Becoming Your Own Guru

This blogging experience is proving to be more stimulating than I ever expected. Receiving so many varying opinions from women all over the country and the world is such a great way to connect. For as well-known therapist, Jean Shinoda Bolen said in her little book, The Millioneth Circle, “when there are a million circles of women worldwide,  the culture will shift from the patriarchy to the matriarchy.” Perhaps the circles we are developing on line is making this happen?

In any case, a recent comment regarding my play therapy blog  from Tracey Williams caught my attention.  She was surprised that I had had a disconnect from my mentor, Joan Erikson’s wisdom regarding the importance of play. “From your journeys of self development, I always think you are so wise,” she said. “I guess it’s a continual ebb and flow, being stuck and then moving again.”

No kidding, I thought. For sure, I am no different than any other seeking woman who is working hard to understand aspects of herself all the while being challenged by outside forces that threaten our footing. The Second Journey is all about that…change being thrust upon one which causes a crisis of feelings during which all of our underpinnings seem to come undone. It is only through time and going back to our core strengths as well as our intuitive consciousness that we right our selves and go on.

So Tracey (and others who think this author has all the answers) it is a continual journey…this getting to know oneself and being able to live the truth we seek. Surely we can all be gurus. I might have some innate wisdom that is peculiar to me but so do most women I know.  It is an illusion we have of authors and other authorities that they indeed have the answers.  Hopefully as we continue to share each other’s truth we will all become that which we seek.

17 thoughts on “Becoming Your Own Guru

  1. Definitely believe that which you stated. Your favorite justification seemed to be on the web the simplest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get annoyed while people consider worries that they plainly don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people can take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

  2. This post is an inspiration personally to uncover out much more regarding this topic. I need to admit your knowledge broadened my sentiments and I’ll straight away take your feed to keep updated on any coming posts you might produce. You are worthy of thanks for a job perfectly done!

  3. very nice post, i certainly love this website, keep on itIt’s hard to find knowledgeable people on this topic, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about! ThanksYou should take part in a contest for one of the best blogs on the web. I will recommend this site!

  4. Joan, you have the gift of putting our feelings into words. I’ve often found it remarkable that we all have such similiar experiences and emotions. Please keep writing as it helps all of us as we journey on through.
    Have all your books, hope to see many more & reward myself with one of your retreats.

  5. Joan–the gift you give is your courage to write honestly about living your own journey, sharing how you try (struggle even) to be “present” in your life, how to just “be” and how to find our true selves and to honor that self….it gives us the courage to live honestly, the courage to be present in our lives–to experience it fully, no matter how messy it gets and the courage to accept the change the waves of life create …. it’s not that you have all the answers…. you are not afraid to seek truth and we are all seeking truth…you help us find our own truth….God Bless!

  6. Dear Joan,
    Trying to be my own Guru. Life just seems to get in the way. I do enjoy your blog and not because I think you have all the answers, but it lets me know I am not alone in my worry and thoughts. You put all my desires in words so elegantly that it just takes me to a place of “It will be alright”. So just for that Thank You! Keep on blogging. Us ladies out here need that!

  7. Joan…I remembered you told me you were going to start bloging…so I looked at it today..Kudos to you!!! Yes, I am my own Guru…..As I have told you many times…you changed my life and going to Iona, I found myself…And I learned to understand life looking backwards, but I have really learned to live it looking forward. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with so many women and most of all “Thank you for being you”

  8. Joan,
    Life is a continual journey for sure! We lost our son 2 years ago and are left to go on with 2 young grandchildren and a daughter-in-law. I found your books last winter and can only say, at this time in my life: I really need someone out there who understands the lonely places in life and ‘cares’ enough about them to ‘write’ them in ‘books’ for ‘all’ of us to ‘read’…..Thank you…..

  9. You are so right, the cycle is life long…and sometimes we need to be reminded of those lessons we think we have learned. Thanks for helping us along on this journey.

  10. I started listening to The Second Journey while driving home alone after dropping off my oldest child at college as a freshman. It wasn’t intentional – I’d had the book on my iPod for months, maybe longer because A Walk on the Beach has been one of my favorite books ever. I’ve read it multiple times. But, when driving for four hours through unfamiliar territory, it’s hard to find a radio station, so I decided to listen, and clicked your book.

    Talk about perfect timing or Kismet or karma or a coincidence.

    I’m searching for the road to the next part of my life. I have a daughter in high school still, no husband or boyfriend or partner – no real social life as a mid-40’s single woman in a very married, sleepy suburb. I am the guru for my own life, but do need others in it as well and I’m working toward finding people — new people to accompany the old ones — who can be part of this journey.

    Thank you for your books.

  11. I know you don’t have all the answers Joan, and that is what makes you so wonderful. You help us realize how much we are like all our sisters out there around the world, and that is so comforting. I love to read about your experiences, feelings, realizations, friendships, relationships…..so many are paralell to my own life. I just love this time of my life, and I feel like there is so much yet to understand, experience and do. Life is going by so fast!

    You Joan, help us to stop and enjoy the simple things in life just by being aware of them. Thank you!

  12. Hey there my beautiful friend…..
    I love your blogging. It’s like I’m sitting here having a conversation with you. How many times have we talked about this subject and how very special you are to so many. In some eyes you are all knowing and perfect..to a point. What you do have and have shared from your heart is courage. Courage to face change when you heart tells you “Oh, NO!!!”
    It has been such a pleasure to know you, both sides…personal and professional. Watching you grow along with the rest of us..that has been the best! Love you!!!!~J

  13. Hi Joan, hope I didn’t sound too abrupt, I wanted to say more but the comment box was full. I value the fact that you are so open and truthful. You are right, I and others often put people admired on pedestals. You have worked out so much that you’ve already shared in all your beautifully written and honest books, it seems like you are this amazing fountain of knowledge. You have helped me (and so many women) on the journey of self discovery for which I am really grateful. It is really giving of you to share your thoughts on such a personal level, showing your strengths and vulnerabilities. Sharing truths is a good way to grow and develop new ways of really seeing. I think I am a seeker not a guru, I am enjoying your connection with others through blogging, I’m sure it’s helping lots of us. (just realised if you keep on typing the box expands!)

  14. Joan,
    I was so happy to find that you are now blogging! I found your books during a time of “questioning” in my marriage a few years ago and you became my mentor to help me look within. Now a few years later I have gone through some tough transitions (2 sons got married, one moved away, lost our business during the bad economy, two grandchildren within 2 months, my daughter is moving away and I am just now recovering from breast cancer surgery!) Needless to say I was thrilled to find you on line. I know you don’t have all the answers, but it so helps to know other women out there who are struggling to cope with the changes life thrusts upon us that we are not emotionally prepared for! I hope to attend a retreat in the near future, but until then I will be a faitful reader of your blogs.

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