There are three symbols that are just as common in mythological stories as they are in coaching sessions. When the main character sets out on a journey, they quickly find themselves at a crossroad where they must make consequential decisions. As they leave behind the familiar and enter unknown territory, they always carry something that protects them. Sometimes it’s an armour or a magic cloak, other times it’s a shield or a medicine bundle. As their adventures unfold, we all hold our breath until something shifts inside them and they turn to face their biggest challenge. That’s when they cross a powerful threshold, the point of no return.

In this lecture I’ll weave together coaching competencies with the symbols of crossroads for decision making, shields for resistance, and thresholds for leaving the old behind and entering the new. I’ll use ancient stories from different mythologies and illustrate these symbols with real examples from my coaching practice.