Facing Change: Why We Must Strengthen Energy, Connection, and Community Now
Brandi Herdzina
Author of Shine Through The Storm, Motivational Speaker, Independent Consultant, Commercial Property Management Expert
I'm sitting at the water's edge under a tall, thick-trunked tree, staring into the creek as it gently flows over smooth river rocks, when the face of a wolf appears. We've met before, she and I, but never like this—a reflection of her piercing blue eyes framed by shimmering gray and white fur. Focused on her presence, I ask, “What am I supposed to do? How do I help others if I don’t know how to help myself?”
It was the day after the 2024 election, and I felt particularly frightened, lost, and overwhelmed.
As I held that question in my heart and waited for her response, she simply turned her head to the right. Our gaze shifted, and in an instant, her normal gray fur transformed into pristine white. The warm day by the stream shifted too. Snow began to fall.
When visions like this appear, it’s difficult to suspend logic and accept them for what they are. But at that moment, it was especially hard to let the vision unfold without question or judgment. I was scared and desperately seeking clarity. I wanted comfort, not more confusion. So, I told her I didn’t understand and asked her to be more clear.
The snow turned into a blizzard and her white fur all but disappeared into the storm. She raised her chin and opened her mouth to howl. As a beautifully haunting cry bellowed from her core, more white wolves emerged behind her. Together, the pack gathered, their strength magnified in numbers.
And that's when I realized: keep howling, keep speaking, keep crying out—for your pack will find you. And your pack must stick together to face the storm.
Preparing for the Storm
So here we are, staring down a massive change that has many in minority groups living in a state of anxiety. What the f*ck are we supposed to do? The change is happening, like it or not.
Considering my recent vision and the many messages I've received since then, I have to believe that what we're supposed to do now is double down on community—on strengthening our pack. It may feel like an uphill climb after the setbacks we’ve faced since the pandemic. Our separation from in-person connections was barely held together by digital threads. And while I’m grateful for those threads, now is the time to reconsider the power of sharing energy which cannot be done through a screen.
Meanwhile, those in power are actively working to divide us, creating an "us versus them" mentality. Whether intentional or not, it’s happening. But we don’t have to accept the narrative as it’s being spun. It’s time to throw some improv curveballs—come together, fortify our small communities, and prepare to weather the storm ahead.
In short, we need to reconnect in person.
Why Physical Proximity Matters
My understanding of energy exchange is one learned over time through trial and error. If you've ever been in a room with someone who seemed to suck up all of the energy and left feeling like you need a nap, you've experienced this exchange firsthand. But more often, energy exchange has a positive effect on our well-being—individually and collectively. Some of us even believe it can help heal physical ailments.
For a long time, this was widely accepted. But like many ideas that lack robust scientific backing, the validity of energy exchange was questioned to near oblivion. For a while, I hid my belief in its power. Now, I stand by it with confidence: How we show up—and the effort we make to show up—matters.
If you're one who needs science to back this up, please take a moment to read the National Library of Medicine article on Energy Medicine or consider the study by McCraty, Atkinson, Tomasino, and Tiller about Cardiac Energy Exchange. In the latter, the authors study the idea of energy exchange and how it can affect or facilitate the healing process. Their investigation provides evidence that energy exchange occurs through proximity and touch, using the heart’s electromagnetic field (the strongest produced by the body) as a proof point. I found this study particularly fascinating given that most Eastern beliefs behind energy exchange begin from the heart chakra.
What is it about opening the heart, physically or metaphorically, that makes energy exchange that much more impactful?
What I've learned is that the heart chakra is widely considered to be the energy center. It seems humanity has always felt the power of energy exchange far before science could back it up. And sure, we dull it or ignore it at times, but the fact remains that energy can be felt.
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How to Connect with Your Pack
Now that we understand the importance of connecting in person, let's explore ways to make it happen. Some of these ideas/suggestions might feel uncomfortable, but I encourage you to question that resistance. Is it really your own, or was it planted there? Now change your slippers to sneakers and get out there to...
Your Challenge
This is your call to action—get out there and connect. Don’t wait. We need to come together quickly so our energy can grow and spread outward. So it can shine from our groups to our communities and spill out onto the streets of our towns. That is the ripple effect that it will take to bring us all back together and shield us from the fear of change.
After moving from Texas to Colorado, I’ve gained a deep appreciation for community. Cultivating a new one while nurturing my Texas ties has taken effort, but it’s worth it. The things that matter most always are.
So, howl. Speak. Connect. Bring your pack to you, and stick together. No matter what storm we face, we’ll be stronger for it.
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