How To Spark Your Zeal In the Quiet of Solitude
“In the quiet of solitude, I discover the fire that transforms me.”
I've been reading a lot of books lately—something that always nourishes my mind and my soul. Reading has always been one of my quiet rituals, a way to slip into another world while uncovering more of my own. Some stories fade after the final page, but others become mirrors of wisdom, staying with me long after I’ve put the book down.
One of those is Circe by Madeline Miller. In her retelling, Circe is the daughter of the sun god, who never quite belonged—too human for the gods, too divine for mortals. When her power unsettled those around her, she was banished to an island. What could have been only punishment became her greatest initiation. In exile, she discovered not emptiness, but transformation—her magic, her resilience, her power, her voice.
As October arrives, I return to her lessons. The cooler air and longer nights naturally call us inward. Solitude can feel uncomfortable at first, even like exile. But when we embrace it, it becomes a sacred container: a place of listening, healing, and becoming.
This season also carries the energy of shadow. The long shadows remind us that life is not only about light, but also about what we find in the dark. The falling leaves teach us that release is a form of renewal. And the colder nights invite us to tend to our own flame. What may feel like emptiness is actually spaciousness—a fertile ground for reflection, creativity, and transformation.
Like Circe, we’re invited to meet the parts of ourselves we’ve hidden away. Shadow work isn’t about fixing what is “wrong,” but integrating what is waiting to be seen—and from that integration, new strength emerges.
This is also the heartbeat of my Zeal Activation Keynote and Workshop. Just as October invites us inward, these gatherings create a collective space for reflection, renewal, and growth. Through science, story, and soul, I guide groups to see challenges as opportunities, to embrace shadow as teacher, and to return to their lives with renewed energy and purpose.
👉 Book a Zeal Activation Keynote and Workshop this season, and let’s spark your zeal together. Like Circe tending her fire in exile, your team, community, or organization can kindle its own flame—and carry it forward long after the gathering ends.
And if you’ve read Circe, I’d love to hear what wisdom stayed with you—click reply and share your reflections.
PROMPT OF THE WEEK
Use it with your favorite AI companion to help you Spark Your Zeal a little deeper. It’s a heart-led practice to help you gain clarity, insights, or inspiration. Below is this week’s prompt to explore:
As I move into October and lean into solitude, what lessons or wisdom are waiting for me in the quiet? Help me explore how solitude can become a source of strength, clarity, and transformation in my life right now.
WHY THIS IS POTENT
This prompt is important because it invites us to see solitude not as emptiness, but as a teacher. By asking what wisdom is waiting in the quiet, we give ourselves permission to slow down, turn inward, and recognize that strength and clarity often emerge in stillness. In this way, solitude becomes a space of transformation and it's where our inner fire is rekindled.
