Making Space to Bloom Big
Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at 12:39AM 
Red poppy in front bed who is now blooming
In my garden, it's a blooming big kind of week.
Some of my most gregarious and boldest blooms — Miss Poppy and Lady Peony — are showing their stuff.
I've been watching them for the past few weeks, and I was surprised to notice that the blooming isn't very neat and pretty with these two.
No, siree.
The poppy looked almost dead — all dried up and hard.
Peony looked like it was being held prisoner by a fortess of green.
Truly, it didn't look — from the outside — that anything grand was going to come of things.
See exhibit A below:
There is nothing about this matted, cramped bud that would indicate a huge poppy — nearly two hands-width across and lovely as a couture gown — is about to step outside of its shell.
But indeed, from this tangled, tight space came the glorious poppy.
The lesson: in the process of blooming, things can get pretty cramped. For the bloom to emerge, you've got to shed your shell and break out into a new space.
I've been noticing that as I continue to shift more and more into the bloom I'm meant to be, I experience both internal — and external — shifting.
Internally, there is shifting and shedding of old ways of self-talk, old mindsets, and old hurts that need loved and healed to wholeness.
Externally, shifting often shows up as getting rid of stuff in our house.
As my — and my husband's — energy has shifted, we have been clearing and releasing that which no longer serves us, we no longer use or we no longer love.
At first, I felt great shame in all the excessive stuff.
Do I really need to keep my Marxist Critical Theory paper on Hegel? Four large shelves of cookbooks I don't use? The maternity clothes from nine years ago?
But now I'm coming to see the process of shedding off as a sign that I'm entering a new space of flow, trust and abundance.
This summer, my husband and I are committed to making way for even more new energy (and possibly a new house).
On our short list:
- Clearing out the attic and basement.
- Releasing some stagnant energy in our worn kitchen floor and cabinets.
- Setting up an office space for him and new writing and meditation room that I love, love, love to be in.
Indeed, there's a lot of house love on our agenda for this summer.
But I'm not worried.
I've got support.
I've signed up for the wonderful Declutter Goddesses e-course from Goddess Leonie of Goddess Guidebook and Lisa Baldwin of Divine Order.
(Thank you, Leonie and Lisa, truly this couldn't come at a better time.)
I love that the e-course's subtitle is Making Space for Your Goddess to Shine.
For I'm ready not only to clear out my space, but also infuse what remains with glowing good energy.
Want to play along, too?
See all the space-clearing goodness you get here.
I think it's a bargain!
I'm so excited for this to begin on June 15th as I know that each box of items I give away is making space for my own big bloom to emerge.
Tell me, what one area of your life could use some decluttering?
P.S. I also want to thank the bubbly, artful goodness that is Goddess Leonie and her inspring website, Goddess Guidebook, for being a spot where some of my blooming big dreams are taking root.
My first ad is now running on her homepage. (Major happy dance! Check it out and let me know what you think!)
Reader Comments (4)
Darling woman... I just adore you!
Those photos of the poppy are absolutely riveting...
it is like witnessing something being born!
utterly extraordinary...
and precious, thank you so much for the mention of our course... I am just SO excited to have you along on the journey.
Big big love!
xoxoxo
Leonie
"But now I'm coming to see the process of shedding off as a sign that I'm entering a new space of flow, trust and abundance."
Yes! Oh, yes!
There is so much beauty here, Shannon.
What a treat it is to have you joining us on this space-making journey.
Love,
Lisa
It's funny you mention decluttering. I was mentioning it in my post today. For me
What else stopped mattering at 45?
A meticulous lawn (not that I ever got there anyway)
Worrying if I went over 3000 mi. between oil changes
Nicks in the paint of previously mentioned vehicle(s).
Sweating the forecast.
That my eyebrows have decided to take their own path.
What matters more at 47 (2 years later):
Spending time with friends and family
Sending sympathy cards to grieving people
Volunteering for church and community events
Hugging kids who won't want to hug much in a couple years
Enjoying the moment, and every day that isn't -10 below
Wonderful Leonie,
Sending love and adoration and deep wells of gratitude back to you — love how you saw birth in the photos of the poppy — thank you for sharing that as it had me look at them differently.
Divine Lisa, thank you for taking the time to comment…I love the term "space-making" — so wonderful…
I'm so looking forward to expanding, centering and lots, lots and lots of shedding through this course with you both (Gave away a truck bed and a carload full of baby stuff for a school fundraising sale tonight — woohooo! Felt so great to release all that for someone else's use and joy!!)
And Jim, love how you are getting clearer in your wisdom on what to release and let go of. Part of my internal shedding — or what stopped mattering for me — has been some of concern about "being perfect' all the time, I'm glad that your writing remains something that matters to you, you have such a beautifully warm and funny way of seeing that world is needed.
Sending gratitude for each of you precious beings!!
Shannon