Starlight

I want to talk about Starlight….

BrettCulp, of The Rising Heroes Project (and film director, and all-around good human), spoke at our Leadership Development Conference yesterday. In speaking about leadership, he brought to the forefront the need to recognize that what we do today may not be seen for many years. He used starlight as an example of this.

The North Star, as Brett stated, is 400 light years away. What we see today is the light generated by that star 400 years ago. Although I knew that from past science classes, it resonated with me in a different way now – as a leader.

I watch my colleagues in healthcare advocate, and heal, and fight, and love their work, and struggle as they watch their patients decline… and there is such a need for that immediate gratification that we’re doing good work. We ARE doing good work – yet we may not see those results for a long time, if at all. We have to have faith that the work is sending out ripples as if it was dropped into the middle of the ocean away from all humanity.

“Real leadership is inviting people on a mission to do something extraordinary together.”

~Brett Culp

We’re on a mission. All of us. We may not always know what that mission is, yet if we stick to our ethics and passions, our path will light up in front of us. Bring people with you on your journey who share your passion. Reach out for mentors and guides and the quiet people in the corner with the spark in their eyes. You know more than you think you do, and there are a lot of eager ears willing to listen and learn. We’re all students, even if we’re not enrolled in classes. Each day you will learn something new, or will be able to teach someone something new. That’s pretty amazing. Your starlight will go on for eons after you’re not here to see the end result.

We need to have faith in ourselves just as much as we have faith that those stars will keep on burning well into the future.

http://www.whats-your-sign.com

Return to Light

I know most of the planet was watching the rare Wolf Blood Moon lunar eclipse last night, however when there are such stunning natural occurrences such as this was, it sometimes feels as if you’re very much alone… (which isn’t always such a bad thing.)

I received many messages last night from our beautiful Mother Moon and her goddesses, including inspired howling from dogs and coyotes as the night blackened around what appeared to be an orange marble suspended in ink. Surrounding planets and stars glowed brighter, and the street lamps almost became an irritation in their glaringness, interrupting the depth and attention to the sight above. It was understandable that those living in past years feared the eclipse as an omen – the moon became an absolute three-dimensional being that simply “was.”

I did not take photos, but preferred to sit quietly and allow my thoughts and emotions to travel alongside the Earth’s shadow. I was taught patience, as those few seconds before total eclipse seemed to take so many more minutes than thought possible, much like waiting as a child to be allowed into the living room on Christmas morning. Before the shadow passed completely over, Mother Moon shouted one more time, seeming to pulsate with glorious light, as if reminding us that she would return even more lovely than before.

As Artemis reclined with her glass of wine, her moon stayed as a strong presence. It simply “was” without pretention. Billions of people may have been staring at her, yet she rested in her darkness without qualms, patient, waiting to be alight again with the brilliance from her Brother Sun. When the Earth continued on its path and the shadow shifted, a small sliver of beaming intensity shot from the murky sphere, announcing her return and showing us that we are still strong and bright no matter the size of the shadow.

@gbentley271955 - Twitter

Although there were several beautiful photos available online, this photo from Gina Bentley was most profound for me, as it visually demonstrates that return to light. Please see her other photos on her Twitter page @gbentley271955.