The Vulnerability of Being Seen

A second coming out.

For most of my life, I’ve danced in and out of shadows, sometimes seeking comfort, other times seeking safety. Hiding has been second nature. Not because I didn’t want to be seen, but because I feared what being seen might mean.

Rejection.
Failure.
Judgment.
Being perceived as anything other than the version others had decided I was.

This is a journey I know intimately.

There were so many opportunities I didn’t take, not because I wasn’t capable, but because I didn’t believe I was worthy. I quietened my voice. I adapted. I became who I thought people needed me to be. I made myself smaller, because staying small felt safer than daring to chase dreams that felt impossible, out of reach, and never meant for me.

Hiding in Plain Sight

People often perceived me as confident, but that was a mask. A projection. A survival skill. I knew how to mirror back what others expected of me, because it protected me from the deeper truth: I didn’t believe I belonged.

Unravelling the Past

It’s taken years of unravelling imprinted opinions, rewriting narratives, and walking through shadow after shadow to rediscover myself. And through it all, one thing has remained unchanged, my heart. She has always been kind. Always wanted to see the good in others and be the good in the world. Even when it hurt. Even when it cost me parts of myself.

They were painful lessons, but they were mine. And they taught me that there is no quick fix, no one-size-fits-all path. What heals one person may not work for another. And it’s not my place to fix, to please, or to mould myself into someone I’m not.

Despite everything I’ve overcome, the hurdles, the heartbreaks, the countless rebirths, vulnerability still scares me.

Dreaming in the Dark

Starting my business, Sticks & Stones, has been a living example of that. I honoured a long-held dream. I nurtured it quietly, secretly, building it slowly, lovingly… in the shadows.

Why?
Shame.
Fear.
Doubt.

Shame that those closest to me wouldn’t understand, or worse, would judge. Shame that I didn’t feel safe being fully authentic with people I love.
Fear of putting myself out there, of being visible.
Fear of failure.
Fear of success, because then what?
And the doubt, oh, the doubt. That insidious voice that whispers you're not good enough. Who needs enemies when your own mind knows all your insecurities?

There have been many moments of light, but also heavy, lonely ones. Because when you keep your dreams to yourself, you carry both the joy and the weight alone.

Choosing to Be Seen

But this blog, this space, is where I choose something different.

I choose honesty.
I choose surrender.
I choose to show up fully.

Not just online. But in real life.

My Second Coming Out

Some might call this exposure therapy. I think of it as my second coming out, not about who I love, but how I love. How I live. How I believe in magic, in the guidance of the stars, in the healing energy of nature, and in the beauty of mother earth’s treasures, crystals.

There is no shame in being seen.
There is power in softness, in planting seeds for a future shaped by your heart and carved by your hands.

This is me, bare, grounded, and ready.
Rooted in truth. Reaching toward the light.

An Unexpected Blessing: Oracle Insight
After writing this, I did what I often do when I’m seeking confirmation from the universe, I reached for my oracle deck. I read my blog aloud, shuffled the cards, and pulled one intuitively.

Pegasus – Card 30
“Break free, dear one, spread wide and far for you aren’t containable — you are limitless.”

The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. The message? Unmistakable. I’m being called to rise, to trust, to leap, even when I don’t feel ready.

The guidebook said:
“You are on the cusp of an expansion… While you may not know where this journey will lead, you are willing to take the first step toward what may be one of the most important moments of your life.”

This card mirrored my entire blog, proof that even when we’re unsure, scared, or quiet, Spirit is always listening. And now, I am too.

Have you ever hidden a dream out of fear? I’d love to hear your story in the comments, or connect with me over on Instagram @sticksandstones.store