Striving for Harmony

Striving for Harmony

Striving for Harmony

We are well into Libra season and, as is typical for me, I am reflecting on my life with the lens of the season.

Whether or not you have one of the big three in Libra (sun, moon, or rising), Libra impacts your energetic system. As with every sign, it occupies a house in your chart, and it may or may not have planets living in that house, putting Libra-flavored frosting on the archetypal cupcake of the planet(s) living there.

Libra’s themes are balance, justice, and beauty. Healthy Libra expression comes through as communicative and social, with a love of beautiful things, and an ability to see situations from multiple perspectives; unhealthy Libra expression comes through as indecisiveness, co-dependency, over-talkativeness, being flippant or dismissive, and avoiding conflict at all costs (including giving up one’s beliefs, values, desires, and sovereignty). Where Libra shows up in your chart (which house) will indicate in which area of your life Libra themes show up (aka, provide opportunities and challenges for your personal growth).

As I reflect on my life, I can see clearly how Libra energy has played a role in my work of figuring myself out – even though I don’t have one of the big three in Libra and the planet I do have in Libra, Pluto, is something I share with anyone born between 1971 and 1984 – it gets specific to me, and helps me grow, by its house placement. For me, that comes through in how I earn a living.

I can see that I’ve exhibited some of the more negative qualities of Libra, especially as it relates to how I earn a living, in an effort to maintain what I thought was harmony.

My earliest memory of this is when I was about 10 and I told my grandpa I was going to be a lawyer (can you get much more Libra than that?) and he responded he would disown me if I did. I took that to heart and, no matter how often I thought of it from then through settling on a college major, I didn’t pursue it.

Where are you being dishonest with others (and maybe yourself) to maintain (a false sense of) harmony?

I remember in grad school being really curious about my classmates who were working on their JD/MBA and thinking it was too late for me.

About eight years ago, when I was struggling with great internal disharmony largely due to my work in my family’s business, I had an opportunity to meet with a long-time Congressman who responded to something I said with, “You should be a Capitol attorney.” I am still proud of being seen that way and also know that I was very much in the thick of making career decisions based on what I thought would make other people happy or that would keep the (false sense of external) peace.

After hearing that, I jumped back into thinking about becoming a paralegal or mediator. However, instead of following my curiosity, my energy, and my heart’s desire, I tripled down on my then-current situation even though I had years ago completed all aspects of my commitment to my family. A commitment which, not surprisingly, was precipitated by legal issues.

In my fifteenth year of that two-year agreement (co-dependent much?), external circumstances fell into place in a way that my only option was getting out (the business failed in a way that there was no recovery, no matter how much time, heart, and effort I (or anyone else) put into it). During those 14+ years, my negative expression of Libra energy resulted in several medical issues, some requiring surgery, and, I sincerely hope not, forever-damaged relationships between me and my family.

Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t all fall on me, we were all trying to do what was best for everyone else and none of us were doing what was right for us as individuals. And, when someone did, they were outvoted.

I came back to the family business because I was asked to and it fulfilled some of my needs, but, after I fulfilled my end of the agreement (on time and to the best result we could have hoped for, no less) I got out of my business and into everyone else’s.  And I let them into mine.

How can you use this Libra energy to be transparent and empowered in your communications?

As (literally and figuratively) painful as all of those years were, many other things came together in my life that likely wouldn’t have otherwise.

By taking responsibility for my decisions, learning what my body’s signals are telling me about my next right action, taking the time to learn how to connect with my inner wisdom and to trust my gut, I have learned how to identify what is right for me and to communicate from that place of balance. That internal clarity makes it a lot easier to slow down when I communicate with others so that I can focus on listening. That focus, in turn, helps me hear and understand the other person better so that I can feel into what I want and need and translate that into clear and transparent responses that are compassionate and well-boundaried.

I feel like I’ve always had a sense about how interwoven the mind and body are, yet I likely never would’ve studied it had I not had actual health issues that I could tie to specific situations, and I doubt it would be part of how I earn a living now.

Life coaching, mind-body work, Equus coaching, astrology, and reiki have all come together for me in a way that allows me to find new balance in the work I do to earn a living – balance that serves my clients without me getting in their business.

For me personally, everything I’ve experienced and studied has gotten me to a place of truer decision making, clearer communications, and empowered action. I can be compassionate towards others and myself (without sacrificing my self), make decisions that are true for me, and, therefore, stand more confidently at the pivot point. Exactly what Libra wants for each of us.

And, because it’s never as simple as the season we’re in, and, if you follow moon cycles, you know that we had a new moon in Libra last week. This was no ordinary new moon (for a lot of reasons) so, while you are working on your intentions for the next month, consider what you need to wrap up (if you’re starting something new, is there something you were working on that needs completion before you start the new thing) and, from a relationship perspective, are there relationship wounds you need to acknowledge and release.

Let’s not forget, we are in the midst of another Mercury retrograde cycle. This is a good time to review, revise, and redo something you’ve worked on the last few weeks or months. Specifically with this Retrograde, because it is in Libra, it’s a good time to rethink relationships and clean up those that no longer work for you and strengthen those that do. Rethink and reflect on a project you’re working on: is it the right thing for you and, if it is, is it in the right format, or do you need to adjust your process? This post may provide some additional guidance for how to manage this Mercury retrograde energy.

If you’re looking for specific tools that might help you find and stay on your path, I suggest these techniques:

  • Do the “Connect With Your Emotions” guided meditation on my website
  • Repeat a mantra like one of these (or one that resonates more for you, I would love to hear it):
    • I communicate my needs with clarity, honesty, authenticity, and conviction.
    • I remain open to other perspectives and points of view.
    • I have respect for myself and extend that same respect toward others.
    • I am open to using my full creative potential.
  • Take some time to write what comes up for you with these questions from Allow Peace (a card in Siobhan Nash’s Allowing Prayers card deck)
https://www.innkeeperofyoursoul.com/physical-products/allowing-prayers-card-deck

3 Ways to Take Advantage of the Practical Realities of Mercury Retrograde

3 Ways to Take Advantage of the Practical Realities of Mercury Retrograde

3 Ways to Take Advantage of the Practical Realities of Mercury Retrograde

As with all things astrology, Mercury Retrograde periods are all about archetypes and energy, not absolutes, and you using your free will.  They are opportunities to engage with your personal growth in a different way. Today I’m sharing three ways you can take advantage of this Mercury Retrograde.

I look at Mercury retrograde periods as gifts from the Universe (or Source or God) to slow down and take a deeper dive into an area of my life that is demanding attention. In general, when Mercury goes retrograde, it’s a time to reevaluate, review, reconsider, rest, recharge. Basically, all the “re” words.

If you can, take a minute to sit comfortably and just breathe. As you feel your mind still and your body relax, think about where in your life you feel like communication or action is the most jacked up. Are you having trouble hearing your body’s signals? Is the break down with your family members? Are you having more difficulty getting messages through with business partners? Does it seem pronounced at work or with organizations you are part of? Or do you find yourself having difficulty connecting with your intuition or a higher power?

Focus where you’re feeling the most frustration.

Wherever you’re feeling the most frustration in your life is the area of your life you’re being asked to revisit right now. 

If pushing through to make stuff happen isn’t working, it’s time to slow down. Ironically, it will be easier to get stuff done if you slow down. Even during non-retrograde periods, slowing down to speed up is the name of the game. This is especially pronounced for the next few weeks (and it’s a great opportunity to build a new habit of slowing down). 

This is a time to finish or wrap up a project you’ve been working or or lay the groundwork to start a new project. In gardening terms, you’re preparing the soil for the seed. This is not the time to draft and execute a business plan or design and launch a product. This is a time for quiet closure and preparation.

Wherever you feel the most stuck or slowed down right now, release your desire to control the timeline and plant the seed so your idea can grow (if you want help identifying the area that you’re being asked to work on, we can take a quick look at your natal chart in a coaching session). Three things you can do (focusing on the area of your life that is poking at you the most right now) over the coming weeks are:

  • Rest  Slow down and take time to collect your thoughts, especially if something feels like it’s stuck or just not going right, step away from it for just a couple of minutes and do something completely unrelated. If you can, go outside and notice what you see, hear, smell, feel, and maybe even taste. Let your mind wander and breathe.
  • Reflect   Think back to the last three months. What did you work on or do that you enjoyed and are happy with how it came out? What do you wish you had given a little more attention? How can you shift what you’re doing now to be more in line with what you want?
  • Reconnect  Allow your objective self and your intuitive self to be friends by taking this opportunity to develop your intuition (I’m assuming, like most humans, your mind and thoughts have been running the show) and allow it to be part of your internal conversation and decision-making.

If you’re not sure how to slow down or let your intuition participate, know that you are not alone.

If you’re interested in digging in to your astrological archetypes and want to get more specific about how the energy and the archetypes are showing up in your life, now may be a great time to book a natal chart reading or a coaching session where we zoom in on a specific aspect.

If you prefer a guided meditation to help you slow down or connect with your intuition, I have options on Sound Cloud and Insight Timer – and more are coming.

If you just want to reach out and share what’s going on for you, post your comments here, send me an email, or DM me on Facebook or Instagram.

Focusing where the energy is speaking to you loudest, slowing down, reflecting, and allowing your intuition to have a say will all help you walk more solidly on your own path and will help you navigate this Mercury Retrograde much more smoothly and effectively.

What does your dream look like?

What does your dream look like?

What does your dream look like?

I was watching TV when one of the characters asked the other, “What does your dream look like?” She had the same look on her face that I did. Blank.

If you’re like me, you’ve spent the majority of your time doing for others (customers or clients, co-workers, parents, children, spouse or partner…). You’ve sacrificed your time and energy taking care of everyone else, trying not to upset the apple cart, and keeping everything running smoothly so that you probably completely forgot you have your own wants and needs and somewhere, buried deep down inside, you have a vision, a dream, for your life.

The problem, for me, was that I had forgotten just about everything that makes me happy and trying to imagine my dream for my life was just a smidge overwhelming. It was definitely easier to try to maintain the status quo than it was to figure out what made me happy. Until it wasn’t. 

I had forgotten just about  

everything that makes me happy.

 

I had known for years that I wanted to take a break from the rat race, but I had no idea how that would be possible. And then the business that provided my main source of income failed and provided that sabbatical. COVID and a history of saving helped in a big way because I was able to take a chunk of my retirement savings to support me financially – I know not everyone can do that and I am grateful. 

I took advantage of this opportunity and went on an internal expedition to figure out what I wanted to do next – and to do that successfully, I needed to figure out what lit me up. I also needed to figure out what being lit up felt like, what sensations existed for me when I was engaged, interested, and curious in a way that made me lose track of time.

During this expedition I went back to my coaching tools to figure out where my thoughts were blocking the way, I followed breadcrumbs to things that captured my interest (staying away from social media breadcrumbs because I wasn’t looking for that kind of time suck), and I tried to pay really close attention to the messages my body was sending me. I tracked what sensations were coming up, what thoughts were floating through my mind, and topics or activities that I was drawn to.

When I got stuck, I went back to my natal chart for ideas – both for ways to rest and play and for things that interest me and things I am good at.

At first, I needed a lot of rest (three-hour naps every day for weeks got a little worrisome) and then I needed less extra rest and more play (thank God for my always-ready-to-play critters). What was super interesting to me was that my mind was criticizing me whenever I took a break yet after, when I reengaged with whatever work I had stepped away from, I got more done than I would have if I had pushed through. This was definitely something to notice and even celebrate (so that I could encourage myself to do more of it).

It took a lot of practice, and a LOT of boundary work, and I still don’t know what my dream looks like (letting go of the concept of an outcome is a topic for another day), but I sure know how living my dream feels. I know when I’m on the right track. Sometimes it’s as easy as playing warmer-colder when facing a decision, sometimes it takes rest or play, sometimes it takes allowing myself to experiment with a decision and giving myself the freedom to change my mind and go down another path. The best part of all of this is now I am clear about how I want to feel and feel better able to answer questions about what I want to do.

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