Rocking in the Sea of Change ... Beacons Beyond

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When sitting in a metaphorical boat in the middle of the ocean of life, with water in all directions and no land in sight, I only have myself to look within to for direction.  I’ve been sitting in this boat for awhile now, and have been perfectly happy with the gentle rise and fall of the waves that rock me, looking up toward the sky for wisdom, and into the endlessly deep water for emotional expression of my authentic self. 

Now, the waves are getting rocky, with the current of change heaving beneath the waters.  My little boat no longer seems appropriate for the next stage of life that is rapidly approaching. 

So what now? I look for the lights. 

In the rocky waters of upheaval, feeling slightly desperate for firm ground, I have realized that I can look for the beacons who have come before me and have firmly set their foundations within society in the paths that they have chosen.  I can search for the beacons that resonate with the light that is within me, and move toward them, studying their construction, their history, and the foundation upon which they are planted.

Today, I realized that I don’t have to create my path ALL alone.  However unique and misunderstood my desires and visions are, there ARE women who have come before me, similarly unique and misunderstood – and I CAN look to them for guidance, reassurance, and inspiration for my path. 

My Beacons:

Louise Hay – Model, turned housewife, turned minister, turned counselor, turned cancer survivor, turned author, turned health and wellness expert for millions, turned major publisher.

Danielle LaPorte – Fashion School dropout, turned Communications & Marketing professional, turned serious meaning of life questioner, turned think tank Executive Director, turned self-publishing assistant, turned Art School reject, turned mom, turned lifestyle media company co-founder, turned spoken word artist, turned author, turned revolutionary kick-ass spiritual and motivational public figure.

Iyanla Vanzant – Mother, turned lawyer, turned Yoruba Priestess, turned author, turned New Thought minister, turned motivational speaker, turned Life Coach, turned Inner Visions Worldwide founder, turned television star, turned major Spiritual Life thought leader.

Carolyn Myss – Master’s degree graduate, turned small publishing company co-founder, turned medical intuition student, turned Energetic Anatomy creator, turned author, turned student of  archetypes/symbolism/myth, turned Sacred Contracts author, turned television star, turned workshop lecturer and major speaker on energetic anatomy, spirituality, myth, and more, turned ArchetypeMe.com partner.

Colette Baron-Reid – Singer, turned intuitive, turned author, turned oracle deck designer, turned radio show host, turned public speaker, turned medium.

Dr. Christiane Northrup – OBGYN, turned author, turned wellness guru and speaker, turned major voice in the world of women’s health and well being.

Jean Houston – double Ph.D graduate, turned LSD study participant, turned wife, turned Human Potential Movement supporter, turned The Foundation for Mind Research co-founder, turned, college professor, turned mystery schools seminar teacher, turned Hillary Clinton advisor, turned author, turned mystery school founder.

These are just a few, and I’m realizing today that none of the paths of these women were linear and for many of them, they experienced a lot of jumping around into different fields and arenas that ended up cumulatively supporting their now successful careers.  I see similarities in these timelines and I see differences, but most of all, I see connections to my own story, where I am at in life, and where I want to go.  I also am comforted by the fact that many of these women experienced various peaks in various ventures, at various ages in their lives.  Some climbed peaks in their 30s, some their 40s, some 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond and still climb peak after peak.  I’m comforted to see that several of these women continued educating themselves in alternating disciplines, not satisfied with the notion of becoming an expert in one thing and one alone.  I’m comforted by the eclecticism I see here, the variety, the spunk and the courage to go after what may have been seen as out of the ordinary.    

I think that I have been trapped by this outdated and perhaps patriarchal as well as hierarchical in nature, view that education and success must appear linear, meaning – education in subject + further education in subject + work in subject = mastery in subject one will do forevermore.  Not only do I, personally, view this as incredibly boring and tedious, but perhaps it is also not in my (our) best interests.  Isn’t specialization at the expense of holistic education the root of some of our blindness as a society?  For example, the West is realizing that to treat the body as many different systems may blind us entirely from the root cause of disease.  Or, by solely learning about one religious path, at the expense of exploration of the many paths, some blindly hate, misunderstand or condemn those who think differently?  Wouldn’t a holistic approach to life in general, aid me (and us) in understanding myself, life, and others more completely??

I believe that I was put on this Earth, at this time, with these fellow travelers, for a distinct and unique purpose.  I believe that my purpose is holistic and multi-faceted.  I believe my purpose will entail a lifetime of learning and growing.  I believe my purpose involves the aiding and abetting of others in their own journeys through life as a conscious endeavor.  I believe that I am right where I need to be right now.  I believe that I am going right where I need to go right now. 

I trust the process.  I bow down in gratitude to my beacons and teachers who have come before me.  I look to your stories to hold me up when the waves get rocky. 

I am deeply grateful for my path that is unfolding in this sea of change and I am grateful for all of the blessings it affords me.  I let it be so, and so it is.

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