Darcie (names and situations modified to protect confidentiality) came to an Awaken Sleeping Beauty retreat. Turning 40, she recently married and relocated from one coast to the other some months ago. She left a very long and successful career when she  hit a dead end. Aside from the obvious coastal culture shock, she’s also experiencing some anxiety and confusion about what she’s doing in her new life. She loves her new husband, but is secretly questioning all these changes. She’s pondering her lost career, home and social circle. She wishes she had more clarity about what to do next and how to manifest this new life she felt guided into.

Rebecca is in her early 30’s, raising a young child while working from home. She and her husband have a farm-based business, but it doesn’t fit her yearning to contribute. It’s convenient and pays the bills. She knows there is something more for her that she should be doing. She has some interests, but is unclear if they should be become business directions. She worries that her intuition and sense of direction are not on-course. She’s concerned that the choices she’s made are not in alignment with her purpose.

Julie is in her mid 40’s, recently moved and settling into a new community with her disabled husband and 3 dogs. With no kids to focus on, she came to the retreat to connect with other women and discover what the Divine Feminine means for her in this new life.

Often we have a vague sense of a larger vision for our lives, but it seems just slightly out of reach. We may have an intuition or a gut feeling that a life decision feels right, but we don’t know for sure.  How to know when we are on or off course?

As we awaken our sleeping beauty, we answer that ever-present hunger to align ourselves with our purpose. Many of us want to be or do our purpose, but it can feel so confusing.  We hope we are making the right choices. Wouldn’t it be great to really know, for sure?

In order to take the leap from using intuition (vague, formless hunches) or gut reaction (an almost animal instinct), or following our heart (what feels good or bad) we need a way to get really clear, direct guidance.

You can get access to someone (or something) that knows the answers to your life questions and can give you the information. That could be called Source, Soul, God, higher Self, Guardian Angel, Spirit, Goddess (or whatever name fits for you). The name isn’t important, tapping into it is. And it’s there for the asking.

Art brings the answers. Used in specific ways, art (and I’m including painting, collage, writing & dance/movement) creates connection to Soul and Spirit. Art accesses the Soul through beauty. Your creativity is a tool for getting direct, open guidance. Not just vague hunches that you pray are accurate.

The women at this retreat got really clear information from Spirit about their lives. Not that they have to act on it, they still have free will to choose. Darcie got some direct feedback about the life she left and why it was no longer a fit for her. She learned why she was in her new marriage and community. She received some surprising action steps she could take. She got information about ways to care for her self that she felt excited about implementing.  Her anxiety about her choices decreased immediately.

Rebecca was relieved to learn that the activities she was drawn to were on-course for this (next) stage of her life – and why. She was excited to get confirmation of her intuitive hunches with more specific, concrete direction. Julie got some powerful, surprising feedback about how to be in her new life in a different way. She made a strong, loving connection to Source that moved her deeply.

It’s the alignment with Self and a connection with Source that matters. Getting answers from simple, fun, creative processes was a huge relief for each. Sharing deeply held concerns in an intentionally-created container for the day allowed answers to emerge. And connection with new sisters is always a bonus. Each woman left enlivened by tools, processes and connections they can develop further.

Darcie, Julie and Rebecca are starting to master their paths, from the inside out. The confusion, fear, malaise and endless searching outside for answers are over. This Source connection is waiting to show us our destiny.

How about YOU? Are you ready to step beyond wondering and searching to a life that feels guided by your higher purpose?