My summer began and ended with snake encounters. Lesson offered: remember your power.
Some of you have heard this story. On Memorial Day weekend, I decided to wander along the Cherry Creek trail while waiting to meet a friend. I started my stroll with a meditation by the creek, asking my guides to help me learn to be more courageous. Then I started walking.
In a minute or two, there was a huge snake stretched out alongside the path. My history with snakes includes mostly my terror of them. So, within seconds, I did an about-face and sprinted down the trail in the opposite direction. (Thank goodness no one saw me!) After about 30 seconds of panic running, my true situation dawned on me. I stopped, thanked my guides for their speedy response, and forced myself in my original direction to face my demon. Which was, of course, my fear. The snake was gone.
Later, I realized it was a bull snake. Giant, but completely harmless.
You may have heard the Sanskrit word, kundalini, which is translated into English as “coiled” or “circular”. It’s an energy that lies dormant at the root chakra and is said to be coiled like a sleeping snake. It is sometimes described as the coiled power, and once we start to unwind this dormant energy, we can begin to expand our consciousness.
There is a lot written and practiced regarding awakening kundalini, and some of you likely know much more about it than I do. My point in bringing it up is to remind us that we are much more powerful than we know. We hold potent snake-like energy within us, even in our darkest times. We can uncoil this energy and use it. And we certainly don’t need to be terrified of what won’t hurt us!
As the summer has progressed, I’ve had many opportunities to face unnecessary fears. And to learn not to diminish my power by taking on the energy of others’ challenges. That might sound uncaring but let me explain.
In my circle of family and friends at the moment, there are people grappling with the following: the death of a 22-year-old friend, more than one death of an elder, several caring for aging and ill parents, a child with a degenerative muscular disorder, at least two cases of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, financial worries, divorce, and a mental health crisis. And that’s just my human loved ones. People are facing huge challenges right now—maybe you are experiencing this too.
One of my first reactions when I hear of another’s struggle is to run down the trail away from the “snake.” I’m embarrassed to admit that truth. Yet, there is something about being human that often causes us to fear what is a part of someone else’s journey. I believe it’s because we are all part of collective soul, a part of the One, so we unconsciously feel the energy of the situation. We can fall into mind-spin around “what if something like this happens to me?” and allow our fear to swamp us. Or we can face our fear which powerfully transforms it into empathy. We are not powerless.
We can employ our inner kundalini to hold space for those who are suffering and offer them healing energy. We can use our time and physical energy to help when possible. Lots of times that simply means offering the gift of nonjudgmental, whole-heart listening. But if we allow ourselves to get caught up in the misbelief that we are powerless–or they are powerless–we are of no use.
I took this summer off from writing for public consumption for several reasons. One was I temporarily took on some additional horse-related duties. Another was that I wanted to spend as much time as possible with my family. But another reason was that I needed some time to experience, integrate and remember my power. Along the way, some things happened that allowed me to clarify the mission of my work in the world.
So here it is: I hold space for you to step into your own power so that you may heal and grow. That obliges me to step into my power so that I continue to heal and grow. We do it together. I will likely write more about the how of this in future blogs. And I’m always excited to talk about it in person!
Last week, as summer was about to come to its Labor Day close, I encountered another snake. Not nearly as big as the Cherry Creek monster. It was actually pretty tiny. I found it basking in the sun inside my greenhouse, but it startled me like snakes tend to do.
This time, I didn’t run. I spoke to the snake, telling it I wasn’t going to hurt it, and that I hoped it had a good day. It looked at me for a minute, then slowly slithered between two rocks off to wherever snakes go when they don’t want to be bothered by humans.
A powerful response on both our parts, don’t you think?
Want to explore some tools for awakening your inner power? Contact me for intuitive guidance, healing and mentoring at RememberYourWings.com. Visit my booth at the Awake Festival, Sept. 15-17 in beautiful Evergreen, CO to receive services at more than 30% off!
