancient modality blended with modern perspective and tools. I relished in the guidance and unfoldment always excited for more. The 2nd year was a practicum. Although it was 4 months in actual interaction it did not come up short. I was challenged to bring out into the world what my first year unlocked. There were many days of struggle to create the essence of leaning into my style and signature. Through it all was my teacher, Robin Rice, holding the space from a distance. This year I was a gifted with helping her to support a group of apprentices under her guidance while continuing my learning. Spanish immersion was the phrase used to describe the teaching, sharing, and growth. It lived up to its title. As the months unfolded it became very clear how expertly she had taken me from our first encounter, through the pathways, and back to my original teacher ~ Spirit. I had come full circle in the spiral always moving up and forward.
The gratitude that flows as I reflect upon this journey will carry me deeper and further than I have gone. I bow in honor of who she is to the world, to me and to herself. A woman who has heard the call of her soul and answered time and time again.
In life we are gifted people who bring to us without question pieces of our essence and hold us as we unwrap and embrace them. They stand holding no judgement of our choices and too long held stories. Always patient they wrap us in our essence we, ourselves, have yet to discover.
With this turning point being held out in front of me, I step gently ready to continue forward, welcoming the adventure, and relishing those I will meet along the way. I carry within me a deeper knowledge of our communal journeys, my commitment to my community, my delight in the mystery around me, and the courage to answer the call of my soul over and over again. My life will be different. It has no choice because I am different. My life will be more. I am more.
Will a teacher cross my path again, perhaps?
For now I embark upon a stronger knowing of my true essence bringing it out into the world, sharing all that is being asked by my soul and Spirit to continue giving to my community, family, and friends.
To Turning Points xoxo
The Soul Traveler
