Looking forward with Jupiter, Saturn and the Winter Solstice

 

Envisioning a brighter future? Who isn't? All of us are looking for signs at this time for some hope and encouragement that things will ge better and there will be an end to all the stresses and challenges we have faced this year. When we keep our minds open to signs for spirit, often they are presented to us in simple natural ways.

On December 21, we will have a sign visible to the naked eye. You may have seen articles about this elsewhere, claiming that either this is the beginning of the Age of Aquarius or the Christmas Star. Since various astrologers have named a variety of dates for the beginning of Age of Aquarius, and there does not seem to be any good reason to name an alignment that happens every 800 years for an annual event, I am not looking at it from that perspective. Focusing on a simpler interpretation will serve us better right now.

Let us start by looking at what meanings are usually assigned to the planets of Jupiter and Saturn and the Winter Solstice.

Saturn is about limitations, knowing our boundaries and facing challenges. We certainly have experienced that this year, haven't we? Jupiter is about good fortune, generosity, success and expansion. This is something we all cherish and desire, isn't it? So on December 21, we will be able to look up in the night sky and see these two planets aligned. Hold onto this thought for a moment. Consider how perfectly these two concepts illustrate our world right now.

We are facing great challenges, but there will be ways for us to get through it and find solutions. Challenges stimulate creativity, new thinking, different solutions, fueled by excitement, determination and focus. Dangers often stimulate fears, which we have seen, then in response to fear, our hearts nourish courage, and courage is what we use to break through fear.

Add that to the root meaning of the Winter Solstice itself. Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year, a time for lighting fires and candles and affirming that once again, the light will return in our world, beginning at the end of the longest night. This is why people from ancient times have been bringing sprigs of evergreens and holly into the home for decorations at this time of year.We are affirming that we know that come spring, the world will be green again, so we bring these greens in as a sign of comfort and protection. Emerging from darkness into light. Below is a simple ritual that anyone can do at home this Winter Solstice to harmonize with the energy of the season and affirm how we will be bringing light back into our lives.

Considering the meaning of Jupiter and Saturn, combine that with the fact that 2021 will be a 5 year in numerology. The energy of the 5 year is tests and challenges. How well we use our positive mindset and loving energy will help us succeed in facing our challenges and coming out in good shape on the other side. Spirit is giving us challenges to see how well we can meet them and use them to rise to a higher level of love and consciousness.

Jupiter, Saturn, 5, and Winter Solstice all focus our energies on working through difficulties to create a better future. 2021 will be a year of transition for us. 2020 was a 4 year, which has shaken us to our foundations. 2021 will challenge us and present us with opportunities to create new structures and techniques that will carry us forward with ever more light, enlightenment and joy. We will rise up again from our depths.

Look at it like this. If you had to do things differently this year in order to survive, you had to see something different before you can do something different. Your actions follow your visions.

Now look ahead at how can we shift to rise above surviving to reach a higher vibration in our living where we are truly aligned with what we want and need most, bringing us to a higher level of satisfaction. Are you up to the challenge? Want any help with that?

The Spirit of the Season: Warmth & Light

 

The Spirit of the Season: Warmth & Light

If there is one thing that 2020 has tested us on, it is love. With all these changes and interruptions we have had this year, it has been challenging for many to keep things going, but the one factor that pops up over and over again is to notice where love is present between us and those who are part of our lives. Who is keeping in touch? Who is helping? Many religions and spiritual traditions have festivals that celebrate light and warmth at this time of year. The Hindus just celebrated Diwali, a festival of light, around Thanksgiving. Then Hanukkah, the Jewish celebration of light, followed by the pagan festivals of Winter Solstice and Yule, then Christmas, which is, in essence, celebrating bringing light into the world. And then having savored and basked in the warmth and light of these holidays, we launch into a New Year. Think how powerful that is for illuminating our path forward. If we look forward using our creative spirits and acting in a spirit of love. During all of the craziness of this year with many businesses being crushed and many people losing their jobs, in addition to people getting sick and dying, millions of people are struggling to pay for food and housing. And yes, some people are doing well and there are examples everywhere in local news about people helping each other in different ways. This will be the key to how we get through this. I have enjoyed seeing countless examples of kindness and generosity, strangers helping each other. You have probably seen a number of these stories in the news. A number of my clients have been generous and kind to me as well, and these actions have touched my heart. I deeply appreciate your support. My heart is full of gratitude for all of you. Maybe we need crises to remember that it is human nature for people to help each other. When people ask for help, we respond however we are able, if it is something we have the ability to do. This is true human nature. Spirit gives us challenges so that we can rise to the occasion. When we are faced with a difficulty, we need to learn something different or do something different in order to continue on our life path. So many of us have had to change the way we work, what we do for exercise, how we relate to food, whether we grew some, got into gardening or canning or purchased directly from local farmers. What could be more heart centered than someone volunteering to help get food to people who need it? Heart centered people help others who are strangers, not just family helping family, get what they need. There are countless people who have helped others in all kinds of ways. We have all seen or heard of some heartwarming stories of that kind. Warmth and light that evolve from heart centered actions will be how we all get through this by helping each other. Our hearts feel warmth emanating from them when we feel love. Humanitarian love, generosity, kindness, cooperation, empathy, kindness. Romantic, isn't it? Opening our hearts with kindness and empathy, opens up that other aspect of the heart which is love for other people. In that spectrum of love for other people, our hearts fall in love with life, which is the real essence of romance and this vibration opens us to partnership and romantic love. Odd as it sounds, all this craziness and hardship can open up new avenues for love and compassion and romance. We are presented with the opportunity to develop a relationship with other people we never met before and learn things we did not know. These crises can open us up to both give and receive more warmth and light. Magnitudes of sentiment are attached to this time of year because all of these holidays contain warm connections to other people and bringing light into our lives with love, laughter, music, seasonal food and drink during the coldest, darkest season of the year. And these connections warm our hearts. Today, with various restrictions and difficulties in place many people are not traveling to be with family and far away friends right now, but we still feel that heart warmth that this season of light stimulates. And that feeling and desire is what prompts us to make connections with others who are near us and create new pathways and new relationships. Spirit changes even basic things to challenge us like how we work and how we play. This is causing us to reexamine what we value and how we spend our time and who are people who are popping up in our lives unexpectedly. Who would have thought that walking the dog would become the most social time of the day? Working mostly from home and going to stores or other places of business when necessary, walking the dog is the one constant opportunity to get some fresh air, exercise and say hello and chat with other people. It is a whole different level of reality than talking to people on Zoom or Facebook or something. I wouldn't be out walking the dog so much if I was able to do my usual things, like go to the gym or go dancing. And I think it is good to see so many more people out walking and having at least moments of social engagement. It is a good feeling when that happens. We have to find ways to keep going, and that will mean doing some things differently. Imagine how our world will change for the better when we open up to the warmth and light of new connections, opening our hearts and seeing how making heartfelt decisions changes our priorities. That will be a good development coming out of difficult events. Here is what I offer you in order to help: You can get appointments with me days, evenings or weekends. I know many of you have crazy schedules, so I can be flexible to help you with that. If you are having a hard time financially, you can have any of my services and pay me whatever price fits your budget. I am here to help, so I remove this barrier. You can see me in person, or do sessions via Zoom, Skype, Facebook or phone. I always love hearing from you, so feel free to reach out if you are feeling moved to do so. Have a wonderful day! By the way, the photos above and below I took last year at the Denver Botanic Gardens. They are doing this light show called Blossoms of Light again this year. You are walking around outside in the midst of fabulous displays of lights. Dress warm! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Thanksgiving Every Day

 How often do you recharge your battery with gratitude? I do it every day, and as a result, things get better every day.

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays because it is so simple and beautiful. It is focused on simply sharing a day with family and friends with a good meal, conversation, games, and just enjoying each other's company.

On Thanksgiving, we are pausing to appreciate the people and events in our lives and it is good to have this tradition.

So just see how good it feels when you just continue this tradition every day. Every morning when you wake up, see how you feel when you say this. "Thank you for giving me this day. With your help, I will make the best use of it. Do you have any new ideas for me? Anything that you want me to know?"

See how it feels when you start your day this way. Notice how you notice more and among those things you notice are some helpful ideas and good guidance.

Notice too, how there are people you have grown closer to during this crazy year, and how grateful you are to have them in your life. Notice that these might be some different individuals than you thought would be there. Thank your spirit guides for guiding these people to you.

It is great to see so many people enjoying walking and using our parks and public spaces more these days, which has a lot to do with so much else being shut down. So it was a negative motivator which produced a beautiful result that we can all be grateful for.

Another thing that some of us can be grateful for is that the changes we made that were not our idea to begin with might end up well anyway. For example, many of those who now work from home rather than commute really like it.

For myself, doing more small private events and private sessions for people is a real pleasure. It is a new chapter in my business development since so many big public events are not possible right now. I am grateful for all of you. Gratitude opens us up.

Can you feel how you are now more at peace after you have expressed it? You are now ready to welcome in more. When you are happy with what you have, your aura expands, and that feeling touches everyone you meet, and that feeling opens them to you.

Gratitude is the lubricant of the universe. Look how it works in your life. We feel good when someone thanks us for something and others feel good when we do the same. We are more inclined to help someone who expressed gratitude next time they ask because we have a good feeling about that gratitude. And that kind of relationship is the same with our spirit guides. Gratitude is gracious, and always appreciated.

Look at the turkeys in the picture above. They are grateful that they are not on anyone's table!

I always love hearing from you, so feel free to reach out if you are feeling moved to do so. Have a wonderful day!

Once in a Blue Moon

 

This month we have a Full Blue Moon on Halloween, October 31. This is quite rare and special, the first time we have had a full moon on Halloween in 20 years and a blue moon on top of that! Blue Moon energy conveys a spiritual energy that increases the vibration of our spiritual connections. This full moon is in the sign of Taurus, an earth sign, which means that our spiritual connections can enhance our tactile, earthly concerns as well as more etheric elements. What aspect of this speaks to you?

The divine feminine energy that some of you may refer to as Goddess energy is stronger on Blue Moons while we encounter a rare opening for us to have additional communication with spirit. For those of you who address spirit in other terms such as God, ancestors or spirit guides, the energy is unusually strong at this time.

Traditionally, Halloween is regarded as a time when the veil between the worlds is thinnest, which is why our ancient ancestors chose this day as a time to remember those who we know who have already preceded us into the next realm, a perfect time for communication with spirit. The Samhain (Celtic) tradition of the Dumb Supper sets a place at the table for those who have passed to wish them well on their journey, sharing one last meal and memory with them. The Day of the Dead (Mexican) celebrations set a table for those who have passed for the same reason. These traditions are the root practices that evolved in to Trick or Treating. The traditions of masking and costumes also arises from here, as these facilitate passage between the realms. No doubt your have noticed how different you feel and how differently others perceive you when you are in costume. While you are wearing it, you are displaying a different identity which causes others to relate to you in a non-ordinary way. And during that time, you experience a sense of an alternate reality.

Blue Moons are a tremendous window of opportunity for performing shamanic rituals. It is also like getting a do-over for those things that you did not get around to on the first full moon of this month. Try a guided meditation of visualization exercise at this time and feel the energy awaken your intuition and insights.

Tune into your feelings. You know the feeling that you get when things are going well for you? Set a new goal or vision for yourself at this time that raises you to a level beyond what you normally experience. Express your gratitude and open to guidance from spirit at this time for additional blessings. A great time to express these feelings on a new vision board, journal entry or ritual where you can find ways to symbolically express your heart's desire.

Once in a Blue Moon is an expression from folklore dating back ages that signifies that this is a rare event, so we should make good use of it. As with all full moons, there is a three day window for celebrating it: the day before, the day of and the day after. So Friday, Saturday and Sunday around Halloween. (I am booked for the Friday and Saturday near Halloween. Sunday, November 1 is still open and in that Blue Moon window.)

2020 in particular has many of us deeply desiring change of all kinds in our lives. So we have one more opportunity to affect change at a higher level this year. 2020 has been a crazy year that has challenged us to reset our business and personal lives and spirit is reminding us that we can make a powerful spiritual shift forward even though many of us have felt really off kilter this year, and remember that in answering our communications, spirit may respond with something immediately and open the way for us to find more beneficial routes forward. Spirit will always bless us when we are acting in helpful and creative ways.

Healing on all levels is aligned with this point in time at all levels: physical, mental, spiritual and emotional. Let us elevate our goals and visions to a higher level in this special window of time and energy. Do not give up hope. This is our opportunity to renew and rejuvenate as we absorb powerful life lessons and move forward into our new vision.

Blue Moons remind us that even the most unusual things happen naturally from time to time and if we are conscious of these events, we can tune in and align our energies for the illumination of our path and light our way with this special light.

I always love hearing from you, so feel free to reach out if you are feeling moved to do so. Have a wonderful day!

The spirit of the 2 moons this month

 

The spirit of the 2 moons this month

This month we have two full moons, October 1 and 31. Traditionally, the full moon in September is the Harvest Moon and the October Full Moon is called the Blood Moon. Any time that there are two full moons in a month, the second one is called the Blue Moon. So that is what we have this year. The Blood Moon is on the 1st and the Blue Moon is on the 31st, which is Halloween. The names of the moons originated earlier in time and they reflect what is going on in nature at that time. So if you think about it, the blood that is referred to is that traditionally, hunters go out at this time of year to shoot game and preserve meat for the winter. Even to this day, this time of year is hunting season. A metaphorical question for those of us who are not actually out hunting animals, we can ask ourselves what we are hunting for now? What are we hunting for that will give us something we need or want? The spirit of this season shines a light on our relationships and lessons we have learned about them. You will see how just a little farther into this article. Farmers would also be culling herds and butchering meat at this time of year for the same reason. That is where the name comes from, not from horror movies. Why do we have blue moons? In early human history, a month was always a moon cycle, from new to full back to dark again. So every month back then had the same number of days. This was important for people to work with. If you enjoy Farmer's Almanacs like I do, you see that there are always tables in there not only for planting and harvesting, there are also days for starting and ending business, indications for fishermen and sailors as to good times for their activities, weather patterns, and many other things. The moon affects people because just as it regulates tides, our bodies are mostly water, so the moon affects us too. That is why people have emotional responses to full moons. The calendar that is in common use today is called the Gregorian Calendar which was created by Pope Gregory of the Catholic Church back in October of 1582. And this is why today we have different numbers of days in different months and Leap Years. This makes absolutely no sense in terms of the natural world. In essence, he changed the definition of month from a period of 4 weeks to random groupings of days. So with all the unevenness in months, as time circles round from year to year, some years have no blue moons and some have more than one. You can see how much more sense a calendar makes when there were 28 days in every month and every month new moons and full moons would come about the same time. There were no blue moons with the earliest calendars. The word month is derived from the word moon. And since the Gregorian Calendar became dominant, months can contain 28, 29, 30 or 31 days. So personally, I feel that the old calendars made a lot more sense. So this year, the full moon on Halloween itself will be a Blue Moon which should be very interesting. It still contains the energy of the season of harvesting and hunting and preparing for winter. But Blue Moon energy is always special because it is infrequent and can add some spiritual juice to whatever you are doing. We have much to be grateful for, even in this crazy year. We have had interruptions to our schedules and ways of working and playing. And we have made some discoveries about our selves and our connections. Notice what things became more important and what things became less important. Notice what people who kept in touch or got closer during this period. And remember that the original significance of the Day of the Dead (Aztec) and Samhain (Irish) traditions was to honor those who we knew who died this year. Some people also remember pets who died too. Taking that day and ceremony is very healing as we recall those we knew who are gone but taught us valuable lessons and shared important experiences with us life and love. These holidays are both celebrated at this time of year and are the root of what we have come to know and celebrate as Halloween. Not horror show stuff, but gratitude. Notice how gratitude keeps coming up? Notice how spirit keeps coming up? If the events of this year have us feeling more emotional this month it is a natural progression. Use this time to notice how the presence of those who are gone now have helped us lift up to a higher dimension of spirituality and consciousness. Remember the joy they brought to our lives, the challenges, the sweetness and the sorrow. In so doing, by observing some sort of personal ritual that expresses this intent, we will process our grieving and gain some value that will give us the courage to move forward. And some of those we knew and loved in this lifetime may be continuing on with us as spirit guides. So this is a traditional time of great magic. Make good use of it. I always love hearing from you, so feel free to reach out if you are feeling moved to do so. Have a wonderful day!