“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.”

-J.R.R. Tolkien, The Riddle of Strider

I recently watched one of the films, and this poem came up. While it speaks to an epic tale of legend and kings, it also speaks to the collective epic-ness of waking up to your own power.

I finally chose to awaken this flame in myself, to stand up, to create anew, to no longer be guided by fear or complacency. The power is strong because, like the poem states, it is rooted in my being. How fitting that on the last new moon I made the intention… “Roots & Stems”. Building from the ground up. My work must be based on who I am and therefore, where I come from. Always expanding up and out like a tree or a lotus flower. I know that my past brought me here, I trust it, AND I transcend it.

As these stems extend up and out, I feel the connection to my roots because for the first time ever, I am actually rooted. I actually have the support, container, and foundation on which to create all that I’m creating.

The key was making a choice. Choosing to root to my purpose, as opposed to someone else’s or a mold I tried to fit, is providing me freedom and nourishment. I’ve been sharing with several others on parallel journeys, and we’ve reflected these truths to each other, releasing residual fears. They will always be there, like all shadows, but I don’t have to choose them. I can choose to focus on the light, the dawn, the clarity I feel when my heart is full, my feet are planted and I’m facing my true north.

It’s powerful to close this year, this last full moon, with this intention, and open up the door to a new journey with so much potential and love. I feel full, I feel my purpose. I feel a sense of awe and gratitude that I’m finally ready to walk on that path, calling in those who walk it with me. “Renewed” is a choice word. Because not only is the slate cleaned, it’s informed by all the lessons that came before.