Uncover your Iconic Trait and Unleash Your Own Creative Spiritual Revolution

Goodmorning Soul-Filled Bloggers!
Let’s connect today and uncover your Iconic Trait!

To start us off, what would you like to know about YOUR ICONIC TRAIT?

Good morning Laura! So happy to have you here today. Looking forward to this conversation and digging into this topic with you.

I’m so thankful for my connection with you (having met on Facebook in December) — you have become a huge inspiration for me and my own creative soul. “Letting inspiration be your compass” is one of my favorite phrases.

I’d love it if you’d share a bit about your own Iconic Trait and how it is leading YOU.
(I have a bunch of other questions too…but I’ll start there.)

Putting a feather behind my ear (that I found on my walk the other day) to honor this day with you.

more soon, Heather

I’m in! How do I uncover my Iconic Trait?

Laura –I just completed your quiz [Laura's quiz is via the link in the article above].

It tells me I am a “Journey Walker” — which makes me laugh, b/c it’s sooooo true. This is part of the description: “You are searching to find your purpose and heal all the pieces that have disconnected you from your truth. Your great power is your desire and passion for learning and discovering. You might take this quality for granted, but know that it is desire and passion that creates worlds.”

One of the first articles I ever published on my “Soul-filled Life” entrepreneurial coaching journey was called “Success in the Step by Step Journey” ! I’ve always felt that when I get all bunched up that I need to remember to simply take the next step to be on my path. I also think this is good advice for anyone.

But this now has me curious…what are the other Spirit Types? And did you create these or are they from a source? And what is your type?

Hi Heather,

I love that feathers are showing up on your path!

The Iconic Trait has a formula, it is a combination of what is natural and brilliant about a person plus the deep challenge that person experiences in their life. When these two elements are brought together they create a magnetic power, that can be identified as their Iconic Trait.

My own Iconic Trait is a blend of my thriving creative spirit, which is very natural for me, plus
My challenge with beauty and being seen fully.

So my Iconic Trait is a blend of unique beauty with my thriving creative spirit.

For you to figure out your own Iconic Trait, ask yourself these 2 questions:
1. What is naturally incredible about YOU?
2. What has challenged you the most in your life?

Put these two together and you have the makings of your Iconic Trait!

Me too! Journey Walker. Not sure what I expected, but I felt pleasantly surprised by its accuracy. Looking at the iconic traits above makes me want to buy new funky glasses…hehehe

oooo, good questions.

I am going to do some journaling on those this morning.

And….feathers. I have been finding *clumps* of feathers on my walks lately. Is there any particular shamanic meaning to finding feathers in clumps? It’s been over several months (so I don’t think it’s shedding season or anything, it’s been wintery)

Dear Laura,
I’ve been reading your Shaman’s Palette page. I feel like you’re telling my story. Lack of clarity. deep resonation. Just yesterday I was stumbling over my words to describe what I do. I often just give the easy “socially acceptable” answer. I teach English. But spirit has been nudging me along to come out of the spiritual closet and show myself/express myself and send love in new ways. I just wanted to say it’s nice to meet you. Thank you Heather for sharing Laura with us!

Thanks for being here Mary Kay. And for sharing so honestly about where you are on your journey. I am in complete empathy with you. So much of my life I felt I was giving “socially acceptable” answers to the never ending questions “what do you do?” Blah. Back when I was doing a “J.O.B.” it ranged from dull to painful to constantly dive into a conversation about all the aspects of something that wasn’t a true match for my true “iconic” self.

My true self is fed by the path of discovery and diving into the deeper questions about why are we here? And how can we make the most of this time that feeds our spirits.

So hosting Laura and other entrepreneurs is definitely part of my own iconic trait. And souls like you help me to live that by caring and participating. So thank YOU. I am feeling your love. Glad your spirit is nudging you.

Heather, I love hearing your Creative Spirit – it’s SO on target for who you are! It’s one of the many reasons I love hanging out with you…you’re always searching and growing and discovering!

Laura, I really enjoyed your video and the quiz, as well as exploring your site. You have clearly found a lovely way of combining your love of art and creativity with your business side; what an inspiration! I’d love to hear more about your own journey to get where you are today.

I had such a good time doing this quiz, Laura…and discovered that my Creative Spirit is ‘Spirit Leader’. I was surprised at how much I resonated with that…and how much I deeply felt understood.

Laura, I am completely intrigued by the idea of combining Creative Spirit and Iconic Trait…I’d love to know how to discover my Iconic Trait. Based on your two questions below, I’d respond that 1) I have a strong connection with the Divine and when I’m connected, can easily create and manifest and feel pure joy, and 2) the biggest challenge for me has been trusting myself and being authentic, vulnerable, and connected with others. How can I go deeper into learning how to define my Iconic Trait?

Thanks again!

Warmly,
Sue

Mary Kay, if you’re feeling moved to buy funky new glasses, that seems to be spirit-guided!

Hi, Laura,

I keep reading my Creative Spirit type (Spirit Leader), and have more and more questions coming up…I really LOVE this!

And reading the questions here on the blog today (thanks again, Heather!) is inspiring me to explore this even more.

One question that I deal with on a regular basis (and it was lovely to see it on the write-up, too) is how to stay connected with spirit as well as staying connected with the earth world. When I am completely grounded and connected with spirit, things seem so easy…it feels like things take no effort at all. I literally feel like I’m dancing through the day…with ease and joy and peace. Even when I’m working, it doesn’t feel like work, and work doesn’t seem to take very long. And then my head gets involved and starts telling me that I should be planning more, doing more, taking more action…and that’s when I start feeling like I’m struggling. My ‘dancing through the day’ approach seems almost ‘irresponsible and lazy,’ if that makes any sense.

Do you have any suggestions about how to maintain that connection with spirit as well as taking action in the earth world? I start feeling fearful that I’m not doing enough in the world, I worry that I won’t make enough money, or that I ‘should’ be doing more.

All that being said, I much prefer dancing through the day.

Warmly,
Sue

I think the biggest obstacle to my iconic trait is my willingness to take a risk on/with myself.

I really like your description of this magnetic experience of being radiant– or being with someone who is radiant.

Thanks,
Jane

Hi Mary Kay,

Lovely to meet you!
One of the great challenges for creative spiritual people is being able to connect and communicate what they do, because it is usually intangible in the beginning.

Because this is a challenge, it holds the potential to be part of your Iconic Trait!

For yourself, I’d like to invite you explore this challenge even further, because my sense is the deeper you go into understanding what you do and offer the more you will claim your Iconic Trait and your power in this world.

The Shaman’s Palette is a great place to look. So of course I recommend that (http://www.soulartstudio.com/shaman)

But here are some questions for you:
1. If I didn’t worry about how it sounded, what would I say that I do?
2. If I didn’t worry about what the perceived value is, what would I say that I do?

enjoy!

Yes! Heather part of your Iconic trait for sure is creating innovative platforms for spiritual people to gather and feel like they have a place to BE in this world.

I bet this is a result of feeling like you didn’t have a place to BE in this world (hence your challenge) and therefore you created something that is uniquely you!

The blog cafe is a perfect example of this.

I have always associated feathers with a indication that I am on track.

On some level I feel like we are all migrating to a New Paradigm, a place we’ve been before but haven’t been for a while.
When I see feathers, I feel like I’m receiving a message that I’m on the path towards the New Paradigm, I’m on the way HOME!

When it comes to Shamanic Symbols, the best thing to do is tune into yourself and ask what it means to you? What story or metaphor does the symbol stir inside of you?

Exploring your Iconic Trait is a spiritual opportunity!

The deeper you go the more empowered and magnetic you become.

To know you are ready to discover your Iconic Trait, here are some more questions to play with today…

1. What are my thoughts and feelings about being seen and known?
2. What do you I want to be known for?
3. If someone could really see me for who I really am, what would they see?

Hi Laura. I’ve loved getting to know you and your incredible art through the Soul Cafe this morning. I took your Creative Spirit quiz and learned (to my surprise) that I’m a Spirit Leader. The part that really resonated was this: “Your greatest challenge: Spirit Leaders are often living between two worlds, the spirit world and the earth world. Your greatest challenge is uniting these two worlds. When they are disconnected in any way you will feel problems with money, health or relationships.” This is true. How do you recommend bridging those worlds with authenticity? Thank you — and for all you and Heather are doing to remind us all to think of our spirits first…

This is so cool!

Laura, I love your artistry and find it so inspiring. I’ve just taken your quiz and like Sue and others, I am a “Spirit Leader.” Excellent quiz !! I really enjoyed your creation …

Also, gorgeous video. Now onto discovering my Iconic Trait … another AMAZING idea …

Great posts today, Heather !!

Thanks so much,
Cherry

Hi Heather – yep. me too. journey walker! Totally resonated! And great question re the other types!

HI Laura!

Holy smokes. This discussion is great fun today. (Thanks Heather for the head’s up about it.) The video was so cool to watch – just loved the feel of it, and the music. Thanks for sharing that Laura.

I’m really enjoying everyone’s comments, and their interest in figuring this out for themselves. I enjoyed the quiz, and found that my head could pick 2 or 3 options, my heart was pretty much clear. Even to the point of me saying ‘are you sure?’ and yep – apparently it was sure.

I ended up with Journey Walker, and really resonated with it, especially the picture – sounds odd to say – but I am very sure that I’m the creature in the middle of the 3! And I find I’m super curious about that. Is there anything more you could say about that photo?

Alex

Thanks for being here Charry!
I can’t wait to hear what you discover in exploring your iconic traits.

Laura– I LOVE that interpretation. I am going to adopt that “When I see feathers, I feel like I’m receiving a message that I’m on the path towards the New Paradigm, I’m on the way HOME!”

Finding the clumps of feathers feels very affirming. As if I am not traveling the path homeward alone.

Hi Jane,

Great awareness!

Now, let’s take it a step further…
in order for you to claim the powers of your Iconic Trait, you will have to take the journey through this challenge.

So, what is one risk you can take in your life today?

I bet you can think of something right away, it might be scary or it might be simple.
Either way start nudging yourself towards the risk you are being called to take!

This will strengthen your spirit and build your Iconic Trait.

Hello Mary Kay,

The first step to uncovering your Iconic Trait is to identify what is naturally unique about you.
That part of yourself that is always there, no matter what. that part of you that is totally in its element.

Then, I want you think about your greatest life challenge, the thing that continuously spirals in your life, the thing that you thought you had dealt with but then it shows up again in another way.

The formula for your Iconic Trait is:

Your Natural Brilliance + Your life Challenge = Your Iconic Trait.

the funny thing is you will move through the same challenge many times, because it is part of the fuel for your What you are ultimately here to be and contribute.

Hi Alex,

That is fantastic!

The creature you are speaking about was a sculpture I created, it came in a dream, and then the following day I found sticks that made the legs and head. It felt like that creature already existed and it wanted me to give it form.

The Journey Walker image is about allowing your spirit to be sparked, letting yourself move with the life that matches your rhythm and joy.

Here are some questions for you to ponder:

1. What really sparks your spirit?
2. What does your TRUE HOME look like and feel like?
3. What do you need in order to go home?
4. What wants to be brought to life through you?

What an inspiring and gorgeous video Laura!!!
I tried to sign up for your quiz – CAN’T wait to explore my Iconic Trait! – but somehow, haven’t gotten the email with the quiz…I am having email trouble today, so will keep checking.
Love the work you’re doing in the world – thank you for the inspiration!

Hi Sue,

Yes I definitely have suggestions for this.

I see creative spiritual people getting tripped up in two spots:
1. they think who they are isn’t enough so they try to be someone else or do things the way someone else would do them in order to be okay.
2. they don’t take care of the structure, organization and systems of things and thus all their creative spiritual energy never has a place to land and turn into real world wealth and success.

To solve these two problems and still maintain a creative spirit requires some discipline.

There is a great quote by my favorite dancer Gabrille Roth, she says “It takes great discipline to be a Free Spirit.”

This is so true.

Here are my suggestions:
1. Make the decision that who you are is enough!
2. Remind yourself daily of the value you offer this world just by being yourself.
3. Get organized! This sounds opposite to the free spirit, but in my experience if things are chaotic the free spirit gets flattened. When you are organized and clear you are taking care of your spirit and it can soar!
4. Make the commitment to give yourself free time, that you don’t have to justify what you do during that time. For example I like to have at least 2 hours a day that I can do absolutely NOTHING! or I can create, or whatever I feel like, but I don’t have to prove anything or show anything.

Try these things to start and you’ll be well on your way to clearing the things that stump you.

I believe in you!!

Hi Cherry,

Lovely to meet you here on Heather’s Soul-filled Cafe!

I can see you as a Spirit Leader.
Without ever having met in person, I can tell that you stand as a light for others and carve pathways so others have a place to travel deeper into themselves.

Wishing you the very best and lots of courage to keep moving in the direction you are called. You have a BIG purpose!

Yes Heather!
You are taking those powerful steps on your journey.

I sense a big part of your purpose is creating platforms that allow the voice of spirit to be heard.

Your quest to hear your own spirit has created the desire in you to create these platforms.
Honor that brilliant part of you that knows that this is part of your purpose, the seeking part of you is needed to create enough desire in you to claim that purpose

Laura — Alex’s question has me very curious about the other types. How many are there? Do you have them listed somewhere? Would love to see the other images, as the one for the Journey Walker was so unique.

Excellent Sue!

To take this deeper, you are going to have to take this into your body.
What I mean is, the beginning stage of discovering your Iconic Trait is thinking about it, dreaming about it, imagining it, then….

It is time to give it an earthly experience.

Here are some questions to take it further and into physical reality:

1. What is one action you can take to strengthen your courage?
2. What do you feel in your body when you imagine going for your dreams and trusting your connections with others and this world?
3. As you feel this in your body, take a deep breath and bring life giving air into that part of your body.
4. Ask the brilliant part of yourself: What can I do to honor you?
5. Make the commitment to take the action you are called to take.

Bridging those two worlds is the Shamanic Path of the Spirit Leader.

This is where you find your power. You must take the journey to bridge these two worlds.

Sometimes you need a shaman to show you how to bridge the two worlds, and other times you need to trust yourself enough to take the steps in the direction your spirit is calling you.

For myself personally I have bridged the two worlds by traveling deeply in both earth and spirit.
I listen closely to both sides and see them as a Divine Love Affair, I’m always trying to bring them together so they can be in relationship!

When you tune into your spirit, what do you notice?
When you tune into the earthly world, what do you notice?
What is something you can do that can bring them together?

New Funky Glasses sounds like fun!

hmmm. So interesting.
Baeth Davis (The Hand Analyst) had similar sentiments about Cherry and her life purpose (that it’s BIG)

Beautiful, Laura !!

Thank you so much.

I LOVE it!

Cherry

The Creative Spirit types are not listed. There are 5.

There is another free quiz, called ‘where are you on the Creative Spiritual Journey’ and there are 8 stages of the journey that are listed on my website: http://www.soulartstudio.com/about-you.php

Hey! Thanks Laura! That is really helpful. Thank you for the great questions. I notice I don’t have an immediate answer at all to any of them. Which is good. I am going to really sit with them meditatively and see what comes up.

How cool to have created that sculpture. It really speaks to me a lot. It ‘is’ me somehow. I am really honoured to experience it!

Alex

Keep checking and let me know.
As far as I know everything is running smoothly technically.
But if there is a glitch I definitely want to sort that out

Hi, Laura,

Wonderful suggestions!

And the ‘get organized’ part is great…you wouldn’t know this, but I teach people how to clear out their clutter and get organized, from a holistic standpoint. My main message is that our outer world reflects our inner world, and when we have chaos on the outside, the inside is feeling the same way. So I loved that you mentioned it.

I especially love the idea of giving myself complete permission to have a LOT of free time every single day, because that’s what my soul seems to truly want. And then when I feel inspired to work on something, it happens very quickly, almost without effort.

My biggest challenge has been trusting that this approach (lots of free time and following my inner guidance about when and how to ‘get things done’) is enough. That my way of doing things, which often looks very simple and low key, is ENOUGH.

Thank you for your wonderful suggestions!

Warmly,
Sue

Love these questions, Laura! I can’t wait to explore them…and really FEEL them in my body!

Ooooo, this quiz was fun, too! I discovered I’m at stage 5, Creating Your Spirit Career…and that feels perfect, too.

This has been a lot of fun connecting with all of YOU today!
Thanks for sharing your journey and exploring Soul Art with me today.

Thanks Heather for creating this innovative platform for creative spirits to find each other.

from my creative heart to yours,
Laura

Just took Quiz #2 also. Laura — you are pure genious with these Quizzes!
Wow — I was surprised by the outcome. I got an 8, Living Your Spirit Legend. Laura you and I have discussed 2011 being a blossoming year for my spirit, but wow, it was affirming to see that. Of course the part of me that’s the “Journey Walker” is like, “nu-uh…I’ve got a long road to travel.” Ha. But it does feel like I have the moving piece in place, now it’s about creating that “focused contribution” — as your results describe:
“There is a peacefulness within you because you have finally surrendered to your own wholeness. It is as if you have been traveling for so long to meet your lover, and now you have met and you can continue your journey together.”

It’s affirming to alot of the building I have been doing over the past several years — with this website, finding a like minded tribe, creating the Soul-filled Cafe, putting out a weekly newsletter that is a “platform” (using your word) for my creative spirit.

hmm…will have to ponder this more.

Laura — this day has been pure richness of spirit. Thank you so much for these awesome leading questions and quizzes for the community. Love it! You are such a wonderful leader for creative spirits.

Thanks for being part of it. So much fun hosting you today Laura!
You are a gifted and intuitive guide.

Looking forward to unveiling our next co-creative project…soul art tv interview!

hugs.

WOW!!!!! This whole conversations is speaking to my inner core! Thank you Sue for your openness and authenticity. LOVE the Gabrille Roth quote. Gonna write that down and let it lead me into alignment in 2011. Just what I needed. Just what I needed. holy buckets. Deep breath. I am enough. Let’s get organized! I’ve been getting the message lately to do some major purging of clutter. My spirit is getting weighed down by the path I’ve already covered. It’s time to say good-bye to the beloved old and make some room for the exciting what’s to come. I know exactly what Sue was saying about trusting the approach of spirit-love and planned free time. I get criticism sometimes for doing what honors my spirit but I just try and stay strong and send them love and do what is best for me anyway. And it’s true in half the time I get lots done then, because I sharpened the saw!!!!!

love, love, love, sending you all love. Thank you again to Heather for creating this space to share the journey and Laura for sharing your gifts with us. I look forward to getting to know you better. You feel like a big soul sister!
love,
Mary Kay Maas
http://www.servicesmk.com
http://www.singtolearnesl.com

You’re amazing. Your website is gorgeous. I want to go there just to look at the pretty colors and feel it’s beautiful energy. Thank you for having the courage to put yourself and your gifts out there. It encourages me to let my little light shine too! Bless you, sister. Bless you.