I am 27 years old. Reading this post about the symptoms of “ascension” has resonated with me. I have had all these symptoms. I have wondered at the synchronicity of so many losses at once. I have wondered why the slate was swept so clean. I do not have answers. It has been a pretty rough 2 years. I have had to send my ego to the backseat to survive. I have thrown my hands up in the air and accepted what I have no control over.

I have noticed that after all these changes I do not have the energy for actions that are not in line with what I believe and what I truly want. I literally feel the energy leaving my body when I start to move in a direction that is not in line with my truth. Right now, I just go with the flow- it is all I have energy for.

I found this article to be particularly fascinating because as Karen discussed the physical symptoms of “ascension,” I realized I had experienced many of these symptoms and wondered if what I was feeling could be part of this shift. I am a transformational coach, an entrepreneur, jewelry designer, singer and Reiki Master. I also have an MBA from Harvard Business School. I searched for my purpose for many years and then a few years ago I KNEW that my purpose was to help others find theirs. I’ve been melding all of my talents and “gifts” for over 30 years in preparation to help others find their special purpose. I am continually developing customized processes for my clients which I use myself. Although I was aware this new consciousness was taking place, I wasn’t fully aware of all the associated physical symptoms.

I want to tell you about a dream I had last autumn because it directly relates to this topic of ascension and I think it might help those within your network who are experiencing personal or professional difficulty. It was not a nightmare but it was dark… I was climbing the steps of a dark tower. There was no light in the tower. I had almost reached the top when I decided to go back down. I was a little hesitant and sad to turn back. After all, I had climbed all this way. I was trying to get to the light but something held me back and urged me to return to the bottom. Then I realized I had left the people I loved behind and I had to bring them with me. I didn’t want to reach the top by myself. I wanted my family and friends to be with me when I got to the top. I had to go back down and bring them back up with me.

When I awoke, I thought about this dream and its possible significance in my life. I realized the work I’m doing is perfectly timed in my life to help bring others into a new consciousness as well. It’s not just about me or my purpose, it never has been. It’s about being part of a bigger puzzle. Each of us is an important part of that puzzle with a special role to play. We are all intricately connected. Any missing piece effects the whole puzzle. That particular dream last autumn inspired me to “play” bigger and share my gifts and talents with more people. Because I have a growing family, I’d been growing my healing jewelry business slowly and was doing some healing and coaching, but suddenly I was inspired to expand my coaching business to reach more people. I became more motivated to reach out and connect with others in ways I had never attempted before. As I began to do this, I began to see that as my energetic vibration was increasing and shifting, it was shifting others too. So my husband’s and children’s and friends’ and clients’ attitude and vibration also began to shift just by being around me.

The reason I tell you all this is because even those of us who have been working in the healing fields can find this process a little unsettling when it affects us personally and affects those around us too. We think we’ve arrived and something happens to “gift” us with another lesson in climbing the stairs. I’ve learned to take these unsettling experiences in stride and simply say,”Hmm, I wonder what gift is in this experience for me?” I usually get an answer in some form or another, whether it’s a thought, an email, a telephone call or an article in the news. I urge my family, friends and clients to ask themselves the same thing. I try to be an observer and I coach my clients and friends to take the time to act from a higher inner guidance or inspiration. This process has prompted me to talk more openly with my family, friends and clients about what’s happening in the economy and globally from an energetic and spiritual perspective They are so grateful to know that they’re not going crazy; it is part of a bigger picture. There are specific things they can do too, specific actions they can take to smooth out the experiences and learn from them as a willing participant as opposed to a reluctant victim. In other words, you don’t have to sit on the sidelines and watch as things “happen” to you. You can take back some control in your life and learn to navigate through it and with harmony and joy. It all starts with the way you think about things.

So the point of this post is to encourage your network: Don’t be afraid to talk about the things going on in your life, even if it’s embarrassing to talk about your finances or your job or your relationships. Seek out help from others. Chances are, someone you know has already gone thorough this. You can learn from their experience. You owe it to yourself to begin to trust yourself, to take care of yourself because you are the only one who lives your life. Share your stories with others because in doing so, you not only help yourself, you also help your friends and family “shift” to a different perspective. You help them make that shift to a new consciousness. You help them connect with something more expansive. You give them hope and peace of mind too. Every bit of it makes a difference and we all move up together even if it’s one baby step at a time.

Blessings, Kathryn McKinnon