One of my missions just now is to be a catalyst for finding a common language that embraces important aspects of who I am, and who you are, and who we are together.
This is both important and challenging because as we shift consciousness, culture and paradigm, words which used to fit no longer feel true to me and words which work for me may stir negative associations in you. As we build a new culture we need a new common language to ease communication and to quicken our evolution.
Take the words we use to describe livelihood for instance. The work we do in the world is one of the most meaningful aspects of our existence and a crucial part of our identity. Several decades ago when I created my first business I was happy to call it a business but now “business” doesn’t feel right for the work I do because my “business” is not something I can separate from “me”. ”Business” feels too hard edged, out to get, driven by money and time. Even the word “work” is heavy laden with associations.
For a long time now most of my time, attention, love and devotion has been occupied by a creative passion which I call “soul work”. It’s a calling, a choiceless choice, a compulsion, an adventure of discovery; it’s about harnessing inspiration, energy and information and bringing it into form so I can offer it up to others as a service. In the process of becoming a vehicle for this energy and inspiration, whatever in me needs healing is activated and brought into awareness to be seen and cleared. This healing process is also an act of service because, as each of us heals the self, the knotted patterns in the collective free up a little, making it easier for others to free themselves.
Soul, creativity, healing and service are inextricably linked.
My work has been to get to know this soul work – to live it and to communicate it. One of the ways I do this is through writing. Every writing project is a fresh attempt to find new meaning from my experience and to embody it. Over the last couple of months I have written two new e-books about the soul journey and transformation. If you are interested please sign up for my newsletter and I’ll let you know when they are ready.
This process of deep inner work, creative expression that stretches us to our limits and beyond, being of service to humanity and Gaia, has been very challenging for me as I’m sure it is for many of us who are on this path. When it comes to livelihood – “making a living” from my soul work – how can I put a price on that? How can I sell expressions of my heart and soul? And yet, if I give it all away, how will I survive and thrive? I know these are juicy, collective questions.
Over the next few posts, I’ll share some snapshots from my own journey through this maze of right livelihood and living my passion, and hopefully, in so doing, shed some light upon the way.
To be continued…
Every. Word. I’m moving away from “business” too. I don’t know if “business” ever really called me – the past 7 years haven’t changed initial impressions and stories that word carries. I think I started a “business” because I thought it was the only container possible to generate income doing what I love. Now there’s more opening to what else is possible in the new paradigm – especially in our views around money, it’s global impact, enoughness and how we relate to each other in community with money. Models like patronage… by donation… gift economy… are sparking seeds of inspiration and curiosity and questions galore.
Love those terms and the energy behind “right livelihood” and “true livelihood”. Soul work!