What the Fire Burned Away
In my time on earth, I’ve experienced grief that’s hit in waves.
One moment you’re okay and nothing seems wrong. The next moment, you’re knocked back on your a like an anvil to the chest. Your heart feels so heavy from all the screaming, crying, and anger that you can’t make a sound. Your world becomes grey, lifeless and empty.
That’s what it felt like when we lost my 11-year-old soul-dog, Nala, to cancer in October of this year.
In her final moments, I wasn’t just grieving her. I was also letting go of another part of who I thought I was. Every loss I’d ever buried came rushing back. That’s when the protective shell I created to “manage” my emotions, violently smashed to pieces.
Ironically, I used to fear the fire. All the endings, the unraveling, the letting go. But this year, which was the Year of the Snake, showed me that burning isn’t just about destruction. It’s about revealing what’s underneath.
Releasing what no longer serves the spirit isn’t about forgetting or numbing the pain. It’s about the sacred courage to face what hurts, feel it fully, and honor what it taught you.
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Where Release Becomes Rebirth
Ever since I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be a safe space for others. But in order to do that, I needed to have the courage to lead myself through my own fire.
When we lost Nala, it brought back a flood of emotions from losing my soul sister, Tee, who had passed away in our home, 4 years earlier. Tee was the first person who really saw me, the true me, and her death made me question everything.
But, Nala and Tee taught me the same lesson: release. It was about letting go of the version of myself that felt the need to fit in, to be palatable, and to simply be “enough”.
Throughout my life, I’ve always been labeled as “too much”. Too tall, too loud, too emotional, too bossy, too determined. So, I quit trying to squeeze myself into their boxes and came to a big realization: I was born to burn the box.
I began burning the illusions and perceptions that others forced on me.
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As the masks fell away, more of my true self started making her appearance.
– My cane became my staff of power instead of just a walking aid.
– I came out to my parents as bisexual, supported by my loving partners, who are now my husband and wife.
– I stopped leading with performance and started leading with presence.
For the first time, I wasn’t just pretending to be brave. I was living it. ‘Do it, Scared’ became my mantra for 2025.
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A Flamekeeper Was Born
One night, I dreamed I was walking through a dark hallway toward a soft light. As I got closer, I saw the silhouette of a woman, glowing from within. She had a torch, and with a sense of calm, she lit it from the flame in her chest before handing it to me. When I took it, a fire rose within mine.
That vision became both my rebrand and my rebirth.
With a flame in my heart and a torch in hand, I vowed to guide others through their own dark halls and share their fire with the world. I became the Flamekeeper.
Everything began to evolve and my true self was finally shining through.
Since then, I’ve shared my philosophy of Visibility as Ceremony on podcasts, summits, and speaking engagements, giving others the permission to show their true, untamed selves.
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When Fire Becomes Framework
When I started refining my process within my company, I came across an article by the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance titled Courageous Leadership, and I realized how closely their 4C’s philosophy (Curiosity, Competence, Confidence, and Community) mirrored my own B.O.L.D. Method™. Both begin with self-reflection and end with collective impact. Where they highlight courage, I speak of ceremony; where visibility is a sacred act of authenticity that ignites magnetism, trust, and transformation.
Because in a world obsessed with perfection, vulnerability is a true act of rebellion.
This is what transforms visibility into ceremony. When we lead with truth, we become the fire that draws people in and reminds them of the fire they carry, as well.
That’s when I learned that visibility rooted in authenticity doesn’t burn you.
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Your Fire Was Never Meant to Be Dimmed
Once the masks had shed, my fire revealed all of me.
It showed me:
– The woman underneath the armor.
– The leader behind the mask.
– The healer who was held by the survivor.
The fire showed me that I was supposed to share my light, and show others that they were safe to be who they really were.
You have that fire too. A light that’s meant to be shared. So raise your torch. Someone is still standing in a dark hallway, waiting for your flame to guide them home.
It’s time to Do It Scared! Walk with your fire! Let it be sacred, strategic, and sovereign! And if you don’t know where to begin, let the B.O.L.D. Brand Starter Kit be your guide.
Remember, you’re not meant to be everyone’s cup of tea. You’re gasoline, my dear, and it’s time to set things ablaze!
Name: Angel Dash
Professional Title: Flamekeeper & Sacred Brand Alchemist | Ceo & Founder Of Angel Dash Branding Co.
Bio: Angel Dash is a Flamekeeper and Sacred Brand Alchemist helping soul-led leaders turn visibility into ceremony. A disabled veteran, author, international speaker, and creator of the trauma-informed B.O.L.D. Method™, she guides others to alchemize their story into a brand that moves like fire.
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