I'm listening to Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes' series The Dangerous Old Woman: Myths and Stories of the Wise Woman Archetype. (If you have a library card and use Hoopla, you can also find this series there.)

In it she discusses the archetype of the vampire/predator, which she says can exist in us as a part of our psyche and outside of us in the form of other people, ideas, institutions, etc.

And our work is to be like the wise old woman who is openhearted but also squints her eye and can spot this archetype a mile away. Telling it like it is. Following our own correct intuitions. Knowing that how something begins is often how it ends, meaning that if we have doubts and uncertainties at the beginning but push those away, it is to our own detriment. 

This idea of aiming to become more like the wise old woman—bold and direct and trusting of our instincts is giving me so much life these days. Dr. Estes also says this is something we must begin to teach our younger ones and also the child spirit inside us, the part of us that is more likely to be deceived or put to sleep or give it's life-force away. 

And by the way, if this feels challenging, remember that this kind of directness and self-trust is not encouraged in our wider culture, which wants us to stay naïve, asleep, agreeable, and trusting of others over ourselves.

So it takes practice. And a sense of humor about the bumps in the road.  

Here's to getting lots of practice seeing clearly with our old squinty eye,
Brianna

P.S. If you want a co-conspirator in your journey toward being direct, seeing clearly, and trusting yourself, I'm here for it!