Paper Moons, Flights of Fancy & What You Will
Earthly existence should be considered a play in which we act out scenes written by the Master Playwright. We are not our roles, but it’s our duty to play our parts enthusiastically, knowing that real life begins after the curtain call ends. ~ Brian Hines, Return to the One
I recently saw Twelfth Night at Shakespeare in the Park, a play about, among other things, mixed identities, unrequited love and things not appearing as they are. After much misunderstanding and mayhem, the truth prevails and order is restored.
Fast-forward 400+ years to our modern world stage and we find these themes abound, hopefully with the same ending. Whether on social media, via celebrity news (hello, it’s Taylor with her happy ending just in time for her new album), media manipulation and propagandizing of current events, or advertising and marketing for just about anything (including a slick plan for a casino to be built in the middle of a residential neighborhood wrapped in the guise of jobs, affordable housing and green space), more times than not, what is presented is not the actual reality, or at least the whole story. And we often only see what we want to see.
And then there is the whole AI behemoth, which is on track to change how we live, in some ways perhaps for the better, but at what cost? I watch/listen to a ton of YouTube videos; in many instances you now have to pay attention to whether the actual person is speaking or if it’s AI using their voice. Sometimes it’s obvious, but most of the time it’s incredibly subtle. Knowing the source of the video is helpful, but deception is everywhere and it feels like this is just the tip of the iceberg.
This is why authenticity and connection are going to be increasingly important over the coming years as a bulwark against the fake and intentionally illusory machinations of god knows who to incite us to do who knows what. It’s why it is more important than ever to spend time to be with your own energy, and to develop your intuition and an internal sense of what does or doesn’t resonate as true.
We also need to be mindful of how we are subject to our own illusions and delusions, and learn to better navigate the emotional minefields and triggers around us. When you start to understand that, as the Bard wrote, “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players,” try to remember the play or classroom you’re in and not take things so personally. Instead, watch the scenes unfold as a way the Universe is trying to show and teach you something or liberate you from the past.
As the curtain goes up on the next act of this Great Play in which we find ourselves, we need to be fully aware of who we are, what our role is, and how our innate, organic mind/body functions and must be developed in order to discern the wheat from the chaff and the fools from the farce.
It’s been a whirlwind of a season for me as I have walked in the unknown, stretched myself in brave new ways, putting myself out there and trusting that all is unfolding as it should — which has been a mixture of scary, fascinating, exciting and exhausting. Because “playing our part enthusiastically” means first of all fully accepting and inhabiting what that part assigned to us is — which we may or may not be comfortable with … But I know that I am in the process of my personal growth too, so OK then, apparently it’s showtime!
In catching up with a friend recently about all that I’ve experienced the past few months as I begin to fully embrace and settle into this more defined, aligned and expanded role (that I never intended but fits me like a glove), I thought, Wow, how different my lived reality is and feels compared to what it looks like on paper at this moment. Which is the opposite of how it usually goes, i.e., what looks great on paper — say a job description, menu item or Hinge profile — often does not translate that way IRL. And, as the saying goes, all that glitters isn’t gold. Which is also why we should never compare ourselves to anyone; we must own and have ultimate faith in our unique value, no matter how others may perceive it.
Sometimes you have a perfectly written play, cast and director that when performed doesn’t quite land. Sometimes you have more lackluster of the same, and for whatever reason, it’s a hit! Who knows why these things work out when they do, but I believe it’s up to the Master Playwright. As Geoffrey Rush’s character in Shakespeare in Love says, “It’s a mystery.”
You might be wondering what is this more defined, aligned and expanded role of mine? This month I celebrated my 18th year as a holistic career and life coach. If we use the metaphor of a life cycle, since I’ve crossed the threshold to becoming an “adult” coach, the Universe seems to have graduated me into my next level, which now includes being an intuitive guide, medium and reader.
For the past nearly nine months now, I have been bringing through keen information and deep insights about the inner workings and dynamics of the personalities, purpose and trajectories of my clients. This often includes how past lives are affecting this one and/or bringing forth meaningful communication from people who have passed with great accuracy and resonance.
If you told me I would be doing this even a year ago, I would not have believed it, but in many ways it is simply an evolution of my own soul’s path. I practice what I preach, so I gotta heed it, and this summer has been about becoming more comfortable with this revised part I am playing, which has been consistently affirmed and accelerated by witnessing the profound healing and beneficial realizations that have transpired for those touched by my sessions, on both sides of the veil.
I share all this in hopes that it inspires you to reflect: Where has the Universe been guiding you over the past nine months? What role might be more authentically yours? What scenes have come to an end and characters need to exit stage left? Where can you play with a comedic bent rather than a tragic one? Maybe you just need a costume change in order to perform better.
Take some time over the next couple of weeks to review new ideas or experiences that were introduced to you since the spring. What new direction or course correction are you being pointed toward? What lines can you omit or plot points can you revise? Where can you dream a dream that may seem far-fetched but not impossible? Is the backdrop of your life merely fancy scenery that looks good on Instagram but there is a whole other story behind the scenes? What mask do you need to remove?
If you’re too close to clearly see what’s happened and are looking for a compassionate confidante to discuss it all, I would love to help! Whether as a coach connecting dots, offering guidance and support using your resume and going through your history of this lifetime, or whether through a purely intuitive lens via your birth chart for a deeper way of being seen and understood, uncovering past life patterns impacting this one, perhaps with messages from friends, family or others who have passed — or a combination of the two — I am here for you.
Either way, you get the best of both worlds; as a coach I am highly intuitive, and as a reader I bring a breadth and depth of understanding and practical wisdom accrued over nearly two decades as a coach.
Especially during this time of massive transformation and uncertainty, it is no accident I am at this place with my offerings. When you work with me you get “more bang for your buck,” since having both intuitive abilities and coaching skills are what set me apart from many other practitioners out there in either field. In other words, I skew woo, but with a practical, down-to-earth style, expertise and perspective that is needed for what we are and will be going through.
As we head into a new “school” year, whether you are technically matriculated somewhere or not, we are all students in Earth School; this time of year always brings with it another opportunity for fresh starts, ways to expand your knowledge, organize your life and determine how you want to present yourself now.
To be or not to be; what you will or will you be? Whatever you do, remember that Love is the ultimate self-organizing principle. By operating from and bringing more of it into any situation, you will manifest more harmony, truth and order into your world, and thus no Labour shall ever be Lost in vain.
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Originally publsihed via my PGG Newlsetter on August 30, 2025
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Not sure what working with me looks like? Scroll down or check out the current offerings on my website or contact me for custom packages, and please share with anyone looking for a more holistic, intuitive approach to get unstuck, feel more connected to themselves and/or is looking for clarity and direction in career and life. Click here for the intuitive soul path reading options.
Looking for some more inspirational reads? Check out the most recent PGG essays which you can read and share on Medium: Walk Like an Egyptian, Of Wonder, Woo & WTF?!, Life as Art & the Road Less Punk, and The Fabric of Our Lives.
Want to explore or deepen your own spirituality with a group of like minded folks? This need which I feel is a missing piece in our society is why I am offering my new six-month course, How to Live a Spiritual Life. You can watch the free intro class on YouTube, a short that got over 1.5k views, and a clip from the first class, called The truth about being a spiritual person. The topic is a very personal one that I am happy to share what I know, understand and have practiced, embody and continue to develop, evolve and grow as a work in progress on a daily basis for over three decades.
You can learn more about the course here, and you are invited to join a small group of curious souls who want to create some focus and structure around exploring their own spirituality in community. You will receive a recording of the first two classes, and the next one is Thursday, September 24th.
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Kristina Leonardi is a nationally recognized career and life coach, speaker and author who for over 17 years has empowered individuals to make lasting professional and personal changes aligned with their true passions and talents while fulfilling their role in the world at large.
With a holistic and personal growth-oriented approach, she has helped hundreds of men and women improve their job performance, enter or re-enter the job force, change careers, better manage their time and stress, and live happier, more meaningful, balanced lives.
Her specialty is working with people who feel stuck or are in transition and can help you clarify exactly what you want to do, identify blocks, issues, and patterns in your way, and offer proven ideas, resources, and action steps to get you there.
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Read more about me and my work in these past PGG’s:
15 Candles |All Roads, Same Place | And Now, A Word from Our Sponsor | Strong Medicine | 10,000 Hours | A Decade of Doing What I Do | Express Yourself
