This week we revisited the narratives that continue to shape us — the stories and patterns we unconsciously repeat. A strong theme that emerged was letting go: releasing people-pleasing, over-accommodating, and behaviours that no longer serve our growth.

Through discussion we noticed that there is a pattern of the subtle contractions, hesitations, and impulses to shrink that we no longer want to be doing . We want to feel able to be our true selves and not hold others who are unable to hold themselves or are taking advantage - we want to be exciting and follow our desires and not be ashamed .

We reflected on Carl Jung’s idea of bringing the unconscious into consciousness — reclaiming the power of choice by naming what was once hidden and thus dictating our own fate. Trusting our instincts and acknowledging discomfort is our radical act of self-honesty.

Our conversation deepened into how blocking the shadow parts of self suppresses natural instincts and also dims our vitality, creativity, and presence.

We then explored the myth of Inanna / Ishtar — her descent into the underworld as a symbolic journey of the feminine: death, rebirth, and meeting the shadow. We reflected on her fierceness and her husband’s gentler energy, discussing the balance of these forces within ourselves and touching on how its no longer acceptable for woman to be fierce -

Together, we acknowledged that each of us is already walking this path of reclamation be it in different ways— ready to shed what no longer fits and step into our fuller selves. We closed with a short glove practice, integrating the hearing our ensemble song and getting accustomed to our prop.