Motherhood is like being an archer - Aim for the stars no matter what

New Beginnings by Virginia Shepley

(From the Spicy Soul Mama blog)

This December, I celebrated my birthday the whole month. I leaned into the vibration of what it means to be a Sagittarius and the symbolism of the archer. Interestingly, I was born in a month that is the darkest one of the year. Maybe that’s why I’m on a journey to self-discovery and why I write the topics I do, to find the light within the darkness.

You don’t have to be a Sagittarius to embrace the symbolic archer.

You can aim like an archer, pulling back on the bow and pausing like preparation. Directing that preparation towards love, peace within, purpose, courage, and renewal with so much self-compassion that it’s annoying how much you care about your heart.

The arrow is like a shot flown through the air with unbridled trust that it will land with certainty. The journey of this arrow carries the spirit of moving in the darkness, however small the movement might be. Finding the trust within the uncertainty and having the certainty that the unhealed wounds will carry you through it all.

Here are things I am certain of that I will be cultivating this year:

Love - decide to nurture relationships that lift and inspire youPeace - create new ways to find peace within for igniting calm and clarityPurpose - take steps that align with your truthCourage - face the challenges bravely, standing up for what mattersRenewal - release what no longer serves you

It’s all a choice.

What will you choose?

What will you reclaim for yourself?

What will you fight for?

It is your birthright to have blessings, to declare them out loud, to believe in your destiny. In darkness, the small light, the spark, even with a wound, it creates a journey forward, and destiny becomes a co-creation with the unknown.

I love my darkness and shadows because they have taught me so much.

There is no destination, only the journey and how you decide to pause, reveal, and maybe pivot to a new way of thinking.

As I continue to sink deeper into myself with trust for the soul that I am I find this force. It’s older than fear. More stable than doubt and wiser than chaos.

As a mother, I am not always soft. Sometimes I am like stone, unwavering in silence. The strength in silence that connects to the love that holds this presence that never departs.

This is what motherhood looks like. Carrying what is heavy, doing the needful work quietly because it’s all worth it. Dare I say holy? It’s love in motion, refusing to watch what is precious become broken, silenced or forgotten.

Finding faith in the darkness with your eyes adjusting to see only a few feet in front of you.

It’s the same with faith. You can have faith in the darkness with the lights on and make the whole journey that way. Choose curiosity, joy, and certainty in the uncertainty.

I’m not here to be anyone’s guru, and I’ve been through some deeply dark and tough moments, and they still plague me at times.

However, I continue to find my way out. I share what I’ve learned and feel compelled to because that’s who I am. And if it helps you in any way, then I’m thrilled. I’m here to show you that you have everything within you to have joy and contentment alongside the heartache.