Saturday 26 February 2011

Listening

The first couple of months of 2011 have been interesting, illuminating, challenging and extremely discombobulating! Whilst there is an underlying sense of forwards movements, there is an undeniable feeling of restriction and pressure as well. The result is an inability to clearly see the wood for the trees, and a sense that life as we know it (personally, collectively and globally) is changing.

On a personal level, it has been hard for each of us to access that part of us deep within where the answers, our Truth, resides. We can try to think or feel our way forwards, but we still know that we are not quite in the space that we need to be in to gain that pure sense of clarity that we so badly need now. At the same time, with the pressures of day to day life bearing down upon our shoulders it can be hard to even find the time, space or energy to look for that sense of Truth.

However, we need now to take a moment to listen. We need to hear our own unique note and music in the Universe and then listen (really listen). When we are truly connected to our Truth, our note blends into a fantastic orchestra full of life, energy and joy. We feel part of something, connected. Our hearts sing.

It is time for each of us to find a peaceful spot, a place to listen in order for us to get a new perspective on life. Things are changing, we are changing, and in order to make the most of this shift, we need to memorise our ‘note’ and stay true to this. It is time to let go of the baggage and clutter that we all carry so that we can be free to take part in the most fantastic orchestra there is.

Life may take us in a new direction, or it might lead us into a game of brinkmanship where we have to rely on our faith to keep us going as we let go of attachment after attachment which we no longer need. At the same time, stepping into the unknown can be frightening as we can never truly know the outcome.

Yet it seems that we have to take a chance now if we want to keep playing in this fantastic orchestra. If we want our hearts to keep singing, we need to follow the most rewarding, life affirming and enriching path possible. Inevitably this means stepping onto a path less travelled, and one where things like financial stability or peace of mind might not exist in the present moment; yet with belief, faith and focus, we need to believe that we can create abundance when we allow our hearts to sing...

So, find that peaceful spot, listen to your note and get ready to join the most beautiful and incredible orchestra ever. Once we can step beyond the confusion and the pressures, life will become much clearer and joyful...

Wednesday 9 February 2011

The Courage Of Our Convictions

On the 8th February, Chiron enters Pisces; the wounded healer enters the sign of healing, compassion and intuition. This marks a time of multi-levelled healing and release, both personally and collectively. Of course, the reality of healing is that to be truly cathartic, things can often become more painful or marked before they get better, and it seems that this is the reality over the coming months. Yet, this is not a time to fear, but a time to embrace. It is only by facing our fears and our inner demons that we can truly set ourselves free to live the life we dream of.

Some of the struggles and challenges we face in life can leave us wondering whether or not to continue to follow our dreams or to take a more comfortable and ‘safe’ path instead. It is hard when there are bills to pay or mouths to feed, and we can feel a little self-indulgent exploring our uniqueness, creativity and spirituality when there are more pressing matters to deal with. Yet, when it is our uniqueness, creativity and spirituality that makes our hearts sing, is it truly right to walk away? Of course, that is a question we can only answer individually, but if deep within we know that our calling is too great to ignore, we have to try to trust that we can overcome adversity and struggle in order to achieve success.

If we are full of doubt and disbelief, then we can erode our trust and it can seem easier to turn our backs and look towards something new. However, we will always wonder ‘what if?’ and will we always feel like a little part of ourselves is missing because we chose a ‘safer’ more reliable pathway through life? That’s the conundrum.

The reality is that a path of creativity, uniqueness and spirituality can be hugely rewarding, but it is a path filled with potential pot holes and challenges. We need to decide to accept the rough with the smooth on such a path, and realise that we can be left alone without a map, torch or compass to forge ahead through the apparent darkness. Therefore, this is not a path for everyone, and it is not to be taken lightly.

Chiron wants us to face our fears and to see that the ultimate cathartic action is to charge ahead with self-belief and trust that we can use our gifts, our pain and our trauma to make a difference in life. We need to ride the stormy seas of uncertainty and anxiety until we reach our own little Nirvana. We also need to realise that we are the key to achieving Nirvana, we have to want it to happen, and we need to make it happen.

It is never easy to focus in the watery depths of Pisces, but Pisces gives us a special opportunity now to connect to our paths and to make an informed decision as to how we want to move ahead. Do we choose to trust our instincts and continue on our paths, or do we choose to step back and move in another direction? That is an individual decision, and neither choice is ‘right or wrong’, but the coming weeks and months are a time of reflection, re-focus and reconsideration of what we consider to be truly important in our lives.

It is time to sort the wheat from the chaff and to have the courage to walk the path ahead with our heads held high, believing, trusting and having faith that we are not only heading in the right direction, but that our needs will be taken care of in the process. At the same time, we need to have the courage to let go of all of those aspects in our lives which drain or deplete us, for this is a time of deep healing and regeneration now.

Letting go is never easy, but we need to honour ourselves more now and realise that we cannot spend our lives juggling, we need to focus and hone our goals, so that we have a clearly defined route forwards. Too much can be overwhelming and disorientating...

Once we step through that doorway of increased awareness in life, it is hard, if not impossible, to step back through and switch off all that we have learned. Yet, for some, the challenge of ‘living the dream’ is so, so hard. Some of us can be forgiven for wondering why it has to be so hard if all we want to do is help, heal and inspire others...if our paths were ‘meant to be’ then surely it would be easier?!

Well, I guess that is one of life’s unanswered questions. Why do some struggle where others do not? Perhaps it is connected to belief or positive thought, perhaps it is fate that decides, perhaps some people are just ‘lucky’ or perhaps it is Chiron forcing us to challenge ourselves repeatedly so that we grow strong and more self-aware so that we can face the future with clarity, strength, determination and vision?

I digress. Chiron in Pisces is asking each of us now to face our fears, to overcome our pain and to embrace our full potential. This is a time of healing and release, of ups and downs within, but it is also a time of great opportunity and a chance to step from the shadows to truly shine...

Friday 4 February 2011

The Year of The Rabbit

I thought I would post this short article from my newsletter as it seems to have inspired quite a few of you...

Happy New Year! Well, second time lucky! A little foray into Eastern Astrology shows that today (3rd February) marks the celebration of the Lunar New Year. This event is celebrated by the Chinese, Vietnamese, Koreans, Japanese and many, many other cultures. The coming year will be the year of the Metal Rabbit, and looks set to be a much steadier and reassuring year than 2010 (thank Heavens!). By the way, not all traditions recognise Rabbit, some honour the Cat in its place...

After the roller coaster of uncertainty that most of us went on in 2010 with the Tiger; Rabbit brings harmony, co-operation, peace and tranquillity. Metal does bring challenges, but it is a Yin Metal Year and so there will be thoughtfulness and balance with the occasional steely edged challenge. The pace is slower and it promises to be a more enjoyable, more fruitful and more rewarding time.

Rabbit symbolises kindness, sensitivity and teamwork. Rabbit aims for firm foundations, mental agility and a clear focus on goals. Things happen easier with Rabbit, and we can look forwards to a more tranquil, harmonious, peaceful, joyous and happy time overall as a result.

In a way, 2011 is a year of recovery and convalescence to recover from the extremes of 2010! The overall focus is on calmness, and, as a result, it is not a year to forge ahead, swimming against the current. However, it is also not a year to sit back and enjoy the ride! It is important to find a balance between going with the flow and working towards our goals and dreams. Rabbit dislikes indecision and struggles with uncertainty, therefore, in order to make the most of this more tranquil atmosphere, we need to have clear priorities and goals to focus on. It is time to let go of the chaos of uncertainty...