Show yourself
By Lian Brook-Tyler
I happened to see this old photo of me yesterday, thinking I must have seemed like I was bursting with confidence, what with strutting along a wall in just a bikini top and white hot pants.
The truth is, back then I was struggling to accept myself in so many ways, and one of the only things I did have confidence in was my body. I loved every inch of it, from the often unfashionable curves (I’m certain my then idol Monroe’s imprint helped there), to the arms and thighs that were stronger and more muscled than many men’s (I was made for the martial arts that consumed my 20s.)
Decades have passed since this photo and in that time my understanding and acceptance of other aspects of myself have grown immeasurably and therefore my confidence with it.
Though ‘confidence’ doesn’t capture the true depth of what’s occurred.
My psychedelic mind, my rose-tinted dreaminess, the obsessions that are really devotions, a sword of truth for a brain, the silliness, the rigid need for process that’s really because I’m made for ritual… all of these and more have gone from something I’ve struggled with and tried to change or hide to becoming soul gifts that form the Medicine I’ve become and serve to others.
When we accept something about ourselves, even and especially when it doesn’t fit with the narratives around us, our soul shines.
We can fear that others will judge us for unashamedly shining, or feel bad about themselves for not… so it’s important to know that they can be graced, activated and inspired by the light when we do.
I’ll leave you with these words, I hope they will be the touch stone for you that they’ve been for me…
“One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. Soul on deck shines like gold in dark times. The light of the soul throws sparks, can send up flares, builds signal fires, causes proper matters to catch fire. To display the lantern of soul in shadowy times like these -- to be fierce and to show mercy toward others; both are acts of immense bravery and greatest necessity. Struggling souls catch light from other souls who are fully lit and willing to show it. If you would help to calm the tumult, this is one of the strongest things you can do.”
White hot pants optional.💗
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