(That time I got kicked out of Bible study 🤫)

Last week at church, our pastor did a really cool thing where he invited four people to be in a panel discussion about what it means to disciple others. To my surprise, one of the speakers mentioned my name. 

I was 16 when I had my first major spiritual awakening. That’s exactly what I would call it, an awakening.

Though I was raised in church, I hadn’t experienced God deeply and inside my bones until that summer. When I did, everything changed. It was like God picked me up and said, “Hey beautiful, you have a calling and it’s time to walk in it.” 

I looked around at everything I knew about church and with extreme clarity and conviction I could tell we were all missing the point.

I started deep studies of the Bible with my peers. I then quickly realized the guys my age were able to hang out with older gentlemen who had studied intensely and they could have these mind blowing conversations, but when I tried to step in there was this weird stickiness because I was a woman.

So, I decided we needed a teen girls bible study with some depth. I mean, I was like seriously craving something deeper than learning how to bake casseroles and wear ourselves out for others, yet that’s all I was seeing in the adult women at our church.

So a teen girls bible study was born. It met outside of the church (which I felt was super important) and it went really deep into different topics. 

A very special woman, who happened to be my Kindergarten teacher a million years ago, felt very strongly called by the spirit to be the adult in this circle of spiritually hungry teen girls.

I have since evolved and moved all over, but this woman has remained devoted to her own calling. 

This bible study has now been going on for 17 years.
How fascinating is that!

Trusting Yourself More than External Voices

For whatever reason, as I listened to this sweet woman share this story I couldn't help but think, wow that was just me following my intuition and her following her intuition! 

I believe your intuition is how God speaks to you. We all have the ability to hear the voice of Source, but we must learn to develop our gifts.

Fast forward a couple of years after this study group was created. I’m now 19 and at Oklahoma University. I’m on the leadership team of the Baptist Student Union.  

In my spare time I was reading marriage psychology books and dating books - both from secular and nonsecular points of views. I had started my blog about Christian dating, but the premise of everything I was learning was not so much about dating as it was about finding your voice, being true to yourself and really getting comfortable in your own skin BEFORE you jump into a relationship, much less marriage - which is what was being heavily encouraged all around me. 

I felt that intuitive nudge again.

This message needed to be shared. We young women needed to seriously learn to love and understand ourselves before chasing a gold ring. 

So I created a 12 week curriculum all about this idea of finding yourself first and letting dating and marriage come later. I had all the Bible research to back it up, as well as sources from psychologists and spiritual experts. I did the homework and had already taught this as a powerpoint presentation to several youth groups in the area.

I think we met one week before it got shut down.😳

Why did they shut down this bible study?

Not because it was inaccurate. In fact, no one ever asked about my sources or studies. (In fact, I’m really starting to see an even bigger gap in men's studies versus women's studies as I look back on this situation now.) 

No one asked me how I knew all of this deep and intense information on marriage, love, commitment and relationship psychology.

Nope. Our bible study was shut down because I wasn’t married. And therefore, I wasn’t equipped to teach anything related to dating or marriage. 😳

I remember laughing really hard. It made no sense at all. I had merely threatened the system with truth.

But remember, I was only 19 or 20 at this time.

And I was raised to believe everyone outside of me had authority over me.

So even though I felt in my bones that God was calling me to this and bigger things and I was happy to bow out of not only leading the bible study, but also being a part of the organization altogether, I still internalized a very harmful message.

I couldn’t teach because I wasn’t old enough.

Wasn’t experienced enough.

That message has angered me for years.

Because what if they would’ve given me the least bit of encouragement instead?

I think I would’ve written a book or two about what I had been studying. I was already writing about it daily and I had the outline for a couple of books, with sources already cited and ready to roll. 

And truth be told - I didn’t quit teaching and speaking and writing on this topic. That little blog never stopped. It is what eventually turned into “The Sparkling Hippie” in 2014, which remains a very consistent blog today. In 2018, I added on my first life coaching certification and began diving into the world of online business. 

All of this started by listening to a little inner voice. A nudge. A whisper. 

✍️Have you ever experienced that inner nudge?

✍️How do you lean-in to strengthen your listening ears for this inner voice?

✍️Has anyone ever tried to quiet your voice? What did you do? How did you respond?

When it comes to living an authentic life and creating an authentic business, I believe your connection to your inner truth and inner voice is paramount.

This is where God talks to you.

This is where Source creates through you. 

This is how we discern if you are on the right path or not. 

Why Authenticity Comes Before Marketing

A few weeks ago I was teaching a client SEO. We were looking at what keywords she was ranking for. We had spent the first 2 sessions doing color energy healing and talking through her goals for her business. I do this to read the energy of my clients and make sure they are on their true north path and not hiding behind inauthenticity.  

By the time we got to this SEO session, we were looking at black and white keywords and discussing which would be best for her to target.

She asked the question “Why didn’t we do this in the first session”?

My response was this: “I believe in alignment first. We can’t truly follow a marketing path until we know what your most authentic calling is for your life, otherwise I’d just be walking you down the wrong path and you’d be wasting your time and your money."

As a coach who specialises in both spiritual and mental growth as well as marketing and small business concepts, I have found it increasingly difficult to “just teach marketing”. 😖

Without knowing your truth and yourself and your divine calling,  you’re going to miss it all.

I’ve thought about this a lot over the past few months and it is the exact reason why I am revamping my 1-on-1 coaching structure. I want to be VERY upfront that I am first and foremost a spiritual healer and mentor. Marketing and business come second. Even money comes second. Our culture gets it so wrong. Your mind is confused. 

To make more money and book more clients the answer is not: Throw More Marketing at It!

In fact back in 2019 I had a webinar I shared a lot called “Marketing Isn’t the Problem.” (That’s another book outline I created but haven’t written yet.)

As you can see, my unique journey to authenticity has been releasing my security blanket of marketing and business and stepping more and more into my authority as a spiritual and energetic healer and mentor. 

✍️What about you, what are you hiding behind?

✍️Where are you running to marketing and systems and organizational tactics instead of facing the truth about what you REALLY want to be doing?

☀️Try this: Morning Pages

This comes from Julia Cameron’s work. She’s the author of “The Artist’s Way” but has also written dozens of books on spirituality and creativity. 

📝Wake up every day this week and before you do anything else, write 3 pages of whatever comes to mind. Don’t edit yourself or judge your writing. It doesn't have to make sense or even be legible. Just write. 

This is a great way to practice letting your true voice flow without fear, judgement or criticism. 

Participants in my group program Soul Sparkle are doing this weekly with accountability. 

If you’re looking to step into your highest self more, and you want to hone your most beautiful, precious and authentic voice so you can share your potent magic with a world who needs it, maybe it’s time to consider working with me 1-on-1. 

Last week I announced the changes that I am implementing for my 1-on-1 clients. You can get the full scoop here. 

If you're ready to find your voice and create an authentic business, I invite you to book a free intake call with me, now.

✨

Finally, I want to acknowledge you and say thank you. I’m grateful that you are here. I’m grateful for your eyes on these words. I’m grateful that you want to know yourself more.

✨I hope you are fully enveloped in the joys of love and gratitude today.

Love and hugs and all the sparkles.

💥P.S. Big changes are coming to my Intuitive Business Coaching! ✨ I'm leaning into my superpowers with a new framework that includes more art and energy color healing, channeled guidance, and mindset coaching. It's all designed to help you step into YOUR power and create the business of your dreams. 

👉Check out the details and book a free intake call here: https://calendly.com/thesparklinghippie/free-30-min-intake-session 

💃