I Almost Sat on a Scorpion—And Had a Midlife Spiritual (and Entrepreneurial) Awakening
You haven’t really embraced reinvention until a scorpion nearly ends your meditation practice.
That was my morning in Costa Rica.
Just me, my journal, my sacred couch—and a massive scorpion hiding under the cushion where my head was about to land.
Thanks to a sudden intuitive nudge (and a healthy dose of divine timing), I checked first. And there it was.
After a few choice expletives and a spike in my cortisol levels, I took a breath. Then I sat down again—on a different cushion—and looked up.
In the canopy above, still and silent, sat an eagle hawk. Watching. Waiting. Present.
And that’s when it hit me: this wasn’t just a wildlife encounter. It was a midlife map.
Because if you’re navigating a career change after 50, stepping away from who you were, and figuring out how to reinvent your professional identity, this story might just hold the blueprint you didn’t know you were searching for.
From Scorpion to Phoenix: The Archetype of Reinvention for Women 50+
Since launching my platform for women ready to start their second act business, I’ve worked with dozens of brilliant, accomplished, soul-awakened clients who were ready for more. And yet—each of them passed through the same three stages I faced this morning:
The Scorpion: Survival
The Eagle: Vision
The Phoenix: Rebirth
This framework isn’t just poetic—it’s a sacred business strategy. It mirrors what every second act entrepreneur faces when she decides she’s no longer here to play small.
It also reflects the real-life transformation from employee to entrepreneur—a leap that often requires more emotional resilience than any boardroom battle.
Let’s break it down.
Stage 1: The Scorpion — Survival and Awakening
The Scorpion is sharp, reactive, and instinctual. She survives by staying vigilant. She defends, protects, and withdraws when threatened.
Sound familiar?
Many women over 50 leaving corporate to start a business find themselves in this exact place. Operating from self-protection. Bracing for judgment. Bracing for failure. Bracing for... something.
But while survival once served you—it cannot carry you into the next chapter.
This is the moment the soul whispers, "There’s more than this."
🦂 Scorpion Practices for Growth-Minded Midlife Women:
Pause before reacting: Don’t send that email. Breathe. Choose.
Body scan: Notice tension and ask: What am I protecting? Is it still needed?
Micro-vulnerability: Share something personal—just one degree more open.
🖋️ Journal Prompts:
Where in my life am I still in survival mode?
What beliefs once protected me but now hold me back?
What would it look like to move from surviving to thriving today?
If you’re working with a career transition coach for women, this is often where the work begins.
Stage 2: The Eagle — Vision and Liberation
The Eagle doesn’t react—she rises. She sees the bigger picture. She observes, chooses, and acts from a place of clarity.
This is the stage where midlife career pivots begin to feel exciting, not terrifying.
You start to glimpse the woman you’re becoming. You see your path as a purpose-driven entrepreneur, not just a corporate dropout. You begin to ask, not “What should I do?” but, “What do I want to create?”
🦅 Eagle Practices to Cultivate Vision:
Morning visioning: Ask, “What am I building?” every day.
Future self decision-making: What would the six-figure version of me choose?
Elevate the lens: Will this still matter in five years?
🖋️ Journal Prompts:
What legacy do I want to leave?
Where am I still letting fear guide me?
What does my higher self see that I can’t yet?
This is where personal branding after 50 really starts to form. You step into thought leadership branding, building a voice, a presence, and a mission you’re proud of
Stage 3: The Phoenix — Rebirth and Mastery
The Phoenix doesn’t just pivot—she burns.
This is the moment you surrender the old identity, the outdated roles, the masks. It’s where you let go of who you’ve been and fully claim who you are—an empowered, purpose-led woman designing her life and business on her own terms.
This is the energetic home of legacy businesses for women, scaling a business after 50, and building a business that makes an impact. It’s not about starting from scratch—it’s about starting from power.
🔥 Phoenix Practices for Reinvention and Rise:
Ritual release: Burn or bury what you’re done with—beliefs, roles, expectations.
Claim your wins: Weekly, write down how you’ve already risen.
Radical self-trust: Make decisions without waiting for permission.
🖋️ Journal Prompts:
What must I release in order to rise?
Where have I already transformed—and not acknowledged it?
If I had nothing holding me back, what would I build?
This is the season where many of my clients finally launch their women’s business mastermind, step into online masterminds for female founders, or bring their message into the world through story-based branding for coaches.
What the Scorpion, Eagle, and Phoenix Teach Us About Midlife Business
This is the journey I see again and again—whether someone is looking for business support for women starting over, mapping a profitable business launch for women, or doing deep work with an empowerment coach for women.
Each stage has its place:
Scorpion = Safety
Eagle = Strategy
Phoenix = Sovereignty
So, if you find yourself reacting, stinging, guarding your energy—don’t shame yourself. You’re in your Scorpion era.
If you feel elevated, visionary, aligned—you’re flying with the Eagle.
If you’re burning it down and building something new—welcome, Phoenix.
This is what entrepreneur training for women should actually teach:
That transformation isn’t linear. It’s cyclical, sacred, and oh-so-fierce.
Final Word: You Were Never Meant to Stay Small
When I look back at this morning—the scorpion, the eagle, the sacred Ceiba tree—I don’t see coincidence. I see confirmation.
If you’re feeling the pull to rise…
To start that second act business.
To claim your voice.
To align your business with your values.
To move from wisdom to wealth…
Know this:
You were not meant to sting in the shadows.
You were meant to soar.
And then… to rise.
Are you ready to start your journey with journaling? Download my free “Countess Code” daily pages!
Want an online journal? Grab the whole Countess Code Journal here.
