Truthfully… about me

Following from an amazing photo shoot in the NSW Blue Mountains with Sarah Keen of Truthfully, she sent me some of the most interesting interview questions I have ever experienced… this is my essay in reply.

I am an Intuitive Shadow-Walker, Inner-Journey-Guide, Sacred-Space-Holder. But let’s call it what it is: I am a Sh!t-Shoveler (except I bring the excavator instead).

I work with awesome people who have accepted that they are responsible for the problems in their life AND that they are the beautiful and amazing solutions too.

By uncovering their strengths and values through spiritual growth and personal development, I guide them from sinking in overwhelm, confusion, disillusionment, and frustration to living with confidence, certainty, inspiration, and flow.

I am very privileged that my work allows me to connect with people at their very core. Of course, each person chooses – consciously or unconsciously – how they show up and how much of themselves they want to share with me, but even at the smallest level they have to be willing to be seen beyond their masks, otherwise they would never choose to come to me as a client in the first place. 

I connect with a lot of people around the world through Facebook groups; local entrepreneurs through networking events; and friends whom I collaborate and/or bounce ideas around with online and in real life.

Although I am an introvert, I very much experience myself through relationships, so authentic connections are what fill my joy-love-cup up on a regular basis.

I love love love robust juicy conversations about spirituality and all the things that make humans tick – whether referring to world politics, ethical business, parenting ideals, relationship journeys, or anything else, exploring our inner-world is my playground and work-space!

I used to hold a lot of shame and guilt around my actions and feelings which prevented me from sharing authentically, but on my own healing journey I have embodied deep levels of self-trust and integration around my ‘positives’ and ‘negatives’, my strengths and challenges, my gifts and flaws. So now, whether with clients or friends, I am an open book.

I gratefully share about all aspects of my life, especially the ‘darker’ or more challenging topics (such as depression, self-doubt, lack of worth etc), because I feel it is important to remove the stigma and normalise conversing about these issues which affect far more of us than many may realise.

I find most people open up to me readily and are eager to share. Sometimes I do sense that someone is holding back from uncertainty or feeling vulnerable, so I meet them where they’re at and do what I can to help them feel supported from there.

I feel that people share with me because of my personal energy – amplified by the opportunity through the work I do. Clients have told me that it was after meeting me and feeling that they would be safe being vulnerable with me, that they then sought out my services.

Because I sense energy, when I pick up on an incongruence between what people are feeling, saying, and doing, I may (depending on circumstances) gently offer them an opening to go deeper than the surface conversation.

Some people don’t want to go there and I fully respect that. But many times, people feel so relieved to be SEEN beyond the surface that they invite me in and we connect from there.

For example, a mum who is juggling her business and children and feeling unsupported and/or guilty might make an off-hand comment about her partner and/or the stress in her life, and instead of glossing over it (bypassing or placating), I open my heart-energy to her and ask a light question about her place in things, and suddenly she recognises that she doesn’t have to hold the pretence with me and can relax more into herself.… and a whole different conversation ensues.

I love love love when people share their true selves with me. I feel so honoured to be allowed into people’s inner-world, whether through my work or private life.

I have a deep love for humanity and holding space for each person’s greatest potential, so anytime I am offered insight into someone’s personal realm is a true privilege.

The biggest reasons people avoid telling me things are guilt and shame. These emotions colour everything we feel with a deeper level of harm, and I can sense it in the person’s energy when speaking with them.

The great paradox is that most people hide behind their guilt/shame when what they deeply crave is to be seen beyond those masks.

The personal truths that I observe through people’s actions and energy (as opposed to what they say) is mostly around how centred they are within themselves – how connected they are to their TRUE selves – their truth and values, rather than the layers of beliefs they have taken on because of family, society, other influences.

There is a certain crystalline clarity and lightness of being around those who are centred with themselves.

I do love observing others’ interactions, the ‘dance’ of emotions, beliefs, words, and actions between multiple people. The personal truths which show clearly to me in observing this comes down to how embodied they are – how aligned their bodies, minds, hearts, and souls… do they slip in and out of different masks based on who they’re interacting with, or do they remain true to themselves even as they consciously lean in/out of a situation?

Humans are social creatures who can use relationships as a path to understanding themselves… if we go beyond venting and gossiping to true heart-felt conversation.

Being able to share our story – without fear of being judged – is a rare but important part of unpacking our ideas and beliefs. To be supported as we look at each childhood belief which is affecting our life now, and decide what serves us and can be amplified, and what doesn’t serve us and can be healed and released, is profound and life-changing.

This witnessing – having someone understand our pain and celebrate our win – touches us at the deepest part of who we are and how we experience our impact on the world. This is the core of the work I do.

I bring ALL of my true self to my work, because the integrity I stand in directly affects my clients who are inviting me into their energy space.

Unlike what most people may assume, this doesn’t mean that I have to be 100% happy and sparkly all of the time… because emotional authenticity is more important than the emotion itself.

Being centred in my divine humanity (flaws and all) is the most important thing I can do in how I serve others. In this space, my intuition is at its strongest, my mind the clearest, and my heart the most compassionate. And that is what I choose to bring to my clients every day.

I wish for people to recognise the amazing and fulfilling life they can create if they are willing to go on the journey of inner-awareness. This doesn’t mean that challenges don’t happen and everything is unicorns-and-rainbows ever after – but it does mean that their ability to ride the highs and lows comes with greater ease, that they find more joy and peace in all the little things, and that life just becomes so much more freaking awesome.

One of the most important things to understand on the personal development journey is that no one can do the work and find the answers but you. BUT you also do not have to do it on your own. In fact, taking full responsibility for yourself WHILE allowing others to support you creates a synergistic flow that supports healing much faster and deeper.

© Artemiss Keyhani, 2021
Photo: Sarah Keen @Truthfullyau

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