Personal development: Surrounding yourself with the right people & The Hierophant effect

When you start exploring your personal path and what it is that rings truth to you, you will eventually start moving away from the usual crowd. Why is that? Look at The Hierophant tarot card. I adore the higher vibration of it, that of a spiritual teacher, but it also shows dogmatic and conservative thinking at times. Things are done in a certain way and you best live up to that expectations. It’s a card of the mass, or in that respect, that of the sheep following the herd.
But what if you now discovered that you are IN THE WRONG herd?
Bloody hell, how to get out of that one? And should you?

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Recommendation: I adore the book "Women who run with the wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes." The story of the little duckling depicts the feeling of 'not fitting in' very well. Finding your soul family and supporters is tremendously important. 
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Anyway, back to you being in the wrong herd. The minute you are going to start exploring and start to think differently than the crowd, this will envoke resistance. Instead of them supporting you in the individual process, they will start telling you ‘to not have silly ideas’, and ‘best approach this realistically’ and what on earth are you thinking anyway?

Not very helpful and might even shut you down in years, thinking: ‘I am silly’. ‘It can never happen’ and more of those defeating lines.
I once had a horrible date where it went wrong from the first minute we met (he was working in the law department), and I said something along the lines of ‘well, we are all individuals with our own talents...’ In which he started telling me how WRONG I was and did I not know my history and how wars were started and that people cannot think for themselves and how we are all sheep...! It went downhill from there.

I think it’s a great example of the split we make between being ourselves and believing in all we have to offer (because you do!), versus what the mass beliefs and wishes of fitting into society. I belief we are all authentic creatures and are capable of living a blessed, creative life that comes from our inner core and who we are. There are really always people who do feel like you do and do love to get their heads above the corn field!

Coloured Scottish Sheep 

What you need is people who support you in your exploring of the world. I’m not saying you need to ditch all your current friends, but if you notice they only slam your ideas and plans down, then do not share all of it until it’s done or put into the world or you are secure enough about yourself and talents to discuss it and stand your ground. It will discourage you and make you belief you indeed are ‘small’ and you have no ability to change your life and shine from the inside if you don't get the encouragement. So just protect yourself & mind your personal boundaries (4 of pentacles). 

So if you are exploring something new (be it creative endeavours, dreams of publications with your name on it, finding out about new belief systems & exploring, getting into the spiritual life or wanting to dance naked under the moon), make sure you attract and be with people who are also into this or are open to you. They will help you grow, make you feel confident and give you the feeling you can be exactly who you want to and that it is all good. And it is!

Good luck J

Please share your stories &  how you have dealt with this