In 2017, right around this time of year, my life changed. Because I was rejected.
And it was the best thing to ever happen to me.
Here’s the story.
A well-meaning student approached me and asked if I would consider teaching her. I said yes, and happily constructed a plan to teach her Aromatherapy, since that was my focus.
I rolled up my sleeves, and hammered out a curriculum that included blending basics, applications, carrier oils, indications, etc.
The student looked it over said NO.
“This isn’t what I want you to teach me”, she said.
“But I’m an Aromatherapist” I explained, “This is what I teach.”
Without flinching, without hesitating, she said, “I want the mysticism. I want the witchy stuff”.
I told her I’d think about it, and then spent a few days totally freaking out.
Mysticism?! Witchy stuff?! Who me?
I felt outed! I felt conspicuous!But I also felt…free.
And just like that, I switched gears. My purpose fell into place, my identity finally felt accurate, and I said “OK fuck it, I’m a mystic”.
And everyone was like, “duh“.
Mystic. Priestess. Witch. Call it what you will.
I looked at my bookshelves with all the Aromatherapy books displayed on the easy-to-see eye level shelf; innocent, acceptable, something you could get certified in.
And there on the top shelf, where no one could really see, was Starhawk, Luisah Teish, Pat Monighan, Margot Adler, and Lynn Andrews, covered in spider webs (at least the spiders had some damn sense).
So, down came these mystical tomes, front and center on that easy-to-see shelf.
It was a ritual, a magical gesture. I was consciously choosing my focus and acknowledging what was “easy to see”.
This student, along with 3 others, came to my apothecary to learn my unique approach to mysticism; how to hear inexplicable wisdom through the senses, how to be efficient at intuition, and how to trust innate knowing
Since then, dozens of women have come through my door to learn.
Did I mention that this all happened at this time of year? Warrior season, when we focus on what is valuable.
Thank goodness for that student valuing her time, and insisting I teach her what she wanted to learn.
So, what do you do with rejection?
There’s this common rule of thumb that encourages us to brush it off, keep going, act like nothing happened.
But if I’d done that, I would have totally missed out on this life I’m living, the women who come to study, and the information that comes through me.
What if rejection is The Warrior talking to you, guiding you back toward your path, toward your “Warrior Why”? Saving you from wasted energy, encouraging you to offer something more authentic, more aligned; truer to who you are.
Sometimes rejection is a “bippity-boppity-boo” in disguise.
And the only way to know the difference between bippity-boppity-boo rejection and the kind that should be disregarded, is through a relationship with your own personal wisdom and your true self.
love & puppies
kv
