IN CASE OF OVERWHELM: Open Me.
Do what you can, where you are, as you are, with what you have.
WHEW, the world right now eh?
WHEW, LIFE right now eh?
I don’t know about you, but I am very tempted to run off into the woods and start my commune of wise women who only want to read books, drink tea, occasionally cast spells, and hang out with dragons and faeries.
Doesn’t part of you want to run away? Hide in bed with the covers over your head? And isn’t it fighting with the part of you that wants to go out and destroy the systems and people who have brought us to this in a ball of your rage?
It’s a lot of energy to juggle.
And as Dr. Phil said once: How’s that working for ya?
So what can we do?
It might not be popular opinion, but I believe that what is most important right now, is you.
We can see evidence everywhere right now of what happens when people act in reaction to something.
RE-ACTION.
Re-action is acting the same way we have acted before.
Doesn’t that feel about right when it comes to where we are?
Isn’t some of your overwhelm from the weariness of seeing that we don’t seem to have learned anything?
Isn’t some of your sadness from seeing that we don’t seem to be changing anything?
Re-acting/doing the same thing we’ve done a million times before isn’t the way. Going off into fury or overwhelm or reactivity isn’t the way.
It just isn’t good magic.
Magic - or any action - that comes from a reaction to something else never has the potent, beautiful, magnificent outcome that we want. Because at least half of our energy is muddled up in what we don’t want, instead of what we do.
This is why I am telling you that what is most important now is you: Aligned. In your truth. In your power. Capable. Fire steady. Love fierce. Values locked in. Circle of influence understood.
All of your energy pointed at what you do want.
This you is the you that, when you go out into the world and act, and create, and behave, and influence, will help change things for the better.
So my advice (as always, take it or leave it) if you are feeling overwhelmed is to start with you:
Get nourished in the way that loves you most.
Move your body.
Get grounded.
Get some sunshine on your eyeballs.
Remember who you are when you are at your best.
Remember what you Value most.
Do a bit of soul expression.
Remember where your power comes from.
Remember who is sitting around your fire with you.
Tend to that fire.
Come into a place of health and non-reactivity.
Then ask yourself this question: What change do I want to create in this world? What world do I want to live in?
Answer those questions from a place of possibility and love; a place of power and healing.
And then go and do what you can, where you are, as who you are. Act from a place of creating change and making magic happen.
You can’t and won’t change everything.
I told you to remember who is sitting around the fire with you because this is your circle of influence. This is where your work can happen most potently.
And you might feel small, or ineffective, but you have no idea what the ripples of that work will touch. Because there is another fire - another circle - that is sitting right beside yours. And another beside that. And another beside that. And another beside that. Everything we do creates ripples in those other circles, all of the way through the human experience. Everything we do is creating change.
You’ll never know, never see, what your impact is on the collective. But know that it is holy.
So live your life; align your energy with as much reverence and consciousness and love as you can. Keep your values and your health and your soul work and your much-ness locked in. Do what you can, where you are, as you are, with what you have. Influence your circle cleanly and with fierce love.
And when it feels too much? Go back to the list and replenish. Refill. Regenerate. Tend to your fire. Rest. Re-align. Remember who you are and what you do want to create.
Then go and make ripples.
You matter.
And you’ve got this.
With so much love,
P.S. If you want help getting your soul work and your much-ness locked in, join me in It’s Time For Me. We start next week, and we’re going to be practicing showing up for ourselves so that those selves are so. much. more. potent. and on purpose. Come.
P.P.S. Thank you to Sounds Heart Sanctuary and She Became We for a discussion about fire that has stuck with me all week and planted the seeds for this piece.