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Welcome to Crossing Paths
Twenty-five years ago, I read these three simple words from Shakti Gawain's book, "Living in the Light:" Follow the Energy. They slowly became a guiding principle of my life. A decade later, I followed the energy to Inverness, California for my first astrology reading. I didn't even know if I believed in such a thing, but my primary energy, curiosity, drew me. The theme of that multi-faceted two-hour reading was this: "You have a talent with words. You are a writer. You have a message and your well-being depends on fulfilling this promise." I went into the bathroom afterward and grinned at my giddy self in the mirror. Not only had a stranger just solidified my faith in my path, but unbeknownst to either of us, she had set my feet on the road to becoming an astrologer. As soon as I understood that the heart of astrology is the illumination of one's true energies and the support to follow them, I was hooked.
Last year, I published my first book, and knew that the next vital step was some big fuzzy, scary blur called Marketing. I bought the book my agent recommended, went to Starbucks, bought a soy latte (extra hot), and got out my highlighter. Over the next few weeks, I made a half-dozen determined attempts--all of which ended in lethargy and a gripping neck ache. So I adopted a new marketing plan. I had books in 15 states by then and began regularly visualizing them vibrating, their little golden covers flapping like ducklings, radiating out into a vast web across the country. It was illogical to the point of ridiculous, but ... it energized me.
So how did I get from there to this newsletter, with its accompanying website and the most beautiful marketing plan this side of Inverness? In March, I felt impressed to attend a talk at Borders about self-publishing despite the fact that I was the proud author of "Who Are You Calling Grandma?" -- a self-pubbed memoir. Afterward, the instructor, Jennifer Basye Sanders, offered a flyer for her Write By the Lake retreats in Tahoe. A couple of months later, I followed the energy there. Then she hosted a party for her 15 workshop grads(one for every state!). Despite the fact that I was feeling very sad that evening over a loss in my life, I went because my energy compass kept pointing in the direction of Jennifer's house.
In that large circle, I sat next to a lovely young woman who spoke with eloquent passion, not only about her own writing project, but about the success of her newest client. She was a professional marketer. And even before we met for lunch and made it official, I knew Michelle would be taking my vibrating paperback marketing plan to the next level--and beyond. What I didn't know was that she had followed her own energy, leaving the suffocation of the corporate world to start her own company and write a book as a result of her transition--which led her to a writer's workshop in Tahoe ... ah, yes.
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| Five Unfluffy Thoughts About Following Energy
I realize that following the energy sounds fluffy--like chasing a rare unicorn butterfly across a field of poppies. I've never found it to be so. Here are my five unfluffy thoughts about what it takes.
1. Become an ally of your energy instead of an adversary. Energy, whether physical or emotional, is a message. Gravitate toward what uplifts, enlightens, motivates, stimulates, and energizes you. And respectfully decline that which habitually drains you--even if it's laudable. Take your messenger at its word: if it repeatedly drains, dampens or depresses, it's not for you.
2. Hone your energy resume. If you accepted a project or a job that makes waking up each day bad news, take notes. It can be admirable and even character-building to see an arduous commitment through to a respectable finish, but only if it's educating. When the phone rings again with the lure of greatness or goodies, don't give an answer until you've gone to Starbucks, ordered a latte and eaten every bite of those notes.
3. Give the illogical room to show off. Following energy isn't always logical. In fact, it rarely cuddles up to common sense. But if you can forgive this little trait and give energy room to strut its stuff, you'll find that it has its own intelligence. With energy, the process is the plan.
4. Be willing to follow in all kinds of weather. Sometimes following the energy is relieving, like stepping out of tight shoes that are sooo pretty (but remind you of wearing lobsters), and into slippers you secretly think of as your two best friends. But other times, it's hard. Scary. You don't really want to. But something inside just won't let it go. Make that call. Make that call. Make that call. Then the phone rings and it's the wrong number. There you stand, phone in hand.
But perhaps the most challenging energy pattern to weather is this: you've consciously made a choice to pursue something that feels right, but all efforts to pull it off meet with clouds and drizzle. The more you push, the more it fizzles. This energy has to be examined too. Time to persevere? Or to back off and see what happens?
5. Adopt an experimental attitude. Be a playful follower. If you make the art of following a rule, a goal or a should, it isn't energy anymore. Remind yourself that you can always go a few yards and see what happens. You can always lean into it and see what gives. You can always find out if it feels better to move toward or move away. The night I went to Borders, I was coming from a friend's house and running late. When I arrived at the intersection where I had to decide, I thought to myself, "I'm going to go toward the bookstore and see how it feels." It still feels great.
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An Invitation: Follow the
Energy to My New Website!
If it calls to you, follow the mellow, hip road to www.evolvingjourney.com ! There you can wander down The Write Path and The Inner Path to peruse my services, meet my partners and get a feel for what we'll be sharing as we continue to cross paths week to week. And if Crossing Paths has energized you, please pass along the emails of those you think might enjoy the journey with us--or forward the newsletter so they can decide for themselves! |
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FREE Consultation
I am a ghost writer and editor, and would love to contribute to your book, report, article, feature, website copy, marketing materials or and anything you feel uncomfortable writing on your own. Let's sit down, enjoy a cup of coffee, and share ideas. Please feel free to email me: maridelbowes@evolvingjourney.com.
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