“My feet beat out a steady muffled rhythm. My thoughts participated in each step, never getting ahead of me." -- Rory Steward, The Places in Between

As we enter December, changes are rumbling in the background. As I dive deep into Earth Archetype stories, what impact they can have, and who they are for...I'll be bringing the 3 Step Reciprocity Cycle to a close. To honor all we've explored, let's do 3 more and then hibernate a bit before reemerging in 2026 with lots of new goodies! So here we go...

Acknowledge Earth Is Our Home

Over the long holiday weekend (which is one that I struggle with for a variety of political and personal reasons)...

I found myself re-remembering my body. Yes, I know that it goes almost everywhere I do, but too often it's not forgotten but bypassed.

A common survival strategy for someone who experienced abuse either directly from family or from more systemic issues from capitalism to colonization.

But this weekend, I gave myself permission to pause. Not in huge ways. But some ones.

Making that cup of tea. Touching that tapestry on my wall. Finally replacing that ligh bulb in my salt lamp and letting glow at night.

Small sensory moments. Slight nervous system shifts. Touch points with this Earth.

Focusing on it for a couple of days in a row made me realize how similar such moments are to this step in the Reciprocity Cycle.

Because YES! The big moments are important. That hike. The deinvestment in fossil fuels. That watershed clean up.

But so are the small moments. They attune our heart, mind, and body to Earth on a moment by moment basis -- especially as creatures that now live so much more of our time "indoors."

Just like any relationship, it's those little things that add up and give you the fuel to do the big things.

Discover Your Earth Archetype

Archetypes have been around a long time. In fact, that's part of their very description. Patterns of being that pervade time and space.

And they hold similar qualities to other ancient practices such as spirit animals and polytheistic gods.

Common qualities that come together in shape and identify that support and guide us humans as we search for meaning.

In the modern world, we have a lot of this from quizzes (like the "What is Your Earth Archetype?") to Love Languages to theories and therapies like Parts work.

Though I've never done that last one officially, it arose naturally for me as I came into relationship with parts of myself that were hard to integrate.

Anger = Tiger

Life Force = Kundalini/Snake

Sensitivity = Raptor

An intense group of Apex predators that I had drawn by an artist in their combined state:

The Tiger and Snake had been chilling with me for almost a decade by the time the raptor came into play. At first I pouted it wasn't something obviously cute or kind. Yet when I showed this to friends, they all instantly recognized it as me.

As I explore how to bring the Earth Archetypes through story, I realized that I needed to touch into where humor lives in this creature.

I'm not 100% clear yet but I do know that these 3 were born of intense healing. Humor is quieter, less obvious. And existed as something relating to and moving among them.

I don't yet know how to add humor to the image, but I'm excited to explore it internally and externally while sharing Earth Archetype stories into 2026.

Work Together in Community

Speaking of adding humor...

I'm so excited about all the places around the country I’m discussing performing “How on Earth? LIVE” from March to August 2026.

Georgia
New York
Washington DC
Maryland
Seattle
Portland
San Francisco
Tuscon
Alabama
Plus several conversations with organizations that could happen in multiple places!

I love the mix of people, places, questions, and concepts we are exploring.

But I admit that one spot dear to my heart is missing….

MINNESOTA.

It’s where I grew up and where I’d love to work together to serve a community with this story.

Are you in MN and open to chatting about it? Contact me!