Wayfinding Leadership

A fascinating paradox unfolds as the Earth tilts, bathed in the celestial dance of sun and stars. Here, in the peaceful embrace of the Northern Hemisphere, we huddle against the encroaching darkness, marking the Winter Solstice, the year's most profound surrender to shadow. Yet, across the vast expanse, our Southern kin bask in the vibrant embrace of summer, their world ablaze with light as they celebrate the Summer Solstice.

?This juxtaposition, this mirrored dance of light and dark, has struck a deep chord within me. It serves as a potent reminder that our deeply ingrained perspectives are often sculpted by the very ground beneath our feet, by the constellations etched across the sky above. The rhythm of seasons, the interplay of the sun and moon, shapes our understanding of the world, influencing how we engage, learn, and even lead.

?I cannot help but think of our ancestors, the Wayfinders, those intrepid navigators who traversed vast oceans, read the snow, trekked the desert, and traversed the sand dunes guided not by compass or map but by an intimate understanding of the celestial ballet. Their ability to adapt their navigational strategies to shift between the sun and stars seamlessly speaks volumes of their profound respect for the natural world's rhythms, a testament to their ability to bridge geographical realities through celestial knowledge.

Yet, as we stand here, enveloped by the longest night of the year, the darkness feels profound, not just celestial, but human. Violence and cruelty cast long shadows across our world, leaving countless beings grappling with suffering in a myriad of forms. In the face of such darkness, succumbing to the seductive pull of anger and blame, bitterness and despair is tempting. The domino effect of harm begetting harm, the endless cycles of vengeance fueled by fear, and the illusion of separateness seem almost preordained.

?But in this very moment of surrender to the inevitable lies a seed of possibility. Stepping away from reactivity, choosing not to perpetuate the dance of darkness, requires a conscious leap of faith, a relinquishing of deeply ingrained narratives. It asks us to let go, embrace the unknown, and trust in the transformative power of grace, for it is only when we soften our defenses, when we open our hearts to what we cannot yet grasp, that we can truly begin to heal, to connect, and to illuminate the path towards a brighter dawn.

?The Winter Solstice becomes a marker of darkness and a crucible of transformation. It is a time to acknowledge the shadows within and without, to honor the pain and suffering that permeates our world, and to choose hope over despair, connection over division. To remember, as the Wayfinders so elegantly demonstrated, that even in the deepest darkness, the stars never truly cease to shine. And it is by navigating by their light and embracing the wisdom gleaned from both sun and shadow, we can chart a course toward a future where the darkness gives way to a dawn of shared understanding and collective healing.

?This is the invitation of the Solstice, the whisper of possibility amidst the quiet hush of the longest night. May we listen, learn, and illuminate together.

Dr. Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell is the Principal Consultant and CEO of?Co3 Consulting: Co-Creating Cohesive Communities. Dr. G launched the work of Co3 Consulting on the foundation of AloHā, combining Indigenous philosophies and Western methodology to guide organizations toward transformative evolution.

Dr. Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell (she/her/wahine) identifies as an Indigenous scholar born and raised on the island of O'ahu, Hawaii, and has over 20 years of experience working in public, private, and non-profit sectors with a focus on leadership development, equitable processes, and community organizing. Dr. G earned her doctorate in Transformative Studies and Consciousness from the California Institute of Integral Studies and her Master's in Whole Systems Design from Antioch University, Seattle. She has been a HeartMath Certified Trainer since 2014. You can learn more about her work at?www.Co3Consulting.net?and?www.EvolutionOfAloha.com

If you're interested in bringing the Resilience Advantage or Co3 program to your organization, schedule a call with Dr. Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell by clicking on the photo below.