With all of the upheaval, inner and outer, in the U.S. and around the world, there are a lot of people standing in the rubble of what was, and facing the daunting prospect of starting over.

In the ‘rubbled lives’ cases, after the round of ‘perfect storms’, they’d be starting anew from the rubble. Literally. It’s well beyond overwhelming.

There are other ways, too, that our lives get “rubbled” and our hopes, dreams, expectations, and the fruits of years of hard work, that we poured our heart and energy into, get washed away.

In this culture, it’s too common to hear the over-simplified “cheer up” or “you just need to be more positive,” or worse — mindless, empathy-free comments about “karma” or “you must have done something to deserve/create your situation.”

So real Underworldings, bona fide Dark Nights and other Rubblings can feel doubly (or more) isolating and painful because of these and other kinds of things.

Understanding, kinship, healing presence, and wise experience-sourced counsel will come most likely from others who’ve had deep, real-deal initiation with loss, rubbling, actual Dark Nights and Underworldings.

To cite Jalāl ad-Dīn Rūmī, “When setting out on a journey do not seek advice from someone who never left home.”

Phoenix Rising. Image courtesy of All Day 2.

PHOENIX MEDICINE

The mythic Phoenix is an age-old symbol — a beautiful bird, rising from the ashes of its former self. (Jupiter will soon add its mojo to the the Phoenixing Zone. More on that soon.)

To begin anew — in whatever substantial way we’re challenged to do that, because what was is no longer an option — is challenging.That’s an understatement.

I know this because I’ve had to do it, more than once, in more than one way. I don’t underestimate how daunting it is, particularly when we’re grief-and-loss stricken, feeling shaken to our core, and nearly frozen with shock and fear.

Skellig Michael, Co. Kerry, Ireland. Image courtesy of World Heritage Ireland.

The human spirit often rises to awe-inspiring levels in the face of epic challenge, though, and we do, step by step, begin anew.

Most of us have generations of ancestor-wisdom woven through us that helps us to intuit and remember how to do this, even when it seems stunningly overwhelming.

Stone by stone, step by step, small and even minuscule (and sometimes lurching and awkward) steps, doing little bits at a time, prayer by prayer, staying as present-moment focused as we can — that little work that adds up (very Virgo-Magic, that).

In hindsight, we see the progress, however humble, and know we did, and we can, begin anew.

We become beacons, intentionally or not, to others who need to believe, in the face of similar overwhelm, that they, too, can begin anew.

Even when not standing in the midst of the rubble that was our life, or all that we thought was “real,” we can shift our perception, alter a toxic mindset, and begin anew.

In this moment, I begin anew.

Here’s a Sophia’s Children treasure-vault reflection — Today I Begin Anew — that offers more inspiration, if you’re wanting or needing in some way to begin anew.

Big Love,

Jamie

Dancing in the Rain. PD Pics.

Mentor-Coaching for Underworldings, New Beginnings & Other Major Shifts

For perception-altering mentoring, if you’re beginning anew (or still sitting, dazed, in the rubble), have a look at the Current Special Offerings for mentoring and consultation.

Featured Image Credit: The Fire Bird, Phoenix. Image courtesy of Piotr Siedlecki, Free Stock Photos.