Symbols as Questions

Well, when things don’t work out like you plan – you improvise and pretend you expected it to go that way. That’s what tonight’s session was all about. In some ways, it was the best session we’ve had to date – so flying by the seat of your pants seems to work.

The group did not have a chapter to read before this session due to my writer’s block. As I explained to the group, the topic of purpose seemed to stop me dead in my tracks. Over the month, my thoughts seem to be settling on a brief conversation we had last month when we broached the subject of purpose as a precursor. Over the last month, I’ve concluded that humanity shares a similar purpose – to love, to be loved, and to be authentic to who we are – in a balanced and ecological way. Meaning, it’s good for you, others, the planet…you get the point.

As one person said last month, it is no different than the purpose of a tree. It can’t be anything but a tree… that’s what it is. The tree is a tree, until; the tree meets the needs of others and manifests itself to serve the needs of others. The tree might create shade for a tired traveler, offer a child a place to climb, or become paper. In the same way, our role is to align ourselves with our authentic self, hear our own voice and listen for the needs of humanity. In other words, how can we honor our purpose by paying attention to what we are being called to do – at this very moment?

Tonight we used metaphor to check-in on our progress. Each person was instructed to bring an icon or item that represented their progress and a recurring question that keeps greeting them as we meander through this purposeful journey. The intention of the exercise was to raise the questions so the Universe could support us by giving us answers to our inquiry…it’s just hunch.

A couple of things exude poignancy this evening. The lives of these women have changed and evolved in such delightful ways over the last eight months…in amazing ways…from the person who couldn’t create a clearing in her mind to see her love of spirit, art and creating community coming together, and watching her move into a diligent, yet patient, search for what’s now possible in her mind. Or, the woman who is moving into her birthright to live the life of her choosing by making conscious choices to create and sustain a healthy lifestyle that honors the beautiful person she is – one day at a time; to see her move away from inner conflict and into this place of power and peace. It’s been extraordinary to watch. Or, the person who is being called to – to use her own words, “to thine own self be true”; and seeing her look for ways to put herself first and bring her creative talents and ability to organize to the marketplace. Yet, some realize the need to change jobs as subsided as they focus on rediscovering themselves, taking time to heal, or honor family first.

I bring a book as my icon, Creating an Engaged Church. I have this book in my collection but have no recollection of buying it, yet it sits behind a glass wall in a dresser in my bathroom. I use this to represent my question of spirituality and what part this will play in my work. What I am really being called to do? What is the dissonance I feel telling me and what is stopping me from taking focused action in building my business?

Now that we have our questions, we will look for our own moments of dissonance or congruence, excitement or fear, synchronicity, coincidence, and listen to what our bodies, dreams, and thoughts are trying to tell us about our question.

Over the next 30 days we will be a witness to our own lives and look for answers to what we are being called to do....stay tuned….