I remember 27 years ago when I was first forced to look inward. A brown patch had formed on my arm seemingly from nowhere. Then there were more and more, until my arms and legs looked like I was covered in permanent bruises. I went to the GP who happened to also be a dermatologist, and she looked at the patches with alarm.
After tests, I discovered I had developed a form of scleroderma where, in a response to life, I had literally become thick skinned. The brown patches were mass dumpings of collagen into my system which, if they travelled inward, could mean my major organs would harden and eventually fail.
I wasn’t prepared for this fate to become a real possibility. I decided to dedicate my time looking inward for answers.
I was reading the now-famous book The Body Keeps the Score when I came across a fascinating insight: research reveals that “the only way we can consciously access the emotional brain is through self-awareness” (Van Der Kolk, 2015). This means that by activating the part of the brain that encourages introspection, we can truly feel and understand what we’re experiencing. Simply looking outward to the external world isn’t enough; meaningful change requires us to look inward.
This concept resonates deeply when you think about the energy of 2025. Numerologically, 2025 is a ‘9’ year (2+0+2+5=9). If we were to personify the energy of the ‘9,’ it would be someone who looks deeply within themselves and others in search of truth. This person wouldn’t just glance at the surface—they’d pierce through to your soul, uncovering who you truly are. For them, shadows wouldn’t symbolize weakness but instead serve as gateways to untapped strength. They’d have an uncanny ability to perceive your blocks and insecurities, almost as if you were wearing a sign listing your vulnerabilities. Their energy might feel intimidating, like someone who could read your deepest thoughts with unnerving accuracy.
The ‘9’ persona wouldn’t engage in trivial or superficial chatter. They’d be profoundly introspective, preferring meaningful conversations that challenge you to confront what’s unresolved. They’d encourage closure, urging you to release what no longer serves you and to embrace transformation. Picture them as a friend with x-ray glasses—able to see directly into your soul, stripping away pretence with compassion but also firm resolve.
Engaging with this energy would require depth and honesty. It’s not for small talk or casual interaction. The ‘9’ year demands substance, calling on you to face your shadows, reflect on your inner truths, and let go of what’s run its course. If you’re not ready to meet this energy with openness and sincerity, it might feel overwhelming—but if you are, it has the power to transform you.
The energy of the year therefore invites you to explore inwardly to gain the most from it. How do you do that? “Practicing mindfulness calms down the sympathetic nervous system, so that you are less likely to be thrown into fight or flight…mindfulness has been shown to have a positive effect on numerous psychiatric, psychosomatic, and stress-related symptoms, including depression and chronic pain” (Van Der Kolk, 2015).
My body after a dedicated period of looking inward instead of outward for answers, stabilised and, to this day, my affliction has stayed within my skin and hasn’t travelled towards my major organs.
This article is about the profound journey of looking inward and letting our shadows guide us toward growth.
Common responses I hear from clients include fear of facing their shadows, uncertainty about how to begin the inner work, or feeling overwhelmed by what they might discover. Some have spent years looking outward for answers, only to find that the wisdom they needed was within all along.
Share your experiences with inner work and shadow exploration - what unexpected insights or healing have you discovered when you've had the courage to look deeper? What has helped you stay committed to this inner journey?
Give the Soul Directed Relationships Meditation a go, even if you’ve never done meditation before – just follow the words.
When the Orphan energy is active, you wait for the rescue that never happened, you feel lost, don’t know where you fit in, you settle for less than you want and you desperately want to go ‘home’ but you don’t know where home is.
The Orphan energy chooses you to create the ultimate rescue, the connection to the self, beyond self-abandonment and into interdependence, the safe, secure world of true self-esteem and value.
When the Lover energy is active, your soul is at odds with your careful ego. You live a life switching between conquering fear, taking risks and the excitement of your consciousness expanding, followed by flopping back into the safety of what you know.
The Lover energy chooses you to connect with your personal source of power that’s not a climb for position or authority, not a power over another but real power - the power within.
When the King energy is active, your inner world is conflicted. Each time you step into your own rules, you hear the voice of the King’s shadow – the tyrant suggesting you are less than, how you’ll never live up to expectations and the weakling ‘prince’ who doesn’t protect your new path.
The solution is to step into the energy of the true King, the matured ‘male’ energy offering centred, confident direction from deep within. The unconscious pressure to ‘fit in’ evaporates as you step into your own leadership. .
You’ve looked around, decided what you like, made judgements and now you’re going out on your own. Does what you want match with others or should you just become what you think they want?
This stage is answered through the process of Creating Your Own Values, by using your Queen Energy.
I remember 27 years ago when I was first forced to look inward. A brown patch had formed on my arm seemingly from nowhere. Then there were more and more, until my arms and legs looked like I was covered in permanent bruises. I went to the GP who happened to also be a dermatologist, and she looked at the patches with alarm.
After tests, I discovered I had developed a form of scleroderma where, in a response to life, I had literally become thick skinned. The brown patches were mass dumpings of collagen into my system which, if they travelled inward, could mean my major organs would harden and eventually fail.
I wasn’t prepared for this fate to become a real possibility. I decided to dedicate my time looking inward for answers.
I was reading the now-famous book The Body Keeps the Score when I came across a fascinating insight: research reveals that “the only way we can consciously access the emotional brain is through self-awareness” (Van Der Kolk, 2015). This means that by activating the part of the brain that encourages introspection, we can truly feel and understand what we’re experiencing. Simply looking outward to the external world isn’t enough; meaningful change requires us to look inward.
This concept resonates deeply when you think about the energy of 2025. Numerologically, 2025 is a ‘9’ year (2+0+2+5=9). If we were to personify the energy of the ‘9,’ it would be someone who looks deeply within themselves and others in search of truth. This person wouldn’t just glance at the surface—they’d pierce through to your soul, uncovering who you truly are. For them, shadows wouldn’t symbolize weakness but instead serve as gateways to untapped strength. They’d have an uncanny ability to perceive your blocks and insecurities, almost as if you were wearing a sign listing your vulnerabilities. Their energy might feel intimidating, like someone who could read your deepest thoughts with unnerving accuracy.
The ‘9’ persona wouldn’t engage in trivial or superficial chatter. They’d be profoundly introspective, preferring meaningful conversations that challenge you to confront what’s unresolved. They’d encourage closure, urging you to release what no longer serves you and to embrace transformation. Picture them as a friend with x-ray glasses—able to see directly into your soul, stripping away pretence with compassion but also firm resolve.
Engaging with this energy would require depth and honesty. It’s not for small talk or casual interaction. The ‘9’ year demands substance, calling on you to face your shadows, reflect on your inner truths, and let go of what’s run its course. If you’re not ready to meet this energy with openness and sincerity, it might feel overwhelming—but if you are, it has the power to transform you.
The energy of the year therefore invites you to explore inwardly to gain the most from it. How do you do that? “Practicing mindfulness calms down the sympathetic nervous system, so that you are less likely to be thrown into fight or flight…mindfulness has been shown to have a positive effect on numerous psychiatric, psychosomatic, and stress-related symptoms, including depression and chronic pain” (Van Der Kolk, 2015).
My body after a dedicated period of looking inward instead of outward for answers, stabilised and, to this day, my affliction has stayed within my skin and hasn’t travelled towards my major organs.
This article is about the profound journey of looking inward and letting our shadows guide us toward growth.
Common responses I hear from clients include fear of facing their shadows, uncertainty about how to begin the inner work, or feeling overwhelmed by what they might discover. Some have spent years looking outward for answers, only to find that the wisdom they needed was within all along.
Share your experiences with inner work and shadow exploration - what unexpected insights or healing have you discovered when you've had the courage to look deeper? What has helped you stay committed to this inner journey?
Discuss this Article with me:
A new episode of the Trust Your Gut Series is released every Saturday at 4pm (UK time) and then I’ll join you in the community at 4:30 to help you interpret the insights you’ve gained.
Join me in the comments section this week so we can explore these insights together, and during the first week after publication I will personally respond to your thoughts and questions.
>>Click here to discuss this episode with me in the Private Facebook Group
Discuss this Article with me:
A new episode of the Trust Your Gut Series is released every Saturday at 4pm (UK time) and then I’ll join you in the community at 4:30 to help you interpret the insights you’ve gained.
Join me in the comments section this week so we can explore these insights together, and during the first week after publication I will personally respond to your thoughts and questions.
>>Click here to discuss this episode with me in the Private Facebook Group
Give the Soul Directed Relationships Meditation a go, even if you’ve never done meditation before – just follow the words.
When the Orphan energy is active, you wait for the rescue that never happened, you feel lost, don’t know where you fit in, you settle for less than you want and you desperately want to go ‘home’ but you don’t know where home is.
The Orphan energy chooses you to create the ultimate rescue, the connection to the self, beyond self-abandonment and into interdependence, the safe, secure world of true self-esteem and value.
Here's how:
The first one is arguably the most important
My 2025 & YOU course offers powerful meditation processes specifically designed to help sensitives and empaths navigate these profound energetic shifts. Through guided inner work, you'll learn to:
Go here for more details on the 2025 & YOU course and discover how to work with 2025's transformative '9' energy rather than feeling overwhelmed by it.
In this content-packed, free On-Demand Workshop, you will learn:
In this content-packed, free On-Demand Workshop, you will learn:
In this content-packed, free On-Demand Workshop, you will learn:
Even if you’ve been feeling lost or overwhelmed by your emotions, this workshop will guide you to a place of emotional stability and strength.
When the Magician energy is active, you have the ability to transform reality. It’s as though a magnetic field draws you to experiences that match your inner reality.
The Magician energy chooses you to connect with your healing potential and give you access to the unconscious world of wonderment, charm and the deeply connected spiritual self.
When the Lover energy is active, your soul is at odds with your careful ego. You live a life switching between conquering fear, taking risks and the excitement of your consciousness expanding, followed by flopping back into the safety of what you know.
The Lover energy chooses you to connect with your personal source of power that’s not a climb for position or authority, not a power over another but real power - the power within.
When the King energy is active, your inner world is conflicted. Each time you step into your own rules, you hear the voice of the King’s shadow – the tyrant suggesting you are less than, how you’ll never live up to expectations and the weakling ‘prince’ who doesn’t protect your new path.
The solution is to step into the energy of the true King, the matured ‘male’ energy offering centred, confident direction from deep within. The unconscious pressure to ‘fit in’ evaporates as you step into your own leadership. .
You’ve looked around, decided what you like, made judgements and now you’re going out on your own. Does what you want match with others or should you just become what you think they want?
This stage is answered through the process of Creating Your Own Values, by using your Queen Energy.
Drawing from nearly three decades of experience, Heidi Sawyer has guided over 75,000 Intuitive-Sensitive individuals across 121 countries to access their inner wisdom. As the creator of the Unconscious Resonance Method, she brings profound understanding to the unique needs of soul seekers through her bestselling book "Highly Intuitive People" (Hay House), transformative online courses, and personal consultations. Her insights have reached millions through her YouTube channel, podcast, and international media appearances, establishing her as a trusted voice in intuitive development and personal transformation.