Falling Forward: Embracing Vulnerability and Strength
Falling
It was a beautiful morning in Colorado—not quite spring, but the sun was shining, and even though the air was cool, it felt comfortable. My husband and I had just hiked seven miles a few days before, and I was surprised at how strong I felt on that hike, especially since I was coming out of winter feeling out of shape. We began to hike a familiar path, one I had traveled many times before. It’s an easy hike, near our home, and I had always felt safe and confident on it.
But accidents happen when you least expect them.
As we started our downhill trek along the rocky path, I was entranced by the beautiful scenery around me. The rock formations in the canyon, the valley where grass was just beginning to turn green for spring—it all felt so alive. I was walking my dog, pausing occasionally for him to investigate curious scents along the trail. Admittedly, I wasn’t paying much attention to the path ahead. I was chatting and enjoying the peacefulness of the morning. I did notice the branch sticking out, but I dismissed it as a mere weed or broken stick.
I was wrong.
When my foot hit the branch, I realized too late that it was rooted deeply into the ground. I stumbled forward, crashing down onto my knees, then my elbow, and then I saw my face headed toward the rocky ground. Time seemed to slow as I registered what was happening. I knew my head was about to meet the earth. And when it did, it was strangely gentle, as if I were laying my head softly onto a cushion of grass. In reality, it was a hard smack against the unforgiving ground.
Surprisingly, I got up feeling okay and continued the remaining four miles of the hike. But once I got home, I saw the aftermath—bloodied and bruised knees, a scraped and swollen elbow, and a painful goose egg on my head. I spent the rest of the day resting, watching for signs of a concussion. I was lucky. It could have been much worse.
Given that Mars is on my Ascendant and I’m in the midst of eclipse season, I knew this fall held a deeper message for me. It wasn’t the first time I’d fallen on a hike. Two other falls remain etched in my memory. One was years ago on a similar hike where I dove forward onto my knees—an experience that mirrored some of the struggles I face today. The other fall happened in Maui back in 2015. I was hiking to a beach in Hana when I slipped along the cliffside and cut my knee open.
Each time we fall, it feels like a rite of passage, an initiation of sorts.
I decided to look into the meaning of my fall, diving into journal prompts and research to uncover what it symbolized for me. That’s when I found the story of Radha and the left cheek.
The Story of Radha and the Left Cheek
The story of Radha and the left cheek is a beautiful tale rooted in Hindu mythology, celebrating the divine love between Radha and Lord Krishna. Radha, the supreme goddess and beloved of Krishna—the eighth avatar of Vishnu—embodies devotion and pure, transcendent love.
The left cheek symbol, often depicted in art, represents more than beauty; it signifies the emotional depth and complexity of love. It is a mark of her divine femininity, a symbol of devotion and unwavering connection to Krishna. The tenderness of their relationship serves as a metaphor for the soul’s longing for the Divine, illustrating how love can transcend the physical and reach the spiritual.
The more I pondered my fall, the more I saw parallels between Radha’s symbolism and my own experience. I had bruised and scraped my left cheekbone. Was this a message from the universe inviting me to deepen my connection to the feminine energy within me? To explore the balance between strength and gentleness?
Lessons from the Fall
A Tibetan shaman might interpret falling on your knees after tripping on a branch as a moment of humility and connection to the earth. Such an experience could be seen as a call to remain grounded and present. The act of kneeling might symbolize surrender, reflection, and an invitation to listen to the wisdom of nature. The stumble, rather than being a mere accident, becomes an opportunity for spiritual growth and reconnection with the self and the world around you.
The symbolism of falling suggests vulnerability and the acknowledgment that all of us stumble at times. It reminds us that life’s obstacles, no matter how painful, hold valuable lessons if we are willing to receive them.
Tarot’s Message
I turned to the cards for guidance, and what I drew was striking. The Queen of Pentacles, the Devil, and the Star. The Queen of Pentacles, representing nurturing energy, practicality, and the ability to heal through grounded self-care, felt reassuring. The Devil, however, spoke of temptation, bondage, and unhealthy patterns—reminding me of the distractions that keep me from embracing my highest self.
But it was the Star that caught my attention most. The Star symbolizes hope, inspiration, healing, and renewal. It carries the promise that after any fall, there is always the potential to rise again, stronger and wiser. Together, the cards suggested that my fall was not only a physical experience but also a metaphoric call to confront what holds me back and to seek healing through deeper connection.
Moving Forward
Falling is part of life’s journey. Whether it’s a stumble along a rocky trail or a misstep along the path of personal growth, each fall brings us closer to our truth. What matters most is how we rise again, embracing the lessons along the way and moving forward with renewed clarity and grace.
I choose to see this fall as an invitation to step deeper into my own awareness. To recognize the beauty in my vulnerabilities and the strength that emerges when I face them head-on. I am learning to balance resilience with gentleness, trusting that every fall holds a lesson waiting to be discovered.
