Have you ever built a cage out of your own expectations? In this raw entry from my live oracle journal, I’m pulling back the curtain on a struggle we all face: self-imposed deadlines, the anxiety of urgency culture, and the subtle fear of judgment.

After launching my new platform on social media this week, I caught myself in an intense energetic contraction. Instead of white-knuckling a rigid schedule just to satisfy an expectation, I chose to practice my own medicine: I pulled over, cleared the windshield, and gave myself permission to pivot.

In this brief but impactful episode, I talk about how trapped emotions and disappointments embed into our cellular structure and "smolder" to the surface if we don't let them out. I also share an intimate reading of my poem, The Stranglehold—a sacred invitation to release the grip of th ...