Energy Weaving with the Wandering Shaman: Quantum Human Design & Shamanic Wisdom - April 5, 2025 - The Sun Enters the Gate of Initiation/The Earth Enters the Gate of Instinct

Hello everyone!  Welcome, or welcome back to my podcast!  If you are new here, don’t worry about what you may have missed; you can just jump in where we are.  You are welcome to go back and listen to past episodes, but it’s not necessary.  I do recommend, however, that if you are new to human design and/or shamanism, you go back and listen to episode 1 of this podcast.  I give a brief introduction to both concepts there, with a lot of the “lingo” explained.  Alternatively, you could read the Introductory blog post here, where I also briefly introduce both concepts; it may help you as we move through the year.

One quick announcement before we jump into this week’s energies.  If you are in the Midland, Michigan area, I am teaching an Intro to Quantum Human Design class at Ways to Wellness on Thursday, April 10th, starting at 6:30 pm.  The cost is $60, and you will get a copy of your birth chart, class notes, and an opportunity to book a full human design reading with me at a discounted rate if you attend.  If you are interested, you can sign up through the Ways to Wellness website, which I will link in the show notes. 

Ok, so today is April 5, 2025, and the sun is in Gate 51 - the Gate of Initiation and the earth is in Gate 57 - the Gate of Instinct.  Let’s take a look at what that means.  

The energy of Gate 51 often brings unexpected or even shocking events into our lives. The challenge for us is to not let these surprises shake our faith. Instead, we are called to stay connected to our purpose and to Source, even when life throws us off course.

We all have our own “initiation” stories—moments or experiences that changed our direction, challenged our beliefs, or forced us to reevaluate our priorities. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason, even if we don’t understand it at the time. Many of life’s challenges are opportunities for growth, teaching us lessons that we can later share with others.

As we navigate our journeys, having someone who has walked a similar path—a mentor, friend, or guide—can be invaluable. Sometimes, our struggles are not just for our own growth but so that we can become a source of hope and wisdom for others in the future.

Many times in my life, I have thought, “I am going through this for a reason.”  and “My experience is going to help someone else someday.”  Have you ever experienced a shocking or unexpected event that later became a source of wisdom you could share with others?

Two moments from my own life stand out.

The first was the sudden passing of my mom at the age of 66. Losing her so unexpectedly was heartbreaking, but over the past 22 years, I’ve had many opportunities to empathize with others who have also lost their mothers suddenly. In those moments, I could genuinely say, I know how you feel—because I had been there. Sometimes, just knowing you're not alone in your grief can bring a sense of comfort.

The second experience was my diagnosis of chronic fatigue about 20 years ago. I was unable to work for 18 months and had to adjust my daily life based on my energy levels, which often meant doing nothing more than taking a shower or walking to the mailbox. It was a challenging time, but I eventually regained my strength—enough to return to work, be fully present as a wife and mother, and even train for and complete a marathon! Since then, I’ve shared my journey of healing with many people, offering encouragement and hope from my own experience.  So even if you don’t know the purpose of the challenges you are going through, can you trust that they are happening for a reason and are part of a bigger cosmic plan?

On that note, let’s move on to Gate 57, the Gate of Instinct.  The energy of this gate is all about learning to trust your “gut.”  When we are out of balance in this area, we may be paralyzed in fear of the future.  We may see what needs to be done to prepare for something in our future, but our fear prevents us from being able to act on it.  Tying this in to what we were talking about in Gate 51, we can practice listening to our gut instincts by tuning in to others and maybe sharing our story or part of our story if the timing feels right.  

Sometimes, looking back at times when we either trusted our intuition or we didn’t and analyzing how those incidents turned out can give us some good insight into how our intuition works.  Do you have an example of when you thought you should do something and didn’t?  How did that work for you?  Do you have an example of when you thought you shouldn’t do something, but went ahead and did it anyway?  Those are always fun times.  How did that work out for you?  Here are some more contemplations.  Are you experiencing impulses telling you to prepare for what might be coming in your future?  Are you acting on them?  If not, why not?  When you think about moving forward in life, do you feel afraid?  Is there something you can do to mitigate that fear?

Interestingly, I pulled the Compass card from Austeen Heeny’s Mystic Wanderer deck to go along with these energies.  The link to her information is in the show notes, and the pictures of the cards I’m using are posted on Instagram and Facebook. 

Here’s what it has to say:

You are confused about which direction you should take and which path to follow.  There may be many choices ahead, but you aren’t sure what option is the right course of action for your future and soul.  You are presently pathless. It appears there is not an avenue carved perfectly for your wants and desires. This card is acknowledging your position. It is telling you that it’s perfectly okay not to know where you are headed. Right now, stillness is the best answer.  You may even feel like you aren’t “complete” because you don’t know your exact direction.  This card is here to tell you it’s better to be patient and let the universe guide you instead of striving to force a path that isn’t right for you.  Do not fret, my child.  Your path will come storming to your door, ready for you to harness its ferocity and power. You will know! For now, just sit, rest and take in the view. 

So maybe if you are fearful of the future, the antidote to the fear is stillness, and in that stillness, you can listen for your intuition to show you the way forward.  Has something shocking or unexpected knocked you off track?  Again, maybe the path back to your center will be found in stillness.  You can never go wrong by getting still and listening.  I think that may be the big take-away for today.  Be still and listen.  

I’m going to end again with some affirmations.  The feedback shows that you all seem to like those, so here are some good ones to meditate on this week:

• I navigate change and transformation with grace.

• I know that when my life takes a twist or a turn, it is my soul calling me out to serve at a higher level.

• I use disruption as a catalyst for my own growth and expansion.

• I use my ability to transform pain into growth and power to help others navigate through crisis.

• My inner wisdom is deeply connected to the pulse of Divine timing.

• I listen to my inner wisdom and follow my instinct.  

• I take guided action and trust myself and Source.

• I find solace and comfort in the stillness of my soul.  

If you are feeling stuck and would like more information on how I might be able to help you get unstuck, check out my energy work offerings here on my website and please reach out with any questions.  I would love to hear from you.  

I’ll be back on April 10th when the sun is in Gate 42 - the Gate of Conclusion and the Earth is in Gate 32, the Gate of Endurance.  Until then, take good care and we’ll see you soon.