Hi Reader,

Quick Announcement: Coaching spots full until July. New 1:1 Clarity Sessions now available: https://www.amandaparker.co/clarity​

Now, let's dive in!

Sometimes experiences gently open us to life's hidden beauty. Sometimes we choose these moments of awakening. Sometimes they choose us. We face seasons of hardship, discomfort, fear, and heartache that reshape our understanding. And then, almost unexpectedly, we find ourselves running toward love, new beginnings, and visions larger than we dared imagine before.

This dance between what happens to us and what we create leads to one of the most common questions amongst those on a spiritual path: How much are we supposed to vision and plan and dream? And how much are we supposed to surrender, let go, and see what comes our way?

There is no inherent “good” or “bad” experience. There is no right or wrong way of learning the lessons we need to learn in this life.

There is only opening. Softening. Allowing ourselves to be fully immersed in the present moment, witnessing and responding to the world around us.

This, too, is a paradox without a simple answer.

The dreaming is ours to do. So long as we recognize and honor that we’re not meant to bring all of our dreams to life alone. No author ever published a book without a tribe of friends reading manuscripts, editors fixing punctuation, or publishing houses rallying behind them to make the book’s launch successful.

No chef ever created a recipe in isolation. There were farmers and growers preparing beautiful foods and spices and herbs to inspire the senses. There were legends and cooks who came before who experimented and created wholesome delicious meals to showcase what else is truly possible. And there are the people around that chef willing to try out each new dish as it comes to life so that it might be improved before it reaches a guest’s table.

We are dreamers and creators. We are meant to listen to the sparks of inspiration and joy that come across our path and to let ourselves get carried away in the imagining of it all. And yes, we’re also meant to act. To do. To create. So long as we acknowledge that more often than not we don’t know how the path will meander and change shape as we walk along it.

The problem in bringing a vision to life, a dream or idea we have, is that we think we know the recipe of what it takes to get from here to there. We think that if we map out step 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 we will reach the end state we imagine in our mind.

But more often than not, the end state is not only not guaranteed but the place we end up will look quite different from the original idea. The goal, then, is not to reach that dream no matter what, but to work towards creating a dream and allowing ourselves to be surprised and delighted along the way.

Whenever I start working with someone new, I always begin by telling them that we will spend time thinking about their goals – getting a clear idea of what they want their life to look and feel like. But that the real goal they are working towards is very rarely the one they tell me in the beginning. In other words, the goal is not the goal. And as long as they can remain open to the possibility that rather than reaching that goal at all costs, they might just start walking and end up somewhere entirely different altogether – we can begin our work together.

Our spirit speaks to us in imaginative ways. It will nudge us along our path, create detours for our growth, and introduce new actors and players all along the way who bring a new dimension of being human into our lives.

In 2020, when the world hit pause during the pandemic, I dreamed of a house by a forest. I wanted to move from my central city location in Berlin out to the wilds of Gruenewald or Zehlendorf to be closer to water, to trees, to peace and serenity. My (now) husband and I searched for nearly a year to find a place that fit the bill. We wanted a home that could keep us connected to nature, while also having enough space for us to work from home in separate rooms. We searched and searched, but nothing was available that fit our dreams.

A few months later, when we had begun to relinquish our dream, my husband got a job opportunity which would move us to London. We both said "yes!" and began our search anew. We were told the market was tough, everything was out of our price range, we couldn't find what we were looking for. And yet, on our first day of visiting home we found our perfect oasis - a home where we could each have our own office, with a beautiful and large garden out back, within minutes' walking to the ancient woods set inside Hampstead Heath.

The dream never faded, but the end result was like nothing I could have ever anticipated. The path to reach it was paved, not by milestones and project plans, but by a sense of openness and saying "yes" to what felt right as it crossed our path.

We keep our dreams in mind, but we allow ourselves to be carried. To take actions that feel right for us, to make progress towards who we are becoming, while always checking in with ourselves if the steps we are taking feel good… and aligned.

This is how we co-create the future we want. It’s not through pushing, striving, and forcing an outcome at any cost. It’s by allowing ourselves to hold our vision gently and allow ourselves to be propelled forward into an unknown future.

The end result almost always surprises us, but there’s very little regret at the end of the path when your original plan did not come to pass, but you ended up somewhere far greater than you ever could have imagined when you started out.

So let yourself dream big, conjure up visions that delight your soul and make you feel giddy with excitement. And, by all means, show up for yourself day in and day out. But do not hold that dream too tightly or you might miss the magic and possibility that is truly waiting for you on the other end.

A Personal Update

I've got some news to share - my coaching practice is currently full, and I won't be opening new spots until July. Given how many people are seeking support right now, I'm excited to offer 1:1 Clarity Sessions for one-off support with your biggest challenges.

These special sessions blend psychic channeling, shamanic journeying, and coaching to provide personalized guidance when you need it most. If you or someone you know could benefit from this level of support, learn more and book your session here: https://www.amandaparker.co/clarity​

For My Fellow Women Healers

I also want to invite women healers to join our Women Healers Collective - a growing community of practitioners from across the globe coming together to share challenges, celebrate successes, and support one another as their practices grow. https://womenhealerscollective.com/​

Happy dreaming, traveler.