Snake Medicine

I was a women who never did anything. Didn’t try new shit. Didn’t take risks. Didn’t travel. I was a woman who never missed my child’s sporting events, made sure homework was done and dinner was on the table. Who had to work full time (plus overtime) to pay the bills. A woman who spent evenings drinking wine and mentally checking out on stressful days. A woman who valued her routine and didn’t like to deviate from it.

The woman YOU know is very different from that woman. The woman I see in the mirror has done more in the last 5 years than most will do in their lifetime. It wasn’t handed to me, in fact, it took a lot of work and courage. If you take nothing from this, hear me when I say….the transformation is in the decision. In the yes. In buying the flight. It’s the moment you choose you. The rest becomes easy, like butter. Not perfect, but easy.

I bought a backpack years before I finally used it. I had years and years of trail experience. Guiding and route planning as well. I had years and years of camping experience. But had never backpacked. I’ll never forget my first time. Struggling with the placement of my pack. Carrying way too much weight. My tent was 7lbs, but that’s all I had. Way too much food, clothes, and not enough first aid. After dropping pack at camp that first day, I went to the river near my site, stripped off my disgusting sweaty clothes and got in. It was peaceful, I didn’t care that people kept passing by as I was as naked as a jay bird. It was my first encounter with snake medicine. I saw snakes all day. Big beautiful snakes in my path all the way to camp. And there in the water, I started to feel something poking my ass cheek. I stood up to look and a snake poked up out of the water right where I was sitting.

Snake has a powerful message. A message of transformation. Of shedding old skin. A feminine energy and a symbol of rebirth, wisdom, and healing. Snake will meet you at the right times to remind you of your power. I remember stepping over Copperheads in New York, cliff walking the Gunks. And snake came to me last night in my dreams. Reminding me to not be afraid of my own strength and power. To remind me that I’m supported. To remind me that where I came from holds just as much power as who I am today and to be proud of that journey.

I’m grateful for that woman I was. Who raised beautiful children and worked in a lab and made beautiful friendships and connections. I’m grateful for the woman that put the fucking backpack on already. Who booked the trip to Yosemite. To the woman who said, I want to help other women get outside too. To help them see how nature heals. I’m grateful to the woman that sold their first trip. And created these retreats for the upcoming year. This year will be a transforming year. Snake came to me as a messenger. Through that wisdom, I can help other humans shed their skin, see themselves and rewild.