The World
Weaver's Journey

The "Perfect" World

• The Perfect World is where everyone begins. It's not part of any one Journey. It's what we're born into. It is Innocence and Play in the Waters of Love and Passion. Some people are fortunate enough to dwell here for a long time. Others, unfortunate souls indeed, are destined to have their Innocence shattered far too early and will have no fond memories of this Perfect place.

The Death of Innocence

• Death of Innocence comes for everyone at some point in their life. Maybe it comes early, maybe it comes later. Maybe it's the very thing that pushes them into their Journey. Maybe it comes when they're already well on their way and it makes them adjust course. Deaths of Innocence are always happening to us and how we deal with them determines our Path.

• Potential World Weavers may have Guidance (good or bad) out of their Innocence stage, or they may run away from the "Perfect" World after their Innocence is broken.

• It's also possible for a potential World Weaver to simply run into the World with their Innocence intact. How severe their inevitable Death of Innocence is will depend upon the type of Beasts they meet and what kind of Deals they made along the way.

Denial of the Broken Glasses

• Denial of the Broken Glasses (rose-colored glasses) happens when our Innocence is broken or violated and we do our best to pretend it didn't happen - possibly we're even reliving our Trauma over and over again. This is a completely normal reaction and it's even possible that the experience is completely out of your control.

Character Reference from Film:
Consider Anna in the animated movie Frozen.

• In most situations we should pull off the glasses and face reality after a while, but there are times where people fall into an endless loop of Denial. Long term Reactive Denial (anger) will spiral you off into the Neverending War. Long term Passive Denial (depression) will shift you over to The “Mundane” World.

Deal With the Fae

• We Deal With the Fae all the time. Early in our lives it’s unlikely we understand the Deals we’re making at all. We don’t understand the agreements we make with our Family, our Society, our Community, our Religion, our Politics, our Biology, our Ethnicity, etc., etc., etc..

• Most of these Deals are not even conscious; they are made by osmosis and by “good” or “bad” feelings. It’s unfortunate that the people who stand up for themselves early in life and know what they want are often looked down upon or are seen to be “uncooperative”, as they are the ones who understand how to turn the Fae’s Deals in their favor. Most likely, you didn't know how to do that, and as the years have rolled by have you come to understand how controlled you are by those Deals?

Leaving the Waters

• In simplest terms, this is the "Leaving Home" stage of your Journey, and it could be that in a very literal sense. However, it can also be viewed as "Leaving Your Comfort Zone". Whether it's jumping into a new activity, or beginning a new job, or going out and meeting people instead of staying on your comfy couch - no matter what the "adventure", you have to throw off the coddling "Waters", put on a brave face, and step out to embrace the unfamiliar landscape.

Character Reference from Film:
Consider Ariel from The Little Mermaid

The Brilliant City

• Mythology, in many forms, has long told us the tale of the country bumpkin or lass who heads to the "big city" in search of fame and fortune. They arrive at the Brilliant City and see the Wonder and Majesty of it all spread out before them. Opportunity is behind every door, the World is their Oyster ready to spring open and shower them with pearls.

• While this does tend to be a Naive perspective, it is how we should see the World and our Situations from time to time. We should at least try to remember our Innocence and see everything for the "first time" once again.

Character Reference from Film:
Consider Giselle from Enchanted

Victim or Chosen One?

• The World wants to use our energy. It encourages us to work for others and ignore our Self. Taken too far, this puts us in the mode of caring only for our basic physical needs and ignoring our mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Pushing this ideology too far can cause a shutdown of our emotional core and a shift from the Brilliant City to the "Mundane" World of the Soul Diver's path.

• Using our energy for others moves us in one of two directions:

  • 1. We play the "victim card", becoming bitter and angry, falling into cycles of blame and self-pity.

    2. We start to believe that we're "chosen", that this is our "purpose", and our entire identity begins to be wrapped up in what we do.

• We have to learn that there is a third, often unseen, choice, but we have to listen to that "still, soft voice" within to realize that third choice exists.

Meeting the Beast

• Every old Fairy Tale has a "Beast" or Magical Creature/Person that suddenly appears in the main character's story. The World Weaver is no different, but please remember that not all of those Beasts of old were enemies. Yes, sometimes they were obstacles to overcome, a difficult situation, a mystery, or possibly a direct antagonist, a Villain. However, there are times when Beasts are Cursed forms of the people they once were, or they are someone you once knew, but now in disguise.

• The point to remember is that a Beast can be a teacher, an ally, and a guide that aids you in reaching the next phase of your Journey. It takes practice and Wisdom to recognize when a Beast is a barrier, a teacher, or both.

• Also, in terms of these Journey models, a Beast can easily be a Soul Diver. World Weavers and Soul Divers attract each other like magnets since they each possess the Energy the other needs.

Standing on the Shoreline

• At this point, you, the World Weaver, have been in the World of Labor for some time. You're looking at the path behind you and reflecting on all you've accomplished. Most likely you'll be at one of the following crossroads:

  • 1. You're tired and worn out and wish you could go back to the comforting waves in the Waters of Love. For the World Weaver this may not be entirely impossible as the Waters of Love are never closed off to you, but this would mean moving backwards. However, if you can't move forward and your Energy continues to be depleted by Others, an Emotional Shutdown may be inevitable.

    2. You're entrenched in your Purpose and are trying to figure out how to get more people out of the Water of Love so they can join you. Your Ideal is most important to you, forcing the World of Labor to conform to your Will is tantamount. Tread carefully! It's a razor's edge to walk between Ideology and Villainy.

    3. The third - and usually unseen Choice - is for the World Weaver to put their Self first. I understand that there is Suffering in the World of Labor, but Suffering is inevitable - it can only be alleviated, not eliminated. The only way for you to move forward from here is to be "Selfish" in the eyes of the World.

Overcoming the Devourer

• This is finally the time for the World Weaver to set Boundaries. This is the climax. This is the tipping point. This is when the World Weaver says, "No. You will not take from me any longer." And it will be a simple statement such as that. No anger. No blast of vitriol. Just a simple, "I'm done with you taking my Energy." It's a grand moment in the Journey. It's the entire point of beginning the Journey in the first place. It's a determined, victorious moment, but it may be a very quiet and peaceful moment as well because you have finally put Labor into Action for your Self.

Transformation of the Beast

• Now comes the time of change! Change is now possible because the True Villain - that Devourer which was draining your Energy - has been vanquished! Obstacles become doorways. Curses are lifted. The True Forms of teachers and allies are revealed. Maybe the Soul Diver in your life becomes plain to see. Villains and Demons are redeemed or done with. Your perception of everything will be altered and you will see the Land of Labor as it truly is.

Pregnancy and Birth

• Because your perception has been altered by Overcoming the Devourer, you can now begin to take Energy in instead of having it constantly drained away from you. You can Create once again! Maybe it's time to take a Lover and literally and genuinely become pregnant (most likely it's symbolic Pregnancy and Birth, but anything is possible at this step). It's time to gestate and birth new ideas and forge new pathways. It's time for you to make your own way in the Land of Labor.

Family Life or Hermit Life

• This is a time of Peace and Harmony. Maybe you find it alone, enjoying not having anyone pulling at you anymore. Perhaps you've "birthed" many "children" and are enjoying the busy-ness of your own "family" (again, it could be literal too). A couple of things to keep in mind at this step are:

  • 1. It's possible to become so proud of the life you've built that you'll do anything to hang onto it. You'll put heavy expectations on others and start to lose touch with your Empathy (you've been away from the Waters of Love for a long time now). You'll want things under your control and demand Energy from others to aid you in upholding your creation. You have to be very careful not to become the very Devourer that you Overcame not so long ago.

    2. A second possibility is that this step becomes a very long time of "waiting". You've done the work, you've put in the effort. You've become the expert in your field. You haven't been lazy or half-assed anything. Unfortunately, it simply isn't your Time yet. It's almost as if the World has to catch up to you. This can be very frustrating if you put all your eggs in one basket, so to speak. Now is the time to diversify. Simply enjoy the time of Peace or find a temporary project to fulfill your needs.

The Call from Home

• This the the threshold of the third and final stage of the World Weaver's Journey. This is the Call you've been waiting for. This is what you've been preparing yourself for and it's very, very possible that it's coming from the Waters of Love, maybe even coming from The "Perfect" World that you left so long ago. Remember, The "Perfect" World never was perfect. It was flawed and broken. It needed Work. It needed Action. It needed Labor. You have now traversed the Lands of Labor. Who better than you knows how to fix broken perfection?

Challenge for the Throne

• Even though you're qualified to bring the Energy of Labor back to The "Perfect" World, even though someone there may have Called you Home, and even if the Throne is your birthright, you may very likely be Challenged to prove your mettle. There will be people who don't like that you've stood up for your Self. There will be people who are jealous of your success. There will be people who won't believe you're up to the task at hand and that they're better suited to it (and maybe they are). If a genuine confrontation is at hand, just remember to fight for something and not against everything.

Sacrifice

• At some point or at many points in their journey, the World Weaver will have to make sacrifices. Sacrifice is a common happening on the World Weaver's path. The Challenge of the Throne may demand a big one. This, unfortunately, is the burden of the Waters of Love. To get what they really want or need and to reach their highest potential and highest self, the World Weaver will have to sacrifice things or people she loves. These sacrifices may not be permanent and may even be worthwhile, but the pain at the time will be no less.

• If the path of the "Chosen One" was a genuine choice, a genuine "sacrifice", the most likely outcome is that the World Weaver's life is forfeit at this point. Consider Neo's death in the Matrix Trilogy and how Frodo Baggins sacrificed a long and peaceful existence to carry the One Ring in Lord of the Rings.

Empathetic Ruler

• Words such as "throne" and "ruler" will likely give the impression that the World Weaver's Journey is about becoming some political leader or business mogul. While this is not impossible, it's not the point of this journey model. The point is that you learn to rule your Self with compassion and integrity. World Weaver's have a tendency to be compassionate towards others and to be very, very hard on themselves. The mature and self-aware World Weaver will know that compassion turned inward will also reflect outward.

The Balanced World

• This was the true goal of the World Weaver's Journey: to live in the Balance of Love and Labor. Love is useless without Action. Labor is soul-crushing without Compassion. You, the World Weaver, were bathed and bred in Love, but climbed out of the Waters and found your place in the Lands of Labor. You learned how to put your Love into Action and you learned how beautiful the Lands of Labor can be. You are now at Home in both worlds, easily able to cross the boundary between the two and utilize both Energies at will.

Permission of Happiness

• The most difficult thing for World Weavers to do is to allow themselves to be Happy while others Suffer. The state of Enlightenment for World Weavers is to understand the Suffering is inevitable. Suffering can be alleviated. Suffering can never be eliminated. The World Weaver must learn to say, "I must allow myself to be Happy so I suffer less. Then I can help others to suffer less as well."