Walking on the Leading Edge: My “Edgewalker” Journey 3

Sometimes the best mode of transportation is a “Leap of Faith”.  Mine continued on June 1, 2007 on a one way flight from Naples, Florida to Kona, Hawaii. When I landed at midnight  I literally and figuratively felt like I was in the dark. I began to have second thoughts about my decision. What was I doing on the Big Island of Hawaii in the middle of the Pacific Ocean? I knew no one and had no future long term plan, no past possessions and no home to speak of. I was in the void,the unknown and at the same time felt empowered.  I was curious, open to a new adventure and chapter in my life. Little did I know that my Hawaiian “ohana”, friends and community, were waiting for me with open arms and hearts to welcome me to the islands.

When I awoke the next morning in the  beautiful home I rented I was surrounded by an abundance of nature I had never experienced before.  Sounds of tropical birds and the smells and sights of exotic  flora and fauna were a feast to my senses. Any uncertainty I had felt about my decision to come to Hawaii was dispelled.  I intentionally rented a house near Kealakekua Bay,  a favorite local spot to swim with the dolphins in the wild and one of the main reasons I was called to Hawaii. I have always loved and felt drawn to dolphins as I sensed they had a message for me.

I arranged a dolphin snorkeling swim on a small boat with my local guide Joan Ocean. To my amazement I had the opportunity to swim with about 30 spinner dolphins. As they were encircling me, looking me in the eye, I felt their energy, playfulness and magnificence envelop me.  I was crying in my snorkel, overwhelmed by the feelings and love that I felt. As we connected I was also invited to swim and play with them. My “Edgewalker” qualities of playfulness and connection naturally expressed with the dolphins.

When I got back on the boat Joan shared that clearly I had been called to Hawaii which included connecting with the dolphins. She explained that dolphins, and the Hawaiian Islands, call to certain individuals when it is their time to change, shift, evolve.  My “Edgewalker” quality of Self-Awareness allowed me to listen, hear, and act on that calling. The process of disengaging from my former  life, persona and identity created a fertile environment for Hawaii and the dolphins to initiate me.  Over the next 10 years I would transform spiritually, emotionally, and physically.  The shift that began to occur from the dolphin exchange happened almost immediately. My entire body, my energy felt completely different after the dolphin swim. It was so intense that I had to take a few days off to relax and integrate.

The local Hawaiians say the islands either “chew you up and spit you out, or embrace you.” Little did I know that I was being embraced and supported to grow and evolve in ways I could have never imagined.  This also included the difficult process of letting go of the parts of me that no longer served my life. Over time they got “chewed  up and spit out”. I surrendered to the unknown, scary and full of possibility, one magical day and one precious moment at a time.

Lessons:

*When we are aligned with our true path, our authentic calling, LIFE supports us.

*Learn to listen to and hear your intuitive voice, trust it and act on it’s wisdom. It is never wrong.

*Letting go of the old is necessary to create space for the new.

Walking on the Leading Edge: My “Edgewalker Journey” 2

During the first 6 months of 2007  I was living in a temporary home with a girlfriend in Naples, Florida. After the fire which destroyed all my possessions, I was able to get out of my annual lease and I was free to move forward onto what was next in my life. I found out the hard way the importance of asking for signs that were CEO (Clear, Easy and Obvious). I was now exercising a daily practice of patience, faith and trust. I asked the Universe, my Higher Self, Infinite Intelligence and the Powers that Be to: “Show me the way!”

I know from life experience and being an “Edgewalker” that I could not figure this out on my own.  Our conscious minds have a limited frame of reference (as much as the ego thought it had it all under control!).  I was waiting for clarity, an answer, a direction. I was feeling both anxious and excited.

Living my life as an “Edgewalker” assisted me on this uncertain journey.  When I first heard the word “Edgewalker” from my dear friend of 20 + years Dr. Judi Neal  I exclaimed, ” This is me!” Judi’s inspiration and intuition connected her to the term that describes her and so many of us on the planet at this time. In Dr. Judi Neal’s book ” Edgewalkers: People and Organizations that Take Risks, Build Bridges and Break New Ground”, Edgewalkers are defined as “People who walk between worlds and have the ability to build bridges between different worlds. They have a strong inner life and are very grounded and effective in the everyday external world. This orientation looks to the future and is focused on openness to possibilities.” Edgewalkers also “Serve Those Who Walk Between Worlds”.

I had no clarity about where or what was next in my life. I had to surrender. By tapping into my “Edgewalker” essence, I patiently watched, waited, allowed as the right timing and opportunities presented themselves. As the observer of my life, I noticed what was naturally coming to me without effort and what was falling away. The main theme was Hawaii. This was curious to me as Hawaii was never on my radar as it is too far away and isolated. I visited on vacation a few times throughout my life yet never felt I would live or move there. However, much to my confusion and resistance at times, everywhere I went I was met with the message of the Hawaiian Islands – books, bumper stickers, TV ads, friends mentioning it, making contacts, etc. In addition, my lifelong wish and desire to swim in the wild with dolphins had been answered.  The synchronicity of a friend introducing me to a woman on the Big Island of Hawaii in Kona who brings people to swim with the dolphins. There were so many signs over a 6 month period that there was no question that Hawaii was calling me.

So, with a leap of faith and excitement I parked my car in a friend’s driveway, packed 2 suitcases, and on June 1, 2007 I left Florida. When I boarded the plane with a one way ticket to the Big Island of Hawaii, little did I know that my life, my very being, would be changed forever. I would never be the same and I never looked back…

Lessons:

*Let the Universe “Fill in the blanks”. 

*Stay open to possibilities and options you never considered.

*We are not in control, however if we surrender and get out of the way we can co-create with the Universe/our Higher Self. 

Walking on the Leading Edge : Facilitating Evolutionary Leaps of Faith #1

My “Edgewalker” Journey

Post by Patricia Varley

I was standing on the moonlit beach in Naples, Florida where I live in January 2007, witnessing a full moon eclipse in my birth sign of Scorpio. Eclipses are powerful at releasing and letting go of what no longer serves us. “Show me a sign!” I yelled to the transformational moon. I felt called to make a change. I was ready yet I felt stuck, unclear, lost, unsure of where, how, when.

As I went to sleep that night, tired and confused, I dreamt that the fire alarm in my rented townhouse was going off.  I was between worlds, not sure if I was awake or dreaming. However I was too tired and chose to “stay asleep” and ignore the alarm. The next morning when I awoke all was well and no alarm had rung in the night.  I went into my day.

My business as a speaker, trainer, workshop and retreat leader, executive, life and business coach often took me away for a day or longer. As fate would have it that day I was giving an all day training in nearby Fort Myers. When arriving back home after dinner I opened the door, turned on the light and noticed black soot covering my entire townhouse and all the possessions in it. I realized there was a fire that started in the kitchen in the ice maker making the smoke toxic and my home unlivable.”Next time can you show me a sign more clearly, easily and obviously (CEO)!”as I yelled to Universe and powers that be. Scorpio is about death and rebirth, the phoenix rising from the ashes. Talk about a literal sign! I got the message. I couldn’t not pay attention and stay asleep anymore to the signs of my life that were not working.

After moving into a friend’s house during the transition I had the unfortunate task of going through my possessions. Since the smoke was toxic I was forced to review all that was toxic in my life and really got clear where I was stuck. Attachment and identification with my possessions, titles, outworn relationships,money, behavior patterns and old beliefs that were no longer serving me were now obvious. Little did I know that 10 years later as I write this blog in January 2017 on Maui, Hawaii my entire life would change. The next days 10 years would be transformational, liberating, a magic carpet ride.  It was the beginning of my “Edgewalker Journey” as I took the leap and began “Walking on the Leading Edge”.

LESSONS:

*Pay attention to the signs in your life.

*Be careful what you ask for and how you ask.

*Focus on CEO – Clear, Easy Obvious