The Unfurling Series : A Round-Up

Molly Mahar.  Tanya Geisler.  Rachel Cole.  Amanda Farough.  Dyana Valentine.  Andrea Olson.  Julie Daley.  Ronna Detrick.  Jennifer Louden.  Kate Courageous.

10 women dishing on their delicious, sometimes-thorny, fascinating versions of unfurling.  10 perspectives on what it is to look closely at that thing you’ve been cocooning until now.  That thing that’s finally coming out and into the world.

Have you been liking these interviews as much as I have? What a delight its been to share time with these incredible women, to watch them on the screen as they listen for answers, try on new possibilities, and reflect on what’s true for them right now.

Their answers help me better understand what it is to unfurl.

Unfurling is a metaphor that challenges you to find yourself as you are, today, and to orient yourself toward what’s calling you forth. It’s not about “should”, or “one day”, or logic. It helps you get clear about what is most alive for you right now. It also reminds you that while some growth is easy and doesn’t need much tending, there are also new shoots you’ll want to nurture.

The most beautiful discovery I made in listening to the interviews here is that the way you are unfurling is organic, pure and true. It’s also unstoppable, no matter how hard you try.

Being in relationship with your unfurling is an exquisite way to be kind to yourself. However you see yourself with regard to it – companion, co-conspirator, mother, ally, friend – the relationship you cultivate with your unfurling is a canvas on which to paint directly from the heart. No holds barred.

So here are some highlights and truth bombs from the series I want to share with you.

:: What’s unfurling may be shy or unapproachable at first. There are unfurlings that move away when we get close to them, not yet ready to join hands with us. These are the parts of ourselves that make themselves known only when they have reached a certain level of maturity.

These unfurlings need time and space and plenty of loving to bring them alive. They are trustworthy, even if they are elusive.

:: An important stage of unfurling is discomfort. For Tanya, being-here-ness is hard-won. Even though she’s a willing student, she’s working really, really hard and still, sometimes, falling short. This is okay. This is necessary.

:: We get in our own way again and again as we unfurl, and it doesn’t derail the whole shebang. We just learn how to get out of the way. Again and again. We’re amazing in our ability to do this in creative and resourceful ways.

:: Simply identifying what’s unfurling in us sets a journey in motion. When we notice it, we then catalyze the chain of events that represent its growth. This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity for learning.

:: The question “Who am I becoming?” is potent. It inspires a birds-eye view not only of what’s unfurling, but of how it fits in the larger framework of our lives. From asking ourselves this question, we tend to revisit dusty corners and rearrange furniture to fit this new version of ourselves.

The interview series will continue with a fresh crop of voices and experiences in the coming weeks. Please let me know if you’d like to be included; I’d love to feature you.

Or if you’d rather not wait, just use the comments below to tell us:  What’s unfurling in YOU?

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