a leo moving from wings to head

I have no problem leading. Even as a child.
Thing is...I usually led from the wings!

A supervisor once pulled me aside to ask me how on earth I manage to orchestrate and lead an entire event where I stay behind the curtain and where everyone else gets the credit...where participants genuinely feel empowered and successful!!??

I winked at her. "You noticed? Teehee.
I just hold the vision and believe in people."

She told me it was remarkable; that she had never seen anything quite like it. A major event that was in every way envisioned, initiated by me and pulled off by me...yet event day...I was humbly enjoying the event without credit.

Another reason I could do that is I know how to be visible and I know how to be invisible. A mentor told me that again recently. I can turn my energy up and hugely fill a room, or turn it down so I'm relatively unnoticeable.

As a Leo, a major aspect of my soul path though...is to not stand behind others...to be up front, to lead (and also to not stand behind anyone in interpersonal relationships...that's more about interdependence than leading...but I digress). My guidance has been telling me to lead for years. And...I'm doing it, putting myself out there, being transparent, sharing.

Work in progress: serving with visibility. I'm an introvert and it isn't easy being out in front of of so many people. However, it is easy doing what I love, being me, and serving. So....Roarrrr!


What is your soul purpose? How do you see your soul purpose?

the jaguar tracked me to munay-ki

Oh how things align and cross and recross our path....as if tracking our way. I've been working with the animal archetypes of Munay-Ki for years without knowing it! Or, well, knowing it, but not knowing I knew it. You know? ;p

I received teachings on the Munay-Ki rites from Debra Grace recently. Munay-Ki means "I love you" or "Be as thou art" and are nine initiations, gateways, that heal and transform our energy field. This shamanic wisdom has been passed on for thousands of years and is coming out of South America now from the mountains of Peru. And not surprisingly to me, I'm very familiar with all the energy. (note: Tibet is also opening shaman practices to the west now).

I am tickled by little ways my own self seemed to line up for this and be doing this shamanic work already. One of the first times I did energy work for someone was a soul retrieval. I didn't know how, but spirit did it. I've been shown many shamanic (and modern) techniques by spirit and visions and then come to learn about them later. I see this happen to clients also and it's so ticklish....a client today spoke of a vision a few years ago that matched the heart meditation I taught her. Lovely. We tend to think we need to get the wisdom from someone else. That's why I love intuition. It means 'inner teacher.' The wisdom is available to me, now. It's not out there, it's in here. And that's why I love shamanism. It's embodying spirit.

In the Munay-Ki rites, the ancient ones talk about the chakras using archetypes. In the lower four chakras the symbols of Serpent, Jaguar, Hummingbird and Eagle help you identify with the meanings of the energy. So here's one thing that tickled me at the workshop. I've been drawn to these particular animals over the years. How interesting, given all the animals out there.

Serpent.
I owned a snake. Used to walk around with it around my neck (bet most of you didn't know that). Loved to watch it feed and shed. Love...well, perhaps fascinated with the metaphor of shedding skin, and the 'impersonalness' of this creature. The Serpent is non-emotional, earth energy.

Jaguar.
I've been working with a jaguar in journeying for 8 years now. And just before the workshop had a very interesting integrative experience where jaguar ate my face (seriously. was very interesting and amusing) and then merged into me. Was so beautiful. I even have a mayan jaguar mask I got in guatemala a decade ago. To me jaguar is all about impeccable integrity. Walking my talk and knowing how to walk. Jaguar is emotional, water energy.

Hummingbird.
First bird of fascination for me. Had a hummingbird feeder for years and have given them as gifts and hung glass ones. The flight is magical and nectar sweet. Doing the impossible. Joy. The courage to fly in ways and places that just shouldn't be possible. I often think of the heart as wings. Hummingbird is Fire energy.

Eagle.
For years I've been seeing messages from hawks. They are a symbol of spirit and messages from spirit to me. They represent clear and laser like vision and intention to me. I see them all the time and am always pointing them out. Friends often wonder how I see them hidden in trees and so still. One even sat on my fence, quite rare. Hawk isn't eagle, I know, but here where I live it makes sense. Very similar. Eagle is the air energy, vision, wisdom.

How amazing to me that I'd be drawn to these animals, and drawn to this practice starting years ago. (I am also very drawn to dragonflies. Story for later.) We have an inner knowing drawing us towards things and over time the hidden meanings reveal more and more. Are you drawn to animals? What animals are you drawn to and what wisdom does that convey? (note: when I see animals in the wild or in visions, I pay attention to their behavior...sitting, busy, what are they doing...look in their eyes...learn from them). I'd be happy to share my sense of the animals for you if you're curious, just comment to this post.

Suburban Shaman and Munay-Ki Rites here in North America
I am drawn to the way of the shaman. My visions take me there. But I'm a suburban shaman for sure. I have my own shamanic voice. Shamanism is largely about embodying spirit. It's not out there. It's in here. Within me. Connect with the power within. This wisdom is meant to come to the west now. And we are not meant to copy it in its exact form, but embody it now within us. Suburban Shaman.

I'm looking forward to sharing the beautiful, empowering Munay-Ki rites in a workshop soon. Other rites have to do with activating the hands to sense energy, activiating the third eye for intuitive knowing, bands of power and protection, connecting with luminous ones, healing the masculine and feminine and transforming our consciousness to god-consciousness. It's so beautiful. The workshop will focus on finding your shamanic voice.

what could you possibly teach me in that short, cute little skirt

The suburban, regular girl, look strikes again.

After a parenting seminar, I hear the feedback that upon first impression a woman thought surely this will be a waste of time. She thought I was too young and too thin and too cute looking in my little suit to possibly know anything new for her about parenting. (Note: that was 9 years and 2 sizes ago…and had to borrow a suit from my cool sister.)

The feedback continues…the handout I gave has become her parenting bible and she threw out all her other books. She completely got reconnected to her purpose as a mother and was experiencing the joy in her relationship with her kids. That’s touching. I’m happy for her and her kids.

And I have to wear that shorter suit skirt again sometime. Oh, wait. I can’t get it past my hips anymore. Oh, well.