The call of adventure (and a puppy named Kaya 🐕‍🦺)

Hope y’all had a good week! We just got back from a long drive to and from Florida to pick up our new furry family member—Kaya! She’s amazing, and we already adore her. But, wow—what a transition!

My husband Tim calls her an “experience enhancer”—a new variable in our lives that forces us into the present moment, adding depth and intensity to our reality. I’d say she’s also an experience expander—stretching our capacity for patience, care, and adaptation.

It took us a while to decide on this puppy, mostly because we knew it would be a sacrifice—of time, freedom, and ease. But I’ve been thinking about how responsibility isn’t just a burden; it’s what gives life meaning.

In myths across the world, the hero’s journey often begins with a call to responsibility—a challenge or duty that requires stepping outside one’s comfort zone. Yet, in modern culture, we are often told to seek freedom, independence, and comfort—while the burden of responsibility is treated as something to avoid. But in pre-colonial cultures around the world, including the Philippines, transformation through responsibility is at the core of ancient stories.

In Philippine mythology, we see this in the epic of Darangen, a pre-Islamic epic of the Maranao people that tells of legendary heroes, battles, and trials. One of its most well-known figures is Prince Bantugan, a warrior of great strength and skill. In the story, Bantugan is exiled from his homeland, journeys far, dies, and is later resurrected, proving his worth through trials that transform him. His adventure isn’t about personal indulgence; it’s about facing suffering with courage and returning stronger.

In a past Decolonization Dojo session in the Chrysalis Kali membership, we learned that the Sagayan warrior dance is inspired by this very epic. Sagayan is a traditional war dance performed by the Maguindanao and Maranao peoples, portraying the battles and warrior spirit of Bantugan. The dance embodies the energy of a warrior and induces a trance-like state to facilitate transformation. Just like in the hero’s journey, the warrior isn’t just fighting for the sake of fighting; they are in a sacred act of alignment with their responsibility, duty, and calling.

Every meaningful path we take is a threshold moment—a choice to remain where we are or to step into the unknown, where struggle, transformation, and deep fulfillment await.

What’s something in your life right now that feels like a burden—but might actually be your call to adventure?

Maybe for you, this moment is an invitation to step into something bigger—to embrace both growth and challenge in a way that brings deeper alignment. Maybe your call is to embark on your own version of the warrior’s path.

 💛⚔️🐕‍🦺,

Guro Kristen

P.S. Doors to the Chrysalis Kali membership are currently closed, but if this resonates and you’re looking for a way to deepen your practice, Warrior Rising is still available. It’s a self-paced offering designed to help you start training in Kali and awaken your warrior spirit.