The night before last, I dreamed I was walking through a large crowd of people who were gathered together for a special out-door event.
As I walked slowly through the crowd, I became aware that there were many stand-alone-people speaking out to the masses surrounding them,… sometimes a small group was gathered around one speaker and sometimes a larger group was drawn in towards a speaker. The people were listening and learning from these truth speakers and I was aware that important information and energy was being revealed and transferred. As I watched them, I felt a deep respect for the courage and fear-less attitude of these truth speakers. They stood out like beacons of light – embodying the awakened energy of the Lion, among fearful, sleeping and confused crowds of people. With every truth speaker, I felt a surge of energy rippling out to others. Everywhere I turned to walk in the larger macro-crowd of people, this micro-script was playing out in smaller groups around me. I had the overall sense that a great shift was taking place.
When it came to me standing in front of my own small group of people, I was overcome with emotion and tears streamed down my face. Part of this was to do with what I had been witnessing (my higher self) and part was feeling the pressure to “measure up” to the other Lions shining example (my human self). My human self felt I was being put on the spot “to be like” the other Lions – and then I realised later, this was my human conditioning, which had a lot to do with expectation and never feeling good enough.
When I awoke from my dream, I was urged to re-read the “most-visited” post on my Rainbowtreewoman blog! “Journey with my Lion – what it means to embody Lion energy.” I was reminded of my own words about the symbolism of lion energy (feminine AND masculine), which I explore much deeper in the post.
Strength does not appear in the same ways for all people. It’s how we value ourselves and our uniqueness that makes us strong. For many of us, valuing our uniqueness is not something we learned to feel or be comfortable with as children. This is because often we had to give up our true selves in order to “fit in” to what was accepted and expected of us by family members, school and society…
Inner strength grows deeper like the roots of a tree, over a long period of time. The more we trust, follow our heart and find the courage to honour our truth and soul being, the more we come into alignment and harmony with our inner Lion. The inner strength of our Lion will ultimately lead us to make new choices, embrace the unknown and a creative path, which is uniquely our own and no one else’s. The more we are embodying the Lion energy in us, the more we realise how our conscious choices and actions do affect the whole. We realise our own energy (being true to who we are) can send out a ripple effect to influence others, sometimes in profound, mysterious ways.
Please feel free to leave a comment at the end of the post, I would love to hear from you, especially if you have your own strong connection with the symbolism of Lion!
Have you noticed that now as the earth is receiving much more light than ever before, the shadow parts in many people, as well as dysfunctional power structures, have become much more visible or less “hidden” from plain sight?
If we are continuing with our own most important inner work, we find we can transmute and move through old wounds/triggers much faster than ever before. But at the same time, it appears that relationships or people who are no longer an equal resonance of energy simply fall away – more quickly than ever before.
Carl Jung left us with some amazing insights and revelations about his “shadow work”. He said that we do not grow/become “enlightened” through only focusing on the light or imagining “figures of light”, but by looking deep inside i.e bringing to light the unconscious, through facing and transforming our shadow *. He also said that “to confront a person with his own shadow, is to show him his own light”…
This article was written by me several years ago. I wrote it to honour the journey of shadow work in a relationship, which over time, with steady commitment and devotion, allows us to grow to become a much more authentic expression of our true selves.
As we continue with this shadow work, we open ourselves towards a deeper capacity to feel and share love, and attract relationships that are more supportive, authentic and harmonious with who we are becoming.
However, I believe because we are here to evolve and continue to grow, this journey is not linear, a straight path or finite,…Therefore, our inner work will always take us deeper and higher, much like an infinite energy spiral – returning to our innermost core and then expanding out towards the ether.
* Our shadow is made up of our unhealed, hurt, vulnerable parts of self – often originating in childhood but remaining with us throughout life. We can choose to ignore our shadow and unconsciously project it out onto others OR embrace and work with it for the many deeper gifts and insights it can offer us on our journey through life.
Everybody wants a loving relationship,… but few people are really open or prepared for the ongoing commitment and challenge of shadow work i.e. to take full responsibility for our own projections, inner child wounds and personal healing.
Relationships are so important because the deeper we are connected to someone physically, emotionally and spiritually – the greater the opportunity or catalyst for healing our inner child and transforming our core family and generational wounds.
Without this awareness, we may continue to protect or react from our wounds (hurt inner child) through becoming defensive, angry and blaming others, shutting down or avoiding intimacy altogether.
If we pretend that everything is wonderful and perfect on the outside, we deny ourselves the sacred opportunity to work with the truth – the unpleasant emotions that get triggered in us. It is only through acknowledging that our shadow/wounds exist, that we can begin to grow towards…
“If the path ahead of us is clear, we are probably on someone else’s”– Carl Jung
Why is the Mushroom Trail (or meandering through the forest looking for mushrooms), similar to walking our authentic Soul Path?
Carl Jung said; “If the path ahead of us is clear, we are probably on someone else’s”…
As many of you know, mushroom foraging is our passion and “following the mushroom trail” – has been part of our life, for many years. I am truly grateful for these experiences, which have inspired, strengthened and enriched my journey, in both New Zealand and in Europe together with Juerg.
During the Steinpilz/Porcini season this past year in Switzerland, I made this movie (below) to explore deeper some of these ideas (above) ☝️ but also to share from my own journey about finding the courage to walk an authentic Soul Path.
Many people came through 2020, having experienced much “falling away”,…i.e loss, grief, separation, disruption, change, or maybe consciously relinquishing that which was no longer needed or fulfilling on a heart and soul level. Others experienced the distinct, intuitive knowing that they must address a yearning to discover more who they really are and express their creativity, authentic path or soul calling. Maybe none of the above applies to you, but you came through the other-side of 2020 feeling more curious and open,… to learn new things, expand, challenge yourself and grow.
In this new year, let us find the courage to step into the unknown and trust we have all the spiritual support, tools and guidance we need, both within and around us.
Juerg and I are offering soul wisdom, helpful insights and tools from our own experiences (both individually and as a couple), to support others on their own authentic Soul Path.
If you found this video to be helpful, and you would like to know more about my sessions with clients,… please feel free to write to me, for any questions or further information.
Please note: In my video, when I refer to “wearing a mask”, I am simply referring to all the different ways we learn to cover over our authentic self – because of societal and family conditioning.
I am reflecting on the lives of two men who have inspired peace in the world through their art, love of nature/gardening, music, philosophy, activism, poetry and wisdom… John Lennon (also a Libran like myself 🙂 ) and Claude Monet.
During his international career as a Musician, Poet, Activist and influential Ambassador for World Peace, John Lennon has been quoted as saying;
“Peace is not something you wish for, it is something you make, something you do, something you are and something you give away”
“My role in society, or any artist’s or poet’s role, is to try and express what we all feel. Not to tell people how to feel. Not as a preacher, not as a leader, but as a reflection of us all.”
“Love is like a precious plant. You can’t just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it’s going to get on by itself. You’ve got to keep on watering it. You’ve got to really look after it and nurture it.”
“I’m not really a career person; I’m a gardener, basically.”
Every year, some 500 000 visitors come from around the world to visit Claude Monet’s Garden in Giverny, France. Over many decades, millions of people have been touched by Monet’s peaceful and tranquil impressionist paintings. People are attracted because of the essence of calm and peace Monet was able to capture in his beautiful paintings and in his garden. For many years, I had prints of Monet’s Water Lillie’s hanging in my bedroom. When I walked into my bedroom, I remember how the paintings made me feel peaceful, balanced and at ease with my surroundings.
Not all of us have the gift of music and poetry to collectively inspire people’s minds and hearts like John – in a positive and powerful way. Not all of us have the opportunity to create a beautiful garden or the ability to paint like Monet did.
However, I believe we all have the chance in this life to work on our inner selves,…to grow in love and peace by owning and transforming our shadow self (our core wounds), healing and forgiving ourselves and others.
I refer to this work as “Soul Work” – and having been a “Gardener of the Soul” for many years now, I believe this is the true work I am here to do, be and share!
I have learned that the beautiful or impressive garden we create on the “outside”, is not as important as the garden we nurture and grow on the “inside”…
The Garden of our Soul is hidden to the eye but felt with the heart…
The Soul Garden we are nurturing, sustaining, lovingly tending too and growing every day – is the most important and true work we are here for.
As we honour our true selves and continue with our Soul Work, the universe will reflect back to us our inner transformation – we can attract more loving, authentic relationships into our lives and experience a sense of deeper peace and purpose for our journey. Although, this does not mean our healing and growing ever stops or we no longer attract challenges in our lives! However, over time, we can become more of a beacon of light to inspire others towards inner peace, truth and fulfillment for themselves.
Real, lasting peace is not something we can “take” from another or a piece of art or music to temporarily “feel better”. We each have to make the commitment to work towards peace in ourselves and this can be a challenging, demanding yet truly rewarding process over many, many lifetimes of experience and growth.
Featured Photo for this Blog Post:“Sacred Sadness Rose” from my Grandmother’s Garden – taken on Christmas day, many years ago. The photo features in my partner, Juerg Dreamturtle’s book; “Sacred Journey – A Simple Book of Soul Wisdom, Love and Healing.”
The book, “Sacred Journey” is very much about this inner work of growing towards love and peace in ourselves, in our lives and in the world. Why not order a copy of the book “Sacred Journey” to honour this day – International World Peace Day?
Find out more about the book “Sacred Journey” by Juerg Dreamturtle here
Photo of Water Lillie’s from Monet’s Garden: taken by Juerg, June 2015.
Read more about Claude Monet here
Everybody wants a loving relationship,… but few people are really open or prepared for the ongoing commitment and challenge of shadow work i.e. to take full responsibility for our own projections, inner child wounds and personal healing.
Relationships are so important because the deeper we are connected to someone physically, emotionally and spiritually – the greater the opportunity or catalyst for healing our inner child and transforming our core family and generational wounds.
Without this awareness, we may continue to protect or react from our wounds (hurt inner child) through becoming defensive, angry and blaming others, shutting down or avoiding intimacy altogether.
If we pretend that everything is wonderful and perfect on the outside, we deny ourselves the sacred opportunity to work with the truth – the unpleasant emotions that get triggered in us. It is only through acknowledging that our shadow/wounds exist, that we can begin to grow towards being more authentic and truthful with ourselves and others.
The truth is, we need relationships to trigger the wounds we have protected and tried to bury deep within our unconscious. As children, we developed unhealthy patterns, behaviors and beliefs in order to survive our family and society’s circumstances. However, as mature adults, we have a responsibility to consciously work with our history, our family story, our inner child, so that we do not continue to pass on our unhealed past and wounds.
Our soul acts like a magnet to attract the perfect partner and circumstances for healing and transformation to occur. As we work with the opportunities a soul partner offers us to heal and grow, we can embrace our shadow with love, forgiveness and soul understanding. As we continue with this work, we open ourselves towards a deeper capacity to feel and share love.
The soul purpose of a relationship is to share love and help each other heal and grow.
“Love” by Sculptor Alexander Milov
In life, and especially in our relationships, we often do not “like” what is being mirrored back to us or triggered by another.
We can choose to protect or defend our wounds, turn our backs on each other and walk away from the challenge presented to us.
However, life experience shows – our unconscious, childhood wounds tend to follow us into the next relationship… and the next.
In time, we realise that wisdom, self-awareness and maturity come from looking deep inside the childhood wounds we carry with us.
Wounds, which require another to bring them into our conscious awareness so that they may be faced, transformed and healed.
When we are conscious of our inner child’s needs, we can step away and disengage from a cycle of outer criticism, projection and blame.
We can recognise our own shadow parts – longing to be transformed with love, understanding, non-judgment, compassion, patience and gentleness.
We focus our energy and time on the inner changes, we need to make and the most important personal work we are here for.
When both partners are open to feel and connect with their unhealed childhood wounds that get triggered, they have an opportunity to progress with their inner work of healing and growing.
An intuitive guide can be very helpful to support us in connecting with what is at the core of our triggered emotional reactions.
He or she may also offer us beneficial tools to support our inner child’s needs for love, compassion and inner safety.
We can therefore approach our challenges as opportunities to share and grow more together towards wholeness, love and respect for each other.
With each obstacle on our path, we have an opportunity to rise together, reaching deeper levels of love, intimacy and healing.
A soul union is about complementing, supporting and enhancing our unique energies and gifts.
It’s also about being challenged – to confront our old identity, conditioning and past limited ways of being in the world.
A soul relationship can liberate us from our past – supporting and encouraging us to become all we can be.
The soul purpose of a relationship is to share love and help each other heal and grow.
The most important journey in life leads us deep inside ourselves!
If we can not be honest with ourselves, how can we be honest with another? In a nurturing and loving relationship with the Self, we acknowledge our shadow in a way that we do not criticise or judge ourselves harshly. We understand its purpose for being there – to provide the lessons and challenges so that we may grow.
In an honest, conscious relationship both partners know that we touch each other’s wounds – and therefore the relationship can offer us a powerful tool for healing, growth and transformation.
“Every moment, it is our sacred choice, how open we are to forgive, heal and grow in love, compassion and soul wisdom
– on our Sacred Journey.” Juerg Dreamturtle
It is of course always our choice how deep we wish to go and how much we wish to face, transform and heal on our own journey.
The true gift and fulfillment of journeying with someone who is open for all of this – someone who also has a good sense of humour, sensitivity, honesty and capacity to love – is the solidity, strength and union you build overtime within yourself AND together as a couple.
Our work is to support people on their soul journey. I am dedicated to my own personal healing and shadow work in a relationship with Juerg Dreamturtle (we have been journeying, traveling, creating and doing this healing/shadow work together for 15 years).
We do not pretend to be perfect because we know we can always continue to heal and grow more. Juerg and I share a core belief that our inner work of healing and growing is the most important, beneficial part of our journey we can devote ourselves to in this life…not only for ourselves and our relationship, but for all people and Mother Earth.
Juerg and I are offering support for this very important personal work, which helps us to heal and grow to a deeper level of love, compassion and soul wisdom. Both Juerg and I offer personal sessions for individuals/couples. Sessions are available internationally via Skype/Telegram/Facebook Messenger.
‘It doesn’t matter how slow you go as long as you don’t stop.’ – Confucius
Surrounded by the 4 giants of the European Alps, these days, competitive and serious hiking is very popular in the mountainous areas we spend most of our time in.
I believe we miss so much of the magic, beauty and energy of the mountains if the path we walk becomes a competitive and serious race against time, each other and ourselves.
Equally, in life, if we are always focused on getting ahead to some “where” we think will be “better” or to accomplish a future “goal” – we can miss the valuable and perfect teachings for where we happen to be right now…
When I saunter through the mountains and on many of the old pathways in the Aosta Valley region, I find myself connecting with a very ancient and timeless part of my soul.
Whenever I am in nature, I practice the art of walking slowly and with reverence. I also believe in being open (heart) to listen, feel and connect with what or who is coming to me as a messenger. I love to make my own tracks, pause and rest, go at my own pace and usually I resist following designated pathways set out for serious mountain hikers.
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∼ Butterfly Messenger ∼
On a journey in the mountains I took a few days ago, a messenger came to me in the form of a small, friendly butterfly.
I could see in her wings beautiful colours of luminescent green, gold, orange, blue and brown. These colours kept changing as she gently moved from different angles to the light of the sun. She sat on my shoulder – gently and happily – for probably close to 10 minutes before she flew off into the pine forest.
Before she flew to my shoulder, I had the feeling that I needed to pause, breathe and do a ceremony or simply give thanks before I reached Juerg, Cento and our campervan at the foot of the mountains (where my journey had begun). However, I was not quite sure what was being asked of me, until the butterfly spontaneously arrived. Before long, I realised that my interaction and connection with the butterfly messenger was my “ceremony”.
As a messenger, the teachings of butterfly
are to appreciate and see the value
in each stage of the spiritual journey
and cycles of life.
Butterfly’s life transformation shows us, we each have the possibility and capacity to be reborn by going within ourselves. Therefore, we can draw much value and learn from the cocoon of darkness, despair, doubt, confusion, tiredness and all the emotions we have been conditioned to view as “negative”.
Honouring our feelings of discomfort and disharmony in relation to where we currently are on our journey (as well as what we may see happening around us in the world), is an important part of accepting that we are forever moving through cycles of change, transformation and growth.
A natural part of growth is feeling discomfort and resistance as we move into the unknown! These are cycles of deep change and transformation, which Mother Earth is also mirroring back to us!
Rather than judge these cycles of change as something “negative” or “wrong” – can we allow what needs to occur from a deep place of trust, love and respect… like the life cycle of the butterfly shows us so beautifully?
Can we observe and learn from Mother Earth by working with the mirror she provides us, as well as primarily focusing our energy on our own inner transformational process?
In the far distance: Monte Bianco (4,810 m) tallest mountain of the European Alps.
∼ Balance and Patience ∼
I am learning that in order to ease our transition through these current challenging times on the earth, we need two main qualities – balance and patience.
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Balance… Balance can only be found by a certain amount of detachment from the outside world and all of its noise, busyness and distractions… Slowing down to find our balance means we focus more of our attention on our inner being. This involves checking in with our authentic self – i.e paying attention to what our feelings, our center of self/solar plexus, our bodies and our heart are communicating to us. It also involves (with love and compassion) tending to the forgotten, vulnerable, shadow parts of ourselves (our inner child/children), which we may find are being triggered by the outside world and especially our relationships.
What are the unique signs of your body and emotions, which tell you – you need to slow down and reconnect with your own unique rhythm and pace?
When you know you are feeling off-balance, what is your resistance to taking the time and space you need – to come back to your center of Self?
Patience… There is nothing else like precious time spent connecting and being one with Mother Nature. Reconnecting our bodies to her natural and ancient rhythms, seasons and cycles, allows us to remember we are not separate and to be patient with ourselves and our own growth process.
I really love and savour spending time in nature with both my dog and my partner Juerg. However, grounding my energy on a solitary walk in nature and or just sitting and being alone next to a tree, with my own thoughts and feelings is essential for me to retain a sense of well-being and harmony in our shared relationship. This is the same for Juerg too.
When did you last make quality, nurturing time and space for yourself – to be alone in nature – with out any distractions?
In these times of deep transformation on the earth, may you pause and rest when you need too…
may you find balance and patience…
so that you continue to move forward with grace and confidence
on your own unique life path and journey.
Photos shared are from a 5-hour saunter I made recently, to the top of Monte Zerbion (2722m) with stunning views of the Aosta Valley and three of the Giants of the Alps – Monte Rosa (4,634 m), Monte Bianco (4,810 m), and Gran Paradiso (4,061 m).
I find sacred moments of nourishment, inspiration, quiet reverence and solitude here in the mountains of Italy… where in the world do you find your own precious and healing moments in nature? I would love to hear from you, in the comments below…
My work is supporting and mentoring men and women to embrace their authentic being and be true to the timeless calling of their heart and soul. I offer intuitive guidance and support through Soul Sessions, which take place internationally via Skype. Soul Sessions are a unique chance to feel, reflect and connect with the deeper part of your being – your heart and soul.
For more information, or to book a session
please use the “work with me” link under the menu title – or click here
More reading from Rainbowtree Woman about the soul journey
and the path of healing and transformation, – click here
1 year ago, I was asking a question to my spirit guides about what this really means… and this was their reply to me…
Human beings naturally crave structure, security, or a clear and straight path laid out before them. Many search for a spiritual leader or community, a daily routine, ‘an acceptable way’ to follow – so life feels more safe, predictable and ‘known’…
But the heart yearns for the deeper springs of life and the path of the soul is uniquely your own.
It’s a pathway that you forge into the unknown and only your heart can intuitively feel/know what is right and true for you.
If you really choose this path, with all your heart and being, know that you will be challenged.
You will need courage and perseverance to keep opening your heart towards the unhealed shadow – of which has been ‘hidden’ to you…
Experiences which may come to you won’t always be easy, pleasant or beautiful… It may sometimes feel as if you walk a lonely path but you will always be much closer to us than you know…
Above all,…you will grow,…
There will be others… Soul friends and spiritual companions to meet again, Soul family to share laughter, tears, wisdom and experiences along the way…
It will not matter, if you only cross paths for a short moment or never meet each other in the physical. It’s the mutual exchange of heart energy, which has the power to transform, heal, inspire and illuminate lives.
Dear one, to live your life from the level of the heart and soul means to be open to heal your old wounds and from limiting beliefs and conditioning, create new, loving and joyful possibilities…
It means to recognise the importance of your inner work and honour yourself as a sacred conduit – here to help raise the consciousness and heart energy on beautiful Mother Earth…
It means wherever possible, guided by your feelings and heart – to transform darkness, hurt and fear into light, love, forgiveness, beauty, appreciation and fulfillment.
This is the magic, the spiritual alchemy, the infinite possibility, the realness, humility and freedom of living – connected and true – to your heart and soul.
“The knowledge of the heart is in no book
and is not to be found in the mouth of any teacher,
but grows out of you like the green seed from the dark earth.”
– Carl Jung (The Red Book)
“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” – Carl Jung …. i.e not who we “think” we should be, who others would like us to be, or who we think we should have been more, in order to receive love, approval and acceptance…
To become conscious of the wounds and various masks we adopted in childhood (and often continue to use later in our relationships) – is a lifes work and healing journey, which takes much courage and endurance.
However, I believe it is our free choice and great opportunity to consciously do our own inner healing work – rather than unconsciously re-create old family patterns or project our anger, hurt and pain out into the world and on to others.
Everything begins to transform and expand, the more we come from a place of love and acceptance for ourselves and value the uniqueness of who we are and the path we have walked in our own life (loving and challenging experiences).
For a long time, I have felt drawn to the energy and symbolism of the Lion. To me, the Lion represents the courage to be our authentic self, – to speak and act in harmony with our heart…even if it means, we stand alone in a crowd.
“Journey with my Lion – what it means to embody Lion energy” is a post I made 4 years ago, which incorporates my artwork and writing to share about some of my own vulnerabilities, strengths and awareness gained, through working closely (over a period of many months) with the energy and symbolism of the Lion and Lioness.
To read the post, click on my Lion painting and the quote by Carl Jung, below:
