5 SIGNS YOUR INNER TEEN IS CALLING TO BE FREED
In the spiritual world, we see so much healing work being done on the inner child, but the inner teen is often overlooked. Yet it’s our adolescent years, within this powerful threshold of innocence and identity, that we’re most susceptible to losing touch with the purity of our Original Essence. The intense desire to fit in or be accepted can lead us to building walls around our authentic selves.
When she stays true, the teen is so wise; she is a sacred teacher of rebellion, conviction, creativity, and possibility. But when she's silenced, shut down, or cut off, she often resurfaces in disruptive ways, demanding to be seen and heard.
Is your inner teen reaching out to you?
Here are 5 signs she might be ready to be set free.
You’re feeling really nostalgic for movies and music from your teen years.
The body holds memory – every emotion, moment, and version of ourselves lives within its waters. When healing is ready to unfold, we often revisit memories from the past. A surge of nostalgia for old songs or films can be more than sentimentality; it may be a soul-level invitation to reclaim parts of yourself that have been tucked away. Listen closely. These echoes of the past might be calling you to reweave yourself whole.
2. You feel nervous around teenagers and struggle to relate.
I notice that a lot of folks who come to me for healing (even those who have done a lot of deep inner child work) experience discomfort relating to, or being in the presence of, tweens and teens. I believe when this discomfort comes up, it’s the part of us that we’ve locked away long ago trying to make herself known. The pieces of ourselves we’ve suppressed in exchange for acceptance or belonging are rising to the surface, making their muffled voices heard so that we can finally acknowledge their hurt and set them free.
3. You feel oppressed and long to be free.
If you find yourself feeling a sense of angst – like you’re outgrowing your cocoon and ready to spread your wings – your inner teen might be calling. Our teen years are like the spring of our lives; during this time, we’re growing and evolving at an incredibly rapid rate, reaching towards the warmth of the sun. This expansion can come with a feeling of needing to shed our skin and break free. Pay attention when this feeling comes up, and ask the sacred rebel within what she might need.
4. You have a strong urge to create and be seen.
Unfiltered expression is an important part of feeling heard in our teen years. When the urge to create comes up, see if you can allow yourself to do so uninhibited. There’s so much to be learned from the part of ourselves that was unmolded by conditioning. Let her wise innocence live in the light.
5. You find yourself wondering what you want to do when you grow up.
Our inner teen creates a doorway to possibility. When you find yourself feeling that sense of potential, you’re likely seeing through her eyes. Embrace her ability to envision a life beyond the confines of the rules and roles you’ve been taught to follow. If you’re feeling a renewed sense of curiosity or longing for a life that feels more aligned, this may be her whisper. Let her show you what’s still possible.
Your inner teen isn’t a phase to be dismissed; she is a force to be remembered. She holds your fire, your edge, your dreams, and your refusal to settle. If she’s calling to you, it’s not to disrupt; it’s to remind you of the parts of yourself that still long to dance in the light.
Take some time this week to honor her. Listen to her music. Write from her voice. Let her rebel. Let her dream. Most of all, let her be free.
I’ve already been feeling into the energy of the group coming together for the 9th annual Element Retreat this August, and the theme of healing our inner teenager is very pronounced.
Maybe that’s why I was inspired to add a branch of the Children’s Retreat curated specifically for tweens and teens – so that they can have the safe space to lean into their gifts and curiosities, to honor their sacred rebellion, and to see that it’s okay to be who they are in the world.
I’ve invited some of my beloved friends to teach classes on things like Stone Medicine, Flower Essences, Sacred Self-Care, Conscious Adornment, Artistry, and so much more. Plus, I’ll be offering the teens their very own In~Tunement so that they can fortify, bless, and protect their own energy.
If healing your inner teenager is calling to you, I hope you’ll join me in the sacred mountains of Northern Italy this summer and consider giving this experience to your children, too.