The Warrior Goddess - the Feminine in All
Last Tuesday evening I joined 29 others at The Larchmont on Melrose in Los Angeles, California for the “INTERSECT Salon.”
A friend of mine and fellow IIN classmate, Sophie Ward, and her husband, Isaac Koren, hosted this magical dinner event. We filled the Larchmont’s intimate, private upstairs dining room with vibrant souls, candlelight, and an electrifying pulse of conscious awareness.
"A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine the taste and increase the knowledge of the participants through conversation."
The Salon consisted of “five tables, each of which circles a unique conversation inspired by the theme of INTERSECT.
Our Place in the Garden hosted by Kristen Davis, Actress and Activist.
Warrior Goddess led by Sadie Nardini, Wellness Entrepreneur and Musical Artist
The Space Between Us hosted by Gloria Orenstein, retired Professor Emerita of Comparative Literature and Gender Studies at U.S.C., and founder of original Women's Salon in 1970’s NY.
Manifest Destiny hosted by Sara Glasser Havens, Producer and Writer.
Empowering Compassion led by Calley Nye, Product Designer at Crowdrise and Co-Founder of GirlDev.” Check out Sophie Ward’s site for more on the Salon.
I chose Sadie Nardini’s table for the Warrior Goddess conversation, a discussion of how the female archetype within all us (men and women) can reclaim her innate strength.
I reserved my seat as soon as I saw Sophie’s Facebook invitation a few weeks prior. Thankfully, I acted on my intuition because Sadie’s table sold out in 24 hours!
The Salon began with a champagne toast and an introduction to all of the gracious table hosts.
At the Warrior Goddess table, Sadie introduced herself and shared her personal health journey to become the international yoga expert, musician, and rockstar she is today.
She then turned the discussion over to our table of five participants (four women and one lucky man) and asked the first question, “Why are you here at this table tonight?” Sitting directly to Sadie’s left, I had the opportunity to answer first. I was surprisingly comfortable opening up and sharing how an overly masculine upbringing led me to discover my feminine, creative power within.
The second question Sadie asked was daunting. “Why do you believe you are present here on Earth? In one sentence, what is your purpose?”
As simple as it seems, this is one of the most, if not the most difficult question to answer. It leaves us blushing, scratching our heads, fearing judgment from our response. This is the one question I believe a majority of humans have no idea how to answer. It’s one that has stumped me for 32 years.
My initial response was “to bring love into the world.” We discussed how this could be too vague, and actually focused on others rather than myself. However, with Sadie’s guidance, as well as the table’s support, I was able to get much, much closer to defining what I feel is my purpose in one sentence.
Building from each participant’s response, we discussed how the innate masculine and feminine qualities in all of us manifest in our lives, our belief systems, our self-identification, and can ultimately dictate who we present ourselves as in the world.
It was such a blessing to have a man’s input in the conversation as well, to show how the Warrior Goddess female archetype is in all human beings, not just in females. It is the fierce, motherly protector; the magical “anything can happen” mindset of the child; the intuition that constantly pushes and pulls us in the “right” direction; and the powerful ability to create something from seemingly “nothing.” This is the female archetype in action. We’ve all got it.
We shared an absolutely delicious three-course meal, courtesy of the Larchmont’s chef, Kevin Kathman. As well as a glass of wine, in which we toasted each other several times at our “ah-ha” moments throughout the evening.
The evening closed with a powerful acoustic musical performance by Isaac Koren of The Kin, singing a new song written from the perspective of an elephant in the midst of the elephant poaching crisis, which Kristin Davis is actively involved in.
It was an invigorating, inspiring evening for me. I live for these moments now.
It’s become my paradox – I seek comfort in the uncomfortable.
t allows me to open my heart just a little more (sometimes a LOT more) to find deeper compassion for myself, and ultimately for others.
To me, this is what living is for these days. The more I open myself up, the more I am blessed with abundance and inspiring moments.
What have you done lately to put yourself in a new environment?
Why are you where you are right this moment?
What is your purpose?
I encourage you to answer these questions today in a journal or with a friend.
Embrace your feminine energy!