The Bridges and Beacons Podcast
Bridges and Beacons is the podcast where nervous system wisdom meets bold, heart-led leadership.
Hosted by Kelly Myerson — occupational therapist, strategic communicator, and leadership guide — this show helps women build steady bridges from overwhelm to calm and shine their unique beacons of authentic power.
Each episode explores how to regulate your mind and body, access deep clarity and inner resources, and rise into leadership that’s real, resilient, and deeply impactful.
Whether you’re navigating midlife transitions, finding your voice, or leading your family, team, or community with heart and grit, Bridges and Beacons offers a safe space to connect, grow, and light the way together.
Let’s build bridges and shine beacons — together.
The Bridges and Beacons Podcast
The Barefoot Dancing Rocket Scientist Dr. Melissa Corley Carter
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
It was such a delight to welcome Dr. Melissa Corley Carter to the podcast! Melissa shared on the podcast the dark night of the soul is actually the "dark night of the ego and the healing of the soul." I was blown away by this statement and her story of taking her rejection from becoming an astronaut and running with it.
We had the most fun geeking out on Human Design and she introduced me to the 7 Levels of Energy Leadership, which can be used with each gate in human design - is this my new obsession???
Dr. Melissa Corley Carter, The Barefoot Dancing Rocket Scientist, helps rockstar humans reclaim their power, own their awesomeness, and take giant leaps of faith. An actual rocket scientist, 7 continents marathoner, astronaut reject, speaker, award-winning author, retired Air Force officer, and certified professional coach, Melissa will inspire you to celebrate the power of who you are and ignite your passion for the life you live.
Take the Energy Leadership© Index assessment: https://www.epiclifeactually.com/onesmallstep
Connect with Melissa:
Website: https://www.epiclifeactually.com
Book: https://www.epiclifeactually.com/runningtheworld
Wisdom Card Deck: https://www.epiclifeactually.com/runningyourworld
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissacorleycarter/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissacorleycarter
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@melissacorleycarter
Interested in learning more about how to use your human design as you step into your brightest future? I invite you to book a free Bridge Session today. https://calendly.com/kellymyerson/building-the-bridge-conversation
Music: New Again by Holy See
Ready to Learn About Your Human Design?
If you'd like to geek out with me on your Human Design and explore becoming your own version of an Untamed Leader - be sure to schedule a Bridge session to learn about your individual human design blueprint. https://calendly.com/kellymyerson/building-the-bridge-conversation
Let's Connect
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Hello, hello, hello, and welcome to the Bridges and Beacons podcast. I'm your host, Kelly Myerson. And oh my goodness, my friends, I'm so excited today because I'm speaking with my friend Melissa Corley Carter. And before we start, I have to read you her bio because you're just gonna be like, wait, what? All of that all at once? So exciting. Dr. Melissa Corley Carter, the barefoot dancing rocket scientist, helps rock star humans reclaim their power, own their awesomeness, and take giant leaps of faith. An actual rocket scientist, seven continents marathoner, astronaut reject, speaker, award-winning author, retired Air Force officer, and certified professional coach, Melissa will inspire you to celebrate the power of who you are and ignite your passion for the life you live. Oh my gosh, Melissa, thank you so much for coming on the show. You're so welcome, Kelly.
SPEAKER_01Thank you so much for the invitation. I'm excited to be here.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Well, we first talked and just completely geeked out. My very good friend Adam Dickinson introduced us and I adore him. He's like the perfect connector. He really has connected me with so many, you know, heart-led, soul-driven people. And I know when he sends somebody my way, it's going to be an amazing conversation. And then we spoke, and I was like, oh my gosh, tell me more. I'm just so curious. So you've got a lot. It's a mixed bag for you, a lot of different things put together. And I think the first thing that strikes me, you know, besides the fact rocket scientists, air force, marathon are on seven continents, barefoot running, dancing, all of that. The one thing that you have in your bio is being an astronaut reject. And I think that's so interesting because I feel like, and you can correct me if I'm wrong, putting it that way, you're like, yeah, this is also one of the awesome things about my life experience.
SPEAKER_01Yes. And I love it. It actually makes me laugh. And it I love that it it stands out because it really is one of the, for me, a pivotal life experience that was devastating at the time, but has turned into such a beautiful gift in so many ways. So I love celebrating it. I love celebrating that that path didn't work out because I was actually meant for a different path. So that's that's so I just we could there's a million different directions we could go there, but but yeah, so but and I'll say I'll just like right off the bat, being, you know, being told I could I I wanted to be an astronaut for 20 years, followed the journey, did all the things, got my PhD, blah, blah, blah. And then I had always had bad eyesight. And but I trusted that they would eventually start allowing corrective eye surgery, which they did. And I got LASIK and I was finally qualified to apply in 2012. And I applied. And you have when you're in the Air Force, you have to apply or in the military, you have to apply to the military first before you can get to NASA. So I applied to the Air Force board, the Air Force sent me forward, yay! And then I found out that once my medical record got to NASA, they said that my uh pre-LASIC eyesight was so bad that I was disqualified anyway. So man, that it was yes, it was it was super crushing. And the funny thing is, though, that I call that my dark night of the soul. And yet I actually read something within the past couple of years that was just illuminating. It said, the dark night of the soul is not actually the dark night of the soul, it's the dark night of the ego and the healing of the soul, which is what I have really found happened. So then there's a long kind of journey. And what I realized is when you really dig into what you want in a goal that has been rejected or an identity that has completely shattered, when you really dig into the goal behind the goal, as I call it, and find out what you really wanted, there's a million ways to achieve that. And it doesn't have to take the one, the one aspect. So for me, I realized, you know, through not the next day, but you know, through years of processing and living, continuing to live life and all the things, that what I really wanted in being an astronaut was to inspire people to greatness, the way astronauts had always inspired me. And that I also had this instinctive knowing of my spiritual connection to the universe. And what better than you know, being being in space felt like a way to fulfill that. And then also the vision of a unified and harmonious world. You know, the astronauts go up and they always say, you know, you can't see the borders. I mean, we just had Artemis too, and they're looking back at at Earth and and just all the love pouring out, and oh my gosh, we're all one on this tiny little ball going through the universe. And and so all of that really captured my imagination. But all of those things I get to do every day, and I don't need to be an astronaut for it. So celebrating being an astronaut reject because it actually put me on a path that was even more aligned with my true soul and my true being.
SPEAKER_03I love that so much. And yeah, I think what I love so much, there's there's been a lot of divisiveness, especially recently, if you live in the United States. But that group of humans who went and looked out at the earth were such ambassadors for the planet. I was like, if we could send anybody out into space, let's let's send some ambassadors who are truly living and embracing love and gentleness and kindness and compassion and and awe and wonder and like stopping to be like, holy moly, look at that. This is just the sphere in the middle of nothing with all of this life and you know, the the full dichotomy of the good and the bad and the ugly and the wonderful and you know and the insane and just that. I I felt so moved by their approach. Yeah. So I love that you're saying that. And I I'm I'm really curious and interested. I love what you said about the dark night of the soul being more connected to an ego death versus like you going through something difficult. It's a healing for the soul and the soul being able to actually come through. So I I I love that, and I'm sort of mentally chewing on that right now.
SPEAKER_01Yes, I love it because it's it's sort of it's not the way we typically think of the dark night of the soul. And but I think what what I have found, and and I feel like a lot of people who've gone through something, you know, an identity crisis or some kind of earth-shattering experience, it doesn't feel like it in the moment, but eventually you do discover that it is such a beautiful gift. And and it is a beautiful gift because it opens up your soul to a higher purpose.
SPEAKER_03And and what do you feel like? What was the first thing after the rejection, after you sort of went through that process, felt into the soul healing? What did you feel like you needed to do next? Like what was the the or the what were you guided towards next?
SPEAKER_01What I was really guided to was embracing the the side of my nature that loved people. You know, I had been in this engineering career field, and and you know, I my path in the Air Force at the time was going kind of higher up the ladder of of being a program manager and acquisition. I was an acquisitions professional, we call it. And and and honestly, I did not, I I didn't, I didn't really, I didn't enjoy that. I love the parts of my job that I loved were calling someone into my office and asking them questions like what really made them tick, you know, what if you if you weren't doing this job, what would you be? That was my favorite question was what would if the money and time and whatever were no object, what would you be doing? And I got answers like, I would be uh running a brewery and I would be a a ski bomb in, you know, Tahoe or whatever. And and it was just so interesting, the dreams that people had. So what it opened me up to was really kind of putting me on the path to becoming a coach. I did, I eventually left Active Duty Air Force and became a reservist. And then in my reserve job, I was able to teach leadership and professional development. And and then I started my coaching business and got certified as a coach. So it really opened up my uh holding space for and doing doing my own kind of healing process and then holding space for other people in their journeys and and really uh helping people along the way discover who they really are and really get in touch with their own souls.
SPEAKER_03Oh, I love that so much. And I agree with you. It's like, can we just talk about something else? I wouldn't, you know, like people come in and you're like, I don't want to talk about like what's going on with work. Like, tell me about you. Like, what are your dreams? Where do you want to go? Like, what would you be doing? I think we we sort of can lose that connection to what we might call youthful folly and like the craziness of being, you know, 21 and being like, I want to own a brewery. And people are like, you need to get a job and make some money and buy a house and you know, all the all the things that we've sort of we've been conditioned to, you know, work towards in our lives. But then for many of us, you get all of those things and you go like, huh, this is it, huh? Right. It feels so exciting.
SPEAKER_01Why am I not as happy as I thought I would be? I got the the house and the job and the kids and the picket fence and the this, that, and the other, the things we're told that we're supposed to want, you know, and it really doesn't, it's it's not all it's cracked up to be if you're not connected to your soul.
SPEAKER_03So one of the other things we have in common is an obsession. Well, I have an obsession with human design. I don't know if you would categorize yourself as obsessed, but I do love it. I do love it. I keep out. Yeah. I know you're super, super knowledgeable, particularly in quantum human design. And I would love to spend some time talking about how you've really embraced it in your own special way and how you've developed a seven-part process for how leadership and human design overlap. So, first of all, tell us your human design and where and when the bug bit you. And then I want to go into talking more about your particular approach to it.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely, yeah. So, in for human design, I am a 6-2 emotional generator. What would say in in traditional human design language, in in quantum human design language, that would be a creative alchemist. So alchemist is the quantum human design name for a generator, and the creative center is the emotional solar plexus. So that so that's that's my the overarching design. Oh, and then my incarnation cross is the cross of spirit, which is also the cross of faith in quantum human design. And so the first time I heard about human design, I had actually just started, you know, just started as an entrepreneur, and and I was in my very first little business summit, you know, the little summits that are like there's 20 speakers and they all do their little thing and they have their little free gift. And so this is the first time I had experienced that. It was in 2017. And Karen Curry Parker was one of the ones, and she had the human design little gift. And so I got my human design chart, and it was so funny. I remember being kind of annoyed when I saw my chart because it said it's a generator. Then when it talks about the types, it's the generator was the most common. And I was like, man, I thought I was special. I was like, why am I the most common one? And then also it said that my emotional theme was frustration, and I was of course frustrated about that being my theme. I was like, what? Oh, so it just it sort of it sort of like you know got under my skin a little bit. And I I didn't really do anything else with it, but it was interesting because I eventually you start to get a little bit more, you know, aligned with what you're doing. And then I start unsubscribing from all the things that weren't, you know, were no longer aligned. And so, because you know, when you do the first summit, you sign up for everybody's list. And and then interestingly enough, I was I could never quite bring myself to unsubscribe from Karen's list. Even though I never read the, I just deleted the emails, but there was something about it. I never unsubscribed. And then in 2020, um, actually before even the pandemic, I was for some reason I opened one of the emails and and it was some talking about something she was just starting to do called the it was the map program, which I think was the master alignment program. And she was incorporating quantum the quantum alignment system, which incorporates emotional freedom techniques and tapping into quantum into human design in general, but she was kind of really ramping up with the quantum human design. So, you as you know, obviously human design kind of came through Rauruhu and Karen was one studied with him and then started putting together sort of a higher vibration language version of the traditional human design that was kind of kind of more even more where we're going. Like traditional human design was a wake-up call to humanity, and quantum human design is more of a even more like what is what amazingness is possible. And I found that that language really resonated with me. I did the the map program and and found the power of tapping and the and and the integration of the emotional freedom techniques with quantum human design. I was like, I'm all in, and like immediately signed up to get certified in all the levels of quantum human design and all the levels of quantum alignment system. And so, and that's when I really kind of started super geeking out on it. So I think for me, it was actually really waiting for the quantum language. I think maybe it was the and and obviously like that was the point of the traditional language was supposed to poke you, you know, and wake you up a bit. But I I did really resonate with the quantum language and so kind of jumped in from there. And and then so as far as uh then then the way I use it now, actually, what this actually happened, gosh, several years ago, what I ended up doing was because I through my coach training program, I learned a modality called energy leadership, which is a really amazing system. It's a seven-level framework basically for shifting your energy and perspective in any moment or situation. So, like having seven pairs of glasses, and anytime anything happens, you can look at it through each of those seven pairs of glasses and then choose which one you want, which one you want to look at it from. So we can talk a little bit more about that if we get there. But but basically, what I what I did was think about all the gates in the quantum human design system and the 64 gates, and said, all right, what would this gate, what does it feel like through each of the seven levels of energy leadership? So it when in the quantum human design and and human design, we we tend to learn kind of the low expression and the high expression. Like what does it look like out of alignment? What does it look like in alignment? And I basically tried to refine kind of the spectrum in between. So here's what a level one of this gate looks like, here's what a level two looks like, you know, go up through level seven, and did that for all 64 gates. And every time the sun changes, uh changes gates, I send that, I send that out. So um, so I send it out to my email list. I used to, I for like two years, I posted it on social media too, and then I got tired of doing all the social media posts. So now I just so if you want that, you have to sign up for my my email list. But but anyway, so I have that. And then I also, when I do sort of in-depth human design with someone, I'll actually send them sort of a PowerPoint of all the gates that are defined in their chart. I'll give them my kind of the synthesis, the energy leadership version of each of the gates. So uh, so yeah, so so it's um it was really fun to really think about both systems together and sort of synergize them and and bring bring them together. I love that so much.
SPEAKER_03Love a framework. I love absolutely. I, you know, I'm one of those people I told you I'm a one-three manifesting generator. So I have to do all the research and the deep dive. So I'm like, all right, I need to find all the books that I need. I have so many. And some of them I had in Kindle version. I'm like, I need to get the physical book because I want to be able to like flip through and look at everything. And my recent purchase is I can't remember the name of the woman that wrote with him, but it's it's a book based on Ra Uruhu. It's like everything soup to nuts. But I was really particularly interested in the line numbers, the one through six for each. And like, because like you, I'm obsessed with tracking the transits and looking at like how does that impact me or other people, or looking at I'm currently coming through my Chiron return. So always fascinated in like what is what is actually happening and where are things lighting up and what is the opportunity there? And I I really love that you saw that as well. Like, yes, like frustration, annoying. And I'm also it's anger and frustration for me because I'm manifesting generator, so I get to have all the things. But but uh I I have another comment on that, but please do.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Oh no, go, go. I'll jump back in. It's okay. I'm yeah, I told you, I have a fully open head and so I'm I'm open to all the journeys.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, well, actually, first of all, speaking of the books, I know Karen ended up writing a an encyclopedia of quantum human design, which is sort of my go-to of I love it. I love it. But you're bringing up the frustration and stuff reminded me that actually when I when I reconnected with it in quantum human design, I actually became so grateful that I was a generator, that I was the most common type, because the the key aspect of that is having the defined sacral center and that you have sustainable energy. And I was like, oh, thank God, you know, I don't have to, you know, wait for invent like and obviously you still have to wait to respond and all this kind of stuff, but it was it was the sustainable energy piece. I was like, okay, no, that's that's really good. And then the frustration when I learned what that really meant was that you have this stair-step learning curve, and and frustration can be the building of momentum for a new surge in mastery. And and it would be so it could either be an indicator that maybe you're kind of done with the path you're going on, or or also you're just building momentum. So it's not totally, it's not, it doesn't mean that you feel frustration all the time. It just means how do you listen to the message of your frustration in an intelligent way? And then and then that that having that sustainable energy was super key. So I was like, oh my goodness, I love my design. I'm so excited about my design. So so yeah, sorry, but I did, I yeah, I feel like I interrupted you there back there a little bit.
SPEAKER_03No, I appreciate that so much because I'm always, always want to learn more about it. Yeah, I I feel that too. And when I talk to people about it, I'm like, don't get so hung up on like, am I satisfied or frustrated? And it's it's more so like like that might be your initial impulse. Oh, like something, it's in, I love to call it an indicator too, because for me, like I'm told you I'm a total numbers geek. I love outcomes measurement, I love looking at those kinds of things. So, like looking at the data and the indicators and being able to say, like, I'm feel like I'm feeling, yes, maybe it's like the the top of it is frustration, but like, what is it that I'm feeling out of alignment with? What is it? And like, if I'm like feeling like really exhausted, everybody wants something for me. I'm like, well, shoot, there's the 40 showing up. Yep, like are you maybe overgiving? And then like recognizing this, it was very healing for me. And I don't know if this is part of your journey as well, but recognizing those patterns, right? And and being able to see it for that's just how I get information about what's happening in my life right now. And there's nothing inherently wrong. I didn't do anything bad. It's just that's how I get information in my body. That's how my body operates. And for me to do the best with the life that I have and to achieve what my soul wanted to come here for, sometimes we kind of butt up against some friction and some things that aren't working so that we can work through that. And I think what you said earlier about really that dark night of the soul, and I've had many of them, is more about letting your soul come through and burning away those parts of your ego that aren't working for you.
SPEAKER_01That's yes. Absolutely. Like you said, it's it's all information. It's not, there is no good or bad, there's no doing anything wrong. It's, you know, I find especially when when people kind of learn their human design, it's it's interesting because it's not really earth-shatteringly new for them. It's just they recognize themselves in what they learn, but they it's sort of like a normalization. They're like, oh, I thought I was, I thought there was something wrong with me because of this, but oh, you're telling me that's actually part of my design. And and so it's it's again how you move through the world and and what what kind of rises above your threshold of of paying attention, you know, like what is it that trips your trips your attention and energy? And it's learning kind of maybe like what kind of themes are a focus for you.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. I think the thing that I like sort of crossed my arms over, I was like, why do I have to be an emotional manifesting generator? And why do I have to have a ratcheting wave? And you know, I think for those of us that are emotionally defined, like there have definitely been times in our life where people are like, pick yourself up, like stop feeling sorry for yourself, or you're being too much, you're too loud, your energy is too high, people can't handle it. And now to realize, like, when somebody says that, it's so much more about their inner. system than me being too much and like what feels safe for them energetically. And then instead of being like, oh man, I made somebody upset again or like something I did was not okay. And I'm just inherently being myself, it's more like, oh, that's interesting. That person is really having a difficult time managing all this competing information. And then I'm like, oh, I'd love to see their design. I wonder what's happening.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_03I want to like open up and look in the engine. Like what's really happening in there? How what are what is happening? Why are they feeling this? And yeah, my favorite game to play is like if somebody lets me read their design and I know them, like playing the game of like, ooh, can I take some guesses as to what I think?
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. Absolutely. At a time. Yeah. Yeah. And I think the other thing that I've I've kind of discovered too is that the people who and and it certainly may go up and down a little bit, but the people who think you're too much just there's something wrong with that. They're just maybe not your people. Because the people who the people who really value the real you are want the the massive amount of energy that you're putting out. So so it's it's also an indicator of of who are my people, who's here for me, who am I here for? And because we're not here for I mean in in the bigger scheme of things, yes, we're all one. We're, you know, I I get I I believe truly believe that and and we're here to you know bring love and and energy and and vibration to the entire planet. And there's certain people that are kind of meant to be in our inner circle or in our service window as it were. And and you do get to kind of choose the ones that really resonate the most or or just observe which ones resonate but and choose to work with the ones who really do resonate with you, not the ones who are like, oh you're too much or you're not enough or whatever. Like that's there, there's other people out there for for them. Exactly.
SPEAKER_03Exactly. I I love that. So right now as we're recording in the transits in the sun is the 27. Would you be open to playing with the 27 through your lens and your seven step leadership framework?
SPEAKER_01Absolutely absolutely yes. So so the 27 in quantum human design is the gate of accountability. So actually remind me I actually never really learned the traditional human design name so what is the traditional name for it? Do you know? Nurturing. Nurturing oh okay oh interesting that's the quantum name for the gate 50 in in quantum human design anyway which and those are a channel the 2750 that's interesting. Interesting. Yeah so 27 is accountability so the way through through energy leadership the way this works is it goes from level level one to level seven kind of in in raising raising levels of rising levels of consciousness and awareness. Now one of the big things that also energy leadership focuses on is there is no good or bad there is no right or wrong. So while level one and level two might sound particularly ick, yeah there's there's a time and a place and and the point is about learning to use your energy consciously versus letting it reacting by default. So you can choose your response you can choose to respond with maybe some a little bit more combative energy consciously versus defaulting to it if that makes sense. So so the level one energy is sort of like victim mode. It's sort of the world always happens to me and woe is me. So the level one interpretation of accountability is I hold no one accountable. So just don't have the energy to to to make anything happen. Level two is more of a fighter energy. So level two is I hold you accountable and blame you when things don't go my way oh so so yeah so it's it's a more of it's a it's a see the so in the win lose spectrum level one is I always lose in level two I win and for me to win you have to lose. So it's a this is the classic win-lose scenario. Level three is more of a is an I win and if you win too that's okay um but it's more of a rationalizing energy. So it's saying I hold myself accountable and I'm I'm learning you know how to how to you know stand up for myself and and and basically like take the steps I need to take to live live you know the life I'm trying to live if that makes sense. So I'm holding myself accountable. But there can be a little bit this is this sounds it sounds helpful but there's there's more sometimes we stop and settle at level at level three like taking responsibility right sometimes rationalize find the silver lining but there's still sort of like this sucks but I can see my way through it and I can figure out how to how to deal with it and cope with it. Totally level four of accountability is I help you hold yourself accountable. So this become level four is a kind of a caregiving energy uh of this is a my win is your win and and really kind of getting into some some caretaker helpful energy. The the the the challenge here is that you still sort of see things as problems and things that need to be fixed and sometimes can like jump in to fix someone even if they haven't asked for it or if they they really don't need fixing. But so there there is a lot of helpful energy here that oh and I'll swing back to the kinds of energy after we finish the levels but and so yeah so it's it's I'm help you hold yourself accountable. Level five is is we everyone holds themselves accountable and and we all hold ourselves accountable together. So so there is there is like a teamwork energy here a synergy and you actually said said the the classic level five phrase earlier what's the opportunity here level five is always finding opportunity and it kind of inherently taking responsibility for your own energy and trusting that everyone else will take you know take responsibility for themselves. So there is nothing that needs to be fixed. There is nothing that's broken we're just you know we're we're harnessing our own our own powers and working together. There's a huge collaborative energy here. And then level six level six and seven tend to be the most esoteric for people who are not at all familiar with this kind of thing and they're I it it's funny the the reactions I've gotten when I start describing level six and level seven is people's reactions are pretty funny. So level six is is you know we are all perfectly accountable for wherever we are on the journey. This is uh you know everything is everything is awesome basically everything is always and and not in the I'm never sad or upset or anything like that but every emotion you experience as a human every part of the human experience is beautiful and there's this deep underlying sense of peace and joy. So so so and and and nothing needs to be done really everyone is just everyone is always accountable and to to where they are in the unfolding of their most powerful path as it were. Right. Yeah and then level seven is is a true being this energy so so when I actually do my my gates they always end with with whatever the game is I am accountability. So there is just a a true you know I I am is the energy of level seven and and so sometimes that feels very okay what do I do with that what is that you know how does that how does that help and and so the the practical aspect of level seven is actually being able to sort of tap into consciously all the other levels. So the more the more you kind of learn to access the we call more anabolic versus catabolic energy. So level one and level two are called catabolic energy which is the like it like the natural processes in your cells that's a breaking down kind of energy and anabolic is a building constructive energy which again doesn't mean catabolic is bad. You know both processes happen in nature and they are important. But the the the challenge is if you live all the time in catabolic energy which in fact the world operate tend the world operates in catabolic energy. And so it's sort of this is the leading edge of consciousness where we are learning to live and bring in more anabolic energy to build something different for the future. But anyway the more the more kind of anabolically you start to see every experience the more conscious access you have to all the other levels. So you might there might be a time we're like all right this is it's time to exercise my level two energy here but I'm choosing to do it I'm choosing to do it in a in a way that is is effective not just defaulting to it again because that's all I know how to do and I don't know how it controls me versus I control it and I use it effectively if that makes sense. So okay yeah yeah and so I know that was so that was kind of the accountability one I also have a traffic example I I love to do the traffic for for all the seven levels but but let me pause and say is you know what what comes up for you as we go through that with accountability. I feel like all of the A plus gold star students in the room are like but I have to be at a six and seven Melissa right I have to get to that six and seven like what is that is that the ultimate goal to to exist in the six and seven is that sort of like like working towards the Cidic state if you look at the through the lens of the jean keys, the shadow of the gift and and the Cidic state right so I'm so glad you brought that up and and no actually it's not so so for all the A plus gold star students who I totally gonna resonate with that when they've done that it is not the goal is not to just kind of race up to level six and seven and and hang out there. Because in fact that that incidentally the Bruce Schneider who's the one who kind of who who brought the system into the world did a little talk for us once that he was he was saying that his his interpretation was that actually level six was the ideal state of being that you actually don't necessarily and sorry that also take that aside that's it's not the ideal state of being for every single person. I'm just saying his ideal was six and not seven particularly because seven is actually hard to live in the real world you know there again the the the benefit of level seven is being able to tap into that energy it's a perfectly creative energy where you can create whatever you want instantaneously you can think of it as basically being connected to the infinite the the cosmic field right the the infinite field of possibilities and and being able to pull whatever you want out of the out of the field which is which is awesome but it's hard to relate to other humans you know if you're doing that all the time nobody nobody actually resonates level seven all the time it's an energy you tap into and an energy you use. So level six if you if you can learn to and I find that you you don't necessarily force yourself into level six what I find is the more consciously you practice levels one through five which are what I would call the most practical and the most recognizable to most people, the more you really practice distinguishing between them and learning to kind of look at things from from like three, four and five, the more six and seven just sort of start to happen. Like you you you notice you're looking around you're like oh I feel this sense of universal connection wow and that's your that's your six and seven so it's not that the because as you go up in the levels everything becomes increasingly non-judgmental the fact that you would think that you have to get to level six and seven is inherently a lower energy level the irony so so so feeling feeling like I have to get to level six is not level six energy. Got it okay so so and and so the point is again not to nobody actually goes and sits at a level either in any any moment you are experiencing a combination of the levels. So you're gonna have some six mixed with five and four and three and two and one and and then and and some particular situations may bring out more of your level one and level two energies. Other situations might bring out maybe more four others might be more three or five or whatever. And so so learning what they look and feel like and sound like and then learning to to notice what what you like oh I I just I felt that level one energy there. What does that tell me what do I want to do from here? So it's really creating choice points. It's not creating oh no I fell into level one and that's bad. Again now you're in level one about being in level one right so you're become being judgmental about the state that you're in which is inherently again more lower energy. So it is about giving you choice of hey I could choose to stay in this level I could choose to you know look at it from another level and just see what happens. I could choose to respond so it's really about giving you more level of choice. So I said before it has you have these seven pairs of glasses it allows you to more consciously choose what pair of glasses feels the most effective and aligned in the moment for any situation.
SPEAKER_03That makes me feel like one we have to slow down a little bit two we have to be present and aware in the moment and less you know reactive and like jumping into something before we kind of give it some time and really you know where where am I on this? How am I am I you know kind of in that blame game? And is that really resourceful for me right now?
SPEAKER_01Is that where I want to be right exactly and that's the question it's not to say an automatic oh no I need to get out of this state it's how is this state serving me? How well is it serving me and and how well will it serve me if I stay in it? And when and if it doesn't feel good to stay in it or it doesn't feel aligned I would say good and bad again are words that are inherently kind of lower vibration, right? If it's not serving me to stay in it, what do I want to do differently? And and how then might I take the first tiny little step towards doing that. So it's that's very cool it really is yeah about about the so the goal isn't to hang out at level six although you will inherently start to experience more of it as you do this consciously but the goal is to have more moments where you feel the power of choice and the power to choose your pair of glasses.
SPEAKER_03Love it. Okay you said just a few minutes ago traffic tell tell us how this how this relates to traffic yeah I live in New Jersey so traffic is like a thing here.
SPEAKER_01Yes oh yeah I I lived outside the DC area for 10 years and and oh my gosh I traffic beyond ridiculous so so yes so level one so so basically you're like heading home from a long day at work you're sitting in traffic and somebody like cuts you off and so how you might respond at each of the seven levels is level one is oh this always happens to me so it's kind of the the woe is victim aspect victim yeah level two that MFR what a jerk this is the road rage that's the road rage level and then level three phew at least I didn't get in an accident so you're like oh okay I this is I win right that you're rationalizing okay I didn't get an accident level four gosh I wonder if they're rushing to the hospital I hope they're okay and then level five is huh what's the opportunity here I always finding opportunity. So it could be I could listen to more of my podcast I could notice my hands on the steering wheel I get all the all the things like how how can I how can I actually like use this opportunity and then level six is I always guided to the perfect people and the perfect times and the perfect places for the highest unfolding of my potential. So what a cool experience. And then level seven is I am the other person and I am everyone gathered here in this illusion called traffic that we created to describe the what you know the the experience of consciousness as a human. And again the I am energy just plain I am okay totally relate to that and I mean there could be commutes that like fall over the spectrum.
SPEAKER_03It can be anywhere from one to seven at any point in time. Yeah but I think I think the idea you know a few years ago I started to realize like how much time I spent like stressed and like rushing and frustrated and you know in my commute and I was like I'm totally missing the point here like this is such an opportunity I'm in my car I could listen to a book I could listen to a podcast I could listen to music alone time like on my commute looking at the trees and the sky and birds and you know like having that moment and I I love exactly what you said. I think it was the four where like somebody cuts you off and like oh my gosh I hope they're okay. Yeah like what is that and I mean I will even say to people I hope that everything's okay. I'm sending you really good energy because if you're behaving in such a manner, I have to believe that there's something else going on for you. Yeah. Sending a little compassion.
SPEAKER_01Yes absolutely absolutely that's beautiful and and it's funny because you know I've one some of I've I've shared this a lot I've done a lot of workshops and all this kind of stuff on on this on this topic and and it's funny that kind of everything from people res they've they've like done that and then people like I've never had that thought in my entire life like what like I what if they're rushing for the hospital right you're like no I'm like what is wrong with you and I mean I've definitely you will definitely hear that come out of my mouth what is wrong with you what are you doing I don't understand. But the other the other cool thing is that there is actually an assessment called the energy leadership index assessment that um where you you it's an online thing where you answer a whole bunch of questions and it actually gives you a snapshot of your kind of average resonating level of energy and like where you are in all the levels under normal circumstances and then also when you're under stress. So you actually get two little bar graphs that are like here's your here's your energetic profile, here's your normal mix of the seven levels of energy and then here's your stress reaction your mix of the seven levels of energy and then there's sort of like a number averaging kind of all those together and and but it's a snapshot in time. So it's not like Myers Briggs or or human design that's like sort of supposed to be set for your life it's uh it's like you get that assessment and then you get to choose do you want to practice habits that can help you shift that um again it's all choice based right because it's not like oh there's something wrong with this with your snapshot right now it's just how would you feel about the snapshot? Do you want to do something differently and then and maybe you take it you do some practices and you take it a year later and it might look different. So so yeah so that's pretty cool too.
SPEAKER_03Well I like that that feels like a standardized assessment because I guess which is like speaking to my OG brain like doing testing like I do testing and like it's it's just an indicator of where we are right now but we can come back again and see where we've been able to implement some things and shift and show some signs of growth.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Absolutely yeah so it's it's it's a cool kind of quantifiable in some ways like to quantify energy is is is pretty amazing and then to be able to do something effective with it. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03I I love that that's like totally speaking to my one three I'm like oh this is fun let's go take a test but I'm mindful of your time and I I really want to finish up with can you share with us what you're up to right now how people can find you and anything else you'd like to celebrate and invite people into yes thank you.
SPEAKER_01So where where I am right now actually I'll say human design wise where I am I'm 6'2 and then the six line profile has a three phase life cycle as you know and um but for anyone listening there is a three phase life cycle going on there and I'm in the middle phase which is called being on the roof. So so there's sort of like the first third of life that's all out there doing all the things and adventuring and and learning all the lessons and then there's this integration phase and they call it being on the roof because it's sort of like you're on the roof like watching what other people are doing. And just it's a it's kind of a very integrative time. And and so I have I have a little over four more years on the roof. And then so I'm so I it it's amazing because I actually do feel like that's where I am. And the other thing about the sixth line is that that feels kind of magical to me is is the point of the sixth line is a bit of the the traditional name is the role model and the and the quantum name is the adept. It's it's like you're really learning how to live your most aligned and authentic life and then just kind of quietly showing people how to do it. You're modeling the way of what that life looks like. And for me that actually feels like where I am. So I just retired from the Air Force last September and moved my husband and I have been planning our kind of forever home we've been building our forever home in North Carolina and and just really visioning what life would be like and we moved here last summer and it really feels like I'm like I mean I felt like I was already living the dream in that I was you know living aligned with my values and this and the other thing but but there was this kind of creation phase and we're still we're still in it you know and but but feeling every day just kind of in awe of what we've created. So getting so moving here being in a in a completely different place it's more it's kind of like in the mountains in the woods there's houses around obviously but like there's it just it feels a lot more connected to nature it feels a lot more on my own rhythm like when just speaking of traffic in in the in Virginia outside the DC area we would get up at 3 30 in the morning because that's what one did to get to work before the rush and then be able to get home before the even so for years we got up at 3 30 and now we're getting up at sunrise and I go outside at sunrise to get my morning light and my bare feet on the earth and all this and other thing and and so really living living literally living the dream being the dream and and And I think really role modeling what an aligned life looks like. And then I I am coaching, I'm helping people, you know, through their own journeys. And but it's kind of on my terms at this point. And it's, I mean, it feels like a huge blessing to, you know, have the resources to be able to do that. And it's so, so where I'm again, I'm doing the coaching. The best place to find me is at my website, epiclifeactually.com. And then I'm also on Instagram and LinkedIn at Melissa Corley Carter. And I share, I'm so I wrote a book about running marathons on all seven continents. And I have a wisdom card deck that is a companion deck that I am drawing cards from every week. So those are also kind of like doing card draws with people is something that really lights me up. People love it. Yeah, for sure. For sure. So so really just inviting people into the energy of alignment is really what I'm here for. And and my, you know, I've done a lot of kind of mission-defining work over the years. And it's gotten shorter and shorter and shorter. My mission is such that where I've gotten, and I actually kind of combine it with vision to be this sense of glorious purpose, which is to shine my light and inspire you to shine yours. That is at its most fundamental what I'm here for. And so that's that's what I'm doing and what I would love to do with others as well. I love that.
SPEAKER_03Would you feel open to pulling a card? And maybe I'll pull a card too. And maybe let's set the intention like for up for whoever is listening for the audience, like a card from from your deck, and I'll I'll let you pick which one we should pull from my growing collection. And then that those cards can be meant for whoever is listening.
SPEAKER_01I love that. I love that. What a beautiful intention. Yes. Thank you, Kelly. Yes, so let's do that. I will. So yeah, here's what this is my deck here. Um it's so gorgeous. Thank you. Thank you. I love it. So yeah, it's uh it's so a lot of decks have kind of like the same cover on one side and then like a thing, and then you go to a booklet. I I I would I would say I'm a lazy card deck person. So I if I have to go to the book, I will, I won't. I won't gotcha, gotcha. So I my sister gave me a deck that had the picture on the front and the and the then the the words on the back, which I really liked. So that's how I created my deck. So each one has a different photograph from the seven continents, and then it has the message on the eyes. So yeah, so that's how I get it. Um so what I so I will just bring the cards to my heart and ask to be guided to the message that you listening that actually most wants to speak to you as you listen. Interesting. Okay, so this is an interesting one with energy leadership. So this is perspective. So you can see this is the Great Wall of China, and I'm not sure if it kind of comes through in the video, but it kind of looks like this is a wall, but it's not, it's actually steps. So the message of perspective is what do you see when you look at this photo? At first glance, you may see an impenetrable wall. Shift your perspective just a little, and this wall becomes a navigable passage. Shifting perspective reveals that this is not a wall at all, but a series of steps. It may be a steep and challenging climb, but there's a way up and over. What seemingly impenetrable wall looms ahead in your life? What perspective shift would turn that wall into a series of small steps? You don't have to believe the new perspective. Just imagining a potential alternate viewpoint creates more space in your energy field. As more options and choices present themselves, you expand what's possible in your life. Don't wait until you fully believe. Start with one small step. What perspective can you shift today?
SPEAKER_03Ooh, oh, I love that. That's a great journaling one. Okay. They're all vying for my attention back here. So let's see. I've got some of my newest decks. I'll pull those out. Let's see.
SPEAKER_01Wow, that's a lot of new ones. I love it. Just this year.
SPEAKER_03Just this year. Okay. Um, so I've got the white light oracle. Ooh, uh-huh. Which I got this year because my word of the year is light weaving. So I was like, I need something with some light.
SPEAKER_01Beautiful, beautiful.
SPEAKER_03This is the Shadowscapes Tarot. These pictures are phenomenal. They're so pretty.
SPEAKER_01Uh-huh.
SPEAKER_03The tarot of curious creatures. Interesting. Okay. And then my friend Francine Tyrrell just put out her deck of Oracle cards, and it's from busy to being.
SPEAKER_01Ooh. I'm feeling I'm feeling pulled to the busy to being or the white light because of your light weaving words. So between those two, which one would you pick?
SPEAKER_03I mean, we could also do one for beach if we need to. Let's pull one and see if we feel like we we want more than that. So yeah, I'm I I love these cards and I'll show you. They have just the most beautiful. Oh, I love that.
unknownThat's beautiful.
SPEAKER_03So, and the the guidebook gives you ideas and you know, insights and journaling and you know, things to do for yourself. So, all right. So, we're gonna feel into listener. What do you need to hear right now regarding your light? Okay, so we've got Shaktipot of Seahorse. Wow, which nice I've pulled before, number 31. So probably I've underlined the important stuff because that's what I like to do. All right, so let's see. And I let me ask, what does Shaktipot mean? I will explain that. So it's a transmission of grace. So as you embrace your inner essence, you will be at peace with who you are, including your vulnerability, and no longer see the need to conform to social ideals which have no true resonance for your heart. You are encouraged to trust your intuitive recognition of which environments and relationships harmonize well with you, supporting your spiritual growth and well-being on all levels. You have the innate capacity to manifest, relax, and you shall attract all you need. So it's really about that trust and being in environments that are good for our well-being, kind of like what you were saying earlier about like choose your people wisely. This oracle assures you that your path and what supports you will be unique. If you attempt to fit into social constructs or clicks that don't reflect your essence, you'll weaken yourself and become more susceptible to negativity. So this one is just gorgeous. I've pulled it before, and what I really love about this card is that you know, in with the seahorse, you see that little spiral.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03And I think if I'm remembering correctly, it kind of goes with your third eye. Uh-huh. That kind of idea of like having that insight, that that spiral. I've been seeing a lot of spirals lately, which is interesting.
SPEAKER_01It is, yeah. So it's and they so life is like a spiral, right? We we think, oh, we should have learned that lesson by now, and we, you know, why why do we keep coming back to it? Well, it is a spiral, and you've learned they say, they say what same devil new level, and you're just experiencing it from you. Actually, you have learned, but now you are experiencing it in a different way, and you have, you know, some more, maybe it's a little bit more on unpacking to do and and meeting it in an even newer energy. I love that.
SPEAKER_03So my friend Francine Tyrrell, who is the Forever Change coaching, um, she created this deck. And and similar to what to what you did, you've got like all these beautiful colors. So you can pick a color, you can pick a card, and then there's a little something. So there's a little something on both sides. So we'll pull something for you, listener. Don't you feel special that you're commuting or doing laundry or dishes and listening to this podcast and getting a three-card pull for the price of admission to the podcast. Okay. Oh, wow. Okay. So the front of it says who you are being matters more than what you're doing. We talk a lot about what we do, but who are you being? Allow your being to guide what you do. And these are also just beautiful cards, color-wise.
SPEAKER_01Oh, that is beautiful. I love it. I love it.
SPEAKER_03So, yeah. So, listener, there you go. Be you, be present, and think about perspective. Like, where can you shift perspective? So, I think that is good advice for anybody at any time that you're finding this podcast episode. Hopefully, there's something in that message there for you. And in the beautiful things that Melissa has shared with us about her journey, her approach to those seven levels of leadership as it applies to human design. And of course, in seeing the kind of life that you've lived, Melissa. I mean, we didn't even get into the barefoot dancing, the running marathons on seven continents, or like being like, you know, just being in the Air Force, getting your doctorate, all those things. You've certainly been doing a lot of things, but yeah, I I would love to just allow you to just give us one last piece of wisdom or advice before we close out the podcast.
SPEAKER_01You know, I think it really dovetails from the being, because that is, I I have done so much in my life. And one of the biggest things I have learned is that being is the it's the next level, you know, and and you can still do, but it's about who are you being while you're doing, and it is about just plain being. So I love to say that you know, your epic life and what you're here to give is not about what you do, it's about being you. So I just couldn't couldn't, you know, uh stress more that that it is really the beingness is really, really powerful. And and the other card said to relax. I think that's the other part of it is is relax and stop trying to be so much, right? And stop trying to do everything right. Like even we we can get so caught up in trying to be correctly, you know, that still without making being a doing thing. We're putting it on our to do list, is be. So seriously, just take a deep breath, relax, and trust that you are already doing it because you are already being it.
SPEAKER_03Okay, I love that. That's the mic drop moment. Melissa, thank you so much for being here. And listener, we'll put everything in the show notes. I don't know that I can put pictures in the show notes as of the technology today, but when I shared this podcast on social media, I'll be sure to include some of those pictures. Um, and if you want to send me the picture of your card, Melissa, we can stick that in there too. Because I think that kind of gives a fun way for people who are finding this through social media a chance to play along.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. Thank you so much, Kelly. It's been such a fun conversation and an honor to be here with you. I really appreciate it.
SPEAKER_03Awesome. Thank you so much. All right, everyone. Thanks for being here. Thanks for listening all the way to the end of the podcast. If something you heard today inspired you, please share this with somebody you know who also needs to hear this message. And we look forward to seeing you next time on the podcast. Bye for now.