The year after my ski trip was the hardest of my life. It was dark and it was thorny. It was A LOT of rubber hitting the road.
Because how, dear God, was I supposed to take all the things I learned whilst wrapped up in the cocoon of the journey itself, and make them part of my "real life"? The life where I had to live, breathe, pay the rent, make decisions, navigate this little humdinger called my career, and talk to my family members using actual words.
My attempt to integrate all the wisdom was clunky . . . if clunky is how you would describe driving through the night on an unpaved road in the middle of the desert, in a car with headlights that don't work, and even though you can't read the gauge, you just know you're close to running out of gas.
There are lots of reasons I made it through said integration with some skin left on my back (heck, a lot of those reasons have been sewn right into the GREAT BIG JOURNEY) but one stands out in my mind as the biggest, so I thought I would share it just in case you're, you know, on a similar "post-Journey" road without headlights.
Here it is. Are you ready? It's two words . . .
My. Girlfriends.
To be specific - there was one from my pre-Journey flock (who in some miraculous stroke of luck had the courage to not only tell me a hard truth, but to sit with me and help me lock eyes with it), as well as multiple new women (who I basically begged the Universe to bring to me because I had some gut instinct that only a coven could save me now, which was true - bravo gut).
In other words, I created community and connection with people who met me at this brand new place called Steph 2.0 - where I could set myself free, and speak my new language. I moved away from people who made me feel gated, and I moved directly towards those who seemed just as convinced as I was about the whole "OMG I've got fucking wings" thing that was happening. And then I wove that into my everyday life.
Over the last handful of months, I've become CONVINCED that our growing GBJ Community is filled with people just like the ones I've described. As a collective, we are Dare-Acceptors, Truth-Tellers, Movers, Shakers, Drivers-Through-The-Night. We are well-winged and well-feathered. We are Mirrors and See-ers and Hearers. We are Space-Holders. We are wisdom incarnate and we know the difference between "crazy" and crazed.
So my question for you is this - are you tapping into the collective wisdom of this amazing group of dynamos? And my next question is - do ya wanna?
It's been six months since your GBJ graduation. If you aren't already soaking in what this community and experience continues to offer, and if you're, you know, having a bit of a clunky drive, I would highly encourage you to take a deep breath, plant your feet on the ground, keep scrolling and do any or all of the following . . .
because forget the headlights, we’ve got the whole sky to guide us.
TIPS & TRICKS FOR MAKING YOUR VERY OWN GBJ COVEN
ONE
Post something in The Gathering Place. Then do it again. And again. Let us see you.
two
Comment on things other people post in The Gathering Place. Then do it again. And again. Bear witness and share support.
THREE
Use your DISCOUNTED COACHING SESSIONS to fine tune your definition of what authentic community, connection, and intimacy looks like in a world that sometimes seems designed for the opposite.
And then make a plan for who you're gonna be and what you're gonna do to show up with intention.
And while I'm on the topic of more sessions, I want you to know this - I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH COACHES (OFF AND SOMETIMES SO FUCKING ON) FOR CLOSE TO A DECADE. I think so many of us do things like the GBJ and think, "Great, that's it. All good. Off I go. From now on I won't need nothin' from no one." But that would be crazy and sort of like buying a car and never putting gas in it.
This is a journey, not a destination. You gotta keep working the work. You have six months left before your 20% OFF a single session (discount code: GBJ) and 20% off packages expire (discount code: GBJBUNDLE).
Book 'em. Soak it up.
four
Invite some Birds to hang for a virtual cocktail. I did this in a writing group. I talked to 24 women. I made two AHHHHHH-MAZING FRIENDS, and they CHANGED. MY. LIFE. Know that you are empowered to create the connection you desire.
FIVE
Speaking of connecting with one another - reach out. I'd love to hear from you. I, too, am part of this coven.
six
If you’re looking for something a little different, that focuses on the catharsis that is pen and paper, join us in our upcoming writing workshop series:
SIX WEEKS OF CONVERSATION
Grief on the Page: A Writing Workshop Series with Charlotte Austin and Steph Jagger
This will be an intimate group (12ppl max) where we’ll show up in our vulnerability over the course of six Tuesday evenings. There will be laughter and tears, listening and learning. Oh, and writing. Yes, lot’s of writing!
Our next Grief on the Page series begins on November 2nd, 2021.
seven
Beg the Universe to bring you a coven because only a coven can save you now.
eight
Join us in Jurassic for the Deep Dive retreat. This 3 day, 3 night weekend retreat will be an intimate master class in returning to self. After a year that took us apart, this is an invitation to come back together, to remember yourself home.
The retreat will be hosted from November 4th to 7th on Bainbridge Island, WA, in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Due to Covid-19, we are offering single occupancy rooms only this year and therefore our max group size will be 16 gorgeous souls. (And we’re already 25% sold out of our available spots! If you’re yearning to gather with us, don’t wait!)
FOR ALL THE DETAILS AND/OR TO PLACE YOUR DEPOSIT, TAP THE BUTTON BELOW.
nine
LOVE YOURSELF. A LOT.
Because Big Birds know that the quality of love brought into their lives starts with the quality of love they give themselves on the daily. We know many of you are already doing that and it is a wondrous thing to behold.
Okay. That's it. I love you all. You're the sprinkles on my cupcake. My north star in the desert.
Yours in casting the best kind of spells,
STEPH & THE ENTIRE GROUP OF MAGNIFICENT WOMEN WHO MAKE UP THE GREAT BIG JOURNEY