After the torrential rains, the shining blue skies on the San Mateo Coast felt like a gift. Like the tides were turning to greet 2023 with some earnest joy.

Last Friday, while making a video announcing Spring Following Energy for Change Makers a rainbow actually appeared.

Then I got some upsetting news about an old family friend's health. Layoffs started spreading. More shootings began, including one in Half Moon Bay just minutes from where my 27 year-old daughter and I had walked our pups that very same day.

I don't want to be in denial but it also doesn't serve anyone if I fall into a depressive heap.

Miki Johnson, who also holds Following Energy as a somatic energy guide for Turning Dead Ends into Doorways, remarked, "It's the tools and capacity I've grown through following energy that's keeping me standing right now."

I said. "What does that look like for you?"

Miki responded, "Following energy helps me stay present in the moment and grounded in myself. Working consciously with difficult energy like fear, regret, and shame helps me move through them so I can still show up empowered and resourced with the people and work I love."

Not much about this summer has gone as I imagined.

In fact, as I write this, my family is days away from navigating a big surgery for a beloved elder. It's a good thing. And it's a big thing.

Throughout, my relationship with following energy has been a guiding force.

I can recognize fears so they become a source of awareness and choice. Connecting with my body helps me access intuition. Staying behind the energy of my intention to support without over giving keeps codependency in check. And most of all, constantly practicing letting go as the biggest mama teacher of surrender initiates us all through the depths of the unknown is facilitating a healing journey to literally restore life.

Fear. Awareness. Choice. Body. Intuition. Energy. Intention. Surrender.

I am so damn grateful for how these eight teachers from Turning Dead Ends into Doorways can be a lifeline for following energy.

In the midst of this big initiation in my family, it's also been a summer of magic. I've experienced unbelievable holy shit moments of life rearranging itself for the highest good when energy is held lightly instead of with a death grip of control.

I'm in constant awe at how much energy matters.

If we’ve spent time together, you’ve heard me talk about following energy. A lot.

Following energy is rooted in Earth-based and feminine wisdom ways. The heart of following energy holds all life as a potential relationship. It’s possible to create a relationship with anyone or anything, starting with yourself.

Everyone I know who follows energy as a practice and approach to life agrees on one core tenant: by definition, following energy means staying behind it.

Don’t get ahead of the energy.

This is easy to write but embodying following energy is a whole other thing…which is why it’s a practice.

You can follow the energy of a person, group and heartfelt wish.

You can also follow the energy of your work and business as well as leadership.

It was the early 2000’s in San Francisco when I began offering individual sessions with those who didn’t know about Earth-based or feminine wisdom ways much less “following energy”.

“How do I know if I’m following energy?”

“What does ‘stay behind the energy’ mean, anyway?”

“How will I know if following energy actually works?”

I just love feisty people.

Sitting with curious and brave people willing to grapple with me is what led to developing a shared language for following energy.

And before we got there, we spent awhile discussing the difference between push and flow as a felt experience.

I regularly hold space for people to make all sorts of decisions.

Decisions about relationships and how to navigate conflict (helloooo codependency).

And choices about health—which can be especially confusing with mysterious or chronic symptoms.

When it comes to work, making decisions can be just as intense.

There are larger issues like choosing your field, earning more money, working solo or for others and maintaining a work-life balance.

And there’s also intricate yet mighty questions about services, leading projects, marketing, social media, individual or group dynamics (helloooo codependency) and….

Whoa. Even writing this is making my stomach clench.

Okay, so making a decision can feel challenging. Overwhelming. And even immobilizing.

Why?

Video is a whole new medium for me.

What's inspiring me to step forward is you.

Our interactions about following the energy of work and leadership.

How so many of us are clear that pushing isn't sustainable.

Just today I had an amazing conversation connecting pushing with urgency as a symptom of white supremacy which lives inside us all.

This made me appreciate that the roots of following energy rest in Earth-based and feminine wisdom that hold all life as a collaborative power-with relationship.

What might happen if we approach creating work as a way to grow (and practice) relationship?

How can following energy help create great work?

Sometimes a scene flashes where I see myself standing up in a room of strangers and confessing, “Hi, my name is Staci and I’m a recovering type A personality.”

Had control worked, I would be happily checking off my to do list right now.

But what I discovered years ago is that control is a fragile coping mechanism for life.

Often seeking control ends up controlling you, usually by terrorizing you with fear.

And so I invite you consider something:

Letting go can actually make you feel more powerful.

I didn’t set out to become a group facilitator, or a leader.

Instead, somatic energy healing practices found me.

For example, one day 20 years ago, I was moving to music in a friend’s living room when a vision landed to explore dance as a ceremonial practice.

Because it was more fun to dance with others, we began inviting people over. Soon, the living room overflowed into a rented space and a fee to cover basics.

Gradually, periodic evenings grew into several monthly dance circles for women from September through June across the San Francisco Bay Area. Dancers started calling themselves a community. Many asked to become facilitators.

7Directions, a dance ceremony healing line, was born.

Sure, being a recovering type A personality has supported back end organization, production and communication over the years.

But what’s fueled my choice to keep practicing leadership with 7Directions through ongoing groups, retreats and facilitator trainings has been love.