Field Notes: Tenacious Blooming
Friday, May 16, 2014 at 5:50AM 
Cactus on my friend Mark's mountain land in Colorado
I have been in Denver, Colorado, this week, supporting my dear friend Mark with the book he is writing. On Wednesday afternoon, we drove an hour and 15 minutes southwest of Denver to visit Mark's 87 acres of undeveloped wilderness.
As you can see from some photos I posted on Facebook, there were breath-taking vistas, wise old trees that held deep magic, and a quartz crystal bed that was heaven to sit upon. (Oh, and a lot of huffing and puffing to climb up the peaks at 8,000 feet.)
To my surprise there were also cacti everywhere — blooming out of the red granite earth, co-existing alongside the Ponderosa pines.
These cacti seemed so determined to me, so defiant and gutsy in their emergence out of the soil...in their laying claim to their place amongst the stately pine and juniper trees...and in their sweet pink blossoms so delicate in contrast to the cactus prickles.
I have been thinking a lot in the past few years about tenacity. Especially how to have tenacity in a feminine way — a fierce determination that is steady, soft, sinuous and strong all at the same time.
Since I turned 42 two years ago, I have felt a deep inner call toward developing a stronger internal taproot — something that will anchor me as I navigate both the varying currents of life at large and my inner emotional life. I want to be strong and rooted in my radiance and soul strength and in the sustaining waters of Spirit, no matter what life brings my way.
It has been challenging and necessary process for me. Growing this internal taproot has been multi-faceted and slow-going. Beside my usual approach of working on the energetic and soul levels, I also have been exploring what supports the anchoring of this taproot in real time.
What comes to me repeatedly, whether in my dreams and meditations, or through books like Twyla Tharp's The Creative Habit or Steven Pressfield's The War of Art, is how practices and routines can support inner tenacity and allow my taproot to deepen and grow strong.
I think seeing the cacti this week was another messenger for me, echoing the inner wisdom that my soul knows at its taproot and my conscious mind is starting to finally get.
In the cactus blooming, I see tenacity in the plant and in the flower — the effort of pushing up in through soil, growing slowly, and then pushing past the prickly spots to bloom.
I notice as I have been more consistent with the practices and routines that speak to my soul and anchor me — regular walking, weekly blog writing, spending reflective time in my cottage, making time to connect with Michael and Grace, eating food that my body loves best (alas, wheat, sugar and dairy are not on that list), taking regular baths, reading — I feel stronger and more able to move forward in all areas of my life.
These habits support my own blooming on all levels, and I'm noticing subtle and significant shifts rippling out to other areas of my life as well: Hiring a viritual assistant. Moving forward on shifting the sessions I offer come July 1. Naturally adding back in yoga to complement my walking.
Part of what I love about Mark is that he is great about consistent repetition in moving toward goals in his life. Part of his success is due his training as a pro-level natural bodybuilder; he literally knows how to build a new muscle and make it stronger.
His writing is progressing beautifully as he uses a similiar approach that he uses to train for a body-building competition — get a coach (me) to support and help keep him on track, be clear on his end goal and then make time to write regularly, accumulating more and more words with each passing week.
I have taken enough flower photographs to know that blooming doesn't happen overnight.
There is a steady striving and progression for a seed to grow into being a flower. The flower has to keep showing up, day in and day out and allowing the growth that wants to happen to emerge.
This is can be a challenge for me. I see the big-picture vision, and I just want to get there. Now. But I am learning to make steady progress and discovering the value in the showing up, regardless of the results I achieve.
These cacti are reminders of my commitment as I cultivate the authentic tenacity to pursue my deepest callings — to write, to empower others, to share from my heart and to appreciate the beauty and wonder of life around me.
To bloom with patience past the hard stuff, to draw down deep into the waters underneath it all, and to grow, grow, grow.
May it be so for me. And may it be so for you and everyone, too.
Reader Comments (4)
Beautifully expressed Shannon. Tenaciousness is such an important quality to nurture...there have been days, months and even years in my own life, when my tenaciousness to show up, to grow, to learn and understand, has been what's got me through. That and a sense of humour! Blessings to you.
Kate — yes! thank you for offering your tenacity....*and* especially the reminder to have a sense of humour too. Love and gratitude for your comments and your presence.
What a beautiful post, Shannon. We can learn so much from the natural world. I too have been strengthening my internal taproot over the past four years - without even realizing I was doing it. For me, the practice of blogging, developing and offering classes, and daily contemplative photography walks are doing the work - all things I love to do.
Kim, I love to hear how your practices have supported you...Your willingness to consistently show up has been an inspiration to me. {love & gratitude}