crossroads — her way circle replay
Crossroads is that moment of choice. It feels as if the secret to life is learning how to navigate those crossroads.
Today’s topic is on crossroads.
Those of you who are familiar with my life journey will know that the last couple of years have been quite the reckoning: uncomfortable, uncertain, unsettling and strange. And I would dare to say that perhaps many of us have felt that way. The energy of the past few years has been coupled with a kind of nervousness. It’s not been so light, and sweet and fun. It’s necessary, this rupture in our reality, and the discomfort that arises, to bring about the tremendous changes that we on a deeper level know are necessary.
We now are at the tipping point of systematic change. This year 2024 in particular is going to surprise us with a good hard look at our society’s systems and structures. The annoying this is that, as with any deep clean, first the mess gets bigger as we as a human collective take out everything that has been stuffed away before it can all be culled and reorganised.
The thing that I found interesting is that, with all this very real hardship something that has slipped away is our ability to hold a vision and hope and dream for a brighter future. If you look at social media as an example, the narrative has taken a downturn and we have lost a little bit of the hold on our minds. We are starting to believe the stories that it’s all doom and gloom.
While, yes, pragmatism is important, so is envisioning and working towards your dreams. Remember how good it feels to work towards a dream! And while today’s her way circle is about crossroads, it is also about dreams because crossroads are the juncture where new dreams can be born and choices are made to nurture and pour into those dreams.
Crossroads is that moment of choice. It feels as if the secret to life is learning how to navigate those crossroads. How to make the right decision when a difficult choice stares you in the face.
The one thing I want you to take away from today is that 2024 is about dreams. It’s a return to your dreams. It’s an opportunity to rewire yourself back to what you are here on earth to have, do and experience.
But first, how do we get there…
With each potential turn and juncture in life, a question hangs heavy in the air: which way truly leads you where you need to go?
This, my friends, is the essence of life's crossroads. We stand at these corners countless times, be it choosing a career path, navigating a tricky relationship, or deciding how to spend an afternoon. The options sometimes feel like a labyrinth, and choosing our path is like deciphering an ancient, riddle-filled map.
But what if I told you the map is already within you?
Not etched on worn parchment but woven into the very fabric of your being. We, women, have this incredible knowing that lives inside us. There is no question about whether we have it or not, we all do. The question is whether we are in a relationship with it. Are we honing and listening and acting on it?
Can you guess what that is?
Yes. Intuition.
Or instinct or inner wisdom.
Your intuition, guided by your core values is always showing you. That’s the yin to the yang. Or the feminine to the masculine. The dreams held by the container of structures: intuition and values. These are the fundamental beliefs that define who you are at your core, the unwavering convictions that ignite your passions, and the guiding principles that illuminate your path when shadows fall.
Uncovering where your intuition is guiding you is a more delicate undertaking. It's an introspective journey, a treasure hunt within the landscape of your own soul.
To begin, step back from the cacophony of external noise and turn the gaze inward. I am going to ask you some profound questions, not the kind with one-word answers but the ones that linger and echo in the quiet corners of your heart… Feel free to write them down, and I’ll give you a few moments to reflect on them too…
What moments have left you breathless with joy, a feeling of belonging so intense it transcended words? Was it the adrenaline rush of scaling a mountain, the quiet satisfaction of creating a masterpiece, or the simple warmth of laughter shared with loved ones?
What injustices have ignited outrage within you, a primal need to stand up and speak out for what's right? Was it witnessing cruelty towards the vulnerable, the silencing of truth, or the exploitation of the innocent?
What experiences have left you feeling deeply fulfilled, a sense of purpose resonating through your every fibre? Was it contributing to a cause you believe in, nurturing the growth of another, or leaving a positive mark on the world around you?
These questions act as your shovel, unearthing buried treasures waiting to be unearthed. Don't fret about perfection. There's no right or wrong answer, only authenticity. Jot down words, phrases, and even scribbles that capture the essence of what resonates with you. When you have more time, maybe Create a mood board that reflects the colours and textures of your inner landscape. This is your personal treasure map, a unique tapestry woven from the threads of your experiences and aspirations.
With your unearthed values sparkling in your hand, it's time to let them become your guiding stars. Imagine them as constellations in the night sky, each star a beacon illuminating a path forward. When faced with a crossroads, hold your map close and ask yourself:
Which path aligns with the constellations shining brightest within me? Would chasing a promotion fulfil your desire for growth, or would pursuing an entrepreneurial venture honour your spirit of independence?
Which choice reflects the principles etched upon in your heart? Would a compromise based on convenience align with your unwavering commitment to honesty, or would standing your ground, even if challenging, resonate more deeply?
Which direction leads you closer to the purpose whispered by your inner compass? Will working for a large corporation contribute to your desire to make a social impact, or will starting your own small business allow you to nurture your passion for sustainability?
Remember, your intuition might not always lead to the easiest path. The mountain climb may be steep, the familiar road might feel monotonous, and sometimes, standing your ground on principles will mean facing resistance. But aligning your choices with your values, even when challenging, when you stand at a crossroads brings immense rewards. The feelings that your intuition is guiding you towards and therefore the signs you are looking for are:
Clarity and Confidence: No more feeling lost in a sea of options. You choose to have fewer options because not everything is for you, and your intuition knows that for you.
Inner Peace and Authenticity: Living true to your values fosters a sense of wholeness and reduces the conflict between who you are and how you act. You'll shed the mask of societal expectations and embrace the uniqueness that is your true self.
Resilience and Strength: When storms rage and challenges arise, your intuition becomes your anchor, offering the fortitude to navigate difficult situations and emerge stronger.
This is a dynamic practice, ever-shifting and evolving with you. Life experiences, personal growth, and even societal changes can influence crossroads and the paths you take.
The biggest problem is we think we don’t know what is right. That we have no compass for navigation. We get to each crossroad, day after day, and forget that they are opportunities to witness ourselves in our truth and make new choices guided by our intuition. We do not land at crossroads for no reason. We arrive at these junctures because our soul is ready for the next step of our evolution.
And when we get there, we reach back to the dreams we have been given and name them.
Naming our vision is vital. It gives us a mission. Purpose. We can make a decision based on which path takes us towards our vision.
Vision and values tell us what is important to us. Lastingly important. If we want to navigate the crossroads, we have to carry a compass, the inner knowing that has the answers and is waiting for us to clear the way.
Making intentional choices is about taking ownership of your journey. You are the wanderer. Your journey is yours and yours alone. There are decisions you need to make. Every day is a crossroads.
From the live call chatbox:
11:01:08 From Vienda Maria : WELCOME!!! Let’s give everyone a few minutes to join and land.
11:01:58 From CHANTAL MORGAN To Vienda Maria(privately) : You look Beautiful! 🤍
11:02:12 From Vienda Maria To CHANTAL MORGAN(privately) : Aww thank you
11:02:53 From Vienda Maria : If you are enjoying this song
11:03:02 From Nathalie : Reacted to "If you are enjoying ..." with 🤍
11:03:04 From Beatrice : Reacted to "If you are enjoying …" with 🤍
11:03:05 From Franziska : Reacted to "If you are enjoying ..." with ❤️
11:03:09 From Tamsin (She/Her) : Reacted to "If you are enjoying ..." with 🤍
11:03:19 From Anne : Reacted to "If you are enjoying ..." with 🤍
11:03:52 From Beatrice : Thank you for this opportunity Vienda. I’m keeping camera off as I’m on the move travelling for work but really wanted to join 🙏🏻
11:06:17 From Tamsin (She/Her) : from Sunshine Coast, Australia. Feeling curious and pleased to be here :)
11:06:23 From Amelia Zadro : In Brisbane this evening. Feeling curious, excited
11:06:30 From Amelia Zadro : Reacted to "from Sunshine Coast,..." with ❤️
11:06:31 From CHANTAL MORGAN : Chantal from Cape Town and I’m feeling aligned
11:06:49 From Hannah : Hove, UK. Excited and a bit nervous!
11:06:52 From Maddy Mason : Hello everyone! I’m Maddy, I’m in Brighton in the UK. I’m not sure what to expect from these gatherings but felt drawn to join because I think it’s what I need 🙂
11:06:52 From Nikhita Mahtani : I’m Nikhita, and I’m usually in New York but I’m escaping the cold in India until mid-February. And the way I’m feeling today is a little fatigued but also a sense of calm
11:06:53 From Marja : Hi everyone! I’m from Sydney and feeling grateful to be here and connected 🙂
11:06:59 From Nathalie : in the Hague, the Netherlands. I feel relaxed and grateful
11:07:01 From Anne : Hello Beautiful people, I am in Wangaratta, Australia and I am feeling very happy to be here and excited :)
11:07:24 From Mia Shoua : Hi, I’m Mia, I’m calling from Sydney Australia. I’m feeling inspired, light and open-hearted.
11:07:26 From Beatrice : I’m in Berkshire UK. Feeling a little sad today
11:07:37 From Maddy Mason : Replying to "Hove, UK. Excited an..."
Haha I said Brighton but I’m actually in Hove too! 🙂
11:08:01 From Franziska : Hello, hello, I’m from Berlin and feeling a bit tired 😄 But I’m happy to be here 😊
11:08:51 From Stéphanie Ah Tchou : Hi Vienda, thank you for this opportunity! I’m joining from Sintra, Portugal, in general in life I feel at at million crossroads!
11:09:08 From Hannah : Reacted to "Haha I said Brighton…" with 🤗
11:09:11 From Tamsin (She/Her) : Reacted to "Hi Vienda, thank you..." with ❤️
11:23:15 From CHANTAL MORGAN : Can you please write the questions in the chat box?
11:23:28 From Vienda Maria : What moments have left you breathless with joy, a feeling of belonging so intense it transcended words?
11:23:59 From Vienda Maria : What injustices have ignited outrage within you, a primal need to stand up and speak out for what's right?
11:25:21 From Vienda Maria : What experiences have left you feeling deeply fulfilled, a sense of purpose resonating through your every fibre?
11:28:49 From Vienda Maria : Which path aligns with the constellations shining brightest within me?
11:29:21 From Vienda Maria : Which choice reflects the principles etched upon in your heart?
11:30:06 From Vienda Maria : Which direction leads you closer to the purpose whispered by your inner compass?
11:40:48 From Stéphanie Ah Tchou : Most in career, least in hobbies
11:41:01 From Hannah : Most - spirit and well-being. Least - hobbies and career
11:41:02 From Nathalie : Replying to "Most in career, leas..."
same for me
11:41:03 From Nikhita Mahtani : Most career, least in love
11:41:12 From Beatrice : I had no hobbies but a few in spirituality and wellbeing
11:41:14 From Mia Shoua : most- career, least in love and rels
11:41:32 From Anne : Most Career and Spirit and Wellbeing
11:41:32 From Amelia Zadro : Pretty even
11:41:42 From Franziska : most hobbies, least career
11:41:53 From Maddy Mason : Pretty much everything going into spirit/wellbeing for me at the moment as I’ve been having a hard time the last couple of years and feeling very off balance so am making a conscious effort to nature myself!
11:41:53 From CHANTAL MORGAN : Seems like a balance except hobbies
11:42:12 From CHANTAL MORGAN : However I know I need to up that and am working on finding a few
11:42:13 From Maddy Mason : Yes nurture!
11:42:16 From Marcia Mello’s iPhone (2) : Most in Love and relationships and least in spirit and wellbeing
11:45:18 From Maria : I love traveling and one of my values is independence. One part of me wants to base myself in one country and travel a lot in different countries and another part of me wants to move and live in different countries. Also one part of me would love to have a child one day and another part of me loves the personal freedom so much that it wants to remain childfree. How have you navigated these big decisions dear Vienda, when intuition isn’t clearly showing just one choice but loves two different options? I know you also love to travel for example. I’m curious how do you decide whether to just travel to places that resonate or whether to completely move to another country? Also has it always been clear to you whether you want children for example? Sorry if it’s too personal question! Thank you!
11:46:29 From Anne : Reacted to "I love traveling and..." with ❤️
11:46:37 From Maddy Mason : Reacted to "I love traveling and..." with ❤️
11:48:04 From Mia Shoua : Hi, my crossroads moment is fear of trusting myself after a series of questionable decisions and challenging times. I also question my relationship with stability and travel. I fear that I act out of trauma/avoidance instead of intuition. I am being very introspective. I can elaborate more
11:50:05 From Maria : Thank you for your honesty and for your inspiring thoughts! Very very helpful.
11:50:05 From Hannah : I am going through this - trying to build my family but had many losses over 4 years. It’s so hard to keep hopeful.
11:51:13 From Maddy Mason : Amelia you’ve just put into words something I’ve been feeling but couldn’t explain - thank you!
11:51:23 From Amelia Zadro : Reacted to "Amelia you’ve just p..." with ❤️
11:51:28 From Anne : Reacted to "Amelia you’ve just p..." with ❤️
11:51:37 From Tamsin (She/Her) : Reacted to "Amelia you’ve just p..." with ❤️
11:51:42 From Amelia Zadro : Reacted to "I am going through t..." with 🥰
11:51:52 From Tamsin (She/Her) : Yes I agree, well put Amelia!
11:51:54 From Anne : Reacted to "I am going through t..." with ❤️
11:51:58 From Maddy Mason : Reacted to "I am going through t..." with ❤️
11:53:42 From Amelia Zadro : Reacted to "Yes I agree, well pu..." with ❤️
11:53:52 From Stéphanie Ah Tchou : Replying to "Hi, my crossroads mo..."
Same here! In the past it has been no troubles to leave everything behind, ands start again somewhere else. I wonder is the sense of relaxation I have from my body when I think about going away, is a result of stepping into familiar defence mechanism to escape, when what I really want is to build a home with someone.
11:54:16 From Maddy Mason : Reacted to "Same here! In the pa..." with ❤️
11:54:18 From Mia Shoua : Reacted to "Same here! In the pa..." with ❤️
11:54:26 From Anne : Reacted to "Same here! In the pa..." with ❤️
11:54:30 From Amelia Zadro : Replying to "Hi, my crossroads mo..."
@Stéphanie Ah Tchou great questions!
11:54:37 From Tamsin (She/Her) : Replying to "Hi, my crossroads mo..."
I have wondered this too many times!
11:54:44 From Tamsin (She/Her) : Reacted to "Same here! In the pa..." with ❤️
11:54:46 From Anne : Reacted to "Hi, my crossroads mo..." with ❤️
11:58:04 From Hannah : Yes! 🙌🏼
11:58:06 From Nathalie : Yes, the fine print was really tiny hahaha
11:58:16 From Stéphanie Ah Tchou : Reacted to "Yes, the fine print ..." with ❤️
11:58:22 From Tamsin (She/Her) : Reacted to "Yes, the fine print ..." with 😂
11:58:25 From Maria : I’m curious Vienda, how did you decide where to base yourself finally after all the traveling? I’ve learned that I want to be close to a loving community, that’s most important. And great weather helps too haha!
11:58:25 From Anne : Reacted to "Yes, the fine print ..." with 😂
11:59:27 From Marcia Mello’s iPhone (2) : Reacted to "Hi, my crossroads mo…" with ❤️
11:59:41 From Amelia Zadro : I have to jump off on the hour but thank you so much Vienda and everyone, lots of love to you all!
11:59:48 From CHANTAL MORGAN : Thank you so much for your wisdom and time Vienda, I need to run, I look forward to the next one. X
12:00:02 From Anne : Reacted to "I have to jump off o..." with ❤️
12:00:26 From Maria : So interesting! 😄
12:00:48 From Maddy Mason : Thank you all!
12:00:49 From Nathalie : thank you!
12:00:49 From Stéphanie Ah Tchou : Thank you so much Vienda and everyone in the call!
12:00:51 From Mia Shoua : thank you!
12:00:51 From Marcia Mello’s iPhone (2) : Thank you Vienda! It was great! So refreshing
12:00:53 From Franziska : Thank you!
12:00:54 From Beatrice : I’m am amazed at how much synchronicity there’s been in this circle of similar sensations for all of us.
Thank you all for sharing and thank you Vienda for sharing from your own personal life too.
12:00:54 From Hannah : Thank you so much 💖
12:00:55 From Nikhita Mahtani : Thank you so much for this
12:00:56 From Tamsin (She/Her) : Thank you!
12:00:57 From Maria : Thank you Vienda and everyone! Looking forward to next calls 🙂
12:00:59 From Anne : Thanks so much Vienda and so many wonderful q's that I can relate to! Big love