Riding the Fire Horse

I still remember my last horseback ride in New Zealand. I was working for the New Zealand Tourism Board at the time, so I got offered a number of experiences in the hopes that I would continue to promote them.

I jumped off a perfectly useful cliff in Queenstown tandem parapenting and scared myself and my visiting mother silly. I experienced jetboating. I walked the Abel Tasman track.

The horseback ride was the end part of day long journey that started with river rafting. After the thrill of the rapids, I guess I thought the horse would be kinder.

But these horses were used to the "nose to tail" type of trek and when we got out of line, things got interesting. At one point my horse broke into a run and then tripped over a stone. I ended up catapulting forward over its right shoulder.

Amazingly, I somehow did a perfectly executed forward roll and ended up on my feet, running after it shouting: "You come back here!!!" 

But the end of the journey was the terrifying bit. My horse could sense the barn coming and started to gallop towards it -- taking me straight across the local highway. It wouldn't stop, even with me standing in the stirrups and hauling on the reins.

Maybe I shouldn't be surprised that the energy right now feels similar.

A massive burst of creativity 

I've been working day and night (it feels like) in a burst of creative fire. Last week I discovered a stash of brainstorms from COVID times and realised how much I'd already thought about and conceptualised. Only this time, I realised how it all fits together.

That means at least four books, their attendant programs and so much besides. I have already reedited my 2020 book and am readying it to become two new volumes.

This past week I have been busy creating story and question adventures. Of the seven question adventures I created this weekend, three are already online with many more to come. More on that below.

The biggest question for me right now is how to channel the surging energy without burning out.

This takes focused intention and action. It is a wise thing to tend to yourself first and then the people you work with. (Yes, I have flown A LOT, but I did learn something!)

Bringing water to the fire

When fire gets out of control, it needs water.

The first way to bring cooling energy and spaciousness for the long haul is to balance your own inner and outer work and attention. Balance the fire of your creativity and passion with the water of slowing down, regrouping and resting.

I am a classic one for continuing to sit at the keyboard long past my bedtime, but I am sensing more and more now how screen time makes me feel more speedy overall. Taking a break is surely better than breaking down and it allows my brain to stop running the show. Slowing down is the best way to listen to your heart!

When I get asked what is important now, I speak these questions:

• What is your practice?
• Who are you practicing with?

I am part of some wonderful practice communities and that helps me feel connected, offers me conversations that really matter and gives me a personal connection to what's happening all over the world. This is a cooling energy amidst all the heat in the world.

Conversation  and solid connection are fundamental for helping us navigate our way forward, even if we can't see what's coming over the chop and swell of the ocean. They are one way we can get a sense of the sea change that is coming.

I'm seeing -- and being part of -- more and more conversations that seek to shine a light on what we are learning together and how we can support each other to keep moving the edge.

Sci-fi writer William Gibson once said: "The future is already here -- it is just not evenly distributed." The same could be said for challenge, grief, agency, resources and almost anything you can think of. It doesn't matter. Do what you can.

I take a leaf out of the wizard Gandalf's book: "It is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keeps the darkness at bay." and "All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you."

Do what you can, when you can, with whatever you can, wherever you can. That's enough.