Sorting the Seed From the Dirt
February 23rd, 2025
What is it that you want? Think about that for a moment. And I mean, really think about it. It’s not a simple question, and no one ever asks it.
Howdy.
One of my favorite books and one that I revisit regularly, is Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype, by Clarissa Pinkola Estés.
Estés writes, “The way to maintain one’s connection to the wild is to ask yourself what it is that you want. This is the sorting of the seed from the dirt. One of the most important discriminations we can make in this matter is the difference between things that beckon to us and things that call from our souls.”
I’ve learned this “sorting the seed from the dirt” is one of the most important things we can do if we are to live our most authentic life, what I call our epic life. But this work takes time. Rushing won’t make the seed grow faster. Not everything in the dirt is meant to grow. Some things are meant to be left behind.
If you’re wondering what’s next—keep sorting. The answer is already there, waiting for you to uncover it. Isn’t it interesting that our becoming requires un-Earthing and returning. And that the patience required is part of its beauty.
I have developed a meditation practice where I stand outside, my face turned toward the sun, eyes closed, arms open, and outstretched toward the sky. And then for up to ten minutes, I meditate on this question: What is it that I want?
Clarity doesn’t come all at once. It comes in the sifting, the sorting, the willingness to sit with the mess until the right thing emerges. If only we’ll give it a chance.
This simple ritual reminds me to pause, listen for the call of my soul, and reconnect with the wild in me. I do it daily, and when I’m traveling, hiking, or cross-country skiing.
Because this practice has been so transformative, I often facilitate it on my Epic Adventures. Seeing my clients standing so peacefully, arms outstretched toward the sky, as they ponder such an important question for themselves—it’s a sight to behold. For some minutes, we feel meaningfully connected to ourselves, to something larger, and to each other.
Try it—I promise you’ll love it. And besides, there are worse ways to spend your time.
👉 If this resonates with you, I share more reflections, stories, and lessons learned from the wilderness on my Substack, @EpicFieldNotes. (Subscribe for free!)
- Categories: Adventure, Life and Leadership
- Tags: clarissa pinkola estes, epic pose, introspection, meditation, self discovery, self-reflection, solitude
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