Trust or Doubt
What is your relationship to trust?
The prostitute’s core focus is physical security. The prostitute trades in the currency of power. The question is, how much of yourself are you willing to sell to have physical security?
A story for you
Tanisha: Allessandra, as you know I have become much clearer about my values and today I was given an opportunity that is right in line with my values.
Allessandra: That is amazing Tanisha. I am happy for you. What is the opportunity?
Tanisha: The organization I work for is planning to launch a project that involves providing single mothers education and skills that will enable them to financially support themselves and their children. The reason I am so passionate about this is that it will allow these mothers to be sovereign. The will no longer be financially dependent on the government. The funding is now in place and I have been asked to manage this project.
Allessandra: That is magnificent Tanisha. Why do I sense hesitancy in your voice?
Tanisha: I have been offered a substantial pay raise if I accept the lead on this project. I can have my debt paid off in a few months and that would be so freeing. However, I am afraid that this is going to be another brilliant project idea that will actually set the women up for failure. I have seen it happen so often and I don’t want to be responsible for causing more pain and suffering in these women’s lives.
Allessandra: Tanisha, you have worked for this organization for a while now. Have they ever give you cause to think that they would be this irresponsible? Do you not believe that they have the women’s best interest at heart?
Tanisha: I don’t have a reason that supports my fear. I just have this niggling feeling that won’t go away.
Allessandra: Don’t be silly Tanisha. You are saying that you would walk away from this opportunity because of a niggling feeling that can’t be substantiated? Just trust the organization’s track record and think about all you can do with your debt paid off. Just fulfill your role and what happens happens.
Tanisha: Allessandra, I can always count on you to be logical. After all what do I have to lose?
Let me explain
In this story, Tanisha has been consciously aligning with her values. In doing so she is more in tune with her inner world, but, has not yet developed trust in her ability to discern between the fear of the unknown and guidance. Allessandra is very logical and can see no reason why Tanisha should not trust the organization she works for. When Allessandra shames Tanisha, telling her not to be silly, Tanisha gives her power to Allessandra by trusting her sister’s logic more than her own inner process.
A new story
Tanisha: Allessandra, as you know I have become much clearer about my values and today I was given an opportunity that is right in line with my values.
Allessandra: That is amazing Tanisha. I am happy for you. What is the opportunity?
Tanisha: The organization I work for is planning to launch a project that involves providing single mothers education and skills that will enable them to financially support themselves and their children. The reason I am so passionate about this is that this will allow these mothers to be sovereign. The will no longer be financially dependent on the government. The funding is now in place and I have been asked to manage this project.
Allessandra: That is magnificent Tanisha. Why do I sense hesitancy in your voice?
Tanisha: I have been offered a substantial pay raise if I accept the lead on this project. I can have my debt paid off in a few months and that would be so freeing. However, I am afraid that this is going to be another brilliant project idea that will actually set the women up for failure. I have seen it happen so often and I don’t want to be responsible for causing more pain and suffering in these women’s lives.
Allessandra: Tanisha, you have worked for this organization for a while now. Have they ever give you cause to think that they would be this irresponsible? Do you not believe that they have the women’s best interest at heart?
Tanisha: I don’t have a reason that supports my fear. I have this niggling feeling that won’t go away.
Allessandra: Tanisha, you have been focused on living your values and I know from my own experience the more I am in alignment with my values the stronger my inner guidance. What if you gave yourself some time to explore that niggling feeling and get more clarity? How does that option feel?
Tanisha: I feel a deep sense of relief and I haven’t even acted. Thank you. Do you think it too bold to ask for a meeting with the person I will be reporting to and the team that I will be working with ? I need to talk this through and share my vision of what I see as the potential for the participants. If we all share the same vision, I believe we will attract the participants that will benefit from the project. It will be empowering for all of us if we see it as an opportunity to live the “power with” pattern versus the “power over” pattern that these women have been subjected to.
Allessandra: Tanisha, that is a brilliant idea. Bold and powerful! You are aligned with your truth and you my sister are living it. What an inspiration you are!
Tanisha: Thank you Allessandra. I value how we support each other to be our best. It is liberating!
Allessandra: Yes, it is liberating. The power of this liberation is when we liberate ourselves, we open the door for other women to do the same and it just keeps expanding.
Awareness
Allessandra recognizes the light of the prostitute expressing through Tanisha guiding her to make an empowered choice. Tanisha knew what she needed to do but was unable to trust herself. Allessandra being empowered in her own life, took the opportunity to support Tanisha to trust herself, to know when she was in alignment with her truth. They were both in their power—aligned with their truth.
Archetype Cards, Caroline Myss
Self-awareness practice
Closing the gap between reacting unconsciously and responding consciously.
The prostitute is one of the four survival archetypes. It is activated when your physical security is threatened and you may find yourself selling your freedom, your values, your time and your integrity. The medicine is to know your values, commit to living aligned with them and you will be less corruptible.
To be incorruptible, it is important to know how the prostitute express through you. It will show you when you are out of alignment with your truth. When the currency you exchange in, is your power, there is always cost to you and to others.
Daily Intentions:
1) To be aware of your values and be cognizant of where you are trusting yourself to align with them.
2) To be aware of where you may be exchanging your power for your physical security. What is the cost?
3) To be aware of your inner guidance. If it has not been engaged with regularly, its voice may be very subtle.
I suggest you take a few minutes before bed to journal your observations of how the prostitute showed up in your day.
Remember, living your truth is your power and there is no greater security than being in your authentic power. The prostitute values security. It is your ally.
You are on the journey of trusting yourself to be incorruptible!