As a child, I recall my mother yelling at me in Yiddish, Hak mir nit keyn tshaynik!, whenever she felt pressed. To me, it simply meant “back off or you’ll get what’s coming to you”.

Years later, I learned its literal meaning, which like so much of the Yiddish language is expressive of the feeling state: “Don’t bang a tea kettle at me!” It’s a tactile reminder that we all have thresholds that trigger reactive modes, our fight-flight systems go on red alert and feeling states of fear, anger, and disappointment are not far behind.

The Natural Native, one of the six ways of knowing and leading in the new online series I am co-presenting, prompts us to remember the other half of the human equation. We are not only primed for reactivity, but also for peace, harmony, and creative responses to a world that is often banging the tea kettle at us.

The Natural Native Way explores what it means to be at home in and with oneself, no matter what is going on around us. It is a way of knowing deeply connected to nature and all of life. It is recognizing that we can depend on inner ways of knowing such as intuition and insight as well as being open to guidance from nature, wisdom traditions, and our own ancestral lineage.

Six Ways of Knowing and Leading

Way 1: The Servant Leader – Respond to your deepest calling to serve.

Way 2: The Circle Wizard – Understand the nature of this ancient human practice.

Way 3: The Natural Native – Be centered in yourself in connection with the Earth.

Way 4: The Space Steward – Attend to the aesthetics of spaces where the work will take place.

Way 5: The Crucible Guardian – Guide and protect the space as we remake ourselves.

Way 6: The Ritual Intercessor – Guide rituals that ignite healing, connection, and transformation.

Please sign up for your free e-book and register for the program if you think this is for you.