The Planet Whisperer

The Journey to Self (Neptune into Pisces)

2012-02-04T12:04:00.000Z

February looks set to see a major shift both within andwithout as a sea of compassion, emotion and empathy stirs and begins to rise. Thereis a sense of a re-awakening occurring on an intensely personal, as well as a global,level as we become more aware and conscious. This awakening has been a longtime coming, but it has also been part of a gradual process of the Journey toSelf.

True understanding of our essence as well as having thefaith, belief and courage to step fully into the flow of life in order to livethe best life possible, seems to be at the root of this journey, for each of usis seeking more meaning, depth, purpose and joy. At the same time, living moresimply, more consciously and more mindfully allows us to feel more connected tothe Whole and to ourselves; we become one with the Divine essence.

In some ways this Journey to Self is a natural part of ourevolution as human beings, but there is also an ‘urgency’ to this quest now aseach of us seeks out clarity and purpose. We want to live meaningful and richlives, and we want to celebrate the true flow of abundance on all levels. Thereis no ‘right or wrong’ path or flow, for as individuals, we are unique! Even ifwe do find ourselves going down a dead-end path, very often it is the jewelsthat we find, quite by chance, that become invaluable and cherished.

As our consciousness continues to rise and many sleepwalkersbegin to stir and awaken, it seems that collectively we are stepping towardsmore conscious and more inspired living. There have already been huge shiftsaround the globe, and these look set to continue...

On the Journey to Self, is seems that embracing our divinity is perhaps the mostsignificant job on our ‘to-do’ list at the current time. Yet, what does itmean? Is this something to seek out, to be? Do we need to find a teacher orguru to show us the way? Can we buy this or download it? Where is theinstruction book?!

Of course thereality of embracing our divinity goes way beyond all of the above questions.It is a state of being; a realisation that is everything and nothing at thesame time. When we step beyond linear thought (questions, questions!), werealise that seeking this state of being externally from one source or anotherkind of misses the point. We are already divine, we just need to wake up tothis and surrender to it. This is a feeling, a sense that we are no longerisolated and cut off from the world, the universe etc, but we are a part of it;an integral part. This is not about ego, it is the complete opposite. This isabout becoming a drop in the ocean of consciousness and knowing that the oceanis complete with you, and incomplete without you. It is also about acceptingthat you are not ‘better’ than other drops either...

Moving beyond ego ishard! We want to believe that we have a special purpose; that we are‘different’, and of course we are. Every drop in the ocean has its place, itsrole. When we surrender to the ocean andbecome totally at one with it and ourselves, we do not lose ourselves in theprocess, we find ourselves! Having a special purpose does not have to beego-based, for when we live our purpose simply because it is our calling, theenergy shifts from one of ego to something completely different.

Yet, surrenderingand leaping into the ocean is fearful; it is unknown and it means that we maylose everything that currently defines and separates us from everyone else.Yet, if we lose these, perhaps they are not so great to begin with? Perhaps wehave clung to external fixes in order to find a way to soothe the pain of beingseparated from the ocean? Perhaps we have been looking in the wrong place?

So it seems on the Journeyto Self, we have a choice. We can continue to cling to the external in the hopethat we do find what we are searching for, or we can take a deep breath, stepwillingly into the ocean and become completely at One.

Embracing ourdivinity does mean letting go of ego, and letting go of external sources for‘completion’, but it also means living consciously, being awake and beingdivine...

Shifting Sands

2012-01-29T10:33:00.000Z

It is all too easy to become lost and disorientated when trying to navigate the ebb and flow of the currents of life. Sometimes we can feel lost in an eddy or a maelstrom, unable to break free. Other times we can lose the wind in our sails and feel a deep sense of frustration with the apparent stillness and inertia.

However, when we look beneath the surface to the Core, we realise that we are not lost, but we have been allowing ourselves to become jostled by the surface currents of life. Like a buoy in a stormy sea, we can be bounced around, but we are still anchored, and once the storm has passed, it is likely that we will still be in the same place as before.

So, we have a choice. We can allow ourselves to get lost in the chaos of life or we can sink beneath the surface and connect to the stillness that resides there. Being still is like being a tree; our roots are strong and firm, yet still full of life and energy. It is rare (!) to see a tree rushing around trying to get a million and one things done in order to get to class or work...

Trees are what they are. They seed, they grow, they flourish, they seed, they drop leaves, grow buds or fruit, and then they die. Yet looking at this magnificent species in such a mechanical way takes away their grandeur, their essence and their magic. So, instead we choose to sense the life and the power of the tree, which brings us a deeper sense of meaning and understanding. So why do we not apply the same wisdom to ourselves? Why do we rush around trying to get everything done, never pausing to consider the magic and the joy of being alive?

Becoming lost in the currents of life is human, but we each have a vast landscape within to retreat to, to seek out answers and to heal. We need to tend the garden within, but it is important not to remain focused on the ½ an inch around our feet, for we need to explore new terrain from the wild mountains to the ocean depths. Our inner landscape belongs to us, and we are own Creators, so why place limits on something that has none?

If we can tend our inner world with love and respect, and spend time in reflection and celebrating the joy of life, we can begin to become One with ourselves and our true nature. Then we do not have to bounce around powerlessly in eddy’s and maelstroms, we can choose how to react, and come from a place of inner wisdom rather than a place of outer panic or angst.

Gandhi once said ‘In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness...’

It is time to realise that everything around us is within us, and the more we awaken to the Truth of this, the more we can move beyond feeling rudderless and directionless. We can begin to live consciously and mindfully, and we can allow every new experience to feed the seeds we have planted within, like the rain nourishing the earth. It is time to blossom into the beautiful flowers that we know, deep down, we already are...

Prison Break!

2012-01-15T07:46:00.000Z

Despite this being a time of flux and unrest, there is a growing sense of certainty, clarity and purpose emerging. Like the daffodils breaking through the earth trying to reach the Sun, each of us seems to be vigorously working towards stepping into the full Light of Truth. This takes focus, determination, patience and belief, and it takes a great deal of perseverance!

Of course, the challenge whilst on such a path is to not become totally absorbed or lost in the process. Going with the flow is one thing, but losing sight of everything else is quite another.

This is a time to nurture, nourish and tend the garden within. It is a time to take care of ourselves in every possible way from the food we ingest to the air we breathe. Whilst there are many things that we cannot control (like the quality of the air we breathe), we can visualise clear fresh air entering our lungs even if we cannot physically fully experience it. The power of intent and belief is a strong one after all.

The garden within is more than just a garden, it is a vast and endless terrain, and it is important not to just focus on the tiny flower bed within sight. Why not explore the wild mountains or the ocean depths? Remember as an inner world, it is of our own making, so why limit it? In fact, the more we create and bring into being within, the more connected we become with the Divine, and the more we realise that we are Divine Beings, sparks of Divine Essence; part of the Whole.

Of course, in our inner world, everything is possible, and whilst the reality of everyday life may not appear this way, sometimes we have to shift our perspective in order to see a new way of reaching our goals. The more we believe that we can bring about positive change in our lives, then the more we can create positive change! Yet, so often fear and doubt keep us trapped in a self-built prison of restraint, restriction and lack simply because we dare not believe that we can have, do, or be more.

Letting go of fear and doubt is easy to say, but much harder to do, for it involves facing the fear and riding the anxiety in order to reach pastures new. Yet, until we do this, we remain stuck and frustrated at the self-created prison. Of course, this prison can be a delightful little garden, but it is a prison all the same. There is a vast, timeless and boundless landscape to explore, and sticking to a little patch of soil may feel safe, but is it truly satisfying?

Part of facing fear comes from being true and accepting that we just cannot push away those aspects of ourselves that we dislike. Acceptance means accepting ourselves in every possible way – the good, the bad and the ugly! This is not to say that we must resign ourselves to those aspects that we dislike, but in order to evolve, we need to accept their presence in the first place.

The more we tend our inner worlds, the more the outer world shifts into clearer focus. One does impact the other, and so often we look outside of ourselves for the answers or the solution. Yet the answers are within. This realisation is the key to true acceptance, for it helps us to see that we are not powerless, rudderless lost souls, but we have the tools for our own redemption.

Loving ourselves is the next step on this path, and it is perhaps one of the most challenging things to face. How many of us truly love ourselves? How many of us always think positive, loving, nurturing thoughts? Yet without love, how can we fully awaken and evolve into the amazing beings that we truly are? Love is the mesh that unifies, heals and nourishes, and it is love that is all around and within us now.

Take some time to breathe in loving energy, feel it, hear it, smell it, taste it. Live as consciously as possible and step into the present moment wide awake with a love-filled heart and soul. Let love heal toxic and negative thoughts, and let love be the guiding light towards inner knowing and Truth...

Become The Flow

2012-01-01T10:07:00.000Z

Does a flower change the colour of its petals because it feels self-conscious or different?Unlikely.

Does a tree ever wonder if being an oak tree would be nicer than being an apple tree?Probably not.

As conscious human beings, we often look beyond nature’s laws and spend a great deal of our time trying to go against the flow of life. Life does have a flow; it is not always ‘love, light and bliss’, nor it is always ‘darkness and pain’. Most of us have our fair share of both.

We can try to change the flow, to slow it down or speed it up; we may even try to stop the flow completely or shift it into another valley or flood plain. What is wrong with the flow we are in now? Is the flow always more blissful on the other side of the fence? We may not feel that our lives are as blissful as we would like, but to constantly fight the flow is like fighting the essence of who we truly are.

This is not about giving up or being a victim to circumstance, far from it. This is about surrendering fully and consciously into the flow in order to fully awaken and find ourselves.

We can spend a great amount of time in life trying to control the flow, trying to avoid pain and trying desperately to cling to security. Yet, external security and outer manifestations of comfort rarely give us what we need. The security, bliss and joy we yearn for is much deeper, and much bigger, than this. Yet it is already within us, we do not need to seek it out or track it down, we need to surrender into the flow of our essence, to feel the pain, the joy and to live in the present moment. The past is long gone and the future has not happened yet; what we have is the present moment in time, and this is the most precious gift of all.

How many of us spend our lives thinking about our plans and dreams, feeling that we can achieve ‘a’ once we have achieved ‘b’? ‘B’ is very often along the lines of ‘once I have lost weight’, ‘once I have met the perfect partner’ or ‘once I have found the right home’. Yet, all of these are irrelevant in the bigger scheme of things, for it is our essence, our souls, that matter, and once we can live fully consciously in the present moment, we realise the true gift of our own magnificence.

Magnificence does not come from ego. It is not about being the best; it is about realising that we are magnificent beings, that we are a manifestation of the Divine. We are all Divine; it is not outside of us, it is within us. It is under that stone, it is within that tree and yes, it is also within those that do unspeakable things. Divinity is not a separate force that we have to seek out; we simply need to awaken, to become fully conscious in the present moment and breathe.

Once we can unify ourselves from within, we can see that we not only have the power to re-shape our lives, but we are already doing it!

Ever since we came into consciousness, we have been shaping and moulding our lives and our paths. Perhaps subconsciously, perhaps deliberately, but we have been using our power nonetheless. Making a step towards being fully conscious is significant now, for this is the path towards not only inner unification but global unification as well.

Everything in nature is not only around you, but it is within you. Sounds great, but what does it mean? It means that you are vast, you are Divine; you are the Universe. The Universe is you, The Universe is within you. Yes, The Universe (The Divine) is all around you too, but seeking this externally seems to leave emptiness, separation and suffering. Seeking and finding The Divine (The Universe) within brings love, bliss and completeness...

The more we can surrender to the flow and embrace our own magnificence and bliss, the more we will stop trying to bend ourselves out of shape to be something that we are not. Once again, this is not about giving up on dreams or goals: it is about embracing our completeness in order to live consciously. Living consciously enables us to reach towards our dreams with joy, bliss and belief. Feel the words. Feel the power. Become the power. Become the flow...

Consciousness Rising

2011-12-25T00:01:00.001Z

Last night I went on a journey. I moved beyond myself, beyond lifetimes, beyond time, beyond space and beyond words. I became pure energy and pure consciousness. I felt no restriction, and instead I felt infinite possibility; I became infinite possibility.

In this space I moved beyond day or night, light or dark, joy or sadness. It felt blissful but empty at the same time; but this felt perfect and right. In this space I felt like the Universe was within me and part of me; and I was part of it at the same time.

As I travelled beyond consciousness, beyond language and beyond comprehension I realised that every moment is endless, for there are no limits. The only limits we face are the ones that we put there.

The need to embrace Truth and to follow Destiny seemed so important for these are the keys to becoming whole, and becoming One with all there is. Of course, we are already whole and One, but few of us ever realise this.

Becoming pure energy moved me beyond the human mind and beyond the restrictions of being in physical form. It made me think about what truly makes my heart sing and it was amazing to feel awoken and connected.

As energy, the myriad of colours weaved up and down my ‘body’, I felt peaceful, energised and tranquil at the same time. The energy flow was like a river constantly moving and the currents shifting created a beautiful dance; a cosmic and celestial dance, which was amazing and incredible, beautiful and vibrant.

As I returned to physical form, life has somehow moved into sharper focus; every colour is now more vibrant and everything seems more alive and energised. Perhaps this is purely my perception, but perhaps not.

***

Cosmically and Universally there is so much occurring (the Solstice on the 22nd, the New Moon on the 24th, Jupiter moving Direct on the 25th as well as a myriad of other ‘shifts’ happening on many different levels of awareness). The ebb and flow of the planets and the Universe seems to have taken on a new momentum as each of us continues forward towards self-discovery, enlightenment and bliss.

Life carries its fair share of challenges, but it seems that the more we realise the vastness of our potential and the true nature of the power of our intent, then we can begin to handle such challenges and build a new Heaven on Earth.

This shift begins from the inside, out. In some ways it is passive, for it involves a change in perspective. But, at the same time, it is also hugely energetic and full of potential, for once we have fully surrendered to our own magnificence, then we can begin to use our gifts to transform on every level.

There has been some long dark nights of the soul; nights so long that it seemed the dawn would never come. But the dawn has come, and we need to keep on keeping on with faith in our hearts and the power of intent driving us forward. Obviously, much has been learnt in the process, and with each passing day we become more evolved and more inspired to make the most of every single moment in order to live the best life possible.

***

It is immense to feel the power of who you truly are. Pause for a moment to connect to this; feel your power, feel your Self awakening fully and living consciously. Remember to live your Truth, to surrender to your own magnificence, to love your Self and to embrace every moment as fully and as consciously as possible. You are an energetic, vibrating, incredible Being; feel the power within and without. You are your own Creator, and your life is in your hands now.

The time has come to fully awaken to your natural state of Being; you are amazing and wonderful – feel this now, believe it!

The time has come to fully use the power of your intent to create Heaven on Earth; to transform the world from the inside, out. This power, this gift, is within each and every one of us, and it seems that once we let go of the restrictions and the shackles of doubt, fear and uncertainty, then Heaven on Earth is not only possible, but it has already arrived...

An Angel in Hobnailed Boots

2011-12-16T00:01:00.001Z

Ever get the feeling that you are running on a treadmill, stuck in one place, and no matter how hard or fast you run, you never get any further forward? There have been quite a few moments like this over the past few weeks and months, and their intensity seems to be increasing!

It seems that the reason for this is connected to our growing awareness of their presence, and this in itself makes them more marked and profound! Yet, this does not have to be a self-fulfilling prophecy for we can shift our perspectives in order to look beyond the challenge in order to see the opportunity that such moments in life present us. Whilst it can be hard to see even a glimpse of opportunity through the frustration, if we can begin to see that each challenge is, in itself, making us stronger, then this is a start!

When life feels challenging, every day can feel daunting, and it can be hard to breathe. When life throws us head first into chaos and challenges, it is only natural to want to understand these and to ensure that they never happen again. We may choose to withdraw from life a little, but our life force withers at the same time. Or we can stand firm, like a flower in the storm, gently bending and flexing with the wind.

Deep within each and every one of us is infinite potential; we are Divine sparks. Once we awaken from limited thought, restricting beliefs and from seeing external attachments as goals in themselves, then everything becomes possible. Even those down’s move into clearer perspective, because after each ‘down’ comes an ‘up’, and we can choose to get lost in the grief of losing the up or we can surrender to the flow and ride it like a rollercoaster. How we perceive the down’s is the key to riding the storm and bending like that flower, rather than resisting and snapping like a brittle twig.

Ever since we came into consciousness, we have been shaping and moulding our lives and our paths. Perhaps subconsciously, perhaps deliberately, but we have been using our power nonetheless. Making a step towards being fully conscious of all of this is significant now, for this is the path towards not only inner unification but global unification as well. As we begin to awaken, we realise that we place ourselves on the treadmill of life; perhaps through fear or convenience, perhaps through boredom or a desperate need to cling to something familiar. Whatever the reason, it is time to own that choice and to either accept it or to step onto a path that is open-ended and unfamiliar.

We each have our sources of guidance in life; some connect to angels, some to guides or companions, and some to other Beings. Some of us simply follow our own in-built guidance systems and trust the flow. Whatever our inspiration, it seems that the time has come to ‘toughen up’ in order to take some important and significant steps forwards in life. It is time to ask our angels to put on their hobnailed boots, to roll up their sleeves and to give each of us a well-meaning virtual nudge in the ribs to keep us focused and motivated to step off the treadmill once and for all!

Our guides and inspiration are not passive, meek and mild; they are magnificent and powerful, and we need to realise that they are a part of us, making us magnificent and powerful! So, put on your hobnailed boots and get ready for the ride...

Embrace The Magic

2011-12-10T15:41:00.001Z

Today is a special day. It is special because there is a total Lunar Eclipse, and it is special because Uranus moves direct in Aries today. Eclipses usually herald change, and today is no exception! Uranus is the truth seeker, the freedom fighter and the individual. He inspires each of us to be unique and free on all levels of our Being.

Uranus direct in Aries inspires us to have the courage of our convictions, to let go of fear, and to boldly go where we have never gone before! We have been swiftly moving to this moment over the past weeks, months and years, and it seems that the time has now come to let go of self-doubts and to realise our full potential. This feels like a magical and illuminating moment; a time of shift within and without, and a time of awakening.

Of course we have a choice. We can remain as we are, with a safe and familiar path, reassured that we are within our ‘comfort zones’ in life, or we can take a risk and step into unknown territory and follow our dreams. Reality tempers this in many ways, but only because our perceptions and beliefs are limiting in themselves; our thoughts do shape our lives, after all. If we believe that we can follow our dreams and still thrive on all levels in life, then surely we stand a better chance of making this work than if we remain frozen in uncertainty and fear? Changing the dynamic can make such a difference...

Of course, having bills to pay, food to buy etc. is a guiding force for so many of us, for that is life! Yet, Uranus takes us beyond the mundane and the practical into a world of personal power, personal belief and personal intention. He helps us to realise that we are the ones who place ourselves in limiting patterns by our thoughts and beliefs, and he wants us to break free from this in order to live vibrantly and magically; energetically and fully.

Uranus wants us to hear our hearts singly loudly; he wants us to shatter outdated and outmoded illusions in order to create a new reality. He wants us to let go of everything that holds us back or prevents us from being and living our Truth. We are our own Creators, and Uranus wants us to fully embrace the power and immensity of this now.

In many ways, Uranus is the planet of infinite possibilities; one person can create a chain reaction of change (a thought, an idea or an action) that can literally send shock waves of new thought or changed behaviour around the world. Uranus is the archetypal Butterfly Effect. It is time to see change both within and without; the earth is changing, humanity is changing and it is only by embracing Uranus that these flashes of genius and insight can flow bringing about a whole new world...

Uranus is also the lightning strike that breaks down barriers; he inspires us to become more intuitive and more connected with the Universe. Uranus reflects our innate human longing to know where we are going and why, but also our need to feel part of something bigger. In some ways we need to surrender to the flow and the power of the Universe in order to allow ourselves to feel truly connected; not easy though, for the head and the mind like to rationalise and ponder, but this goes beyond thoughts and ideas, and it goes beyond words and language, for this is a place of feeling and being.

Change begins within, and we now need to break down the barriers and blocks within in order to shift our consciousness to a new, enriching and nourishing level. Feel the power of this moment and this shift; feel it (truly feel it and be it) and the first step has been taken...

So, it seems that today is a day to step into the magic, to feel the wonder, to reclaim our power and to declare our intentions to the Universe. All in 24 little hours!

Reflections

2011-12-01T16:36:00.000Z

There can be no denying that 2011 has been a year of contrast on just about every level of existence! Of course, there are still a few weeks to go and it seems that the cosmic twists and turns are likely to continue, and possibly even intensify now.

In some ways we have been on a journey within and without this year; we have sought out new depths within as our outer worlds have shifted and transformed. Whilst processes are ongoing, it seems clear that our perspectives are the key to how we embrace and manage such ebbs, flows and maelstroms.

When we look in the mirror, we may see the same face staring back at us, but look closer, look into the eyes, there is something different there. Whilst it may be hard to pinpoint exactly what shifts we have gone through during the last few months, it cannot be denied that we somehow feel different. Of course, being human, we want to understand this shift and we want to be able to rationalise things, but sometimes, this just isn’t possible. Sometimes, it is more important to embrace a new state of being rather than spend time looking back trying to make sense of it all. Being present in the current moment and living this new state of consciousness is where we need to be.

Whilst the changes may, on the surface, seem small and perhaps even insignificant, it is only when we look deeply within that we realise that we are no longer the same people that we were just a few months ago. We have stepped through a doorway in consciousness, and realised that, as divine sparks, we are awakening more and more to the infinity of possibility and potential that lies within. How we think, feel, act, meditate, and be, are all so important now for we need to live as consciously as possible now in order to embrace our magnificence.

Being magnificent is not ego based nor is it arrogance; it is a shift in consciousness to realising that we are all One. We are the Universe, the Universe is us. We are entwined and interconnected with all there is...

This is a time to remember. To remember that we are not isolated fragments in a fractured world, but integral parts of the whole. To remember that we shape our world through our thoughts, actions and beliefs, therefore everything we do has an implication. To remember that there are endless possibilities to explore, and as pioneering adventurers, we need to have the courage to step into the unknown. And to remember that we are usually the one that places limits on our own lives through fear or doubt, so the time to set ourselves free has finally arrived.

We are awoken. Time now to bask in the glorious sunshine of a new dawn...

Saving The Best ‘til Last

2011-11-16T00:01:00.003Z

This quote was in my diary for this week, and it has really made me think.

‘They say such nice things about people at their funerals that it makes me sad to realise that I’m going to miss mine by just a few days’. Garrison Keillor, American Writer

We often speak of the wonderfulness of people when they die, but how often do we tell them this when they are alive? Indeed, how often do we tell ourselves how wonderful we are?

A funeral is a celebration of life, but do we have to wait until we die to celebrate our magnificence or our brilliance? We are all incredible Beings, and the sooner we realise this, the sooner we can embrace our full potential and live the life that we were born to live.

These are tumultuous times physically, spiritually, emotionally, financially and energetically. We are in a state of flux and change, and it can be hard to know whether we are coming, going or have got stuck somewhere in between.

We do have a choice though, we can resist and turn our backs on change, trying to fight it with every last breath; or we can embrace it and use it to transform and evolve. After a storm, it is the plants and trees that have bent with the wind that remain standing. Those that stand rigid, are often the ones lost. This is itself is a lesson of nature, but if we use this analogy and take it deeper within ourselves, it is important to know that it is possible to stand firm but in a fluid and giving way, rather than a tense and fear driven way.

Sometimes we have to surrender to the ebb and flow of life; this is not about being powerless and drifting along with the currents of life (although we all do that), but this is about resisting less and becoming more flexible and fluid.

Life is essentially what we make of it. The aim is not to arrive at the end of life in a pristine condition having lived a perfect life, for it is the scars and war wounds that make us individuals and give us character. We rarely know when to expect the end of life, but surely the aim is to make the most of each and every day, to live a life well lived, to enjoy each breath and to live as consciously as possible? Life then truly becomes a living celebration and is not held back until we pass!

The time to celebrate is now; the time to embrace life is now. Life is not a rehearsal, it is but a speck of time or the blink of an eye in Universal terms; but it is important none the less. We can make it significant, well-lived, rich and meaningful or we can simply keep our heads down waiting and hoping for something better to come along. It is clear that in order to become inspired and empowered, we need to realise that we need to take control and to live fully and consciously in the present moment, to grab life with both hands and to celebrate each success when it happens.

So, when was the last time that you gave yourself a pat on the back and said well done? When was the last time you honoured yourself and realised just how special you truly are?

We each have a choice, we can wait to be remembered as magnificent, or we can become a living representation of it now! The same can be said for those around us; it is time now to celebrate not denigrate, to honour not disrespect.

Say it now! Believe it, feel it and know that you are a truly special, wonderful individual! Now you can pay this forwards...

11.11.11.11.11

2011-11-11T11:11:00.000Z

The 11th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the 11th year of the 21st century. How often can we have a moment like this is our lifetimes?!

There is a great deal of focus and energy being placed on this moment in time; a great deal of hope and expectation. What does it represent? What does it mean? There are lots of theories and ideas bubbling around the globe, from portals opening to a shift in DNA. In essence though, perhaps the most significant focus of this day is to simply bring together like minded souls who collectively share a vision of hope, healing, love and evolution.

The more people that come together and unify, the more we can truly understand the nature of all of the cosmic shifts, twists and turns that we have witnessed and will continue to witness. Unity is one-ness, the Uni-verse is one-ness and the more we connect to, and live, this one-ness, the more we realise just how magnificent we truly are.

The nature of being human sees us define ourselves by the sum of our past; what happened before shapes us, moulds us and makes us whom we are today. We look back to spiritual knowledge and to the wisdom of the past to give the present (and the future) meaning and purpose; we seek a full awakening from our seemingly long dark nights of the soul.

Yet, can the past truly shape and define us? Have we not reached a point in our evolution where we need to define ourselves by the present moment? Can we always find an answer from the past? In some ways, of course we can, but if we are truly evolving now surely we need to stop looking backwards and start looking forwards!

In essence, it seems to be a time to stop seeking meaning from the outside world and to go within in order to find the answers and solutions to our lives. We may not have ‘all the answers’, but no one has, not on this earth. Yet, if we are to grow and evolve, isn’t a part of that making ‘mistakes’ and learning from them? Like a baby finding its feet; it will fall and bump, but after each fall comes not only a determination to try again but an evolving learning process to make the next attempt a step closer to its goal.

We are being re-born now, and it is time to have trust and faith in our own abilities to learn and to find our own ways forwards. This is not about isolation, but it is defining ourselves from within not without. Groups are a powerful way to manifest change and transformation, healing and love, but in order to find Truth, we need to go within our Selves and not define ourselves through the collective.

11.11.11.11.11 is a special moment, perhaps mainly because we decide it will be. This may sound twee or a little light-hearted, but it is not. At the end of the day, it is our intent that is the most important gift that we have. Intent and personal power are our guiding lights and are the forces in our lives that can transform, destroy and create. Imagine what we can do personally and collectively if we believe that we can. If we can make 11.11.11.11.11 special, then we can do anything!

Portals may open and our DNA may change, but perhaps the most significant things we can embrace is unity, self-awareness and the power of intent, for once we have these, then life can be truly wonderful...

Magnificence Rising

2011-11-08T00:01:00.001Z

The time has come to stop procrastinating, and to start doing! Thinking about life is NOT the same as living it. Life is not a rehearsal, it is the real deal! We may like to think that we are preparing ourselves for the ultimate Nirvana and enlightenment, and this may be true, but what matters most is the present moment. In this moment we are neither controlled by the past or the future, we are in the now and this is where we need to consciously remain if we are to live more mindfully.

Planning for some future that may or may not happen, or waiting for that perfect moment or opportunity to come up and tap you on the shoulder is a good way to fritter away energy and focus. It is disempowering and disenchanting at the very least.

If you take a moment, stop and spend some time pondering the following:

If today were your last day on Earth, would you want to be doing what you are doing now? Would you be happy that you have lived your life to the full? Would you feel that you have made the most of every second to live in bliss? Have you lived the best life that you can live? Have you at least stepped towards your dreams? Have you played it safe or taken a chance on happiness? Have you listened to your heart and given it the freedom to sing? Have you honoured your Self?

So many questions, but where are the answers? The fact is of course, that we can all sit and think about these questions, but there comes a time when thinking simply is not enough anymore. Thinking or even feeling can give us clarity and vision, but it cannot drive us forward; we have to do that ourselves.

Making a choice or a decision can be so hard. Our heads and our hearts are so often in conflict. Our hearts may call us toward one path or dream but our heads are more concerned with paying the bills, surviving and getting through each day. Yet, surely too much head stuff can clutter and overwhelm the heart and can prove just as disruptive as no thinking at all! Balance is the name of the game.

Easy peasy then. If only!

How do we move through the fear and the worry in order to connect with what truly makes our hearts sing? How can we move from a place of fear to a place of knowing, wisdom and confidence?

It seems to boil down to attitude and belief.

Firstly, is the belief that ‘I am worth it’, an intent so strong when we truly believe it, that it oozes from our auras and from every cell of our Being. This is a belief that never waivers; it is a knowing, a power.

Secondly is the belief that ‘I have the power’. Another intent; a simple one, but one that creates freedom and opportunity. it empowers, enlightens and inspires us to realise the magnificence of who we are.

Thirdly is the belief that ‘my thoughts shape my life’, this is more of a realisation, but an important one, for once we realise that we have the power to shape and transform our lives simply by through our attitude, things get considerably more interesting! This is not about getting lost in thought though, it is about having a clear focus and vision, and having clear and well-defined thoughts. We need to know ourselves and we need clarity; for if we do not know ourselves, our dreams or our goals, then how are we to manifest them?!

Finally is the belief that ‘I am wonderful, I am magnificent’. Somewhat harder to say with belief or conviction, but why? We are all magnificent and incredible, and it is time to celebrate that.

Drifting along in life, scrimping and scraping is a choice. We can see money, prosperity and wealth as something ‘always out of our reach’ or we can realise our own value and begin to transform our lives from the inside out. Through knowing that we are worth it, that we do have the power and by accepting that our thoughts do shape our lives, we can begin to take back the controls and re-connect to our Selves.

It is time to cut out the worry and the fear, for these attract more of the same. It is time now to celebrate what we do have, and to know that with belief and determination, we can make every day magnificent and blissful. We can look in the mirror and not feel empty, hollow or lacking; we can look in the mirror and know that we are living and have lived the best life possible.

Life is not about reaching the end destination in pristine condition, unscathed, and without scars. Out of suffering, strength emerges, and whilst many of us have suffered and struggled, it is important to realise that this is a part of life and we can either feel like a victim or accept what’s done is done, the past is in the past. What matters now is the present!

It is time to celebrate these scars, to know that this is what makes us incredible. We are the sum of all of our components, warts and all, and it is time to embrace our Selves fully, openly, honestly and with love.

Khalil Gibran: “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” (thanks Amanda!)

So, no more sitting on the fence waiting for something to happen, instead we need to have the courage and self-belief to step into the unknown, to let go of our fears and doubts, to believe and to realise that we have the power to make things happen. Life carries no guarantees, there is no ‘money back’ guarantee if things fall short of our hopes or expectations. We can suffer from buyers remorse or we can get up, dust ourselves off and get back on the horse once again.

Perhaps the most important thing to embrace is clarity. Without clarity we move along in a blur, in a haze of confusion and discombobulation. Yet clarity is quite hard to clarify, for we are human, and our hearts and our heads often have different agendas. Heart often strives for dreams and joy, the head seeks security and practicality.

The way to win this inner battle is to encourage the heart and the head to make peace, and to work together. Battles are exhausting, and what purpose do they serve other than to throw up more questions and turmoil? If we can get our heads and our hearts working together, then we can finally begin to de-clutter our lives, to focus and to embrace that all elusive clarity!

The key to life seems to be connected to inner harmony, if we are to re-awaken our souls’ full potential we need to step into the tranquillity within. This pool of tranquillity is where wisdom, belief, intent and abundance all reside. We now need to shift our perspective and realisation that this tranquillity is already within us and around us, we just have to use it now.

Take a breath and clear your mind. Connect to the power within you, let go of the clutter and allow your true purpose to be revealed. It is time for your heart to sing now; loudly and vibrantly from the roof tops with mirth, joy and bliss...

Angels & GPS’s

2011-10-31T00:01:00.002Z

There is a strange and somewhat mysterious energy all around us at the moment, even the light during the day has changed, and the dark during the night seems altered. Everyone seems affected by this energy; even those not usually open to spiritual or ‘higher’ energies.

There is a bubbling undercurrent of anticipation and expectation, but nothing is bursting forth with a notice to say ‘here’s the answer, here’s the solution’. No faeries or light beings are popping up with words of wisdom or guidance.

It is as though we are now standing on the brink of change, at the edge of a precipice wondering whether to cling on for dear life to what we know or whether to let go, to have faith and to trust that all will be well. Neither sounds particularly enticing, after all, what lies on the other side of that precipice? Soft fluffy clouds? Sharp jagged rocks? Hmmmm

We want answers, and we want guidance. In an ideal world, we would be born with a guide book for life in our hands, telling us what to do, when, how etc. Yet we are not. We are born unique and individual souls, and we have to find our own way in life. Of course, there is support from those around us, but at the end of the day, our journey is our own; we walk alone through time, through space and through life.

So, here we find ourselves, on a precipice wondering what on earth to do next. This strange energy is undeniably strong suggesting change is imminent, but still we wait. What are we waiting for? Are we hoping that an angel might pop down with a GPS, map and guide book to tell us what to do next? We may have some wait...

It seems that we have reached one of those times in life where we have to make a choice. We can cling to what we know or we can take a leap of faith into the unknown. Standing still doesn’t seem an option anymore and we need to make a choice. We can never know what lies around the next corner, and we cannot guarantee soft fluffy clouds if we take a leap of faith, but it seems clear that we need to have more belief in ourselves and our gifts, and to know that sometimes we just have to follow our intuition or gut instinct (of course, this intuitive light bulb moment may come in the form of an angel with a GPS, but maybe not for most of us!).

There is no right or wrong decision, the important thing is to make a decision and to accept it. ‘What if’s’ and ‘if only’s’ waste energy and focus, so it is time to re-empower ourselves, to own our choices and to take back the controls.

We can choose to sit and wait for this somewhat mysterious energy to intensify, or we can sit and wait for it to go away, but where’s the learning in that? It is time to realise that we are not powerless, directionless souls just drifting through life waiting for a ‘sign’. Instead we are strong, courageous, amazing, wonderful and incredible souls with choices to make and dreams to fulfil.

These are times of change. Intense, profound and lasting change...

Sweet Soul Music

2011-10-21T00:01:00.000+01:00

We are all part of the Universe, we make up the whole. We are all energy, and as energy beings we are infinite (for science tells us that energy can be neither created nor destroyed).

We know this, this is not news, but how many of us truly know this? How many of us have really thought this through? We are infinite, we are the Universe, we are One. Wow...

It can be easy to become lost travelling down the myriad of different pathways through life, we can lose sight of our gifts, dreams and our Selves, and so it is not surprising that we can forget Truth.

Yet, whilst we are One, each of us has own our ‘note’ in the orchestra of life, each of us has our own part to play in the Whole. When we are in touch with our cores, we allow our note to play sweetly, vibrantly and joyfully, but when we are out of touch, this note can become discordant and out of tune.

When we listen to the wonderful orchestra of the Universe, humans are but tiny specks of the Whole, animals are also specks, and the Earth is another speck. Yet these ‘specks’ are no less significant than anything else. Yet there is discordance and imbalance; we all know that the Earth and all those who dwell on her are out of kilter. We feel the pain and suffering all around, yet what can we do?

It seems that the most positive thing we can do is to go within, to re-tune our ‘notes’ and to play our music as sweetly and joyfully as possible. When we are in tune, we know ourselves, we live in Truth, we embrace our full potential and our hearts sing. Re-tuning our notes is contagious, it spreads, for as one person starts to sing sweetly, others follow suit.

Once we are in tune with ourselves, we can help to re-tune the Whole; from humanity to animals to the Earth, and we can make the Uni-Verse whole again.

So, it is time to reconnect to our ‘notes’, to our true sense of Self and to embrace our infinite potential as enlightened, spiritual souls...

Time to Dance

2011-10-14T13:52:00.000+01:00

‘You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star’ Friedrich Nietzsche

This phrase seems so apt for the current time, for it brings a sense of meaning and purpose to the chaos and discombobulation! And, after all, who wouldn’t want to be a dancing star?!

Without going into an academic or philosophical discussion as to Nietzsche’s thoughts behind this quote, my own understanding of the words is more of a feeling than a thought. Just read the words and feel the meaning...

Chaos in the soul is unsettling, but it is a vital part of our personal and spiritual evolution. Without chaos, there is no change, and without change, we cannot grow. Chaos can be frightening, but it can also be a friend. For it is through the chaos, that we find Truth and our sense of Self.

Following a spiritual path in life is never easy, as stuff happens; life happens and frustratingly gets in the way of dedicated spiritual practice, reflection and contemplation! It can be so hard to lead a spiritual life in the ‘dog-eat-dog’ 21st century. Yet, is it really that hard? Is it not possible to move through the mundane and remain connected to what lies beyond? Chaos is part of what we find in that space, but peace, tranquillity and stillness can be found in abundance as well. It is when we rest in tranquillity that we can begin to ride the chaos and so embrace the change that is happening whether we want it to or not.

We all have chaos within us and around us; that is part of life. Our perception of that chaos is where we have a choice. We can choose to feel powerless and alone, or we can choose to have courage, self belief and strength and realise that we absolutely do have what it takes to find happiness and joy. Perception is such a strong filter in our lives; our families, peers, society, culture, beliefs etc all cloud or shade our perception considerably. It is only when we have the courage to look beyond what’s ‘expected’ of us, to connect to the Truth, that we can begin to see just how much clouding we have collected over the years.

Like the proverbial onion, it is time to peel back the layers of conditioning one by one so that we can connect to our true priorities in life. Chaos steps in here once again though, as we have to be prepared to move into the chaos with love and compassion in order to be at one with it, and to realise that it is our biggest aide and strength in life. From the chaos, life itself was created. From the chaos comes creativity, spirituality, joy and bliss.

So, it is time to accept that chaos is not going to leave us be, and to instead embrace chaos as the powerful transformational and life enriching energy that it is. It is time to be that dancing star...

Light is Light

2011-09-26T00:01:00.001+01:00

Or is it?

Truth, yes, that old chestnut again! We seem to be on a mission at the current time, a mission towards Truth, meaning, purpose, mindfulness and conscious living. There is a power behind this, driving us forwards to make changes to our lives on every level of our Being. This is hard work, it is frightening and it is exciting but it feels necessary.

We all have perceptions and conceptions about what is right and what is wrong, and we all have beliefs about what lies ahead...both in life and beyond.

When we think about Light, we think about love, healing, peace. Many of us only choose to think about the Light for the Dark is not a welcoming place. Yet, surely we cannot have one without the other. Surely Dark goes with Light, like Day goes with Night, like Masculine goes with Feminine? One flows into the other creating balance, creating unity, creating wholeness.

The Light illuminates the Dark, not to eradicate it but to make us more aware of it. The Dark softens the Light, not to scare us, but to help us to see the full cycle, the full picture.

As our perspectives continue to shift, to widen and deepen, our whole outlook on life is changing. Whether we accept it or not, things are changing, we are changing, everything is changing. This is evolution, the natural progression of things. However, it certainly seems to be the case that this evolution is getting quicker...

As we become increasingly aware of the bigger picture we look set to realise that Darkness is as important as Light. We need both, we need balance. Perhaps it is a fear of the Dark that pushes so many of us to cling to the Light, or perhaps it is simply a feeling that to create positive change in the world that we need more Light? However, what if it is that fear of the Darkness creating these challenges in the world, should we not then face that Darkness head on rather than take the more indirect approach of flooding it with Light?

This is a lofty debate, and not quite the purpose of these musings!

As we continue to awaken and connect to our True selves and embrace destiny with a passion, our whole outlook on life shifts. Our understanding and beliefs shift as we move beyond obstacles, beyond fear and beyond over-thinking. As we stop underestimating our abilities and our gifts, and we embrace the fullness of our individuality, we realise that the Darkness is an integral part of who we are. We all have a shadow side, there is no shame in that, but it is acknowledging this that is the key. This is not about embracing some dark force, but it is realising that we are made up of a myriad of different things.

Once we fully embrace the wholeness of our Beings, we do move beyond the Light, and we see Light differently, for it becomes something new. Light is Light undoubtedly, but it is also something else, something new, something wonderful...

The Truth Is Breaking Through

2011-09-17T00:01:00.001+01:00

Truth. What is it? Where is it? Is it fact, is it belief, or is it some higher value? Is truth different for each individual or is it a shared value?

For many of us travelling along spiritual pathways, the search for truth is an important facet of these. Standing in Truth, speaking Truth, being Truth...

Life has been throwing out more than its fair share of challenges recently, and many of us are feeling exhausted, tired and worn out at the process. Of course, when we stay centred and connected to the tranquillity within, we can ride these storms, but for many of us, we don’t always manage to achieve this heightened state of bliss, we are only human, after all! Yes, practice does make perfect, but for now many would be forgiven for feeling like they have been through the wash and back again!

This energetic battering creates a kind of fatigue, quite an epic and indescribable fatigue that is almost beyond words. So when someone then says ‘stand in your Truth’, it can be hard to even begin to know where to begin. Indeed for some, the effort to even think about this, let alone to do it, is simply too much!

Yet, think about it, embrace it and live it we must. It is an important step along the pathway of personal and spiritual evolution. First though, we need to understand it! This is what the dictionary has to say:

1. The true or actual state of a matter.
2. Conformity with fact or reality.
3. A verified or indisputable fact.
4. The state or character of being true.
5. Actuality or actual existence.

Truth therefore sounds quite rigid, well defined. Yet, when many of us think of truth it feels very removed from this! Perhaps then we therefore need to re-define truth to understand it, to feel it?

Although, the ‘state of character of being true’ seems like a workable definition. It is very personal and it is a state of Being.

As we look beyond the storms of life and into the shattered pieces of glass that remain, we can see a true reflection beginning to emerge. A uniquely personal reflection that is true for us as individuals. Trying to conform to others people’s Truths is admirable and perhaps understandable, but it is our Truth that really matters. We can see shards of broken glass or we can see a myriad of smaller mirrors each one giving us an opportunity to see a different perspective. Life creates storms in order for us to see more...

I am Infinite Potential

2011-09-08T00:01:00.002+01:00

This is a time for connecting to the power and intention behind our thoughts, beliefs and affirmations. The ways in which we think are becoming increasingly important as we realise that we do shape our own lives. Our thoughts and beliefs play a huge role in creating our realities, as does the energy or power behind those thoughts and beliefs.

However, what exactly does this mean, what does it imply? For a great many of us, we know the power of thought, we know that self-degradation, self-criticism, self-judgement is not terribly healthy, but how many of us are still guilty of doing it (hands up!). This is part of being human, perhaps it comes from the desire to be better and to do more or perhaps it comes from simply not feeling good enough?

Even when we do start to make changes about how we think, we might create some affirmations or positive statements such as ‘I love myself’, ‘I honour myself’, ‘I cherish myself’. Yet, it is all too easy to speak empty words, how many of us truly feel these words, feel their power and their energy?

We are going through a time of rapid change of every level of our Beings, and it is all too easy to get lost in the currents, to lose sight of ourselves, our thoughts, our beliefs, our paths. At the same time, we can struggle against the currents, pushing towards goals or dreams which may, as yet, still be beyond our reach. Yet it is so hard to stand firm, to stay put like a buoy on a stormy sea. And who is to say that being a buoy is the right thing to do? Perhaps we should surrender completely to the flow and allow the currents to take us to where they want us to be...

When we look deeper though, the chaos and turbulence begins to melt away. When we explore our inner landscapes, we can see a tranquil pool, peaceful and still. We can choose to move beyond the chaos and confusion to this tranquillity. It takes effort and practice, but it is possible.

It seems that we currently have a choice to battle it out on the surface, dealing with the myriad of challenges being thrown around and struggling to stay afloat or we connect to our core’s and allow the tranquillity to give us strength and guidance. We still have those challenges to face but from that more peaceful place, we can gain clarity, vision, strength and wisdom and act from the heart, from the truest place and not be pushed into action through fear, panic or outside pressure.

Whilst connecting within, the power of our thoughts and beliefs becomes even clearer. We can begin to see exactly how we shape our lives, how our thoughts either enhance or erode. Once mindful of this, we can change them!!

This is a time now to not only re-shape our thoughts and our lives, but to re-connect to the power within. It is a time to feel the power, energy and intention of our beliefs and to know that when we truly believe, we can create positive change. Life happens, s**t happens, but this is what makes us human, isn’t it? Although, if we can keep on keeping on despite ‘stuff happening’, then that is what makes us truly human, surely? That good old fighting spirit, that determination and grit to overcome adversity...

Back now to the power, energy and intent of our thoughts and it seems clear that each of us needs to re-focus and re-shape our thoughts, to focus on our true priorities, to have faith and belief and to trust our ability to handle whatever life throws our way. It is time to believe that stepping into the unknown is a choice that we can either embrace or deny, but we do need to acknowledge that choice, make it and embrace it. Finally, it seems clear that we need to feel the power of a brand new intention...

...I am infinite potential.

Works for me.

Tigers & Sheep

2011-08-30T12:35:00.000+01:00

Today mighty Jupiter moves retrograde in Taurus. Jupiter the planet of wisdom, knowledge, abundance, belief, new beginnings...

...sounds exciting, liberating and it feels like a welcome relief!

There can be no denying that the past few weeks and months have been hard going. Walking through treacle would be an understatement; brains like custard would perhaps be a little closer! The feeling of lethargy, exhaustion and struggle so many of us seem to be facing on so many different levels is undeniably strong.

The biggest question perhaps is why. Why are we going through the mill at the moment? What cosmic force is at play that is pushing each of us so very hard? In many ways we already know the answer, we know that it is simply the right time to be facing our demons and clearing out our inner closets. It is the right time to be digging deep to the resources that lie within to realise the power of our intentions, beliefs and gifts.

When the going gets tough, many a tough soul would get going! Yet this does not seem to be an option for many on the spiritual path. The path towards re-awakening is a challenging one, with every step forwards we become a little more aware, a little more awake, and a little more conscious. We cannot undo this, we cannot forget what we have seen, felt or experienced. We cannot simply take a step back and return to how things used to be. Therefore as we become more and more awake, everything becomes more and more real, more and more heartfelt.

For many of us, this has been a time of great worry or concern connected to our physical well-being, a time of worry about a lack of resources and a time of some fairly major health challenges! It can become all too easy to focus on the challenges and on the lack, on those things we perhaps can’t have, don’t have or once had and lost. Yet focusing on lack attracts more lack (the rule of attraction!), so we need to be thankful for those things that we do have, however small or seemingly meaningless.

It is time now to explore our full potential and to realise just how much we do have in life. It is time to celebrate the abundance in our lives and to feel blessed by this. Despite surface appearances, this is a time of great change leading towards deep enrichment and the attainment of joy; therefore we need to focus on the positive to create an ever growing flow of positivity and abundance in our lives.

We need to tune into and focus on our inner resources of strength and self-belief in order to bring our dreams alive and to see just how much abundance we have. The more we can focus on this, the richer we become emotionally, spiritually, physically and psychologically, and the more content we can be in life. The more we can feel the power and the intention here, the more we can connect with it, giving it more power and more presence in our lives.

There can be no denying that this is a time to go within, to tend to our inner landscapes, to go into those dark spaces within in order to face and let go of our fears. It is time now to find our inner strength, to connect to our higher selves and to truly follow destiny.

The key to all of this comes in the way of balance. It is a time to be truly centred, and from that space we can tap into that vast inner well of love, compassion and strength. We have now reached a crossroads, a turning point, and each of us has a choice. That choice is between stepping onto the path less travelled, the one that calls to us on a deep level, the one that truly takes us into unknown territory.

The other choice is to stay exactly as we are, to ignore those inner calls and to stand firm on the spot. There can be no judgement as to which choice is made, neither is an easy option, neither is ‘wrong’. It does seem clear though that we need to make this choice now and stop procrastinating! Once that choice is made we can then re-focus our energies in one clear direction...

This is a time to face our fears and inadequacies, it is a time to not be afraid to let the world see the core of who we are, and it is a time to realise that we are all here for a reason. Not everyone is a spiritual warrior or pioneer, there are many gatekeepers, watchers and others amongst us all with different roles to play. Being a spiritual warrior sounds cool, but it is perhaps the hardest path, the loneliest, the most challenging.

Stepping into the unknown is in many ways the only true way of growing, it helps us to embrace our full potential and encourages us to take giant leaps forwards. However, the unknown is scary, and we need to have faith and self-belief to trust that we will be taken care of. There are, sadly no guarantees, but when in a place of trust and Truth, we can face challenges easier and we can see solutions from a clearer perspective. When in a place of trust and Truth we can go with the flow allowing each of us to make the most of the opportunities that life presents us.

There is a strong sense that now is the time to truly connect to whatever makes our hearts sing. It is time to move beyond fear, beyond doubt and beyond confusion to a place of knowing and inner belief. In theory, this sounds amazing, but in practice it can be somewhat harder to take on board and apply to reality! Life happens, stuff happens and we can easily lose clarity and find ourselves lost in the mists of confusion and discombobulation.

If we panic that we are lost, we can completely lose our way and become disorientated, yet if we can take a deep breath and use our intuition to guide us forwards, we can find our way back once again. Our inner landscape truly is the key; it is that place where we can connect with our cores and truly feel a part of the Universal whole.

Ok, so after all of this, we may still end up falling flat on our faces, but just the act of trying shows that we have evolved and we have declared to the Universe that we are no longer happy to be a sheep, but we are definitely tigers in the making...

The New Moon

2011-08-29T00:01:00.001+01:00

New Moon is in Virgo on 29th at 04.04 BST (03.04 GMT).

The New Moon in earthy Virgo suggests a time to get organised as we begin to clearly see the path ahead. It’s time to roll up the sleeves and to get stuck in, it is important not to get too carried away though, for we will need our strength to stay focused and still at the same time. This is a great time to begin a new regime for well-being, as well as time to take care of number one! We need to continue to let go of that emotional clutter and baggage, for we need to let in the Light, joy and compassion...

The Full Moon

2011-08-13T00:01:00.001+01:00

The Full Moon is in Aquarius on 13th at 19.57 BST (18.57 GMT)

This Aquarian Full Moon is a perfect time to get organised in order to make some important changes to our lives (the more organised we can be, the easier it becomes to see beyond the ‘clutter’ in our lives). We need to think with clarity and vision, and be clear about our goals and dreams. This is also a good time to make any new affirmations about the path ahead. As we continue to let the light of the Moon feed our souls, we can expect more inner doors to be opened and unlocked as venture deeper and deeper within to find peace, nourishment and direction.

Moving Through The Mist

2011-08-09T00:01:00.001+01:00

It seems important to connect with Neptune at this time. On the 5th August, he moved into Aquarius whilst retrograde and he will stay there until 2012.

Neptune is a subtle but incredibly powerful planet; he weaves us together through the collective consciousness and all of those unseen forces that we are growing increasingly aware of. In many ways this is the time of Neptune, we are opening ourselves up more and more to his sacred dance that unifies through the interconnectedness of the energy all around us.

I wrote a while ago that ‘Neptune is that subtle thread that connects us all through a beautiful cosmic dance of energies that swirl and flow within and around each of us connecting us to the Universe and making us One’.

As we continue to go through inner shift after inner shift, we are beginning to gain a sense of perspective as to what is actually happening! Yet at the same time, we are moving more towards that space beyond the light where nothing is happening at the same time.

As human beings, we need to understand and comprehend, we want answers and solutions. This is how we have evolved and developed. Yet we are moving to a place beyond this, where we step onto the flow of consciousness and allow ourselves to trust the process of life.

This may sound a little vague, but when we feel these words, we can feel their intent, their purpose. We are in a time of intent, of power, of purpose and it is time to realise just how powerful we are individually and collectively.

There is a strong theme of compassion with Neptune, and as the weeks progress, we are likely to start ‘feeling’ much more. It is as though we are being asked to disengage our brains slightly to allow our intuition or our instincts to guide us far more. How many of us get ‘feelings’ about stuff but ignore them for a more logical solution? Thought so!

Neptune wants us to look beyond the physical towards our inner landscapes. Yes, we need to tend those landscapes regularly to keep them weed free and beautiful, but this is much more that a bit of weeding! It is time to plant seeds, to tend crops and to nurture our gardens to create something truly beautiful. What we create within, we can then start to create without.

If our inner world is weed ridden, overgrown, neglected and forlorn, how can we ever have the space to manifest our dreams or rest in stillness? We do need to take responsibility for our inner worlds (who else can?), and we need to take out even a little time each day to nurture this important part of our Beings. This is not about spending months or years in solitude contemplating (although there is nothing wrong with that!), but for most of us in the world this is neither practical nor possible.

In a way, Neptune is showing us a kind of ‘inner philosophy for the modern soul’, he is showing us that we can live in a consumer driven, material society without becoming a sheep or a slave to it. This is not about rebellion though, it is about resting in the stillness within and allowing our inner world to nurture and nourish us.

So many souls have found themselves seeking more meaning and purpose in their lives, seeking a meaningful spirituality that connects them to the Universe. Many have lost their way, but many are still keeping on keeping on, and it is important not to let go of the intention to evolve and grow as sentient beings.

Neptune wants us to live more simply, more joyfully and more blissfully. Abundance is not just about wealth of the material kind, and Neptune wants us to appreciate this now. It is time to enjoy the riches within for they will shape our lives and expectations without.

Does having the biggest house, the best TV or the fastest car really matter in the scheme of things? For some it does, and that is ok, but for those of us who know this not to be important in our lives, we need to explore the richness within to feel truly abundant and overflowing with love, inspiration, creativity and bliss.

We now need to seek the peace and solace within and connect to the stillness, love and bliss that reside there. It is time to bathe in that light of inspiration and to feel whole and complete from within. Once we reach a stage of inner completion, our whole perspective on life shifts, our intentions change and the power of our thoughts truly begin to re-shape our lives from the inside out.

Neptune can cause confusion; his mists can tie us up in knots and leave us feeling lost. Yet, if we can move beyond that fear and trust, we know that we are always connected and we can guide ourselves from within. Once we are tuned into the stillness within, we are open to receive the guidance of our higher selves and of the Universe.

It is time now to have faith, to trust and to believe. It is also time to let go of doubt and fear and allow the Universe to guide us.

Like The Phoenix Rising...

2011-08-01T00:01:00.002+01:00

August looks set to be a month of deeper and deeper introspection as retrograde Neptune moves back into Aquarius, Mercury goes retrograde in Virgo (and then back into Leo), retrograde Ceres enters Pisces and Jupiter goes retrograde in Taurus at the end of the month. Top this off with Pluto, Pallas Athene, Vesta, Chiron, Pluto and Uranus all retrograde all month, it is clear to see why there is such a strong focus within.

However, inner work does not have to mean stifling, heavy, tiresome drudgery, it can be liberating, empowering and illuminating; and this is the focus now. It is time for each of us to move beyond the light and beyond the darkness to a place of inner knowing. This is a place where we are not afraid to honour every aspect of our Beings, and a place where we can surrender more and more to the abundance of the Universe.

How we think is really important now, for our thoughts shape our lives. Retrograde Mercury will ensure that we do consider our thoughts and he will inspire us to start thinking is more life affirming and life enhancing ways. It is a choice though, and we can choose to stay as we are, but it seems like a wasted opportunity if we do not at least explore this brave new world that we are being shown now...

So, with all of this inner focus, it seems clear that we might be feeling a little overwhelmed with life at the moment! Yet, at the same time, through the heaviness, if we can connect to this place of inner knowing, we will realise that there is nothing to fear, nothing to feel overwhelmed by. Whilst many of us may be facing some of our biggest challenges at the current time, these challenges are bringing to the surface strength, resolve, focus, faith and belief. Of course, these have always been there, but it is often in those times of need that we dig deeply within to seek out solutions and answers.

We can choose to feel dis-empowered or we can become empowered, inspired and enlightened. It seems right to quote Friedrich Nietzsche: ‘what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger’.

This may sound a tad over-dramatic, but we are going through a shedding process now, like a snake and its skin, we are letting go of our old selves in order to be re-born...

The New Moon

2011-07-30T00:01:00.001+01:00

New Moon is on the 30th July in Leo at 18.39 GMT (19.39 BST)

July’s second New Moon is fired up by Leo bringing a sense of renewal into our lives. New ideas and plans will begin to flow, and we will start to see more creative ways of using our time and energy. Leo is colourful and dramatic, so we need to be sure that we don’t get too carried along in the action, but by keeping our feet on the ground, there is no reason why we still cannot reach for the stars. This second New Moon acts as catalyst for an incredibly intense, profound and powerful summer; a time of re-awakening and re-discovery...

A True Harvest

2011-07-26T00:01:00.002+01:00

Ceres moves retrograde today, the 26th July. This dwarf planet, so often overlooked by astrologers, is a little powerhouse playing such a pivotal and profound role in our lives. Ceres is the Earth Mother; she is the nurturer, Goddess of the harvest.

Ceres represents self-worth and self-esteem, and she connects us to some deep and profound emotions such as loss, separation, grief, dependency, attachment etc. Ceres helps us to nourish and nurture ourselves on all levels.

Moving retrograde, Ceres takes her focus deep within, she wants us to think about the ways in which we take care of ourselves. Do we feed ourselves nourishing food? Do we shower ourselves with loving thoughts? Do we take care of our needs as a priority in our lives? The most likely answer is no. Of course, we all have duties and responsibilities, and these often take us away from focusing on ourselves and more towards the needs of others. This is part of being human, but at the same time, don’t we owe it to ourselves to honour and respect our own needs, our own souls?

Once again, it seems that balance is the key here; by ensuring that we give ourselves time and focus as well as giving of ourselves to others, we can create more harmony in our lives.

Yet Ceres retrograde goes deeper than this!

During this time of intense planetary focus on our inner landscapes, Ceres is asking us to go within, to stand naked and vulnerable, baring our souls. She wants us to stop hiding our fears and our pain, and instead honour them so we can set them free. It is through honouring these powerful, rich and sometimes painful emotions that we connect to our true strength. And it is through this connection, that we realise the power within. Like the beautiful, calm, tranquil and peaceful mountain; deep beneath the surface is a glowing, energised and highly active volcano waiting to burst into life.

Appearances can be deceptive, yet how many of us work so hard at putting on the ‘right’ appearance? How many of us try to be that mountain, and allow the pressure to build up within?

The Earth Mother is beautiful, but she can destroy as easily as she creates. Of course, we cannot have one without the other, but it seems that so many of us struggle to accept this fundamental cycle of life. Instead of clinging onto that highly polished veneer, Ceres is asking each of us to stand in our Truth, to be whole and complete within ourselves, on all levels.

It is ok to be a beautiful volcano! When we stop trying to beat back our Truth, we realise that we do not have to fear our painful emotions. We can reach a point where every emotion leads us towards a richer, more fulfilled way of life. This is not about dwelling on pain, or wallowing in difficult emotions, this is simply about accepting that we have them in the first place.

Ceres wants us to embrace the full and rich tapestry of life, she wants us to celebrate the true harvest of life on every level of our Beings...

Moving Beyond the Light

2011-07-18T00:01:00.001+01:00

As the heavens continue to push, poke and prod us from all angles, it seems that our perspectives are beginning to widen and shift. Life simply doesn’t look the same anymore, no matter how hard we try to squint, bend our heads or strain.

Whether it was a conscious decision or not, it seems that we have stepped onto a new path in life. That path is more mindful, more awake and more alive. As we continue to awaken, we can expect to see a huge shift in our priorities over the weeks and months ahead. Those things that have always seemed so important; just aren’t anymore.

This is not about shunning the 21st century and living in solitude halfway up a mountain (although that would definitely suit some!), but this is about realising that money, status, the square footage of our homes and the ‘street cred’ of our cars really is not that important in the scheme of things. Ok, we need money to survive, we need shelter, transport etc, but what we need above all else is a feeling that we belong, feeling that we are part of the Whole. We need meaning, we need purpose, we need unity in the truest sense of the word.

As we move ever closer towards that connection now, it seems that the greed and materialism all around us starts to ebb away from our field of vision, it is as though we are shifting into some kind of parallel dimension where we still live side by side, but our view of the world is so different to the view of many of our neighbours. We are becoming less and less sucked into the material and physical desires of so many of our peers.

It seems that we are realising that true riches come from within. It is within each and every one of us that love, compassion, unity and bliss resides. We may have touched one or all of these in our lives, but now we are being asked to immerse ourselves in them, to bask in the pure joy.

And, what about back in the real world you may ask, well, we are approaching a bridge now, a bridge that links the inner with the outer, the day with the night. This bridge is within, it is without, it is everywhere but it is nowhere too. This bridge is a huge shift in consciousness as we continue to evolve and awaken as sentient Beings.

If we choose to step through this special doorway (and there is a choice, for we can choose to remain part of the flock keeping our heads down and just getting on with the business of life), we are choosing to step into the unknown. This new territory looks set to be a place where we move beyond duality, beyond the spectrum. This new terrain is a place where day is night and night is day, where dark is light and light is dark. This is a place where we move beyond our present understanding and realise that everything is truly part of the Whole.

When we connect with this understanding, and then feel it, we begin to realise that anything and everything is possible in life. We have the power to change the energy of our lives through our intent, through our beliefs and through our thoughts. When we truly realise that life is not all about balancing the extremes of the polarities all around us but it is about seeing them as one in the first place, everything takes on new meaning and purpose.

We move beyond the obstacles that we all create in our lives through fear, over-thinking and underestimating our abilities. We move beyond that crippling indecisive paralysis that prevents us from following our dreams, and we move beyond the light.

Beyond the Light is balance, harmony and pure bliss. Beyond the Light we can make sense of life as we can intuit, create and know what to do. And beyond the Light, we can begin to stand in our Truth, reclaim our power and reclaim our true sense of Self.

This is a huge leap forwards in our evolution, and yet it is long overdue. We have lived in a world divided by polarities for eons, and now we have a chance to live in true Unity on all levels, in all ways. This is a very special time indeed...

The Full Moon

2011-07-15T00:01:00.001+01:00

The Full Moon is in Capricorn on the 15th July at 06.39 GMT (07.39BST)

Full Moons can create great unrest in many sensitive or intuitive souls; it is as though the light from the Moon shines within and unlocks a myriad of different doors and windows to the soul. This can cause sleepless nights, restlessness and sometimes confusion and disorientation. July’s Full Moon is no exception as we continue to awaken and stir from within. We are undergoing major change and transformation now, and the Moon will stir up feelings, thoughts and emotions that we need to honour, face and release. This is a time to connect to the power within and honour this deeply reflective time to get life back into perspective once again, and so allow the light of the Moon to feed our souls.

The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nothing But The Truth

2011-07-10T00:01:00.001+01:00

Uranus moves retrograde in Aries today (10th July), and tomorrow Ceres enters Aries.

Dear Uranus, the rebel, the truth seeker, the innovator, the free spirit. Uranus is that voice within that encourages and inspires us to honour our individuality and to be truly free. Uranus is truth and he is freedom; and when retrograde, Uranus asks that each of us explores the Light of Consciousness within.

We all carry within us Light and Dark, these polar opposites representing Yin and Yang, Day and Night, Life and Death. The Light of Consciousness is Truth; it is our willingness to face Truth in our lives, and it is our ability to embrace freedom. Many of us still believe that we are afraid of the Dark and so cling to the Light as friend and protector. Yet, it seems that the true fear is of the Light, for it is the Light that illuminates our souls and shows the fullness of our Beings. The Light helps us to receive and to face Truth, and it is only by being ready to receive this truth that we can truly evolve and grow as sentient Beings.

Truth and Light are not about judgment, nor are they about fear. They are about opening up our eyes to see what’s already there. Truth is a state of Knowing. Once we illuminate Truth, fear vanishes. Yet fear is not bad, it is part of being human. It all comes down to balance...

We all carry Dark, we all carry Light. The perfect balance between the two is bliss. We simply cannot have one without the other, and to deny the darkness is akin to denying a huge part of ourselves. Honouring the darkness is not about turning into hardened criminals, but it is about realising that each of us is a delicate balance of polarities, and this balance needs constant work, frequent re-adjustment and a lot of perseverance!

In Aries, Retrograde Uranus will inspire us to move beyond outdated fears and beliefs, and he will encourage us to think freely as individuals. At the same time, Uranus asks that we move through life with open-minds and hearts, without judgement and without persecuting those that we do not understand. In many ways, this is about living freely and allowing others to do the same, but it goes deeper than this. For Retrograde Uranus wants us to emanate Truth and freedom from every level of our Beings. This is a time for being free spirits in every sense of the word.

So, it seems clear that it is time to affirm what is truly important to us and to have the courage to let go of all those things that no longer serve us. We need to stay connected to the core of our Beings to tap into that huge well of strength, courage, inspiration, creativity, clarity and vision that resides there.

When we add Ceres moving into Aries into this mix alongside all the other inner focused planets, it seems that the cosmos is inspiring each of us to nurture and nourish ourselves on every level. It is time to become fully awake and to live life as consciously and joyfully as possible...

And So It Continues...

2011-07-04T00:01:00.001+01:00

As the intense and somewhat profound cosmic twists and turns continue, it seems that many of us are facing some of our biggest challenges. We are being taken within on one hand but being thrown challenges by our external world on the other. In some ways life feels tiring and very pedestrian, but deep within, the transformation and awakening continues as we become more alive, more aware and more awake. This inner/outer pull is exhausting, and it is confusing.

So, how can we remain calm and centred within, but deal with the ensuing chaos all around? Well, someone special to me said that we need to be like the Whirling Dervishes; still and focused within despite the intense activity without. We will find ourselves able to cope with whatever happens around us. We can be busy and calm at the same time. It all comes down to focus, belief and to intent.

With so many planets retrograde, and with Uranus and Ceres both joining this inner circle during July, it seems that we truly need to focus on reclaiming that quiet space within. It is from this quiet space that we can re-connect to the core of our Beings and reclaim our sense of Self. It is also time to reclaim our space; both within and without!

Our relationships move onto centre stage now; in particular, the relationship that we have with ourselves. It is time to find our inner voice, to celebrate our gifts and to begin to feel truly alive. Despite the challenges, the emotional intensity and the discombobulation, it seems clear that we need to stand firm, like buoys on stormy seas. We need to use our faith and belief to trust that our needs will be taken care of and to trust that we are strong enough to ride out the storm. The more we can tap into, and use, that huge well of strength that lies within each of us, the more we can bring into our lives to create positive change and transformation.

In many ways, this is a time for amalgamating, for resting, and for ‘being’; but at the same time, the need to be ‘doing’ is inescapable. Therefore, balance is so important. We cannot have being without doing; doing without being. That would be like day without night, or yin without yang...

With such a strong focus on our inner landscape, we need to ensure that we tend the garden within. As well as weeding, planting new seeds and tending the land with love and tenderness, we need to find space for rest and reflection. This could be an arbour or a cushion under an oak tree, but somewhere within where we can find comfort, true nourishment and love. We all have a focus to make the world a better place, but this needs to be within each of us as well as all around. Unless we are whole and complete within, how can we love, nurture and tend to others?

We need to learn to truly love ourselves, to honour ourselves and to respect ourselves. These words are bandied about freely, but do we truly and honestly love, honour and respect ourselves? How many of us beat ourselves up every single day for not being good enough, not being paid enough, for eating that bar of chocolate, for thinking we look fat and ugly? Thought so, this has to stop now!

Alexander Pope once wrote ‘To err is human, to forgive is Divine’; we should remember that we are all Divine, we carry a Divine spark within, and we are all part of the One. It is time to forgive ourselves now and to change our inner dialogues towards a more life enhancing positivity.

As the planets continue to weave their magic web, we need to stand firm and strong, and to realise that, in so many ways, we are the masters of our own destiny. We do shape our own lives through our thoughts, our actions, and through the state of our inner landscapes. If we have a weed- ridden mess within, how on earth are we to have any sense of clarity or vision? At the same time, with such chaos within, it becomes hard to take responsibility for our choices, to feel inspired, to be empowered or to use the power of our intent, because we have no inner space to do this from.

We really need to focus within now, to have a de-clutter, to re-shape our thoughts, to understand that our thoughts shape our lives, and to believe in the power of positive thought.

Intent is a word so often used, but perhaps not truly understood. Intention is an unbending knowing, not a glimmer of hope or a ‘well, that would be nice’; intention has power, it has strength. Intention makes things happen. This is not about ego, it is simply about knowing that we can shape our lives way and beyond what we think possible.

So, it seems clear that we have choices to make, gardens to tend and intentions to create. Whilst this is in so many ways a challenging time, it is also a time to re-write the rule book, to start afresh and to become truly empowered. We can remain lost in the chaos if we choose, or we can stand strong and resolute, and transform our lives from the inside out...

The New Moon

2011-07-01T00:01:00.001+01:00

The New Moon (and Partial Solar Eclipse) is in Cancer on the 1st July at 08.53 GMT (09.53 BST)

July’s first New Moon is in Cancer. The Moon rules Cancer, so this is a strong and powerful event accentuated even more with the Partial Solar Eclipse. It is important to stay connected to what’s truly important in life and be open to letting go of the things that are not. As always, New Moon’s are about inner clarity and vision, and this one seems even more potent than usual as there is a need to move beyond any emotional clutter within in order to find peace and joy. It is time to let go of any emotional ‘baggage’ so we are clearer vessels to let in Light, joy and compassion. It is important to take some time out for reflection and contemplation.

Emotional Intensity

2011-06-28T00:01:00.000+01:00

As the planets continue their merry dance through the heavens it seems that many of us have become stuck knee deep in mud, the mud is a kind of cosmic sludge stirring up deep and profound emotions and feelings. This is a time of powerful and extreme mixed emotions. Each of us is likely to experience both ends of the emotional spectrum in the blink of an eye. Some of us will be unfortunate enough to experience both at the same time.

There can be no denying that we are going through change. It is all around us. It is perhaps the one constant in life. Change; endings and beginnings, beginnings and endings. The cycle continues with some intensity now as we are being challenged to face our fears, to embrace our gifts and to step into the unknown.

At the same time, there is a continuing need to de-clutter our lives on every level as the need to travel lightly grows in importance. It is as though we are being prepared to take a giant leap of faith and the less baggage we have, the further we will soar. We can take baggage with us, but it will give us back ache, it will make the journey more tiring and we will most likely wonder why on earth we bothered to bring it when we reach our chosen destination! We already have all we need; carrying extra just gets in the way...

Emotions are peculiar things, we strive to have happy emotions and often fear the not so happy ones, yet it is often this latter category that propels us forwards, giving us the motivation and determination to change our lives. It is important to learn how to use our emotions in positive and life-enhancing ways now, we are being presented with an opportunity to re-shape our lives on every level, and it is up to us as individuals to either embrace this or keep our heads snugly buried in the sand. Ignorance is bliss, but is it really ignorance when we know it’s there but are choosing to ignore it through fear or something similar?

As we continue to awaken (or indeed to re-awaken), it seems that we need to embrace all aspects of our Beings now. We need to love and honour ourselves and our emotions, and we need to give thanks for, as well as use our, gifts and talents. Life is for living, not for simply thinking about; and now is the time to grab that proverbial bull by the horns and get on with it...

Summer Solstice 2011

2011-06-21T00:01:00.001+01:00

On the 21st is the Summer Solstice, the day the Sun enters Cancer. Also on this day, Mars enters Gemini, Juno enters Libra and Vesta moves retrograde in Aquarius. The Solstice is always a time to celebrate life and to feel blessed for all we have. It is also a time to honour ourselves and one another. The light within each of us glows strongly at the Solstice. It is a time to honour the gift of life and also to offer the Earth healing as well.

The Summer Solstice and associated cosmic events on that day form a real high point of the year in so many ways. The sun is at its zenith, for it is the longest day, but it is also a turning point, a time for new beginnings. Of course, after this day, the sun begins its descent towards the winter (but let’s not think about that just yet!), but the energy stays vibrant and strong for some time to come. We can expect to continue feeling more ‘awake’ and aware of ourselves, our paths and of one another on every level.

This is a time to celebrate our personal achievements and to sense the true nature of inner abundance. The Sun is our life spark; that little piece of light within each of us that burns brightly giving our lives joy, meaning, focus and strength.

The Summer Solstice is a day for coming together with like-minded people; it is a time to celebrate and to dance together to honour the life giver of the solar system, and the life we have within. There is a sense of transformation around this time, even more so with the other cosmic events happening on this day.

Mars enters Gemini, Juno enters Libra and Vesta moves retrograde in Aquarius. Vesta moving retrograde suggests a time of honouring our inner worlds, and finding the time to find peace, harmony and tranquillity within. Vesta wants us to feel whole and complete in ourselves. This is necessary if we are to truly be able to carry the light forwards. We need to let go of any fear connected to the Light or the Dark, and we need to find balance on all levels.

Mars entering Gemini marks a period of intense mental activity and movement as new ideas come through thick and fast. It is important to connect to the peace within as well though, for too much mental activity can be overwhelming.

Juno moving into Libra places a spotlight on the relationships in our lives. The dynamics, who gives, who takes, who does both. In order to live in balance, we need to ensure that we live in balance with those around us. It is time to sort the wheat from the chaff when it comes to givers and takers. It could be a case of demanding balance or it could be walking away, that is a choice that will come to each of us in time...

So, as this somewhat intense and challenging chapter of spiritual awakening continues, the Solstice gives each of us a brief opportunity to pause, reflect and to celebrate life and the progress we have all made. At the same time, we can visualise our paths ahead, and if we can continue to listen to our intuition and step into our power, we can embrace our full potential as evolving, growing, sentient Beings.

Total Lunar Eclipse

2011-06-15T00:01:00.002+01:00

We have a Total Lunar Eclipse on the 15th in Sagittarius..The Eclipse will be visible from Europe, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia. Eclipse is timed for around 21.13 BST (20.13 GMT).

This powerful Full Moon and Total Lunar Eclipse sets the pace for an energetic and highly paced summer. Change is afoot on so many levels it may feel a little overwhelming and confusing, yet if we can find a little quiet time to reflect and contemplate, we can soon re-focus and re-connect to the strength, fire and passion that resides within. Sagittarius is a fire sign, the sign of creativity, expansion and new horizons; so think big and be open to the Universe...

Take the time to reflect and contemplate today, and then get ready for an energised and inspirational summer...

Feel The Fear...

2011-06-13T00:01:00.001+01:00

Saturn has been retrograde in Libra since January 2011 and today (13th June) he finally moves direct. Moving direct, Saturn will encourage each of us to take control of our lives and focus on what is truly important. There is much work for each of us to do, and Saturn is encouraging us to roll up our sleeves and get stuck in now. The time for cogitation is over, and the time for action has come. This is not about risk taking or throwing caution to the wind, but it is about grabbing our lives with both hands and honouring our full potential.

The challenge for many of us is in making decisions, in Libra this is made even more challenging, but making decisions means being accountable, and whilst many of us have no fear in taking responsibility for our choices, it is hard to be sure that our choices are right in the first place! So indecision can lead to doubt, and doubt can lead to fear which in turn creates bigger and bigger obstacles to us moving forwards with confidence.

Many of us are full of ‘what if’s’ and ‘if only’s’ in life, and this is so restricting and limiting. If we spend our lives in fear of moving forwards and afraid of making the ‘wrong’ decisions and so end up never moving forwards or making choices; instead we end up paralysed in indecision and unable to function.

So, it is now time to face our fears head on and to believe in our ability to succeed. It is time to be more assertive and confident as we move through life, and to not be afraid of taking more responsibility for our choices in life.

This is not to say that we all need to throw caution to the wind, but it is about taking a deep breath and filling your own special space in the world. Holding back is akin to a withering flower, still alive but clinging on, living on the edge of life and death. There is no joy in living on a precipice; the way ahead may be unknown and may be full of risk, but if we want to grow and learn we have to take that decision to try.

So Saturn moving direct will certainly be an expansive time for those souls truly willing to be fully accountable, responsible and willing to take a chance on life, love and joy.

Scary!

Saturn will continue to challenge each of us on many levels making us question our belief systems, our paths in life and our relationships (and our choices!). Yet, without this we are unlikely to grow, develop and evolve…

It is a time to think what we can do for both ourselves and for others, and less so what others can do for us. This is liberating and freeing, and will help each of us to take some big steps forwards in our lives.

It seems clear that if we are prepared to work with Saturn, then he will work with us and support us towards finding greater inner strength and resolve, and finally feeling like we are the masters (or mistresses!) of our own destinies...

True Compassion

2011-06-08T00:01:00.001+01:00

Powerful Chiron moves retrograde in Pisces today (the 8th June), this mighty little asteroid plays an important role in our lives, yet he is still overlooked by so many astrologers.

Chiron is the wounded healer, and in myth was an immortal wounded by a poisoned arrow (when Hercules accidently scratched him with an arrow poisoned with the blood of the monster Hydra). Unable to die to end his suffering and unable to heal himself, he instead used his pain and suffering to help and heal others. Chiron therefore shows us our own ‘incurable’ wounds or traumas and the ways in which we can use these experiences to help others.

Over the coming weeks, each of us will be shown the roots of our painful experiences to help us begin to understand our deepest motivations and the reasons behind the choices we make in life. Chiron wants us to realise that some of our hurts stem from our own attitudes and choices, and that there are times when we need to take responsibility for this. Chiron is not about blame, but he is about facing up to things, and sometimes self-honesty is one of the hardest things to do.

There is a strong sense that Chiron wants us now to acknowledge our pain, our trauma and our choices and to heal the roots of these within us. It may not be possible to cure these, but through healing we can begin to move beyond the pain towards more meaning and the ability to help and heal others.

Faith is key here, as it is our beliefs that see us through the pain, and help us to find ‘meaning’ to our suffering. Yet sometimes it can be hard not to ‘blame’ God or some other higher force for some of the suffering we either experience or witness. Life can be hard and life can be cruel; these are simple facts, but Chiron instils within us the capacity to find hope where previously we have only seen despair.

Chiron is the true force of compassion; he can take us beyond self-pity and beyond blame to a place where we can truly be at peace with our suffering. Compassion means ‘to feel with’ and this is the crux of healing - the ability to heal others and experience true compassion only comes through our personal experiences and pain. This is not to say that we have all experienced immeasurable pain in our lives, but we have all lived and we have all experienced life, and it is through this, that compassion grows.

Retrograde Chiron now wants us to face our inner wounds, our inner damage and our life-changing experiences, in order to tap into the healing force within us where compassion flows. Chiron wants us to move beyond blame to a place of strength and power within.

We are continuing on the journey of intense spiritual re-awakening in order to tap into the wisdom, compassion, love, joy and strength within.

So, over the coming weeks Chiron looks set to push us towards more self-honesty, a close look at our own attitudes and beliefs as well as opening us up far more to the power of compassion that resides within us all...

The Mighty & The Strong

2011-06-04T00:01:00.002+01:00

Jupiter enters Taurus today and he remains there until 2012. This is a strong and empowering placement for mighty Jupiter marking a time of self-reliance and inspiration. It is a time to affirm our inner strength and to tap into that vast well of knowledge within in order to guide us forwards on our paths in life.

The more we can become aware of our strengths and gifts, the more confidence and faith we can muster in ourselves and in our paths ahead. Life feels exciting, adventurous and full of beginnings and new opportunities. Life may still feel chaotic and confusing, and it is likely that we will continue to face the spectrum of emotions with some intensity for the foreseeable future, but deep within each of us a strength and power is emerging, building like the magma in a volcano. If we can channel this energy we can control the flow, if we ignore it or try to force ahead, then we may have an incontrollable explosion of energy on our hands.

This is a time to harness our power within and to work with it to transform our lives. As our perspectives continue to shift, it seems clear that the more work we do on ourselves, the greater the impact this will have on the collective.

Despite the challenges, imperfections and difficulties of life, it is important to also see it as a rich rewarding place, a place where bliss, joy and happiness are possible and achievable. How we choose to think about life is just as important as the choices we make, actions we take etc. It is time now to apply our philosophical and spiritual concepts to the context of everyday life. In short, we need to walk our talk, and live our ideals.

As a new chapter of practical, grounded and focused hard work begins, we need to cut out the daydreaming, and to focus instead on the real priorities and dreams in our lives. Jupiter is a gentle and giving planet, full of wisdom and abundance carrying the keys to success. So, work with him, and he will support each of us on the path ahead...

The Dreamer Goes Within

2011-06-03T00:01:00.002+01:00

Neptune moves retrograde in Pisces today. This is a subtle, ethereal planet of great importance and significance to those on the pathway towards enlightenment.

Neptune is the dreamer, the sage, the visionary, the psychic, the artist and the bestower of Universal Love. Neptune is that subtle thread that connects us all through a beautiful cosmic dance of energies that swirl and flow within and around each of us connecting us to the Universe and making us One.

In retrograde, Neptune asks each of us to look beyond our material lives towards the bliss and joy of being a part of something much bigger. It is when we are truly connected to this Source that we overflow with Universal Love, inspiration and creativity. It is from this space that we can heal and reach out to others to make a difference.

Over the coming weeks and months, Neptune wants us to seek the peace and solace within and to truly connect to the love that resides there. Neptune wants us to bathe in the light of creativity, spirituality, compassion, inspiration in order to find a sense of wholeness within.

We each have the Universe within us, and yet at the same time, as human beings we are but tiny dots in the bigger picture. This is a paradox, yet being open to this is vital if we are to become illuminated, enlightened and inspired to become whole.

Neptune often causes confusion and fear within us; we can feel lost, without direction with our paths swathed in mist and fog. Yet, we need to go into this space to find ourselves again. When we are lost, we need to ask ourselves if we are asking the right questions for guidance, are we truly ready for change and are we truly open to receive the guidance of the Universe.

Sometimes our confusion, indecision and uncertainty comes from a more logical need for guarantees about the outcome, but Neptune takes us beyond that need to a place of knowing and trusting that the outcome will turn out as it is meant to. This is akin to surrendering, but it is not giving up, it is about truly stepping into Source and letting go of doubts, fears and indecisions and trusting the Universe to guide us.

It is time now to awaken our inner Selves and to dive into the deep well of inspiration, creativity, love and compassion that resides within each of us. Sink through the confusion and try not to let the fog disorientate us, try to let go of the need to control so as to avoid getting lost in the mazes we all have inside of ourselves (the mazes are a method of protection and of avoiding Truth – we all do that!).

Retrograde Neptune will encourage each of us to journey deeper and deeper within so that we can find our centres and gain a crystal clear sense of vision. If the Inner Voice does not immediately call, we shouldn’t try to force this, but instead be patient and know that the time will come. Sometimes the Voice is there, but with so much ‘noise’ around us, we simply cannot hear it. So, we need to have patience and learn to cut out the clatter in order to fine tune our souls to hear our own unique notes (inner voices).

It becomes clear when we have reached this goal, as a calmness and serenity overcomes us, and we begin to feel nurtured and sustained from within, not from without (the material world). Of course, living in the real world, we cannot let go of the material or physical world completely, but we will begin to witness a significant shift in how we relate to this part of our lives. The greatest riches come from within.

Neptune wants us to honour our divinity and to connect to the infinity that resides within us all. No mean feat, but the coming months look set to be quite a journey!

Throughout this time, the theme of letting go and de-cluttering continues as each of us strives to live more simply and more in accordance to our beliefs. It is time to travel lightly now, and it is time to live with true meaning, purpose and joy.

Living with meaning and purpose is living simply, spiritually, holistically and joyfully in a balanced way. Living in accordance to our beliefs, honouring ourselves and everything else (humans, animals, the earth etc) and being at One with Spirit.

This marks a time of deep introspection and reflection for many of us. It is a time to feel our connection to the Universe and our higher consciousness, grow in strength, focus and intensity. Chiron moves retrograde on the 8th (more on this soon!) and this heightens the priority of our inner landscapes. It is a time to let go of any residual pain or trauma and to finally feel a sense of personal freedom.

So, take some time today to go within and to bathe in the stillness there. Try and do this every day from now on, and see how it helps us to stand firm in the world and to carry on with life with more ease, joy and contentment…

The New Moon

2011-06-01T00:01:00.002+01:00

There are several eclipses in 2011, and today we have a Geminian New Moon and partial solar eclipse (visible from east Asia, Alaska, Canada and Greenland).

Eclipses were once seen as harbingers of doom, heralding change. The latter holds true, for change is certainly in the air as each of us continues to awaken and to connect to our true Self. The more awake we become, the more we realise our true goals and priorities in life. This is a time of quickening, a time of de-cluttering on all levels and for embracing our destinies...

The Warrior Queen Pallas Athene

2011-05-31T08:17:00.001+01:00

Powerful Pallas Athene moves retrograde in Aquarius today. She is the warrior queen; strong, resolute and determined. She is a feisty, fiery warrior often associated with war, anger and destruction, yet she also represents creative use of the mind, justice and strength. In many ways Pallas Athene is the force of self-preservation and the freedom of Spirit.

Pallas Athene stands proudly in her armour, standing in her power and in her Truth. She is assertive, empowered and free, something that many of us, women in particular, struggle with even in the 21st century. How many women feel confident to show their strength, anger and might without fear of being stereotyped?

This powerful little asteroid goddess is a strong, powerful force to be reckoned with, but when used in a positive way, she can be incredibly creative, helping us to express ourselves and our individuality.

We have two creative and intellectual energies (Pallas Athene and Aquarius) coming together to encourage each of us to think creatively and to tap into the inspiration within. Another common theme between these energies is the humanitarian aspect, as both seek justice and equality in life. It therefore seems that whilst retrograde, each of us needs to think about the areas of our own lives where we need to create a little more equality and balance.

This also marks the beginning of a time for us to move within and to re-connect to the power that resides there. It is a time for introspection and for re-evaluating our directions or paths in life. It is important to be clear about the path ahead, for there is a strong sense of forwards propulsion as the weeks progress...!

Now is the time to think about how we stand in our power and Truth, and how much of our power we give away to others (freely or otherwise). Balance is the key – remember we should always keep at least some for ourselves. This is not about being selfish, but without self-preservation we are unable to help anyone.

Pallas Athene wants us to explore our true identities and to free the power within. This surfaces in several ways: through the positive expression of healthy and justifiable anger to release pain and anguish, and secondly to believe in ourselves and our gifts, and to have the courage of our convictions and reach for our dreams...

Awakening from Slumber

2011-05-23T00:01:00.001+01:00

The planets have been very ‘vocal’ lately; my head has been full of planetary comings and goings. This has been unsettling but inspirational at the same time.

I was meditating on one of the Sabian Symbol’s the other day ‘A withered old Indian squaw, with a clear light persisting in beady eyes, is selling trinkets’. I saw the Universe in her eyes, such strength, such vision, such beauty. The planets suddenly became even more verbose than usual giving more insight into the bigger picture...

It seems clear that we are all going through an awakening or a re-awakening, as we become more aware and more awake, we are living and breathing more consciously. Every step we take and every movement or action is becoming more conscious, more precise. It is as though we are awakening from a deep slumber. We have now had time to adjust our eyes to the light and we can now see, hear, smell, taste, sense and feel more clearly and vibrantly than ever before.

Cosmic events continue to weave their merry way in the skies above us challenging us, inspiring us, empowering us. As we awaken more and more we can begin to regain a sense of perspective concerning our gifts, path ahead and soul path. Clarity and vision take on new meaning and strength as we change the energy of our thoughts and actions by making them more conscious.

It is time now for each of us to find our voices, to find our strength and to get on with what’s truly important in life. As we each work hard to make the world a better place, we realise that this comes from both within and without, for it is the changes we make within that amplify and become the changes we see without.

When we choose to live mindfully and consciously in all aspects of our lives (our work, rest, health, food etc) this impacts us on every level of our Being and it of course also impacts the collective in a hugely positive and life enhancing way. Change begins from the inside out, and whilst we all have our demons to face and challenges to bear, it is clear to see that it is possible to make even small changes even when the chips are stacked against us. How we choose to think or respond to situations would be a good example of this.

We are also being asked to explore the relationships in our lives. Perhaps the most important relationship under the cosmic spotlight is the relationship that we have with ourselves. It is time to consider how we treat ourselves on all levels; how we speak to ourselves, how we nourish ourselves, how we honour ourselves...

As we awaken more and more, we can expect to see transformation on all levels of our Being. It is time now to stop pressing the ‘doze’ button on our inner alarm clocks and wake up to enjoy the sunrise and the new day that is dawning...

Stop the World, I Want To Get Off!

2011-05-14T16:32:00.001+01:00

Now the going has got tough, many of the ‘tough’ seem to have done a runner! We are now standing in the midst of a cloud of confusion, feeling as though the world is slowly spinning out of control. Are we right to try to apply the brakes and step off, or is it time to trust the process and surrender to the chaos? Or is it simply our perception or a misconception that things seem a little awry?

In the musical that shares the same name as this title, Littlechap realises that all his attempts to ‘improve his lot’, to search for something better and something more, were seemingly futile as he already had everything he needed...to seek ‘betterment’ is human, but is there a lesson to be learnt now, to stop fighting and struggling against the current in order to work with what we have now?

To learn, to push ahead, to discover and to change is part of being human. If we surrender to the flow, are we giving up somehow? There is a fine line between becoming empowered through surrender and becoming a victim through running away in fear. No one can judge what the right choice is though, for we are all individuals, and have freedom of choice, even if that choice is not to decide (!). What is right for one person, is not right for another. Perhaps this is therefore simply a time for becoming truly accountable for our choices and decisions...

It seems prudent now to take time out for some honest self-reflection, to explore our own ‘lots’ and to see if we can make more of what we already have. Perhaps we do need to pursue a new path or avenue, but it is important to make this choice through personal power rather than through fear. Clinging on to what’s familiar or what society deems to be ‘right’ or ‘proper’ is unlikely to bring us the fulfilment that we seek. So it is up to us to seek out our own Truth and to trust our instincts to guide us forwards. This is scary, it is unknown, but life is like that. If we live a life without challenge, without movement, can we ever grow or evolve?

After much searching, twisting and turning, Littlechap realised that he already had everything he needed to sustain him in life. So, if we look closely enough at our own lives, we will find the same? The grass often looks greener on the other side of the fence, but is this the truth of the reality? Or is it just part of being human? Maybe we can never be truly content with what we have, for to continuously strive towards something more shows a willingness to grow and learn?

Yet, surely we must reach a point in our personal and collective evolution where we stop searching and begin to use what we already have? Perhaps our quest for more meaning and purpose is simply an avoidance technique to keep our heads lost in the dizzying heights of confusion and contemplation so we never have to think about simply ‘getting on with things’? Or maybe, just maybe, to quiz and ponder is an essential part of being human, and we have to accept that there will be times when we are confused, discombobulated and overwhelmed.

This is a time for seeking Truth, a time for understanding Truth and a time for taking responsibility for our own actions and choices in life. Easy peasy! If only...!

Questions, questions, questions. What we need now is answers!

Cosmic Insights for May 2011

2011-05-07T00:01:00.001+01:00

2011 is already proving to be a year of great contrast! The cosmic climate continues to ebb and flow throughout May, and we can expect to become more and more ‘awake’ and aware of ourselves, our paths and one another on every level. It is time to listen to our intuition and to step into our power as we begin to embrace our full potential as evolving, growing, sentient Beings. Great shifts are happening both within and without, individually, collectively and globally. It seems that the more aware of these we become, the more intense our transformation.

Juno moved direct in Virgo on the 2nd May, and this suggests a time for re-addressing power imbalances in all areas of our lives. We often find ourselves surrounded by three types of people: givers, takers and those that give/take. The latter category is the most wholesome and balanced, but sadly this category is usually the least densely populated. Many takers are energy vampires and many givers have dependency and other motivations for giving. There is a need now for us to become more balanced both within ourselves and in our relationships with others, and to learn the art of give/take on all levels of our Beings...

Mars enters Taurus on the 11th and on the 15th, Venus and Mercury join him, and the Sun enters Gemini on the 21st. In many ways, this continues the need for balance sparked by Juno. Balancing the masculine and feminine, balancing the material, emotional and spiritual, and balancing how we communicate with ourselves and others are all so vital now. It is so important that we work hard at achieving balance. Giving (or indeed taking) too much is detrimental in the long run, and no one can do this indefinitely.

Finally, Pallas Athene moves retrograde in Aquarius on the 31st. Pallas Athene, the warrior queen, represents strength, creative thought and justice. In retrograde, all of these are internalised asking each of us to acknowledge our own power and to realise our potential to create change. As the tides of humanity begin to change, we need to own our power and stand in our Truth in order to stay strong and focused like buoys in stormy seas. Like beacons of Light, we need to reach out to help and guide others (if they ask for it), and at the same time, continue to work on our own personal evolutions...

New Moon is in Taurus on the 3rd at 05.51 GMT (06.51 BST)

This New Moon is in earthy Taurus marking the beginning of a very creative and inspirational time. It is a great time to think about some new affirmations or positive visualisations. In addition, try to connect with Nature (Taurus is an earth sign after all) and find a special place to contemplate or meditate. It is an important time to find stability and serenity within.

Full Moon is in Scorpio on the 17th at 11.09 GMT (12.09 BST)

A water Full Moon is likely to create a roller coaster of emotions as we enter an intense phase of introspection. However, we need to try to go with this and find comfort and joy from within. We need to allow our emotions to flow for bottling them up is likely to lead to some tense moments...

The Wolf Is Hungry

2011-05-02T00:01:00.001+01:00

Juno moves direct in Virgo today (the 2nd May). Juno is a powerful little asteroid with a strong connection to relationships, power balances and the dynamics in our interactions with others.

This forward movement marks a time to emanate the balance we have achieved within to other aspects of our lives. It is also time to ensure that all of our relationships (of all kinds) are balanced and life-giving. Of course, sometimes duty and obligation places us in relationships where we give much more, and as long as we enter such relationships with the right spirit, we can still receive positivity from these connections. If we see them as draining, negative and unpleasant then we either need to make the decision to walk away or to change our perspectives...

There is a sense that we are becoming more and more self-aware now, and, as a result, we are far more aware of what we truly want from our lives. This is why balance in relationships is so important, for balance prevents us from being pulled ‘off course’ by having our energy sapped or from being dominated by someone else (as well as a myriad of other possibilities as well).

Possibly the most important we have in life is the one with ourselves, and all too often, we can become wrapped up in powerful emotions that can drain and dis-empower us.

Someone very special sent me these words...

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that was going on inside himself. He said, “My son, it is between two wolves...One is evil: Anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. The other is good: Joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, compassion and faith”.
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf wins?”
The old Cherokee simply replied: “The one I feed”.

These words are powerful and thought-provoking. Of course, it is important to acknowledge anger, regret, sorrow etc, for acknowledging them is surrendering to the flow of life. To fight them is to anger them more, giving them more strength and power in our lives. Once we can acknowledge and surrender to them, we can let them go and be in a place of joy, love and peace. We can feed the positive by facing the ‘negative’ with strength and resolve.

Juno wants us to nurture ourselves and our relationships now to ensure that we can live in balance and harmony. The dynamics or energy flows within our Selves and between ourselves and others, will become more visible and obvious now. It is therefore up to us to choose which wolf to feed...

Insights from the Newsletter

2011-04-30T00:01:00.001+01:00

We are in the midst of an interesting and somewhat intense cosmic climate. Whilst the overwhelming feeling is positive and life affirming, the energies are chaotic and bewildering; unsettling and unnerving even the strongest among us.

Already in 2011 we have witnessed Jupiter and Uranus move in Aries, and Neptune move into Pisces. We have had a super moon, and Saturn and Pluto are both retrograde. Individually these events are significant and life changing, but cumulatively they add up to far more than the parts alone.

Jupiter is on a mission to re-ignite the creative fires within, and Uranus is encouraging us to be individuals. Aries intensifies both of these immensely. Ethereal and mystical Neptune in ethereal and mystical Pisces is linked to our spiritual strength, our belief, and the power of our intent. Saturn in retrograde is encouraging us to take responsibility for our lives and for the choices that we make. Pluto retrograde acts as a catalyst to help us to shed the clutter from our lives, to break repeating patterns and to surrender to the flow of our lives.

We are going through a quickening now, a time of profound and immeasurable change, both within and without. Yet this is a time for stillness, not a time to thrash against the currents. Stillness comes from mindfulness, and mindfulness comes from an ability to change our perspectives and our intent, to move to a place of knowing rather than a place of fear in our lives.

It seems that through intent, we can change the power or the energy of our thoughts, and this can help us to change the energy of our lives. What we think, we create. This may sound a little simplistic, but when it comes down to it, life is simple; we just love to complicate it.

By being mindful, we can move beyond the chatter in our minds and access the knowledge and wisdom that lies beyond this. In this place, we can begin to see our lives from a whole new vantage point, and things suddenly make sense. Of course it is not easy being mindful, as life tends to get in the way, but practice makes perfect.

In many ways this intense energy is being pushed together tighter and tighter like the coils of a spring, and very soon the spring will uncoil and burst forth with a huge amount of vim and vigour. As the summer approaches, it is important to focus on our true goals and priorities, and to find clarity in our lives, for when the spring uncoils we can expect to be catapulted forwards with huge intensity. It is therefore important that we are ready for the ride!

An important link in this cosmic chain is Pluto. Powerful little Pluto was sadly demoted to 'dwarf planet' and many may think that his impact has dwindled as a result. Yet it is Pluto that is the driving force behind much of the change and transformation that we are experiencing.

The Dragon Stirs

2011-04-23T00:01:00.000+01:00

Today, the 23rd April is St George’s Day. St George was best known as the slayer of the dragon. It seems fitting that the dragon energy is now resurfacing all over the world through energy (ley) line work, personal empowerment and a collective raising of the spiritual consciousness.

In the Far East Dragon’s were carriers of wisdom, strength and knowledge. Yet in Europe, they became linked to evil. Perhaps the evil was free thought, strength, wisdom and knowledge?

Elementally, Dragon’s unite earth, air, fire and water, they are powerful, spiritual beings bringing us the ability to follow our own beliefs and spirituality. Yet, the dragon was quashed by St George, representing our slow descent into a world away from personal power, personal wisdom and spiritual strength. However, the dragon has not become lost in the mists of times, for we have been on a course of re-awakening for some time now. As we become more and more awake, we can begin to reclaim the dragon in our lives.

It can be easy here to see St George as the ‘bad guy’ in all of this, but I suspect he was simply following orders at one level or another. There seems no point in blame though, for his actions have been a blessing in so many ways though for he has made each of us stop and think about our Selves on every level. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, perhaps we needed to be subdued in order to fully awaken again, refreshed, refocused and fully empowered? Perhaps the world was just not ready before now...

Interestingly, Mercury moves direct today in Aries, marking a time for some fiery straight talking, clear thinking and positive action! Sounds like it is time for the dragon to breathe some fire!

There is a strong sense of renewal now as we each begin to truly awaken, to live more consciously and more mindfully. As we begin to see the world with fresh eyes and a changed perspective, we can enjoy this life affirming experience as the beginning of a brand new chapter of our lives.

So, be prepared to embrace the dragon, to re-connect to ourselves, each other, the Earth and just about everything else in between. It is time now to awaken from our deep slumber and to take our first breaths of air as more enlightened and more empowered souls...

The Phoenix Re-Awakens - Part 2

2011-04-20T17:13:00.002+01:00

Neptune moving into Pisces has already created a huge shift in the lives of many, a deep sense of re-awakening, renewal and re-emerging is deeply apparent. It is as though we are waking from a deep sleep and suddenly seeing the world with fresh eyes. Everything and everyone seems different, changed. This can be hard to understand, but it seems clear that this shift is part of the collective shift towards more holistic and joyful living. Whilst the journey to our ultimate destination may be paved with challenges and obstacles, it is important to keep the belief and the faith that we will reach our Nirvana.

As we continue to re-awaken, we begin to realise the full extent of our potential, both individually and collectively. We finally understand the power of our minds, thoughts and ideas, and can clearly see how to use these to positive and great affect.

Jupiter wants us to express our full potential, Uranus wants us to be individuals, Pluto wants us to face our fears, to dissolve ongoing patterns and to surrender to the flow of life. Finally, Saturn wants us to take full responsibility for our choices and to continue to de-clutter our lives on every level. Alongside the spiritual re-awakening of Neptune, it seems clear that each of us are being asked to completely overhaul our lives and perspectives.

This is a time of empowerment, enlightenment and inspiration, but we need to be open to the process to allow these to flow. This comes through intent, and the more we believe in these, the more they will flow.

We are now in a powerful and magical time of transformation and alchemy, and we each have the strength and the power to fully embrace life and our gifts. There is no room under the bushel any more to hide away, we need to stand vulnerable and exposed in the spotlight to finally realise that there is nothing to fear about being vulnerable and open, it is who we are. It is only by standing naked (figuratively rather than literally, but figuratively if it floats your boat!) that we can access our true power and strength. We learn our Truth when we face our fears...

At the same time, we do have choices to make, this is not a passive time; we cannot just sit and wait for the world to come to us. We have to change our thoughts and adjust our plans to ensure positive outcomes for our goals, and we also have to take responsibility for the choices that we make.

Some may feel justifiably overwhelmed at the moment, but there is no denying that a new wave of stronger more empowered individuals are rising up to the surface of humanity. We can stand frozen in the headlights, paralysed in indecision and fear, or we can accept that it is time to be ourselves, time to love ourselves unconditionally and time to realise that we absolutely are the masters of our own destiny...

The Phoenix Re-Awakens - Part 1

2011-04-15T17:12:00.003+01:00

The undercurrents of change are growing ever stronger these days. With Neptune in Pisces, Jupiter in Aries, Uranus in Aries and Saturn and Pluto both still retrograde, there is a sense of a huge global shift going on physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Who we are, what we are, where we are going etc are all under the spotlight now as we begin to realise that we are in fact the masters of our own destiny. Mercury retrograde is an ongoing reminder for each of us to be aware of the power of our thoughts as they create our reality.

Who we are is one of those age old questions that can become dizzyingly confusing when we sit down and think about it. In terms of geological time, we are but the blink of an eye; yet, in terms of the Universe, we are everything and everything is One. Perhaps there is no answer to the question, but it doesn’t stop us seeking it out!

There is a great deal of chaos around at the moment, a sense of movement and shifting perspectives. Freedom of thought, action and speech seem more important now, as does free expression. Underneath the chaos is a more serene and subtle flow of energy which is transforming and re-energising. It is as though through the chaos and the rubble, the phoenix is preparing to rise up from the ashes stronger, more vibrant and beautiful than ever before.

It can be hard to discern between personal inner shifts and collective ones on all levels. In some ways it feels as though the boundaries that naturally separate us that make us individuals is thinning out as we connect more and more with everyone and everything around us. In many ways we are becoming more awake and more aware of life.

Yet we need to stay focused in order to find true clarity and vision in life. For most of us, our own dreams and goals naturally complement the whole for they are altruistic and far-reaching. The more of us that can achieve these goals, the happier the world will become. At the same time, there is no reason why we cannot live in comfort, worry free, debt free with abundance freely flowing in our lives. This is what makes the world go around, and the more of us that can live this way, the stronger the human wave that will be sent around the world helping others to do the same.

Living simply and with more meaning are strong and important themes now. Letting go of the unnecessary trappings and materialism of the 21st century seems important, as we welcome a more holistic way of living, one that lives in harmony with the earth and the other beings that live here.

To Be Continued...

Pluto Retrograde

2011-04-09T00:01:00.001+01:00

On the 9th April, Pluto goes retrograde until September. Pluto, the planet of transformation, change and regeneration remains in Capricorn. As always, retrograde Pluto reminds us to accept change in our lives. As one thing comes to an end, a new cycle begins.

Pluto is the transformer, and in retrograde his energies are turned towards inner change and transformation. There seems to be a potency and intensity about Pluto when retrograde, almost as though the energy ray becomes more concentrated. This in turn leads to a sense of pressure for each of us to go within in order to let go of those thoughts, patterns, attitudes and ideas that no longer serve us.

We often find ourselves in repeating patterns in our lives, when this happens it is easy to feel that our lives are out of control, spinning wildly. At the same time, these patterns are often the core of our feelings of powerlessness – and it is not that our power is taken from us; more often we give it away, getting into self-negating and destructive patterns that chip away at our self-confidence, self-belief and inner strength.

Pluto makes us face up to these challenges by throwing up issues we had long thought resolved. They are thrown into our awareness or our line of vision. He wants us to see that these issues have not yet been fully eliminated or released from our psyches. The challenge with Pluto though, is the fact that he doesn’t accept being ignored, he doesn’t like it when we bury our heads in the sands trying to remain oblivious from the issues we simply find too challenging or traumatic. Pluto keeps pushing us, chipping away at our resistance until we face up to the things we need to face up to. If we continue to ignore him longer term, he has ways of making us pay attention; from personal experience he can make us STOP, forcing us to pay attention.

This sounds cold and heartless, and in some ways when we think of this distant dot at the far reaches of our solar system, we can see why. However, Pluto represents cycles, endings AND beginnings, and he helps us to see that we can’t have one without the other. Things come and go in life, and we need to take notice and be open to change. Resistance is futile, and we need to surrender to the flow of life. This is not the same as giving up though, quite the opposite in fact, rather Pluto is about letting go of the old and outdated, letting go of the things holding us back, preventing us from welcoming in the new into our lives. It is about taking hold of our inner strength, and embracing the inevitable changes that we face.

In order to work positively with Pluto, each of us needs to be open to going within, to be aware of what lies beneath. Pluto will help us to dig deep, to be aware of ourselves and our lives at the deepest levels.

Pluto is the catalyst, and his influence, whilst challenging, is completely necessary. Pluto just can’t be ignored, and his retrograde phase this year seems to be quite intense. It seems that for those of us on a spiritual path, the need to clear out our inner closets of cobwebs and skeletons is particularly important. So the coming months are likely to bring great inner challenges, but if we are prepared to truly embrace Pluto, we are likely to be feeling stronger, more complete and much more in control of our lives and destinies as a result.

So, this is not a time to fear, but a time to embrace. Acceptance is key, after all what choice do we have?!

Neptune enters Pisces

2011-04-04T00:01:00.002+01:00

Neptune enters Pisces today (4th April), for the first time in almost 150 years, Neptune comes to the sign where he feels most at home. This is but a brief visit (he moves back into Aquarius into August whilst retrograde), but Neptune will be back home again from 2012. Albeit brief, this visit by Neptune stirs up a huge well of compassion and emotion within, his watery fluidity combined with the fluidity of Pisces allows for a greater awareness to develop of the interconnectivity that weaves us all together.

In many ways this marks the beginning of a spiritual re-awakening and a raising of the collective consciousness. At the same time, individually we look set to go through something of an inner revolution as we finally let go of all the clutter in our lives in order to live with true meaning, purpose and joy.

This is a time of great change, and we are likely to see lots of ups and downs, personally and collectively. Neptune in Pisces will help each of us stay in tune with our inner Selves and allow the Universe to guide us. So, we need to ‘listen’ and be guided by our intuition or higher selves...

Neptune and Pisces are two dreamers that together can create two paths, one of confusion and illusion, or one of compassion, intuition and empathy. In many ways, both are already present, for many live in confusion and illusion, and many others live compassionately, intuitively and empathically, and even more of us live with a combination of both! Yet, there is a need for clarity and vision to emerge from the confusion in order for the compassion and love to be well-channelled and utilised.

Living with meaning and purpose, sounds good but what does it truly mean? I sense it means living simply, spiritually, holistically and joyfully in a balanced way. Living in accordance to our beliefs, honouring ourselves and everything else (humans, animals, the earth etc) and being at One with Spirit.

I guess this is open to interpretation, but it feels right to me...

...more on this soon.

Mercury Retrograde

2011-04-03T16:35:00.000+01:00

Little Mercury moved retrograde on the 30th March. This little planet is quite a powerful influence that so many of us often overlook. Mercury gives each of us an opportunity to focus on our thoughts, and in particular to explore how we think. How often do we berate ourselves? And how often do we congratulate ourselves? Hmm, see what I mean?!

It is all too natural for most of us to think in terms of negatives - ‘I can’t’, ‘yeah, but’, ‘life is hard’, ‘nothing is easy’, ‘I am fat/skinny/poor’ etc. As I have written before, the irony is that these thoughts of lack create more of the same in our lives. Like attracts like, so by thinking in a negative or restrictive way, we create that dynamic in our lives and keep it there. So, we get stuck in a hamster wheel of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

When life is tough and we are struggling, it can be hard to see above the parapet and even contemplate a thought process that can start to change the dynamic. Yet, until we start to think more creatively, it is often the case that we cannot change the dynamic. So, how do we escape the hamster wheel and start to live in a more life affirming way?

Intent. Simple as that.

Intention is one of the most powerful tools we have. It goes beyond believing to a place of knowing. Changing the energy of our thoughts and beliefs sounds simple, and may even sound a little ridiculous, but it works! See your life as you want it to be. Know it is coming to pass. Feel it. Intend it. Make it so. Try to intuit and feel the power behind these words to truly understand. It really goes beyond words, to a place of knowing, a place where intention means everything.

Change may not happen overnight, but it can happen. We need to start thinking positive, life affirming, life enhancing thoughts, changing our inner dialogues to something far more positive and believing in the power of our thoughts.

Retrograde phases of any planet internalises its energy; and by taking it within we can start to understand ourselves better. Mercury wants us to find fulfilment from within – to think about our lives, the world, and the way in which we live.

Mercury Retrograde can cause chaos with communications, contracts and other administrative issues – but try not to get too wrapped up in these – try to see the bigger picture instead. In any challenge or obstacle, look for a positive. Find things to be grateful for everyday. Very often that delay happens for a reason, it makes us stop or pause, re-think or reconsider our choices. So, welcome Mercury, embrace his blessing.

Mercury looks set to give each of us a much needed kick up the posterior to stop thinking in negative ways. He wants us to see the power that such thinking has in our lives. It is time to start thinking positively and creatively to affect change in our lives.

At the same time, there is a need to live consciously, to see the bigger picture. It is the perfect time to de-clutter the mind (space is good, even in the mind!!). We need to be quiet, to still the mind and allow the really important thoughts to float up to the surface for us to work with. It is time to let all that mental flotsam and jetsam go, and to focus on what’s truly important now...

There is a strong need to be both pragmatic and philosophical over the next few weeks. Maybe, just maybe Mercury is being our best friend by causing well-timed delays to allow us a little more thinking time?

So, try to see the positive. And by taking a more philosophical approach to obstacles and hiccups, hopefully we can each reach the end of this retrograde phase stronger than ever before.

The Cosmic Mixing Bowl

2011-04-02T16:36:00.001+01:00

Mars moves into Aries and Vesta moves into Aquarius today. Both are little powerhouses, and continue the hugely powerful and quite profound roller coaster ride that 2011 has become.

Fiery Mars moves into fiery Aries, a sign it rules to muster up even more fire, energy and passion. There is a need to stoke up the fires within to re-connect to our drive and zest for life. We all have plans and goals, and the time has come to explore these once again. Mars doesn’t do procrastination, nor does he do indecision, so it is time to have the courage of our convictions and get on with life!

Vesta in Aquarius has a strong connection with free-thinking and honouring ourselves and our paths more. Vesta is whole and complete in herself, and Aquarius is the new-age hippy bohemian. Together, they look set to inspire us to express ourselves freely and creatively; and to be proud of who we are (warts and all!).

So, passion, free expression, energy and creatively – quite a mix in the cosmic mixing bowl!

A Timely Reminder...

2011-03-27T07:36:00.001+01:00

As Saturn continues on his retrograde journey through Libra, his influence is creating quite a powerful catalyst in our lives. I wrote this a little while ago, but a little reminder is called for!

‘Saturn is probably best known for being a hard task master and the traditionalist. He shows us that hard work, focus, dedication and duty can pay off, and through all of these, we can reap the rewards for what we have sown. It is the satisfaction of knowing that it was our own effort, sweat and toil that paid off as Saturn wants us to truly appreciate our own achievements.

Abundance and success handed to us on a silver platter is easy come, easy go – we might enjoy the lifestyle for a while, but deep down there is an emptiness; a sense that we did nothing to earn that success. And this is at the root of Retrograde Saturn; forging our own way through life and creating our own success.

This doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom though, for in essence Saturn is asking that each of us be the masters of our own destiny. He is looking for us to take back the power in our lives, and to have the courage of our convictions.

Taking responsibility for these actions and choices is also very Saturnian, and for so many of us, taking such responsibility is very hard. But until we truly own our choices... we can never be truly empowered’.

So, over the coming weeks Saturn will continue to be that little voice inside our heads pushing us forwards, making us focus on what’s truly important and giving us the determination to see things through to the end. We need to continue to assess inner landscapes and begin to truly understand what motivates us.

Of course, alongside this is the need to have a positive inner dialogue – how many of us speak to ourselves negatively, berate ourselves for not being good enough or constantly put ourselves down? So, time to think positively, to be positive and to take control.

‘As a perfectionist, Saturn can push each of us to do more or to do ‘better’ in life. We can feel as though we are never quite good enough. This needs to stop now as we realise that we are good enough, and whilst the quest for betterment is innately human, we should stop using this as a tool to beat ourselves up and put ourselves under immense pressure.

We need to find a balance between the need to expand our horizons and the need to accept ourselves just as we are. This comes down to our perceptions and once again to our motivations. If our motivation is to further expand ourselves then this is empowering and life affirming, but if the motivation comes through a fear of not being good enough, then we need to challenge that belief and wash that fear away.

To judge and self-judge is also innately human, but judgement serves no real purpose other than to weigh someone up against another’s standards. Acceptance and self-acceptance are what’s needed now, this does not mean giving up and giving in, but it does mean that we need to begin being much kinder to ourselves and one another.

As our lives begin to surge ahead over the coming weeks, we can work with Saturn to understand our true nature so that we can make the most of this time of renewed focus and high energy. It is now a great time to find the quiet within in order to focus on our true goals and priorities in life...’

It seems clear that Saturn, along with several other cosmic forces, are really creating an energetic mixing pot now. We need to learn to love, forgive and accept ourselves as we are, and to stop focusing solely on the end goal – we need to enjoy the journey! If we are not enjoying the journey, then maybe it’s time to change the goal!

No More Ostrich Tactics!

2011-03-21T00:01:00.000Z

Today, the 21st March, Ceres enters Pisces. Ceres is the Earth Mother, the nurturer and the nourisher. She provides for us and ensures that we take care of our own well-being as well as for others.

Ceres represents abundance on all levels, and in Pisces there is a strong theme of compassion and empathy flowing in abundance all around the world. Yet this starts from within and we have to love ourselves and be kind to ourselves if we can ever truly grow or evolve.

Ceres in Pisces is asking each of us to focus on what truly makes our hearts sing in life. We need to be more mindful, to rest in the stillness within, to stop forcing ahead and to stop our thoughts from dominating our lives and instead allow ourselves to be more in the moment and guided by our true hearts’ desire. This is a powerful shift, and one that has already begun in earnest!

This is a very compassionate combination of energies, yet it is also a combination that will not suffer fools gladly. We can choose to keep our heads buried in the sand, ignoring life, ignoring our gifts or our paths, but this doesn’t make it all go away. It is all still sitting there, waiting for us to wake up and take control. This is not about a rap on the knuckles though, for Ceres rarely works that way. She wants us to want to be more aware and in-tune with both our Selves and our lives, and to live each moment consciously and fully awake.

Awake in this context means awareness, being aware is something that we so often forget to do. We live in a world where it is often easier to be unaware and to close ourselves off from the people, events and situations around us. Yet it seems clear that in order to truly understand our Selves and our places in the world, we need to be aware!

It seems that by being more awake and aware, we can begin to live more in-tune with our philosophies and beliefs. Once we can do this, then we can find the path of living truly joyfully, blissfully and in a way that truly nurtures and nourishes...

Spring Equinox

2011-03-20T00:01:00.001Z

As we begin to awaken from the slumber and retreat of the winter, we start to feel the stirrings of new life. As we look within and around us we can see the breathe of life invigorating, energising and revitalising everything it touches. Dawn comes earlier each day, and the Sun leaves later and later giving a wave of solar powered vitality to us all.

Spring flowers tentatively reach up into the sunlight bringing with them an array of colour and beauty, birds start to nest and insects get back to the business of being busy. The closer we look at our surroundings, the more we can see the Divine in everything and in everyone.

It is all too easy to lose sight of the perfection of nature, to get out of step with the perfect rhythm of the Universe. Life often prevents us from being conscious of what is truly around us; we focus instead on over-thinking, over-complicating, over-whelming ourselves with worry, fear and concern.

This is not to say that life is perfect, far from it in many ways. But how many of us stop, even for a brief moment to watch the birds, gaze at the flowers or contemplate the stillness within, and the quiet busy-ness around?

Today, the 20th March is The Spring Equinox, and this marks the time when the Sun enters the sign of Aries. The Ram is a fire sign, a sign of energy, vigour, enthusiasm, drive and courage. Fire represents the chaos of the untamed imagination; it drives spiritual quests and our deepest aspirations. So, just like the natural world, we should be contemplating making the most of this energy drive to bring about change in our own lives.

For Aries, no challenge is too great, no problem insurmountable, no obstacle too great. There is a sense of strength in the air now, a feeling of being back in the driving seat once again.

Of course, spring is a stormy and unpredictable time – the weather plays tricks from Jack Frost, to March winds and April Showers. The rawness of the elements comes at us all with full force and vigour. And if we consider the huge amount of energy surging forth from the land – how much energy a single bulb needs to flower for example, it is clear that this is a wake up call, a time to shake off the cobwebs from the winters sleep in order to start the cycle of the year once again.

Aries is about looking forwards, looking ahead. It is also a time for finding balance, because after all this is a time when day and night are of equal length. Balance within and without, balance between wisdom and intuition, ideas and reality, logic and inspiration. This is truly a time to listen and to trust your instincts and inner wisdom, for it is only through doing this that we can bring ourselves into balance with ourselves, one another and with the Divine.

So, we can make the most of this vibrant fresh energy to bring about important changes in our lives. It is a great time for preparing and refreshing our environments too. Some space clearing, or spiritual spring-cleaning on top of a physical spring clean breathes a new life into our living and workspaces. It is a great time for detoxing to breathe new life within ourselves. And most importantly it is the perfect time to stop for a moment to connect with nature, and to see the Divine both within us and around us…

Cosmic Update - From The Newsletter...

2011-03-19T00:01:00.002Z

We have a special few days lined up over this coming weekend,. We have a Full Moon on the 19th and the Spring (Vernal) Equinox on the 20th. This Full Moon will be extra potent, as the Moon will be very close to the Earth, meaning we should see the biggest Full Moon for almost two decades!

The Cosmic Climate is a somewhat rambunctious one at the moment. Great shifts are occurring as we continue the process of re-awakening. With powerful Saturn still retrograde, we are being pushed to our limits in order to re-connect to our true priorities in life. At the same time, Uranus entered Aries on the 12th March, marking the beginning of a chapter of re-invention and creativity. Uranus, the freedom-seeking rebel wants each of us to break free from the chains that bind us in order to be independent, creative, empowered individuals.

The Full Moon on the 19th is in earthy Virgo. Being a so-called 'super moon' is likely to add to the potency of this greatly. Full Moons can create great unrest in sensitive or intuitive souls; it is as though the light from the Moon shines within and unlocks a myriad of different doors and windows to the soul. This can cause sleepless nights, restlessness, and sometimes confusion and disorientation.

The Full Moon highlights the areas in our lives that we need to reflect upon. Yet this is an earth Moon, and it is a time to focus on achieving (or finding) stability in our lives. With the huge changes being triggered by other cosmic events, it is more important than ever to find stability and balance within, for this will help to guide us forwards with clarity, vision and purpose.

During this Full Moon, Uranus is conjunct the Sun, amplifying the power of Uranus into the mix. The need to 'find ourselves' and our paths in life will become great, and if we can ride through the turmoil all around us (literally and figuratively), we can arrive in a place of focus, tranquillity and stillness.

The Spring Equinox is a time of balance, a time where day equals night in length. Neither dominates. With the Sun moving into Aries, the focus on Uranus also continues, and we need to realise that we all need balance in our own lives if we are to truly thrive and flourish.

On the 21st March, Ceres enters Pisces. We will be asked to find and to focus on what truly makes our hearts sing in life. We need to be more mindful, to rest in the stillness within, to stop forcing ahead and to stop our thoughts from dominating our lives . Instead we need to allow ourselves to be more in the moment and guided by our true hearts' desire. We can no longer go through life with our heads buried in the sand, we need to be fully awake, fully present.

Ceres also represents abundance on all levels, and in Pisces there is a strong theme of compassion and empathy flowing freely all around the world. Yet this starts from within, and we have to love ourselves and be kind to ourselves if we can ever truly grow or evolve.

These events bridge the gap to more cosmic events in April. April looks set to be another pivotal month, with change and unrest on almost every level. Whilst this is ultimately cathartic and healing in nature, it can be hard to see this whilst in the midst of chaos and uncertainty!

Neptune moves into Pisces on the 4th April, and this marks the coming home of the planet of spirituality and intuition. His visit is initially brief (until August), but he returns with full force in 2012! This shift marks the beginning of a spiritual re-awakening and a raising of the collective consciousness. We are all on a journey of incredible potency and force at the moment, and it can be hard to gain any sense of clarity or purpose. Yet, there is also peace and a sense of tranquillity within, and the more we can connect with this, the easier we will cope will the external ups and downs of our lives.

Like buoys on stormy seas, we can either allow ourselves to trust our anchors to hold us in place, or we can focus on the swell of the ocean and become sea-sick. In other words, we can believe in ourselves or allow panic, fear and uncertainty to take control. Nothing is ever quite as black and white as this, but there is a sense that we need to stop struggling so much and begin to allow our higher Selves to guide us forwards.

There is no denying that this is a time of great change, and we are likely to see lots of ups and downs; personally and collectively. Neptune in Pisces will help each of us to stay in tune with our inner Selves and to allow the Universe to guide us. So, we need to 'listen' and be guided by our intuition or higher selves...

Pluto moves retrograde on the 9th April, and this marks the beginning of a phase of introspection (yes, more of that!). This continues the theme of change and uncertainty, as we realise that we can no longer take anything for granted in life. Nothing is guaranteed, and whilst we may feel like the proverbial rug has been torn away from underneath us, ultimately this will allow us to realise just how much support the Universe can provide for us when we allow it.

So, you can see that this is a hugely significant time, a true turning point, but in so many more ways than one...

And The Touch Paper is Lit

2011-03-12T00:01:00.000Z

Uranus enters Aries today, the 12th March. Uranus is the freedom seeker, the rebel, the free thinker and the revolutionary. Aries is the pioneer, fiery and courageous. There is a strong sense that our creative fires within will be stoked up considerably as we each begin to transform our lives, inside and out. Uranus will remain in Aries until 2018 and over this time, these forces combined look set to bring about great change on both a personal and a global scale.

Uranus, the freedom fighter, the truth seeker and the individual residing in fiery, creative, courageous Aries; this is quite an explosive mix! Yet the trails of gunpowder were set a long time ago, and these two cosmic forces are simply the match and the strike paper coming together to ignite energy and passion into situations that have become stagnant or lifeless.

A theme of revolution starts to surface, this revolution starts within, as each of us begin to realise that we can affect positive change, not only in our own lives, but in the lives of others as well.

Each of us looks set to challenge conventional thinking and to find ways of expressing our own uniqueness and true identities. Many around the world cannot do this through fear of persecution etc, but those who can make that choice to break free from convention, will in time, create a wave of new thought that will spread to all. We can expect to see more of the unrest as already seen in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya as people stand up for their rights to free expression. As a rebel and non-conformist Uranus is egged on by tempestuous Aries to speak out and to react against oppression or aggression. Of course, Aries is a hot head and so may create tension and aggression as well, so this powder keg is a fragile balance to delicately handle and only to burst open when all other options have been explored...

Fire analogies aside, it seems clear that Uranus in Aries is about rolling up our sleeves and bursting through the overgrown and weed ridden doorway into pastures rich, bountiful and new. Of course, the grass may always look greener on the other side, but this does always turn out to be the case. However, it is the act of doing that is important here, if we sit and do nothing, then we can never truly grow or learn, but if we take a chance and stand up for our Truth, we find a voice for our souls and honour ourselves. Even if that act of doing leads to a ‘dead end’ or to another challenge, it is part of the learning curve of life that gives us more passion, determination, inspiration and motivation to battle on.

We are entering a challenging era; there seems little doubt about that. But deep within, we have been aware of the stirrings of change for a great deal of time now. This inner change in fact seems far more important that the outer changes for it is from within that we can re-shape our lives, our beliefs, our paths and our dreams. We are the masters of our own destiny, and we can create the change we want to be in the world.

Through the stillness we have been courting recently, the threads of real relevance in our lives are becoming more obvious. It is these threads that we need to focus on now in order to weave ourselves a most wonderful, beautiful and joyful tapestry. It is time to take control, to love ourselves, to love our gifts and to be proud of who we are. It is also time to stop faffing about in indecision and to start living. Each of us now has the chance to step onto the crest of a huge wave about to pass by our doors, and this wave will carry us up to a whole new way of being (if we allow it). It is time to leave the shards of the past behind, to embrace the present and to welcome a bright new future...

The Brinkmanship Continues

2011-03-10T00:01:00.003Z

Pallas Athene enters Aquarius today, the 10th March. Pallas Athene is the warrior Goddess, standing up for justice, defending the weak and using her intelligence creatively. She also represents the power of words. Aquarius is the rebel, the bohemian and the revolutionary, and together these cosmic forces suggest a time for radical new thinking, both individually and collectively.

As our transformation continues, it seems clear that we have a great deal of inner work yet to do. Things that we hold dear or take for granted are shifting now as we each begin to realise the transience of our existence. Things are never cast in stone, and even when we think they are, the winds of time can erode or re-shape them into something completely different. At the same time though, to be cast in stone is to be stuck rigid in one place, and this is surely not the path to personal and spiritual evolution?

That proverbial rug beneath our feet, has not only been ripped out from beneath us, but torn into tiny little shreds, leaving us little to cling on to. However, it is only when we truly let go and stop clinging, that we can be set free. Something of a game of brinkmanship agreed, but neither Pallas Athene or Aquarius are feint hearted and they inspire us to step into the unknown. These are both bright, intelligent energies, and together they can help us to understand the true nature and meaning of the phrase ‘setting ourselves free’.

It seems that it is time to allow ourselves and our thoughts to flow freely, and in the process to honour ourselves and our paths far more. Using the wisdom of these powerful celestial forces, we can begin to re-shape our thoughts. This is turn, can help us to re-shape our lives and to live in joy, bliss and love.

These are challenging times in so many ways, but as each of us slowly sorts the wheat from the chaff in our lives, we can begin to finally see what truly makes our hearts sing...

Listening Through The Silence - The Path To Clarity

2011-03-05T07:16:00.001Z

‘In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth.’ Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948)

This quote has been the quiet source of my inspiration over recent weeks; it has led me on a journey within, to rest in the stillness that resides there. It is undoubtedly hard (particularly for this airy Libran!) to cut through the clutter and chaos that the mind and everyday life presents; but with perseverance, it is possible to allow the soul to find its path in ‘crystal clearness’.

For a great many of us at the present time, life is full of challenges. Challenges connected to the path ahead, to our beliefs, choices and gifts. It can be hard to know whether we are coming or going, going or coming, or whether we have gone and got lost somewhere in between!

Doubt and fear can creep into our psyches if we allow it, and of course, for a great many of us, the real world creates anxiety and practical challenges such as paying bills, buying food, having shelter etc. Whilst these needs are basic, for the soul to truly flourish in ‘crystal clearness’, we need to find a way to step beyond the fears connected to these basic needs to a place deeper within, where we can feel truly nourished and nurtured. Of course, this place will not pay the bills, nor will it put food on the table, but it will help us to keep a clear perspective and balanced outlook on our true priorities in life.

There is a need to simplify now, to cut back the clutter and to focus on what’s truly important. We need to trust that when we can connect to our true priorities, our needs will be taken care of. This is much easier said than done, but unless we do this with 100% conviction and belief, we will never truly know what trust and faith is.

Knowing thyself is a vital part of our journey in life, yet being thyself is surely the most important thing? How many of us allow ourselves to simply be? There is a great difference between knowing and being (take a moment in silence and ‘feel’ the difference, for it is great). Knowing suggests wisdom and understanding, whereas being suggests acceptance and a deeper sense of understanding.

Similarly, there is a great difference between knowing our paths in life and being our paths.

Dr Ronald Bissell wrote ‘ Knowing your path and being your path can make all the difference in your life. Each day when I wake from my nightly dreams I feel refreshed and renewed. I see that a new day has dawned and that I can continue my journey toward my life long goals. I can see it clearly and can reflect upon where I’ve been and where I’m going. It is an intellectual exercise designed to give me comfort amid what at times seems like a world full of turmoil and the carelessness of the few.

Underneath that cover of intellectual pursuit is the true self that acts as a guide throughout life. It nudges us when needed and prods us to ‘become our best’ and to ‘strive to become a better person’. It allows us latitude to become all we can become. It brings life to what could be a lifeless soul and gives purpose and design to our every move.

It is the purpose of our path that we should examine. Are we here to simply exist or are we here to create change and to move our world in the direction of our hearts? Can we be the path we dream or is our path simply an intellectual exercise that gives us superficial reasons for being? There is a huge difference between knowing your path and being your path for being takes determination and effort. Being places you in charge of the present moment and causes your world to become grounded in the beliefs of your soul.

Being your path is an active measure of your determination to follow your heart’s dream into the future of your choice. It marks your place in the universe and gives all you meet the knowledge of who you are. You can’t hide when you are your path and you can’t shade your path from the eyes of all you meet. You become a naked soul and within that nakedness you let go of all the old baggage that once held you hostage. You become like a laser that burns brightly amid the darkness of our world.

In becoming your path you exercise your right to be who you are. You become whole and in turn allow others to see the brilliance of your soul. You radiate to all you meet the essence of your soul and in turn cause them to examine and to re-examine their way. You begin a healing process that affects all you touch.

Knowing your path is an intellectual exercise that gives you ‘a warm fuzzy’ that provides a false sense of security. Being your path creates a solid foundation from which you can live your life and cause change in your world. Being your path provides the answers to questions that create disharmony in life and brings your life into focus.

Being your path brings understanding. It provides the evidence needed to become all you can be. It gives you the tools to begin your life anew and sows the seeds of your future within the context of the present moment. It gives clarity to an unclear world.

In being your path you create the fire of transcendence and see clearly and without effort the path before you. You become the truth of who you are and live your life amid the beauty and silence of your perfect soul’.

These are wise words, and it seems that being our paths and seeing clearly before us the truth of ourselves and of our lives is what’s called for now.

Through the chaos and the clutter, we need to find out what truly makes our hearts sing. We need to live in joy, to live in trust and to live in love. That stillness which creates clarity is the key to a joyful life, and it is that stillness that can unlock the truth of who we are and enable us to live fully in the moment, being our paths.

This is not an easy journey, but then again, which soul would choose a path without learning, development, growth or evolution? Life is meant to present challenges, and it is meant to test us. We each have a choice now connected to how we choose to live. We may need to prune our lives right back to the bare bone to re-connect to what’s truly important, but when we re-flower, there will be real joy and delight in the new blossoms that grow, for they will have meaning and purpose, and we can each truly understand the focus, effort and determination involved in allowing the silence to bring us crystal clearness.

It is a re-awakening of sorts, a time to realise that it’s not about what we have in life, but it is about why we are here and enjoying the experience. We may need to shift our perspectives, and to be patient when the going seems tough or against us, but if we can stay connected in the moment and remember to ‘be’ our paths, the confusion will float away and we will be left with a profoundly beautiful clarity about life and the path ahead.

The silence is getting louder now, and each of us needs to listen...

Listening

2011-02-26T12:24:00.000Z

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...

The Courage Of Our Convictions

2011-02-09T08:41:00.002Z

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...

The Year of The Rabbit

2011-02-04T12:52:00.003Z

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...

2011-01-28T17:29:00.001Z

'Blessed are those who are cracked,
for they are the ones who let in the light'.

Unknown.

Judge & Jury – Saturn Retrograde

2011-01-26T09:24:00.002Z

On the 26th January, Saturn moves retrograde in Libra until June and this looks set to bring each of us (particularly Librans), the need to assess our inner landscapes and to understand what motivates us. When we can truly understand our motivations, we can begin to make sense of our lives and of the repeating patterns that we become a part of. Only then can we make the changes necessary to make our dreams reality and finally let go of the conditioning that shapes or moulds our lives.

Retrograde Saturn helps us to take responsibility for our lives and shows us that in order to evolve, we need to be accountable for each decision we make. This is so hard for many reasons including the fact that we are not isolated non-interactive beings and so every decision we make affects others. At the same time though, it is important not to put our lives on hold waiting for the right moment to act...will that moment ever come? And is that just a way of putting off making a decision in the present?

Nothing in life is black and white, and with a whole spectrum of shades of grey in between, there are no clear cut answers. Yet Saturn wants us to be more in control of our choices and decisions, and to know that we do not have to spend our lives as victims of fate being taken along with the current. We can use our gifts and our minds to find creative solutions to the challenges we face and we can take back the control in a great many areas of our lives.

As a perfectionist, Saturn can push each of us to do more or to do ‘better’ in life. We can feel as though we are never quite good enough. This needs to stop now as we realise that we are good enough, and whilst the quest for betterment is innately human, we should stop using this as a tool to beat ourselves up and put ourselves under immense pressure.

We need to find a balance between the need to expand our horizons and the need to accept ourselves just as we are. This comes down to our perceptions and once again to our motivations. If our motivation is to further expand ourselves then this is empowering and life affirming, but if the motivation comes through a fear of not being good enough, then we need to challenge that belief and wash that fear away.

To judge and self-judge is also innately human, but judgement serves no real purpose other than to weigh someone up against another’s standards. Acceptance and self-acceptance are what’s needed now, this does not mean giving up and giving in, but it does mean that we need to begin being much kinder to ourselves and one another.

As our lives begin to surge ahead over the coming weeks, we can work with Saturn to understand our true nature so that we can make the most of this time of renewed focus and high energy. It is now a great time to find the quiet within in order to focus on our true goals and priorities in life...

Don’t Stop Believing – Jupiter Into Aries

2011-01-24T09:23:00.001Z

On the 22nd January, Jupiter entered Aries. Jupiter, the mighty planet of growth, expansion, wisdom and abundance combines with the hot-headed, fiery, creative ram to create a huge wave of positive new energy rushing into our lives.

In many ways, this feels like the true start to 2011 (yes, another beginning!) as the energy levels are beginning to reflect the passion and vision that 2011 holds for each of us. This year of manifestation and liberation, starts now, as we begin to grab hold of the vim and vigour of Aries and the wisdom and power of Jupiter.

This marks the beginning of a period of rapid change and growth in our lives, it is a time to honour our gifts and to grab onto the courage of the Arien ram to step into pastures new. This is a highly invigorating and energising time...

We all have dreams and goals. Some of us manage to achieve these, many of us do not. It is time now to ask ourselves why we haven’t achieved out dreams? What is stopping us? Are the fates conspiring against us? Or do we simply not believe that we have what it takes to succeed?

For many of us, the latter is a hard pill to swallow, but the reality is that, for most of us, we do not believe in ourselves enough and we are the main reason that we are not living our dreams. When we doubt, we chip away at the dream, and after a while, it becomes unstable and collapses underneath us. Yet, it is not too late to re-build our foundations and to know that if we can believe in ourselves (and I mean, TRULY believe) then we can take new steps towards these dreams and make them happen.

We are truly the masters of our destiny now. It is time to take that leap of faith into the unknown and to know that whilst the outcome can never be guaranteed, our lives will be the richer for the experience and our souls will feel truly alive for we have finally believed and had a go. Life is for living after all.

Jupiter does not stay in Aries for long, but this is a welcome fire bolt to stir up our lives to fill us with hope, passion and focus. When Jupiter moves into Taurus in June, it will literally be time to grab that bull by the horns and set ourselves free...

The Power Within – Retrograde Juno

2011-01-22T09:22:00.001Z

Juno moved retrograde in Virgo on the 19th January, and this creates a theme of finding wholeness and completeness within. Juno, an asteroid, represents the balance of power in relationships, and when retrograde, this focus shifts to the balance of power within.

We all have polarities, dark and light, yin and yang etc, and it is important to ensure a sense of harmony between these. We have all heard that inner ‘voice’ that can pull us in one direction or another, and this can create confusion or disorientation if we allow that voice to dominate. If we do allow one to dominate completely, we can feel tired, listless and lost.

Juno now brings each of us the chance to seek a true sense of balance within, to allow our polarities to harmonise and to feel more in control of our lives as a result. Once we can achieve this balance within, this will then enable us to seek a truer sense of balance in the other areas of our lives.

As we move forwards in 2011, the need for balance grows ever stronger. When we are balanced, we can stay in tune with our Self, our higher purpose and our destiny. We can also tap into the courage and strength within to take us further forwards on our paths in life. And finally, we can allow ourselves the space and freedom to truly be ourselves and at peace with who we are.

Juno, may be little, but her influence is strong. It is time now to stop the inner power games of ‘oughts’ and ‘should’s’ and instead focus on what we know to be right. Now is the time to become truly empowered and inspired...

2011-01-07T18:14:00.000Z

What lies before us and what lies behind us
are small matters compared to
what lies within us.
And when we bring what is within
out into the world
miracles happen.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Setting Ourselves Free

2011-01-04T00:01:00.001Z

Today, we have a Capricorn New Moon (with a partial solar eclipse), along with Jupiter and Uranus in another powerful conjunction. Also at this time, Pluto is conjunct Pallas Athene in Capricorn and Neptune and Chiron are conjunct...

Today seems like the true start to the New Year. The heavy energies of the past few weeks will begin to lift as we begin to feel a spring in our steps and a new surge of vitality and energy flowing through our veins.

This is a time to make affirmations about the year ahead. I choose to use affirmations, for the traditional ‘New Year resolutions’ seem to be made in order to be broken! Affirmations are positive visualisations and statements about life rather than rules or laws to stick to.

The Cosmos is creating a powerful and inspirational flavour to the start of the New Year, and it is up to each of us to decide just how to make the most of this.

Letting go of toxicity on all levels is important – mind, body, spirit and emotions. Even those areas taped off within with a ‘warning toxic – no entry’ sign need to be cleaned up and resolved now.

Today is a special day for reflection and inspiration. It is a time to reconnect to the power within in order to re-motivate and re-focus us. It is also a time to believe in ourselves and to know that by taking full responsibility for the choices we make in life, we can become more empowered and more enlightened as a result. Today is the day to take back the power and to be at One with ourselves...

Tending The Garden Within

2011-01-03T18:14:00.001Z

This is a phrase commonly used in the ‘New Age’ arena, particularly in connection with core shamanic ideals and principles. Yet what does it truly mean?

The Garden of our Soul is that place right at the core of our Being, it is a beautiful place, a place of serenity, a place of tranquillity. The grass is the greenest; the flowers are the most fragrant, and the bird song the most beautiful. It is a place where we feel truly connected to the Universe, and where we feel interconnected with the One.

Of course, being human means that we think, create and manifest a whole host of thoughts, events and situations in our lives which can impact this garden within. Sometimes, we can allow weeds to grow and take over, overshadowing the peacefulness. Sometimes, we bring in the bulldozers to create a new ‘masterpiece’ or idea, but we end up with a large messy hole, which we then need to dig our way out of.

We plant seeds within, and we choose to cultivate them or not, for that is free will. It is ultimately up to us, as individuals, as to what we plant and how we care for it. Toxic thoughts and ideas can contaminate our sacred gardens, and they can undermine our Whole-ness.

There is a need now to go back to our roots, and to realise that the choices we make and the paths we follow determine if we are likely to see our gardens blossoming in the near future. We all have beauty within, yet how many of us truly ‘know’ this and believe it?

Ceres enters Aquarius today, and this suggests a need to tend the mind, to think nourishing thoughts and to realise and embrace that abundance that we all have within. It is finally time to heal toxic thoughts, to let go of doubt and to believe that we are all ‘infinite potential’.

Aquarius is a humanitarian, free thinking individual. Ceres is the earth mother, Goddess of the harvest. Together it seems that they will create a bountiful harvest within, a harvest rich in new ideas, new beliefs and in personal revelations. This is a time to think about sowing new seeds for our paths ahead, but to think before we act. We all have choices to make, and we have the chance now to prioritise our true goals and dreams.

It seems clear that each of us has the chance now to de-clutter our inner landscapes and to plan a beautiful and rich garden full of colour, life and vibrancy...

We’ve Got The Power

2011-01-01T00:01:00.001Z

Taking responsibility has been a powerful theme over the past couple of years, and it seems that this is likely to continue throughout 2011 and beyond. Accountability and responsibility can feel like a burden and can weigh heavy on our shoulders, yet without being responsible for the choices, actions and decisions that we make in life, how can we be empowered and how can we evolve?

It is important that we face and accept the consequences of all our decisions, even if that decision is not to decide. The only way we can be truly free is to be responsible for our own lives, for the choices we makes and for our own capacity to love and honour both ourselves and our destiny.

There is no point in having regrets, for they only take away more energy from our Beings. We need to accept, surrender to the Universe and live in the moment. Focusing on the past takes us away from the present, and focusing on the future stops us from living life to the full. The past and the future, whilst important, can take us away from the present and in many ways it diminishes our wholeness.

We need to live in the present, and we need to be fully awake in order to make the most of what life has to offer us. Being responsible is but one small step on the evolutionary path, but it is an important one. 2011 looks set to see the need for each of us to truly take control of our lives, decisions and choices. Daunting? Yes, but is there any other way?

Surrendering To The Flow Of Life

2010-12-29T00:02:00.002Z

A strong theme emerged after an inspirational and enlightening session with a dear friend and client on Christmas Eve. The theme was surrender, and it seemed clear that there is a need for all of us to surrender to the flow of life much more.

This is not about giving up or feeling like a victim, but it is more about swimming with the current rather than against it. Often our minds and our hearts are in conflict about the decisions, choices and options available to us. We can become paralysed in indecision and fear if we do not step back (surrender) to regain our perspectives.

It seems that part of the condition of being human is an innate need to understand and to search for answers, patterns and solutions. Perhaps we are scared of the unknown, of the chaos that surrounds us? Perhaps we just need and want everything to make perfect sense.

Yet, we know that we cannot possibly make sense of everything, we cannot understand the true depth and power of the Universe. Whilst each of us contain the Universe within; at the same time, we are just a tiny cluster of atoms amongst infinity.

Our struggle to understand, to know, to control can leave us fighting upstream, battling the current. If we can surrender more to the process, we will begin to realise that the key to inner knowing is in going with the flow. Of course, we will always have moments of battling upstream and we will always have times of self-doubt, but if we can trust the process of life more, we will see that, on the whole, we can travel with the current and the current will take us to where we need to go.

This is, in many ways, about having faith and trust. It is about bypassing our inner critics and allowing ourselves to live up to our full potential. It is also about, not becoming paralysed in indecision, and allowing stagnancy and decay to develop on all levels of our Being through inaction or avoidance.

Surrendering to the flow is about life enrichment, personal empowerment, inspiration and joy. It is about taking the knocks with the smooth. Surrendering is about overcoming challenges and maintaining balance with a need to stop doubting and undermining ourselves.

As we step into 2011, there is a need now to ‘go with the flow’, to re-connect to the core of our Beings and to ‘touch’ the rainbow within. The coming year is a time for joy, abundance, manifestation and freedom. All of these are within our reach now, it is all a matter of perspective and belief...

Reflections On The Spirit of Christmas

2010-12-25T12:01:00.001Z

I always like to take a little time out to write over Christmas. I also like to take the time to send out healing to one and all (humans, animals, plants, the seas, the earth, the heavens etc).

In many ways, the Christmas celebrated today by so many is a commercial and physical over-indulgence. The Christmas spirit seems more about indulgence in spirit of the alcoholic kind than it does a spiritual celebration.

I am not Christian, and for me the Winter Solstice holds more personal and spiritual significance. Yet most of the celebrations over Christmas come from ‘pagan’ solstice celebrations from the Christmas Tree, the Yule log, feasts and present giving. It has always been a time of coming together to celebrate life and to feel blessed for all we have. I therefore have no qualms about getting together with family and friends over the Christmas period.

I also like to spend time alone in reflection and contemplation for my path ahead. It is a time of deep soul-searching and self-honesty. It is a time to re-prioritise and to re-focus on dreams and goals.

2011 looks set to be another year of cosmic highs and lows, twists and turns. As the roller coaster continues through to 2012 and beyond, there is a sense of a ‘quickening’ of subtle (and not so subtle) shifts within and around us.

The coming year seems to be a time of liberation, manifestation and peace. They all fit together like three parts of an interlinked and entwined puzzle. We need all three for balance, and one in excess can lead to an imbalance in the other two. So, it is important that we strive for balance and harmony in all aspects of our lives.

We can also expect a need to stop clinging onto the Light, and instead know that true balance comes from Dark and Light. One is not bad and the other good, they are both of equal importance in our lives. To know Darkness is to see Truth.

The Light is not the sole source of the Divine, for we live in a polarised Universe. With day comes night, with Yin comes Yang, with dark comes light, with love comes pain. In many ways, as the core of the Universe contains ‘All there is’ it must therefore, by a process of deduction, be a neutral force. So to strive for a balance of Dark and Light is to seek out accord and harmony.

There is a strong sense that each of us is stepping back into the driving seats of our lives now. Stepping back into the power and Truth is empowering and enlightening, and whilst a little daunting, will ultimately help us to confidently stroll along the path ahead...

More on this soon!

So, my festive wish as always:

All I want for Christmas is for everyone's hearts to be filled with love and joy. I simply ask that we all come together to celebrate the true Spirit of Christmas - love.

2010-12-21T16:30:00.003Z

Happy Winter Solstice! From my window, it is certainly wintry and white outside!

Today also marked a lunar eclipse, which was visible from parts of the UK. So, today is a special day for reflection and for honouring all of the gifts and blessings we have in life.

Love to you all.

Sarah
x

Movers & Shakers

2010-12-14T20:00:00.001Z

I was channel hopping the other night, and I caught a scene from Ugly Betty. It was about Betty’s braces, but it applies to just about anything in life that challenges us.

Betty was talking about finally removing her braces and how it will affect her life: ‘What if nothing changes? Then I’ll have nothing to blame’.

Her sister replied: ‘You are who you are, the sooner you accept that, the happier you will be’.

Simple as that.

Its’ strange how just a few words from a seemingly innocuous TV programme could have such a big impact.

We all have challenges in life; some we can overcome, but some we have to endure. Yet it is how we choose to see these challenges that help determine our lives. We can give up and walk away in defeat (nothing wrong with this at all), or we can battle on, determined to succeed against all the odds (a tiring, but rewarding experience, if we reach the finish line).

Yet, these words resonate at a much deeper level. The planets have been pushing each of us towards more personal accountability and responsibility in life. We have been asked by the Cosmos to take control of our lives, to make difficult choices and to honour our gifts.

Of course, when we have challenges in life, so many of us do what Betty did; we blame the challenge or the issue. Looking beyond this though, it seems clear that we need to stop blaming anyone or anything, and instead choose to re-take our personal power and begin to truly accept ourselves as we are (warts and all – figuratively speaking!).

Most of us have aspects of our Selves that we are not happy with, yet does that one aspect truly shape the whole of our lives? When we move to a place beyond logic, we can begin to see that nothing should prevent us from Being true to our Selves.

Coming towards the end of a cosmically spectacular and busy year, it seems clear that the need to accept ourselves has reached such a deep level that it is even flowing through on the TV!

It is time now to honour ourselves, to let go of blame, to let go of shame and to love ourselves unconditionally. Life does not always go to plan, but we need to accept the challenges with the smoother times, and we need to stop pinning our hopes on fixing that ‘one thing’ in life that is stopping us from being our Selves.

Instead we need to accept (this is not the same as giving up!) and to realise that we do not have to wait until everything in our lives is ‘fixed’ or hunky-dory, but we can make that decision to start living immediately. Indeed if we do choose to wait, then it is likely to be a very long wait, as there is always something on our personal ‘fix lists’. Life is for living, not for hanging about thinking about living when the grass finally decides to get greener on the other side.

So, get out that grass feed, and feed the grass under your feet now! Embrace life and honour your Self.

If you decide to wait and still nothing changes, then maybe there is nothing to blame after all, maybe there is something within you stopping you or holding you back? So, why waste time waiting about? Why not face up to this now, and get the inevitable tough personal questioning over and done with?!

Burying one’s head in the sand can only work for so long, if we truly want to honour and accept ourselves; then there is no time like the present...

Stargazing

2010-12-13T17:28:00.002Z

If we have a clear sky tonight, check out the Geminid Meteor Shower. The plethora of shooting stars will bring magic to us all! The meteors will peak over the UK at about 11am Tuesday, but in dark skies, meteors may be seen tonight or tomorrow night...

Happy Stargazing!

The Golden Snitch - Mercury Retrograde

2010-12-10T16:50:00.001Z

Little Mercury moves retrograde today, so we once again end the year with this little planet spinning backwards creating all sorts of thoughts and ideas within each of us. Like the Golden Snitch in Harry Potter’s Quidditch (thanks Jacqueline!), Mercury is a speedy little fellow, and so his influence can sometimes be so fleeting, that we miss him and fail to realise his importance.

Mercury gives each of us an opportunity to focus on our thoughts, and in particular to explore how we think. It is all too natural for most of us to think in terms of negatives - ‘I can’t’, ‘yeah, but’, ‘life is hard’, ‘nothing is easy’, ‘I am fat/skinny/poor’ etc.

The irony is that these thoughts of lack create more of the same in our lives. Like attracts like, so by thinking in a negative or restrictive way, we create that dynamic in our lives and keep it there. So, in some ways this is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Of course, changing the thinking to something more positive is not always that easy. When life is hard, it can be hard to see above the parapet and even contemplate a thought process that can start to change the dynamic. Yet, until we start to think more creatively, it is often the case that we cannot change the dynamic.

So, in some ways, we are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea...

Retrograde phases of any planet internalises its energy; and by taking it within we can start to understand ourselves better. We have had the opportunity this year to be true to ourselves, and to start thinking in terms of abundance, joy, love and harmony.

Mercury wants us to find fulfilment from within – to think about our lives, the world, and the way in which we live. Mercury wants us to see that ‘having it all’, and keeping up with consumerist trends is really not that fulfilling. Buying a new TV just because it’s the latest version, even when the old one is perfectly functional does not give us lasting joy. That joy comes from within, and it is now up to each of us to find it, experience it and to spread the word.

Mercury Retrograde can cause chaos with communications, contracts and other administrative issues – but try not to get too wrapped up in these – try to see the bigger picture instead. In any challenge or obstacle, look for a positive. Find things to be grateful for everyday. Very often that delay happens for a reason, it makes us stop or pause, re-think or reconsider our choices. So, welcome Mercury, embrace his blessing.

Of course, Mercury goes retrograde a lot, so we should all be used to the little games that he plays, yet at the same time we are often thrown into a state of disarray when things don’t go quite as planned. So, calm down, and breathe deeply.

Mercury looks set to give each of us a much needed kick up the posterior to stop thinking in negative ways. He wants us to see the power that such thinking has in our lives. It is time to start thinking positively and creatively to affect change in our lives.

At the same time, there is a need to live consciously, to see the bigger picture. It is the perfect time to de-clutter the mind (space is good, even in the mind!!). We need to be quiet, to still the mind and allow the really important thoughts to float up to the surface for us to work with. It is time to let all that mental flotsam and jetsam go, and to focus on what’s truly important now...

There is a strong need to be both pragmatic and philosophical over the next few weeks. Maybe, just maybe Mercury is being our best friend by causing well-timed delays to allow us a little more thinking time?

So, try to see the positive. And by taking a more philosophical approach to obstacles and hiccups, hopefully we can each reach the end of this retrograde phase stronger than ever before.

Mercury moves direct on the 30th December, just in time to utilise all of this positive thinking and make some powerful affirmations for the New Year...

The Truth Will Out

2010-12-06T00:01:00.001Z

Today (the 6th December) magnificent Uranus moves direct. Uranus has been in a cosmic clinch with Jupiter for much of the summer and autumn, and Uranus moving direct is the next big step on the cosmic calendar.

Uranus is the freedom seeking rebel fighting for individuality and Truth. He is the lightning strike that breaks down barriers, and the innovator bringing new ideas and thought forms into use. He is the ruler of intuition, and helps us to become more interconnected with the Universal energies. Uranus reflects not only our innate human longing to know where we are going and why, but also our need to feel part of something bigger.

Uranus is always forward thinking, never looking back, this is why Uranus is the rebel and the revolutionary – forcing change, forcing new ideas and changing traditions.

Of course, many people find it so hard to freely express their Uranian nature, as to do so, requires a great degree of detachment from taking a personal perspective. To be Uranian is to adopt a more collective or Universal perspective and this is quite alien to most people; so many individuals prefer to keep their heads down and their individuality locked away.

For those of us that do manage to achieve a more ‘detached’ and individual approach to life then we get to see the whole picture, warts and all. Not everyone wants to even acknowledge that...!

In general though, Uranus always finds a way to seep into our lives, so ignoring this electric and eclectic bundle of energy will serve little purpose. Change will occur – it might be hard, it might be challenging, but in order to grow and develop we need to embrace Uranus and the qualities that he brings. It is time now for change...

Over the past few months, each of us have been aware of the subtle changes going on within. These have been connected to us being more aware of our true Selves. Uranus wants us to be unique, special and individual – because we are. When we can truly be our Selves, we can embrace the other Uranian qualities and allow our gifts and potential to truly flow.

On moving Direct, Uranus wants each of us to let our true colour and individuality shine. It is important to acknowledge our gifts and Truth, and to not be afraid to step out from the shadows for all to see.

After a summer and autumn full of challenges (or opportunities!), it is important to remember that Uranus is the planet of infinite possibilities, one person can create a chain reaction of change, one person can set in motion a new thought or idea that can literally send shock waves of new thought or changed behaviour around the world.

Such shock waves are happening now. New thoughts, beliefs and insights are reaching out far and wide, and whilst many may not resonate, there is undeniably a calling towards more integration, individuality and freedom now.

So for those of us who can be free, feel blessed for this and grab your individuality with both hands. Embrace Truth and love your uniqueness. As Shakespeare once wrote ‘The Truth Will Out’ (The Merchant of Venice)

It is time to take that leap of faith...2011 looks set to be a year of magic, manifestation and abundance on so many levels...

2010-12-05T20:03:00.002Z

Well, I have now moved, been snowed in and been without my internet connection as a result! However, things are now back on track...more from me tomorrow.

Sarah
x

I Am Infinite Potential

2010-11-18T00:01:00.004Z

Mighty Jupiter moves direct today, the 18th November, joining Venus who also moves direct on this date.

Jupiter’s role in retrograde over recent months has taken our attention within and turned our focus to the abundance that resides there. We have each had the opportunity to explore our full potential and to realise just how much we do have in life. We have been asked to give gratitude and thanks for what we have, and made to realise that true abundance lies within. When we live an enriched and full life, we feel complete. Money helps obviously, but it is not the be all and end all.

It has been a challenging summer, and a time where confusion has reigned supreme! On one hand there has been a strong surge of forwards moving energy seeking action and movement in life, but on the other hand, life has felt like walking through treacle, and the going has been wearing and tough.

We have had time to celebrate the abundance in our lives and to feel truly blessed by this. This summer was a time to seek enrichment and the attainment of joy; placing our focus on the positive to create an ever growing flow of positivity and abundance in our lives.

Jupiter has helped us to tune in to our inner resources of strength and self-belief, to bring our dreams alive and to see just how much abundance we have. The more we have focused on this, the richer we have become emotionally, spiritually, physically and psychologically...

Jupiter challenged us to go within, to let go of our fears, to find our inner strength, to listen to Spirit and to follow our destiny. Each of us has been asked to find our centre, and to tap into that vast inner well of love, compassion and strength.

Jupiter asked us not to be afraid to let the world see the core of who we are, and to realise that we are all here for a reason. That reason is already becoming clearer, and we will soon be asked to step into the unknown; into infinity and beyond, to realise our full potential. There is a choice though; the alternative is to stay put, to not take that risk, to avoid jumping into the spiritual watery depths of the unknown feet first.

The unknown is scary, and we need to have faith and self-belief to trust that we will be taken care of. There are, sadly no guarantees, but when in a place of trust and Truth, we can face challenges easier and we can deal with setbacks easier. When in a place of trust and Truth we can go with the flow and gain a clearer perspective allowing each of us to make the most of the opportunities that life presents us.

Jupiter moving direct brings all we have learnt into the physical, making this a time of manifestation, intention and evolution. The more centred we can remain within and the more we can have faith and self-belief, the more we can manifest joy, abundance and love in our lives and in the lives of others.

There is a strong theme now of honouring ourselves and believing that when we follow our true paths in life that our needs will be taken care of. So many healers, spiritual workers and other enlightened souls are kept firmly in the mundane through the need of making ends meet or poverty consciousness, that the flow of abundance, joy and positivity available to us becomes restricted. It is now time to realise that through belief and intent it is possible to live freely and in accordance with our soul’s desires.

This is best summed up by one of my favourite quotes by Rumi ‘When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.’ It is time now to live and breathe from our souls, and to follow our destinies. Not an easy path, but an important one. For the more we ignore the calling of our soul’s, the more disconnected we become from Source. This ironically, takes us even further away from our soul’s essence. It is time now to become One with all aspects of our Beings and to grab a boat and set sail on that river Rumi mentions that is moving within you. This is the route to pure joy.

It is important to know that we are all infinite potential, and it might help once again to start re-affirming this on a regular basis (and truly believing it).

‘I am infinite potential’.

The Joy of Love

2010-11-16T16:55:00.001Z

Venus moves direct on the 18th November. In retrograde, Venus (the Light of Beauty) moved her focus to within, and her qualities became internalised. So, the past few weeks have been a time to go within to honour and love our own beauty.

In many ways, Venus moving direct correlates with a need for each of us to honour ourselves more and to achieve a sense of balance in all areas of our lives. Venus Direct asks each of us to believe in ourselves, to stand up for ourselves and to love ourselves unconditionally. It is only once we truly love ourselves that we can love others freely and without condition.

This is an extra special day as mighty Jupiter also moves direct on the 18th (more on this soon), but we can expect to feel a huge surge of power and energy which will begin moving our lives forwards once again with passion, creativity and vigour.

As mentioned before, Venus’s celestial dance around the Sun weaves threads of learning, insight, self-discovery and a good smattering of challenges as well. As planet of love, she may seem all pink, soft and fluffy, and in many ways she is. However, Venus’s power goes much deeper than this, and she takes us to that place where we stand naked and exposed (not necessarily literally!) with our vulnerabilities and imperfections on display for all to see. Venus represents an inner strength to love ourselves and one another despite such imperfections. She asks us to see the perfection and joy in imperfection.

As she moves direct, it is a time to think about the ways in which each of us can become more whole and complete in our Selves. We may need to change our inner dialogues and we may need to re-think our lifestyles; but one thing is for sure, Venus wants us to freely accept ourselves, to love ourselves and to honour the beauty within, and without.

Mahatma Ghandi once said ‘You must be the change you want to see in the world’. That starts within, and Venus is giving us an opportunity to ‘be the change’ now...

A Long Dark Night of the Soul

2010-11-11T07:25:00.001Z

The past few months have been a somewhat bumpy and tumultuous ride into a long dark night of the soul. Uncertainty and discombobulation has reigned, and many of us have felt lost in the dark without a compass, map or GPS to guide us.

Yet, over the coming weeks, like a brilliant angel coming down to bless us, a new light is beginning to shine on each of us, lighting up our paths ahead with clarity and vision.

Whilst this new wave of beautiful light comes through, it is important to honour the challenges each of us has faced recently and to tap into the well of strength deep within us to realise that some important lessons have been learned...

We must face and accept the consequences of all of our decisions, even if that decision is not to decide. The only way we can truly be free is to be responsible for our own lives; for the choices we make, for our own capability to love ourselves and for our ability to honour our destiny.

In addition, there is no point in having regrets, for these only take away more energy from our Beings. We need to accept, surrender to the Universe, and to live in the moment. Focusing on the past or the future takes us away from the present and diminishes our wholeness.

The past few months have raised many deep and profound questions about life, the universe and our places within it. We all search for answers in life. We all try to seek out solutions and patterns, but why? What is the motivation? Are we so scared of the unknowable chaos that we need to make sense of everything? Should we not just accept that we cannot know everything; and that by embracing the unknowable chaos, we can ultimately bring calmness, peace and serenity into our lives?

Sometimes, the answers lie not in trying to seek out solutions, but they lie in us changing the question! Sometimes, it is simply our perspective that needs to shift in order to find clarity. And sometimes, we need to realise we are banging our heads against a brick wall and so we need to walk away towards something new...

It is time now for each of us to create our own stories, to be creative. We need to take control and to regain our sense of perspective in life. We need to be clear about the direction in life we are taking and the reasons we are taking it. And we need to embrace our lives, choices and gifts.

It is also time for each of us to make peace with the person we see staring back at us in the mirror. We need to stop the inner critic and allow peace and love to reign within...

The Pool of Tranquillity

2010-11-07T00:01:00.002Z

Today (7th November) Neptune moves direct, and the stillness and quiet that Neptune has been asking each of us to search for within shifts focus as we start to seek this stillness in all aspects of our lives.

Whilst the past few months have been challenging for so many of us, if we can allow ourselves to Be ‘at One’ with this Neptunian serenity, then all aspects of our lives move into sharper focus, and we are far less affected by the stormy seas around us. In this space, we can find great strength, resolve and determination; and somehow life starts to look more manageable, more joyful and more peaceful.

You may recall that Neptune and Chiron together give each of us the gift of tranquillity, and if we immerse ourselves within this (even for a few minutes a day to begin with), inspiration and creativity start to flow as we feel ‘at One’ with the Divine, with compassion and with love. So, whilst we need to continue to dwell in this inner tranquillity in order to gain a sense of direction, purpose and vision (for this is the place where true abundance manifests, where we connect to our inner source of power and wisdom to guide and protect us), we also need to start thinking about our outer plans, goals and dreams now.

Now we are beginning to be truly ‘at One’ with this powerful force within, we can allow our inner serenity and compassion to flow freely (for it is an infinite supply) to bring more love, understanding and joy to ourselves, one another and to the world.

I wrote the following words in the early summer, and they are just as poignant for today...

...’Deep within you is a deep pool of stillness, tranquillity and inspiration. When you tap into this energy, you fill up with creativity and vision, and gain a true sense of direction in your life. This is the place where dreams come true, and staying in tune with this immense source of inner power will help to guide you towards success and abundance in your life. Whilst in this space, you can assess your thoughts and inner dialogue, and transform them into something wholly positive and inspirational. When you believe in yourself, then there truly is no stopping you’.

Neptune direct, is asking each of us to believe now; and to use that belief to transform our lives and the lives of others. This is a time of great empowerment and deep understanding; and it is a time to allow our uniqueness and gifts to flow...

I Can See Clearly Now The Rain Has Gone

2010-11-05T07:22:00.003Z

Today, the 5th November, Chiron moves direct. Over the past few months Chiron has been locked in an intense and profound cosmic dance with Neptune (moving direct on the 7th). This powerful combination of energies has proved deeply challenging for so many of us.

Each of us has been on something of a spiritual revolution over the summer. We have seen the need to go within in order to find our own personal and unique spiritual path. At the same time, we have been guided to develop our own connection to the Divine; a connection that both nourishes and nurtures us, and one that allows us to develop our own understanding of holistic spirituality.

This is a time to find our own paths, and it is a powerful time to embrace the uniqueness of our paths and to ‘go it alone’. This does not mean that we cannot travel with others along the way, but it does suggest a time to stop being spoon fed spirituality and to start taking our own lead.

Chiron has been intense and difficult this past few months. The main reason is his knack of bringing up to the surface those deep memories which carry pain or trauma. He does not do this for fun, but he asks that we find strength from this pain, to let go of the suffering and to transmute it into compassion and love. This compassion enables true healing, and inspires each of us to help others, animals, plants, trees, the earth, spirits etc etc.

On moving direct, the need to facilitate healing looks set to become stronger and stronger as our compassion gains momentum. We are facing a challenging time globally, but the more we can transmute the suffering into love, the more we can affect the collective consciousness and turn the world towards harmony, unity and peace.

On a personal level, Chiron wants each of us to honour the challenges and pain we have faced, and to finally set ourselves free from the chains that this has bound us with. This is not about forgetting, it is not even really about forgiving, but it is about not allowing the pain and trauma to distort our present and future to the extent that we cannot breathe freely. It is time to stop giving the pain power, and to take it back for ourselves. We can use it for so much good.

Chiron should not simply be about pain, suffering and being a victim; for Chiron is strength, power and compassion. Each of us has a choice between these now...

The Art of Looking Down

2010-10-22T16:55:00.001+01:00

Speaking with a wise old friend about the trials, tribulations and challenges if life, he said that his spiritual teacher once told him:

‘If you don’t learn to look down, you can’t fall’.

I pondered on these words for a while and realised that looking down is really about having doubts or ‘wobbles’ about our choices and decisions. For those who truly believe and keep their focus high, even if they fall, they simply bounce back up again. Of course, never looking down can make us unrealistic and ungrounded, but this goes beyond the physical to something far more spiritual and esoteric...

It seems though that the art of ‘looking down’ comes with having to face obstacles and challenges in life. Of course, once we have learnt to ‘look down’, it is hard to forget about doing it all of the time – we cannot ‘unlearn’ it after all. Yet, there must be a way to transform our lives and to find that ‘platform’?

When we are struggling in life, it is hard to take off, to fly, without a platform. With a platform, we can take a running leap and fly high. Success attracts success, and so flying becomes easier. However, when we are stuck knee deep in mud, taking off becomes harder and harder, and we lose hope, faith and the belief in ourselves. So we need an opportunity to present itself to help hook us out of the mud, to dry us off and to give us a launch pad.

Of course, this creates something of a quandary, for it is up to each of us as individuals to make opportunities happen and to believe in ourselves and our paths enough to make our dreams a reality. Yet how can we do this when stuck knee deep in the quagmire of life? Surely we cannot expect someone to come and rescue us? The answer to that last question is both yes and no, for the rescuer has to be ourselves.

So, the key comes through the power of intent. When we truly have faith and believe that life can change; and that our lives can be brilliant, we start to call those qualities to us. It is not a quick process, and for most, it will not happen overnight, and for some it may never happen. But to have faith and believe is to acknowledge that we can grow, evolve and develop as individuals. To have faith is also to acknowledge that we continue to have hopes and dreams, and to have faith also confirms that we are not content to stay stuck in the mud, but we all have the need to fly...

Thanks to Chris!

Inspired Thoughts

2010-10-17T16:55:00.003+01:00

Now is the time to learn to fly. Life is not simply about finding a way through the unknown (the void); it is not about getting to the other side unscathed and in one piece. It is about jumping into the unknown feet first, without hesitation; knowing that if we believe, we can ‘fly’; and we can do anything.

Life in many ways is about service to a higher power – helping, healing and inspiring. Yet we must not forget that we are all One – therefore serving the higher power is also serving ourselves. We must therefore honour ourselves and each other.

We are all One with the Universe; and with this knowledge, comes the realisation that anything IS possible. The rules are simple: intend it, believe it and it will be so. There is no room for doubt. The power of intent is a wonderful thing.

This is not about greed, power or the material, yet intent is often used for these. This is about the inner world and the abundance that we all have within.

The feelings of oneness and of losing the Self through surrendering into the sea of consciousness, helps each of us to become whole. From this wholeness comes stillness, from the stillness comes joy.

So, contentment and joy come from within that stillness, and when we are truly content in the moment, feelings of lack and longing dissipate; and instead feelings of true wealth flood through. It is in those moments that we can feel truly inspired, motivated and empowered. In these moments, we feel connected to our paths of destiny, and the path ahead is clear and well lit.

The lesson is simple. Keep life simple. Keep beliefs simple. Let go of baggage on all levels – travel lightly. Keep intentions clear, trust your intuition and stay true to your Self.

A new day has dawned, and a new awareness is emerging…

Love Thyself

2010-10-11T16:53:00.001+01:00

On the 8th October, Venus moved into retrograde in Scorpio, and will remain this way until the 18th November. In retrograde, Venus (the Light of Beauty) moves her focus to within, and her qualities become internalised. Venus is best known for her beauty, and therefore whilst in retrograde, it is always time to go within to honour our own beauty.

Venus’s celestial dance around the Sun weaves threads of learning, insight, self-discovery and challenges. How many of us, look in the mirror and pay ourselves compliments? It is easier to denigrate, to discount our beauty. There is a famous saying that beauty is only skin deep, well physical beauty maybe, but beauty comes in different shapes and sizes. After all who defines what true physical beauty is, the catwalk size zero models, or the glowing earth mother with lumps, bumps and stretch marks?

The key with Venus Retrograde is to see beyond the stereotypes, and to see the things about ourselves that are truly beautiful. Going deeper, we can look into our souls (the eyes are the windows to the soul after all), and see the beauty within. We need to truly love ourselves - every single bit from the cellulite to the grey hairs.

It all comes down to how we think – we need to think positively in order to create positives in our lives. Like attracts like, so any negative thoughts we have only create more negativity. It is of course hard to love excess weight, scars, stretch marks and other signs of wear and tear that our bodies experience, but even if we take small steps towards accepting ourselves, and changing our own inner dialogue to something much more nurturing and loving, then we are likely to see changes in the world around us as well.

Many of us take steps to address those aspects of ourselves that we struggle with from plastic surgery, to weight loss surgery and extreme dieting. My own journey has made me realise that regardless of what choices I make to feel happier about my body; until I truly learnt to love myself (regardless of appearance etc), I would never truly feel happy; and there would always be something else that I needed to ‘tweak’ or address. Whilst this does not mean that I disagree with surgery (for that would make me a hypocrite!), it does mean that it needs to happen for the right reasons. No amount of surgery can help us to love ourselves more...

So, truly loving ourselves is a profoundly important step on the path to honouring the beauty within...

We are in a time of accelerated spiritual growth and learning, of stepping into a higher consciousness. It is a time for Cosmic Truths, a time to Dance with the Universe in harmony, as one. It stands to reason then, that until we can be nice to ourselves, how can we truly step onto this path and embrace one another without judgement or ego. It is a challenging time, but it is also a time to finally step out of the shadows and shine…

Remember how important it is to have faith in ourselves and our dreams, and to have the courage to journey into the unknown without guarantees. This is the key to embracing life. A lack of faith in ourselves or in life means that we only cling on to what we know rather than open the doors to the possibilities of what might be. Very often in life our greatest failure is in aiming too low, so we need to work with Venus to love ourselves, to be open to the idea that we truly are a special, gifted, beautiful, talented individual – because we are!

So remember, love yourself, love your soul, and love everything about who you are. Weave a web of love within you and around you – you owe it to yourself after all…

10.10.10

2010-10-10T16:52:00.001+01:00

Today is the 10th day of the 10th month of the 10th year of the new millennium.

Surfing the internet, today is a day for global prayers, a day for ‘recording the human experience’, a day for ‘doing’, a day for reducing global carbon emissions, a day for celebration and a day for a new wave of DNA programming to begin. So, it seems to be a day to suit all, and on the whole a day with a very positive focus indeed.

Many are celebrating today as a deeply significant day of cosmic shift and movement towards a new vibration or level of awareness. Many group meditations and ‘reprogramming’ workshops are occurring, as individuals feel the need to mark this day. I am, of course, open to this possibility (although I believe that if we are being reprogrammed, we will be just by being open to the process). But for me, with the sun shining and the energy high, today is a day for celebrating all that I have in life.

My life may not be perfect, but I have all I need. So for me, today is simple, it is a day for celebrating life, love and abundance. It is also a day for praying for these things for others too...

Blessings,

Sarah
x

2010-10-08T17:36:00.003+01:00

Apologies for the lack of posts recently. Thanks so much to all of you who have emailed me to check I am ok! Rest assured, I am ok, simply very busy juggling moving home with a few other big things in my life. The good news is that I am back to writing, so watch this space over the next couple of days...

Sarah
x

A Time of Balance

2010-09-23T19:15:00.001+01:00

Today is the Autumn Equinox; marking the day when the Sun enters Libra. At the Equinox, day and night are of equal length representing balance. Also today, we have a Full Moon in Aries making this year’s Equinox considerably more potent than usual.

Balance remains the focus, but each of us has been connected to an intensified wave of cosmic energies over the past few months creating restlessness and trepidation connected to our paths ahead. Whilst we may be aware of the increased intensity of the energies about and within us, at the same time we feel unable to channel it into anything specific or particularly useful – it is just building up and causing stress.

It is therefore a confusing time; a time where struggling to gain clarity and direction will only lead to more tiredness and confusion. It seems to be a time to go with the flow for a while, and to focus on the balance within. Taking time out for reflection, contemplation and inner healing will help each of us to struggle less and to glide more easily through life.

There is also a strong sense of awakening today, a sense that whilst there is confusion and uncertainty, there is a slowly emerging feeling that our paths will soon be revealed. We need to have faith, trust and belief that this clarity will come. So, during this current time, we need to focus on the essentials in life and keep our heads above water whilst all about us seem to be struggling against the current.

So, for now try to keep the faith that all will be well and that – for now at least – take a deep breath, stop fighting the current and believe that clarity, balance and harmony is coming...

A Change of Flow

2010-09-14T18:44:00.001+01:00

Powerful Pluto moves direct today, and this is likely to come as a welcome relief to many of us as this remote little powerhouse has been wreaking havoc in our lives over the past few months. He has been pressing our buttons, making us face our own inner demons, pushing us towards letting go of those things (thoughts, patterns, attitudes, ideas, people and situations) that no longer serve us, and to resolve those issues that have remained unresolved within us for some time.

Pluto’s presence has weighed heavy on the shoulders of many of us trying to move our lives forwards or trying to gain a sense of clarity or direction. Whilst in Retrograde, the energy ray of Pluto has become more intense and concentrated, and his focus has been turned within – shining a light on our inner worlds.

Pluto is a force who cannot and will not be ignored, he always finds a way for each of us to take notice and he will continue to chip away at our resistance until we start to take notice and act. If we continue to ignore his presence, he gets stronger and more wilful until he makes us stop and take notice...

Pluto can seem cold and harsh, yet unless we let go in our lives, we cannot embrace the new. Without endings there cannot be beginnings. Of course the irony is that resistance to change is futile – it tends to happen whether we want it to or not, so to embrace it and work with it makes more sense as it places us in a position of empowerment. To resist and retreat leaves us the victim, powerless and without a voice.

So, this past few months have given each of us an opportunity to go deeply within to face those things about us that we don’t like, ignore or that we find too painful to access. Pluto has helped us to see that unless we face our true selves, we cannot move forwards. Pluto has helped each of us to take hold of our inner strength, and to embrace the inevitable changes that we all face.

The past few months have been challenging as the sheer pressure and force of the release process has been hard to handle at times. Many of us have felt overwhelmed most of the time; and under-whelmed the rest of the time. Not sure about you, but I have longed to simply feel whelmed!

The effect of retrograde Pluto has helped each of us to go within and connect to the true core of who we are. Pluto has helped us to be aware of our true calling, and our true power.

Pluto is the catalyst, he may be challenging, but he is absolutely necessary. He cannot be ignored, and this retrograde phase has been testament to that…

Now Pluto is moving direct, his energies will burst forth back out into the world around us, giving each of us a chance to explore the ways in which we can express our true natures in the world in which we live.

Those of us who have faced our fears will now start to feel stronger and stronger, and for those who stayed in ostrich state? Well, Pluto won’t give up, that’s almost guaranteed; he will continue to chip away until each of us reaches our true core and have become ‘baggage free’ for it is time to travel lightly now. Pluto wants each of us to be free, to stand in our power and to fulfil our true potential.

So expect a surge of energy over the next few weeks once Pluto gets back into the swing of things again. And combined with other planetary movements over the coming weeks; more and more awareness and clarity is likely to come forth.

A Turning Point

2010-09-13T18:46:00.001+01:00

Little Mercury moves direct in Virgo today (13th September). We can each breathe a sigh of relief as those frustrating little niggles and hiccups look set to come to smoother conclusions.

The Potential Within

2010-09-09T18:43:00.001+01:00

Retrograde Jupiter moved back into Pisces on the 9th September, joining Retrograde Uranus who moved sign last month. These two planets are once again building up to another powerful conjunction on the 19th September.

Jupiter is the planet of wisdom, growth, expansion and abundance. Over the past weeks, whilst in Retrograde, we have been turning our focus within to understand, embrace and to honour the wealth and abundance that resides there.

Whilst in Aries, Retrograde Jupiter was the fire in our bellies, giving us a strong sense of adventure and new beginnings. There was a real awareness of the beginnings of forward movement in our lives. Yet, before this truly has the chance to get off the ground, Jupiter dips back into Pisces for a spell of reflection and self-honesty, before things really start to move forwards again by the end of the year.

So, now is the time to honour the abundance within, and to be appreciative of all that we do have in life. We may not have everything we want, we may see our lives as far from perfect, but the more we can appreciate even the little things we do have, we can begin to honour ourselves and ultimately attract more abundance (of all kinds) to us. Remember, like attracts like – positive thoughts feed positivity, negative thoughts feed negativity.

The mighty Jupiter is now giving each of us the chance to contemplate our paths ahead in order to be absolutely clear about what we want to achieve and how we want to achieve it. Each of us may have many goals and dreams, but it is time now to focus on what’s truly important and life affirming, and to have faith and self-belief to step into the unknown.

Jupiter is about adventure, growth, expansion, wisdom and new beginnings, yet in order to truly grow and become wise, we need to push our boundaries, to step beyond our comfort zones and to explore pastures new.

So many of us, remain paralysed in indecision in life, unable to follow our dreams through fear of letting go, taking a risk or walking away from something familiar. Yet, this leaves us feeling somewhat empty and unfilled as we long to walk our paths and live our dreams. It is hard to walk away from routine, regular (although unfulfilling) work and income, and familiar friends and environment.

Yet, we walk our paths in life alone, each of us are unique Beings, with unique goals and aspirations. To live life as a sheep following the flock because that it the easier and ‘safer’ choice is an option, but Jupiter now wants each of us to go within to realise just how much potential resides there.

Jupiter is asking us to awaken from the slumber of routine and familiarity, and to have the courage of our convictions to take that first step towards our dreams. There are no guarantees in life, and so success is not inevitable, but when we see the world through Jupiter’s eyes and realise just how much we have in life even when we are not ‘living our dreams’, we see that the word ‘failure’ loses its power and even if we do not achieve the success we hope for. By taking that chance and stepping into the unknown, we have moved ever closer to our dreams, aspirations and freedom of Spirit.

In short, we become more alive, more aware and more empowered....

Going With The Flow

2010-09-05T16:45:00.000+01:00

It has been a couple of weeks since I last posted on the blog. The main reason for this is a spell of retreat and contemplation; reflecting on life, the universe and most things in between (well, that’s what Libran’s tend to do!).

This summer has been somewhat intense and challenging for so many of us, our paths have been littered with challenges and issues to resolve. Maybe one of the strongest themes is connected to ‘going with the flow’. Whilst we may know how we want to move our lives forwards, we have to wait for the right time, and trying to push ahead against the current will only exhaust and frustrate us (and not to mention create anxiety and panic within some).

Yet, going with the flow is much harder than it sounds. How many of us can truly let go of the steering wheel of our lives and trust that the current will carry us to where we need to be? How many of us can stop thinking, analysing and trying to understand the meanings of our experiences rather than just simply being in the moment? How many of us continually berate and beat ourselves up for not being better or doing more? And how many of us stay paralysed in indecision, because we cannot be sure which is the best path to follow as we cannot know what lies ahead (and wait for a guarantee to land in our laps)?

Surrendering to the flow of life is not about giving up but it is about having faith, belief and trust. Once again though, just how easy is it to live these qualities with the worries of day to day life all around us?

In many ways, the need to surrender or ‘go with the flow’ goes much deeper than the realities of our physical worlds. It is about our cores, the centre of our being, that place deep within where our ‘higher selves’ reside. Our higher selves are wise and removed from ego and the stress of day to day life. In this place we can release conditioning, negative thought processes and trauma, and feel truly free and alive.

Once we can truly go with the flow at this place deep within, the stress of our physical realities becomes far less stressful and infinitely more manageable. In many ways, our perspective shifts enabling us to see life differently and to realise that we can find paths of far less resistance in life if we believe that they exist.

One of the biggest pressures that many of us place on ourselves is the need to succeed and the need to be great. We are all great, but the pressure that drives so many of us is the drive towards perfection. Of course, working towards perfection is part of the human condition, but it is the journey that is far more important than the destination. Perfection is possibly never achievable as we all continually strive to move goal posts and to keep reaching for something more.

So, what should we strive towards? Maybe it should be simpler and more tangible? Maybe we should simply strive to be the best that we can be? Some days this might parallel ‘perfection’, other days we might fall far short of this, but if we are truly being the best that we can be, surely it doesn’t matter?

By being the best that we can be and going with the flow (trusting, believing and having faith) we start to let go of the stress, anxiety and worries that we all carry around with us like a large rucksack full of rocks bearing down on our shoulders. We start to feel more flexible and freer to live, breath and exist.

In this powerful space within, our lives fall into sharper focus. Un-important goals slide away and clarity allows us to see how we can progress in life. Those guarantees we seek seem less significant as we can ‘feel’ or intuitively know that we are on the right path, making the right decisions. In short, the forces that create stress and anxiety lose their power as we reside in stillness, peace, clarity and faith.

So, by taking a step back, going within and surrendering to the flow; we can each start to regain a sense of balance, harmony and focus in life...

A Reminder of Jupiter's Mantra

2010-08-22T20:16:00.001+01:00

'I am infinite potential'.

Hard to visualise or conceptualise granted, but try to feel this, and say it to yourself regularly...

To Infinity & Beyond...

2010-08-20T17:29:00.002+01:00

Time and Permanence. Both seem hugely important now, and have both featured on the Blog this week. Why?

The summer of cosmic highs and lows has been quite a roller coaster ride for so many of us. Some have faced emotional upheaval, some have faced physical fatigue or illness, some have faced mind-based confusion, and others still have faced spiritual upheaval and shifts. Of course, there are also those of us who have faced all four!

Digging deep within to the dark recesses, nooks and crannies, it seems clear that everything within us is seeking the Light now; it wants to be felt, witnessed, experienced and acknowledged. This is hard for so many of us, but at the same time there is a strong sense that this is cathartic and necessary for us to be free of the ties that bind us physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

For too long, many of us have felt trapped within our bodies and our lives have been dictated to us through the constraints placed upon us. Realising that we are not the sum of our physicality opens each of us up to the infinity of the Divine, of love and of the Universe.

At the same time, we see that in terms of Time, we live in this moment, in the blink of an eye. Geologically, of course, our lifetimes (or even the time since humans first came into being), are miniscule moments on the Universal timeline. Yet, we all know that we consist of energy, and quantum physics tells us that energy can be neither created nor destroyed, and using that theory we are timeless, we are immortal, infinite. Confused? You are not alone.

Of course, when we think in terms of our existence in the Universe, we are tiny microscopic dots, but at the same time we are everything and infinite in size and potential. So, in many ways, this all comes down to how we think about our place in the big scheme of things. Think small, and we tend to stay confined by our physical limitations. Think big, and we go way beyond our wildest dreams to a life of enrichment and fulfilment.

This sounds simple, but in practice it is not. It goes beyond thinking; we have to ‘feel’ this as well, and we have to believe it and know it. Not easy on 21st Century Earth. But is that last statement really true? Does it have to be so hard? Surely it can be that easy? Maybe we complicate things too much? Perhaps we let the weight of our worries burden us and weigh us down, when we could move beyond these to a place of knowing?

This goes beyond affirmations and positive thinking, this is about positive Being, positive existence and breathing in the life force. This is about feeling vibrant, truly alive and connected with All There Is.

Our thoughts and beliefs are going through a major shift and transformation now. Despite the upheavals and struggles we face, it is time to think big, to see the glass half full, and to realise that we are vast, limitless wells of potential, love and energy. When we truly shift into this phase, our struggles and pain will start to shift and move, freeing each of us up to fulfil our destinies and to help us to embrace our infinite potential and limitless sense of Being.

It’s time to feel, believe and to live this infinity now. Once again, it does come down to choice, and we can only shift when we are truly ready. Yes, it is taking a huge leap of faith into the unknown, and yet, do we really have the option of staying put?

So, despite the state of confusion that so many of us find ourselves in now, if we can slow down and find solace in the stillness, in the peaceful moments between the confusion; we will start to connect to the infinity of our existence, and our perspectives and beliefs will start to shift...
.

Permanence

2010-08-17T17:26:00.001+01:00

‘Everything is temporary. No matter how hard we try to hold on to things, our grasp is momentary. Just like the tides...we are just passing through’.

Neil Oliver

Time: Friend or Foe?

2010-08-16T20:13:00.001+01:00

Although I am not a Trekkie, I found myself watching Star Trek: Generations this weekend, and the following words really struck a chord with me... (no need to worry about the plot, who the character is etc, it’s the words that are important).

Picard: 'Someone once told me that time was a predator that stalked us all our lives; but I rather believe that time is a companion that goes with us on the journey and reminds us to cherish every moment because it will never come again.

What we leave behind is not as important as how we’ve lived, after all...we’re only mortal'.

The Freedom Within

2010-08-14T20:12:00.002+01:00

On the 14th August retrograde Uranus re-enters Pisces. Uranus is still dancing around Jupiter (who also enters Pisces on the 9th September).

Uranus in Pisces is a familiar energy to us, after all Uranus was in Pisces for 8 years until this Spring. However, he is more energized now after a brief spell in Aries, there is more fire in his belly, a stronger sense of purpose forming.

It seems that each of us now need to truly go within to find the source of nourishment and sustenance that resides there – from our souls and our imagination. This will help us to break free from the dependency we all have on others and on the material, to a more enriched way of being.

Uranus is the risk-taker, stepping into the unknown and listening to his inner call. Risky? Yes, but he helps us to grow, evolve and develop, and we can only truly do these things when we step into the unknown, test our beliefs, test our mettle and have faith in ourselves (and in the Divine).

With the Arien fire now in Uranus’s belly, it has become time to break down those inner barriers that hold us back from reaching towards our dreams. It is time to honour our individuality and our gifts, and to realise that in order to find true fulfilment and joy, we sometimes have to step into the unknown, into the darkness in order to find the light.

When we are truly connected to our inner worlds, we feel free and alive. When we trust our intuition to guide us, and when we listen to this advice, a sense of destiny emerges. Yet when we struggle against the flow and let our heads rule, we might play safe and survive, but do our lives feel richer and more rewarding for the decision.

Uranus is a tricky chap to embrace. Risk is risky after all. In these uncertain economic times, it is hard to throw caution to the wind and say ‘what the hell!’, yet this is what Uranus is asking of us. Of course, as humans we have that wonderful option called ‘choice’, and each of us is free to decide whether to embrace Uranus and step into the unknown with faith as our safety nets, or we can ‘play it safe’ and stick to what we know – this could prove rewarding and fulfilling in itself, but only if we are not pondering the ‘if only I took a chance’ path.

If we choose to let Uranus go at this time, we need to do it wholeheartedly and with purpose!

Stargazing

2010-08-12T11:25:00.003+01:00

Just thought I would remind you that this week is the annual Perseid meteor shower (which occurs every August). It is likely to be best seen tonight. If its clear we could see lots of shooting stars, and as we have just had the New Moon, we should get a good chance of a great view (particularly from Scotland). Try to get away from light pollution to take a peak...

To Love, Nurture & Honour - Part 2

2010-08-11T20:11:00.001+01:00

Ceres is the nurturer, her position in our birth charts helps us to understand more our motivations behind how well we care for ourselves and for others. Ceres as Mother represents housewives, teaching, midwifery, farming and care work – all core nourishing roles.

The unconditional nature of Ceres’ love is very important now, for each of us needs to love ourselves unconditionally. We need to honour ourselves (warts and all) and nourish ourselves in every way possible.

Interestingly, Ceres has been linked with psychological aspects of nourishment from relationship complexes, food complexes, and eating disorders – all of which stem from an imbalance in nurturance either given or received during those times which were particularly influential in our lives.

Despite not being on best terms with Pluto (understandably!), Ceres complements him in many ways. She helps us to accept loss, abandonment, cycles coming and going (through suffering, grief and loss we come to realise that a new cycle begins; and this helps us to develop compassion, acceptance and empathy). In addition, Ceres helps us to come to terms with death and dying – at some point each of us must descend within into that dark place where our fears reside. Ceres wants us to fully understand the process and to let go of fear. She wants us to see dying as the beginning, not the end.

As Goddess of the harvest, she teaches us key principles of sharing (the earth’s resources), living sustainably, love, compassion, ‘letting go’, the eradication of world hunger and our love for nature.

So, now is the time to think about nurturing not only ourselves, but to look outside of ourselves and to nurture all around us as well. This is not about depleting our own energy reserves, but it is about treating the earth (and all her other many inhabitants) in the ways in which we expect to be treated ourselves.

Finally, Ceres shows us that the expression of anger is extremely important – her anger drove the world barren, and unless we find channels of release for our own anger, we turn our inner landscapes barren. Letting go of this is a must if we are able to love and nourish ourselves and others.

It is important to continue nurturing and nourishing ourselves on every level of our Being. This is vital for our well-being, but how many of us actually look after ourselves that well? Some may treat the body as a temple eating well and exercising often, some may meditate and tend the gardens of their minds with love and care, and some may find ways to release stress, anger and other strong destructive emotions on a regular basis. But how many of us do all of these things?

Ceres continues to ask each of us to honour and nurture ourselves on every level and to take the necessary steps in our lives to create the Inner Utopia we each need in order to fulfil our potential and achieve our dreams. Yet she wants an Outer Utopia as well – a world balanced, in harmony, and it is up to each and every one of us to try to make a difference.

In a way, this is a time of re-birth. As we step back into the world over the coming weeks, we will begin to see more clearly our paths ahead.

This may feel like a huge undertaking, and in many ways it is. Yet it is simple – the more we can look after Number One, the more we can eat well, to get the work / life balance right and to re-focus on our priorities, the more we can address our outer landscape and collectively create Ceres’ Utopian dream...

To Love, Nurture & Honour - Part 1

2010-08-09T20:10:00.001+01:00

On August 8th, Ceres moves direct in Sagittarius. Ceres is a ‘dwarf planet’ now in the same category as Pluto, Charon and Eris. Ceres is an important astrological influence, and as an energy I have been working with for many many years, she is very familiar to me.

Ceres is the Earth Mother and she represents unconditional love. In myth, Ceres, known to the Greeks as Demeter, was the daughter of Saturn and Rhea. Her sisters were Vesta and Juno, her brothers Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto. Ceres was swallowed by her father Saturn, but freed by Jupiter after his victory over Saturn and the Titans. These deities became the ruling family of ancient Greece.

Ceres lived not only in the heavens, but on the earth with humanity to whom she gave grain, agriculture, and shared with humanity the cornucopia. She was worshipped as the all nourishing mother. Ceres was very close to her daughter Persephone. Pluto kidnapped her daughter and took her to his domain – the underworld.

Ceres searched high and low for Persephone, and in her grief, the earth became barren, people starved. Pluto refused to return Persephone, and in the end Jupiter (Zeus) ordered it (somewhat ironic, as Jupiter had given his blessing to Pluto’s dark plan). Before allowing Persephone to return, Pluto tricked her into eating pomegranate seeds which made her marriage to him binding,

Ceres was furious, and the earth remained barren. In the end, Jupiter (Zeus) agreed that Persephone could spend 6 months with mother and 6 months with Pluto each year. She emerges from the underworld in the spring (new life) and descends in the autumn (land becomes dormant and barren again whilst Ceres grieves).

This is the original story of loss, return and loss. Whilst in her retrograde phase, we tend to go through an inner period of loss and return – letting go of all those things that no longer nurture and nourish us. This is to prepare us for Ceres moving direct, when we can once again step into the sunlight and breathe new life into ourselves, our paths, our bodies etc.

To Be Continued...

The Cosmic Bottleneck

2010-08-07T10:09:00.001+01:00

The cosmic bottleneck of energies continues to ebb and flow as we experience another Grand Cross of energies involved Pluto, Jupiter, Uranus, Moon, Saturn, Venus and Mars.

The energy feels heavy and stifling, and yet there is a subtle underlying sense that things are moving. This movement is hard to detect, and the more sceptical amongst us will doubt it’s even there, but the intensity is shifting focus, and there is a stronger sense of clarity, vision and purpose emerging.

This is not a time to fight the current though; it is a time to ‘go with the flow’ and to observe the trends in our lives to see where we will soon need to make changes. Neither is this a time to charge ahead with our plans, it is a time to think, ponder, plan and to consider our options, it is a time to prepare so we can be ready to act at the perfect time.

At the same time, another theme is emerging. Each of us have our own unique paths in life, and yet, there is a sense of a convergence of ideals and dreams. Coming together with like-minded kindred spirits is important now, and each of us should be open to finding our collective of people to be with.

This is not about leaders, egos or taking control though, it about coming together in balance and harmony, to work together as one. Allowing few to dominate or lead will defeat the object – we ALL have as much to offer as the next person, and so we need to form circles rather than hierarchies, where we are all equal and share the responsibilities.

Be open to this now, ask Spirit to call your circle together – place the intent to the Universe, and allow it to happen. Be in the stillness, in the calm within.

***

So, in many ways this is still a time of treading water, of standing still – yet it is in the stillness that we can find out so much about ourselves. If we struggle, trying to get ahead, we miss the beauty of the present moment, and we miss the lessons and the insight to be gained now. ‘Going with the flow’ maybe Taoist in philosophy, but it is a philosophy that we can all do well to adopt. This is not about giving up, for surrendering to the flow of the Universe is very different, this is about having faith that the Universe will carry us and guide us...

Remember to listen to the stillness, and to ‘Go with the flow’. Try to ride the storm of the tiredness and fatigue that so many of us are struggling with – see it as the Universes’ way of slowing us down, helping us to let go of repeating patterns in our lives and helping us to focus on what’s truly important.

Have faith and trust in the Universe to listen, and allow your vision of your future to become clear within you, so you can be ready to make it a reality when the Universe unleashes the bottleneck of energy in the weeks to come...