We’re living in turbulent times. We’re also living in beautiful times, but the beauty and light seem less apparent these days. That doesn’t mean it’s not here, but it’s quieter, more subtle.

What we’re feeling and sensing as seers and seekers is the turbulence: the foundations that are crumbling; the earth that is crying out and making her displeasure with our consumerism and greed known; the awareness of broken systems that are not in service of the highest good of all beings.

It’s hard to live through a global transition. It’s hard to trust that this is a necessary decline before an upsurge of renewal.

But what I know in my bones from studying transitions for over 30 years is that the rebirth of spring always always follows the decay of autumn. The life-death-life cycle is one of our few reliable knowns in this world of change and uncertainty. Holding this mindset helps me through difficult times, and I hope it’s helpful for you. Spring always comes. It’s one of the mindsets, among many, that allows me to be a lighthouse for those I’m lucky enough to guide to safe shores.

The Need for Reliable Guides 

We need our steady guides now more than ever. I’m 54, and I’ve spent the majority of my life engaged in inner work. I started writing down my dreams and journaling when I was six, when I was 16 I started going to therapy, and at 23 I started graduate school for depth psychology, learning about dreams, metaphors, creativity, and the language of the body. And from there I started working with people as a soul midwife – walking alongside them as they endured the death and rebirth cycles initiated by life’s transitions: getting married, moving, becoming a parent, career changes, retirement, grief and loss.

Because of my own numerous dark nights of the soul, I have an intimate relationship with anxiety and have understood from the time panic first dragged me into the underworld at age 21 that anxiety is a messenger. I don’t believe we can truly guide others if we haven’t walked through that same dark forest and emerged on the other side not only intact, with well-being, but as a beacon of light.

I stand on these shores now and more days than not I am in gratitude and joy. It’s not that everything is perfect. It’s far from perfect: I fall into fear just like everyone else; I worry about my kids; I wake up in a dark mood; I get irritated; I hurt others feelings and my feelings get hurt.

But what I find at this stage is that I don’t stay in the hard stuff for very long. It’s like what Sue Johnson, the founder of EFT said about couples work: The goal is not to never argue again, that’s not possible. The goal is to argue less frequently and when you do argue to return to each other with an open heart more quickly.

To Be a Lighthouse

This is what I found with life: it can be hard, sometimes very hard, and it can feel like I’m having an argument with life itself, like there’s a tear in the fabric of the universe, but within a short amount of time I return to my center, which is a deep well of trust. And it’s from that well-being – from the well of my being – which is also a well of joy and clarity – that I serve as a guide to others as a lighthouse in the storms of life.

We are not meant to suffer through this life alone. We need guides and mentors and soul midwives to see us through as we are birthing new aspects of ourselves and as we are witnessing the death and rebirth of the planet. I have had many lighthouse guides and I have them still. It would be an honor to serve as one for you.

Along these lines, I’m offering a FREE webinar this Wednesday, September 23rd at 3:30pm ET where I will be offering a teaching, allowing time to connect to your own well of light, and connect with me. You can sign up here, and I look forward to seeing you there.