I’m getting tired of everybody – including me – apologizing for the woo-woo in their lives.
I don’t know where the term “woo-woo” originated, but it’s become a common put-down for many age-old spiritual practices, from psychic phenomenon to hands-on healing, that are intended to enhance consciousness and well-being. The word “woo-woo” conjures up stereotypical images of loopy, flowery hippie chicks {think Harry Potter’s zany Professor Trelawney!}. Nobody wants to be considered a flake, right? So, we wind up backpedaling a bit or prefacing our soulful, spirited stories to protect ourselves from scrutiny.
Yep, guilty!
A few weeks ago during a coffee meeting, I shared a story of grand synchronicity and karma with a guy who seemed very conservative and reserved. I wasn’t sure he’d be open to it, so I started my story by saying, “sorry if this sounds too woo-woo for you.” He furrowed his eyebrows, looking confused, until I told him the story. His response? “I have no idea what woo-woo means, but if it includes cool stories like that, I’m all for it!”
That was a watershed moment for me, realizing there had been no need to tiptoe around my belief system or provide a “woo-woo” warning – even with someone I didn’t know well. See, the bolder we all get in sharing our experiences and beliefs, the quicker we’ll shift the definition of “woo-woo” to allow for goodness and possibility. Wanna join me?
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Today, I’m hosting a brave blogging linky party for participants in my Build a Blog You Truly Love ecourse. We’re all sharing a deeper piece of ourselves, so please click on the links below to visit other brave & authentic posts today!
Oh yes, I recognise that. Definitely need to work on that too. So yeah, I’m in!
I would be just like that guy, furrowing my eyebrows. I had never heard the term woo-woo before, but then again my blog posting for today may explain the reason why.
I love this post. It takes courage to be vulnerable, to risk putting yourself ‘out there’ by whatever standards you judge ‘out there’ to be. But such a great reward comes with being true to yourself and embracing what you believe. Something worth practicing every day! I write about my experiences now too, but once I was very self-counsiouse, and still am sometimes. Thanks for the reminder!
Here’s my favorite experience:http://mammasteblog.com/2010/08/25/my-gift-of-dreaming-the-future/
*self-conscious
i remember sitting at the conference a few years ago and speaking with a whole lotta people that had those same belief systems. and we were all so superty conscious of not sounding like the crazy one until we all sounded like crazies and realized that we were all in it together.
and that we were all superconnected for some reason or another.
it’s a defining moment in my life … and helped me realize that i’m not so much different from you or you or … even you.
BUT … that we’re all really the same with just different ideas.
and that?
is pretty cool.
oh, yes! the illumination conference! i remember tons of serendipity that night! that’s so cool to know it was a turning point for you. it usually takes one or two people to open up and reveal their TRUE selves…and then everyone else feels comfortable enough to whip out their woo-woo, too {hmm….that didn’t sound quite right, lol!}
I think women, in general, often start their comment or story off with an apology. I know I’ve done it! We need to STOP doing that! But, it’s hard because I don’t believe we even think about it. It just happens.
I agree that we should stop apologizing for Woo-Woo stories. There’s a lot in this world we don’t understand. Sharing a little woo-woo is a good thing in life.
Yay you!
great point – we need to stop apologizing, period, and just be who we are. thanks, dara!
Wow, I can really relate to this. I have had so much woo-woo happening in my life that I sometimes feel embarrassed even thinking about it. Time to stop that. Thanks for sharing this piece of your soul!
giggle. growing up “woo-woo” stuff was generally found in Grandpa’s magazines that we were not allowed to look at. We didn’t. At least I didn’t. Playboy was grown up stuff.
I realized the other day that I have buried the otherworldly part of my life so deep over the last few years that I’m not sure where it went hiding. It helps to have other people to talk to about it. But yeah, I don’t want to be associated with the Trelawney appearance and I am not the sort to go dancing nakid in the woods so… either way, I’m going to work hard at digging it out. I miss knowing things and I miss my little ghostie friends.
I love reading about your angel moments. And the hearts you find everywhere. Because it reminds me that not everyone with a mystic side runs around in long skirts and fairy wings all the time.
ha! funny!
one of my favorite compliments i ever received was from a friend who said she started to believe in angels because i talk about them AND i swear like a sailor – which made her trust me more on the woo-woo stuff. she was wary of all the airy-fairy stuff, but figured if i could swear AND talk to angels, they must be real. lol!
What a scary yet liberating task! I think we need to change the woo-woo to woot-woot! It’s all good stuff…even if it feels a little woo-woo.
woo woo to woot woot!!!! love it!
I had an interesting time as I was drafting my memoir, trying to decide how much “God” should be there. There’s always a risk in going there… too much to some. Not enough to others. But I can’t deny the role faith has played in my story. Just as I can’t deny how much “real life” played a role, too. And, I’m big into woo-woo.
Realizing how many truths are universal eventually brought me back to my more traditional faith. It’s not all or nothing, right or wrong. That’s fear. Faith is like lifting a weight off our chests and learning to live (I think).
yes, great point, angie. i think oftentimes we corner ourselves into thinking we have to choose between religion and spirituality…worship or woo-woo. for me, the great aha is that it’s all intertwined.
I love that – “woo-woo warning.” Woo-woo is something I recently learned about and I think it’s hysterical. The word, I mean. As far as I’m concerned people can get as woo-woo as they want around me – the universe (and beyond) is full of inexplicable phenomena that make life curious and spectacular. Woo-woo away!
OMG….I’ve done this so much and I do it to myself as well…..time to stop this behavior and claiming our woo-woo!!!!!! empowerment is where it’s at!!!!
I love it when people share their hearts with me. And if that includes “woo-woo” then so be it! I’ve loved reading everyone posts today. So much fun getting to know so many in the class. Thanks for hosting this blog hop Liv : )
Congratulations, Liv! You’re sharing even more of your authentic self! The world is much more “woo-woo-friendly” than people imagine. I’m an angelic channel & spiritual teacher and it never ceases to amaze me how many people are open to this work. Thank you for inspiring us!
I’m a reader – astrologer, tarot, and medium (43 years, 27 years and 12 years respectively) and my shop, The Owl’s Lantern, offers classes and workshops on all the “woo-woo” topics. I talk about it on my own blog but on Facebook I’m a lot more circumspect. The “Burning Times” are never too far away and I have a lot of fundamentalist, evangelical relatives. Yeah, I’m the odd one out LOL. But during my pagan years I lost a job and had to fight the ex (custody battle) over the right to share my beliefs with our daughter. Now…I’m more on my own path…and working on a blog that incorporates All That Stuff. Thanks, Liv!
cheering….cheering for you
and your authentic heartshare courage:)
love to you in all of your shining,
Jennifer
I’m going to get or make a tshirt that says “woo-woo” on the front.
awesome! i’ll take one, too!
Make it two!
Great post, Liv! I believe that it’s important that we all step into our authenticity with what we share (whether it’s dipping our toe or jumping in feet first). I feel it is time for our Sacred Selves come forward and shine our light. There are so many people out there who are craving the deeper “woo-woo” stuff. I do. I’m a life coach and I totally incorporate the “woo-woo” for a deeper experience – and that’s why I love my work so much. And I’ve put lots of “woo” in my blog posts
Love this post and I love the woo-woo in everyone’s life!
Liv, thank you for your wisdom. I think the closer I get to living with tender authenticity, the more vulnerable I feel. That vulnerability is always accompanied with a deep love for the truest essence of who I am and hope for the world I share myself with. Your post was medicine for me today. Such great timing too! Thanks for all you do. Rachél {Creativity Tribe}