renewing my call to women's leadership
IWD Siren Songs
Hello, you.
Happy International Women’s Day to all of you who identify as women, love women, and/or support women’s rights. I am sliding into your inbox/app once again this week because I think today is a very important day, but perhaps even more important right now, as our world is in the midst of change, chaos, and uncertainty. Our voices need to be heard. And today is a day to speak up and speak out.
Now, I know that so much feels so very out of control and worrisome that it feels overwhelming. What exactly can we do? How can we make a difference when there is so much instability? Where would we even begin?
Of course I don’t have the answers. But, I do feel a calling. And I deeply believe that anything we do with the intention of creating love brings us closer to community, healing, and justice. And, so, the most important thing that I deeply believe we can do is to dig deep into our souls, find our inner courage, and be exactly who we are meant to be.
And that looks different for each of us.
This International Women’s Day and here on Substack, many of us are gathering our voices and sharing our thoughts as a part of the Siren Songs community.
As a writer and spiritualist, I want to show up here and simply give us space to consider what it means to be a leader in our world today. My focus in not on the political or governmental leaders of the world, but on each one of us. And, ultimately, my focus is on me.
What kind of leader do I want to be?
How am I called to lead?
What do I have to say and share with the world?
The Carnelian
Each week I pull an oracle card to guide me through the week ahead. It is not so much of a divination tool to predict the upcoming week, but it is, instead, a simple way to see what message rises up from my soul. It’s a way to listen and tune in to what I am feeling and what Spirit inspires within me.
This week the card that I have carried with me is the Carnelian card. Carnelian is a stone/crystal that has been used for thousands of years, often by leaders. The deep red/brown stone symbolizes not only leadership, but also energy, passion, and creativity. The perfect stone for feeling empowered to claim our own calling to be leaders in this wild, but beautiful, world.
This week, this card has inspired me to renew my commitment to my own leadership. And to spend some time digging deep into what kind of leader I want to be, how I am called to lead, and what I have to offer to my corner of the world.
We are not all meant to be leaders of governments and countries and businesses. But, I do believe that we are all called to be leaders. Historically, women have been overlooked, pushed down, ignored, and relegated to second class citizenship. And, of course, that is still something that we are fighting, as we continually try to find our seat at the leadership table.
At the same time, women have been leaders all throughout history. It’s just that their stories have not been told. Witches, spiritual mystics, activists, artists, presidents and prime ministers, writers, journalists, scientists, educators, community organizers… I could go on. Women have been leading all along.
And I believe that, right now, we are called to stand on the shoulders of all of those who have gone before us, find our own voices, and step up as leaders right where we are - in the middle of our own lives, families, communities, countries, wherever and however we feel called to lead.
What kind of leader do I want to be?
If I reach back into my Christian roots, then I know exactly what kind of leader I want to be. A servant leader, like the example of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Dr. Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa, President Jimmy Carter, and so many more. I want to always remember and emulate the example of those who have led with humility, justice, inclusion, and love.
I want to lead from within, not from above. I want to keep my “power” in check. To remember that softness, gentleness, and presence is what is most important to me. I want to cast a vision, but also listen. I want to create community. Guide, educate, and inspire. But, never claim that I have the answers for anyone else. I want to be open, approachable, and accepting. I want others to feel calm and safe in my presence.
I will never be a perfect leader, just as I will never be a perfect person. But, I so hope that I am becoming more of who I want to be as a leader as I grow in age and wisdom.
How am I called to lead?
This is a question that I believe that we all are given or face. I ask myself this over and over again throughout my life because it changes as I evolve and move and expand. The only way to know the answer is to uncover and discover it, over and over again. It requires much self-reflection and listening - to spirit, ancestral guides, my own intuition, messages in nature, messages from words, images, and art. Pondering my leadership is a lifelong act, I believe.
It is, actually, simply the question: Who am I?
That is the heart of the question, because I believe that we are all called to lead in our own specific and unique ways. We all have our own gifts and talents and passion. And we all have a calling to share who we are with our families, friends, communities, and the greater world, in whatever capacity and way we discern is the way for us.
But, in order to know how we are called to lead, we must learn who we are. And continue to learn who we are becoming as the years and seasons pass. It is a rhythmic practice of acceptance and discovery throughout life. It is an act of courage and bravery to be open to seeing and understanding how we evolve, so that we can adapt and shift and continue to know who we are - and how we are called to lead.
What do I have to say and share with the world?
As we learn who we are and realize that we are, in fact, a leader in our own unique ways, then we naturally wonder at the same time what we have to offer.
And then come tons of questions stemming from our own self doubt:
What exactly do I have to say and share with the world? Am I worthy of that task? Who am I to lead others? Do I dare step out and step up? Am I willing to answer the call, no matter the consequence?
Being a leader looks different for each of us. But, each of us is called to lead. How you feel called to step up and make a difference is up to you.
There are prophets, oracles, sirens, poets, artists, writers, musicians, activists, mothers (for biological and non-biological children), witches, the list goes on and on. It is, perhaps, even endless. Because being a leader is simply raising your voice, being who you are, and sharing yourself with the world - in whatever way you feel called. And this world, especially now, needs leaders of all kinds, in all spaces.
So, my friend, on this International Women’s Day, what do you have to share with this world? Who are you? What kind of leader do you want to be? And how are you called to lead? What is your message?
Make space this weekend to ponder it all.
Let us commit together, in this safe, inclusive, inspiring community, to create space in our lives to listen to our souls and whatever divine inspiration we receive from above, from below, and from within.
Let us dare to let go of our old identity and release our fears in order to answer the call to lead in whatever way we are meant to lead right now, during this time in history.
Let us gather together and hold one another up, push one another forward, embrace one another with love.
Let us be bold, daring, courageous, and bad ass. Let us raise our voices and share our Siren Song on this International Women’s Day and each day forward, leading each other into a future of hope, justice, equality, and peace.
I believe in us.
xoxo. liz.
Deep thanks to the women who inspired this post and for creating such a beautiful opportunity for us to inspire one another.
Archetypal exploration, mythopoetic meaning-making and inner alchemy. For embodied leadership, sacred sovereignty and an enchanted world.
A creative who also writes, space holder & Substack expert! Powered by all that's joyful; sustainability, slow living, big dreams & quiet ambition in the changing seasons here by the Northumberland coast.
I am a Mother of two daughters, a Writer, Soulful Business Mentor, Human Design guide, Branding & Website Creator, Sacred Space Holder and multi dimensional human being.
Mother, creative and storyteller with a background in interiors PR. Creating a home as a foundation to nurture, a conduit of creativity and an anchor to my surroundings, as the seasons turn in our corner of the world.
Laurita Gorman | Therapist SEP
Human, first. A Somatic Psychotherapist, teacher, writer, poet, storyteller, and wanderer of inner & outer landscapes. Found often in the woods, listening to the trees, and pondering what is means to be alive. I walk, I listen, I write.
Photographer, Artist, Mother, Romantic.
Air Traffic Controller who had a Dramatic Change of Direction | Creator of 'Lemon Soul': Refreshing Perspectives, Slices of Life | Author, Wild Swimmer, Tea Sommelier, Random 🖋 🧜♀️🫖💕
Yes to gentle leaders ♥️
Liz, I've had this bookmarked since IWD and am only catching up on reading now! Thank you for sharing this wonderful and thought-provoking piece with some great questions to ponder.