I saw a ladybug lazing in the lemon balm.

Seven-spotted ladybugs are symbolic of Mary Magdalene’s seven powers of the ego.

As ego is an integral part of our divinely messy humanness, it is not about destroying the ego but rather understanding its desires and needs, then transforming them to bring more peace, Love, and compassion into our lives.

Ladybug inspired me to reflect on how I can communicate with my ego to transform my feelings about this side quest and chapter of my life I have light-heartedly labelled:

“Hip Hip Hooray: The ouchy adventures of a tragic optimist.“

The seven powers are: Darkness, clinging, ignorance, excess, forgetting, the body, and rage.

Here are some questions I reflected on around my diagnosis of avascular necrosis, impending surgery, and post-operation existence.

Questions could be adapted and applied to any situation to transform fear and resistance into strength and resilience:

1 🙂 What does the darkness manifesting in my current health situation tell me? What contrast does this darkness shine Light on, and what can I hope for?

2 🙂 What am I still clinging on to, trying to control, or not accepting in this situation? What attachments or fears are holding me back from fully embracing this journey towards surgery and healing?

3 🙂 How might ignorance about my condition or the surgical process be impacting my ability to navigate this experience with clarity and empowerment? What am I ignoring that is deeper than my ego’s desires?

4 🙂 Considering excess, what habits, thoughts, or behaviours could I let go of to create balance and space for healing and transformation in my life?

5 🙂 What am I forgetting amidst my current challenges? How can I reclaim my sense of worth and agency in this situation? How can I remember my soul and help it shine through the “tragic heartbreak the ego endures” (Meggan Watterson, 2023).

6 🙂 How can I cultivate a deeper understanding and acceptance of my body, its needs and limitations, while transcending the ego’s fear of mortality, its tendency to judge and criticise?

7 🙂 What is being revealed by the anger or frustration about my health challenges? What am I grieving? All emotions are data. As Meggan Watterson states, “Being angry is human. Being human is holy.” How can I channel this rage into opportunities for growth and healing?

Finally, how can I approach this whole experience with a mindset of non-attachment to outcomes, allow myself to surrender and trust the process of healing and transformation, regardless of any specific results of the surgery?

Ooooh, I just re-remembered I started to create a 7 powers of the ego ‘zine’ that I now have the opportunity to complete on my Healing Leave – yay! 🙂

Huge Love and gratitude to Meggan Watterson & Moonjube for producing these beautiful cards ❤

Onwards and adventurewards in Love and Laughter xXx