Lifestyle
How To Create Your Own Angel Altar
Over the last few months, I have written in depth about the angelic realm and all the wonders it bestows upon humanity. In today’s blog, however, I wish to share some ideas on how to construct your own angel altar at home, so that you can connect with the angels and archangels whenever you need their spiritual guidance and assistance in your life.
First, find a sacred space for your altar somewhere in your home or office. This can just be a small, private area in your bedroom where you know you will not be disturbed and will be at peace with yourself.
Select or purchase a base for your altar. It can be as simple as a small box or coffee table that is sturdy enough to hold whatever you choose to place upon it. Then drape a cloth over your altar. Anything that is large enough to cover the base will suffice.
Next, you can adorn your altar by placing appropriate objects on it, such as candles, crystals, angelic figures, plants, flowers, stones, and the like. You may use anything that is personally meaningful to you, or to which your are intuitively drawn.
To glamorize your display, you could add golden or silver colored objects, or even spray-paint an artifact of your choice to really add that personal touch. Silver, gold, black, white and mirrored rectangular trays are particularly on trend at the moment for decorating holy altars. However, if your budget is limited, simply paint or decorate an old tray, before placing it on your altar. Check around your home for other unused items that you could paint spray and add to your altar to compliment it.
Nurture And Nourish Yourself With Nature
In our busy world we tend to take nature for granted. Consider for just a moment all the things flowers, plants and trees really do for humanity. They sustain life all around the world. Plants produce food and oxygen for many of the largest animals around the world, as well as for humans. Plants are also used for healing.
Unfortunately, modern humanity demands that things grow faster and produce better crops, leading us to alter plants in such a way that they might no longer be as healthy as they once were.
Just by watching the trees, one can predict the weather. We sometimes have an abundance of acorns from the oak trees here in Maine. It is said to be a sign of a snowy winter. Most acorns mature in late summer and begin falling from the trees in September or October. It’s a great time for the squirrels to collect them, and become fat and round before the winter.
In Maine the winter tends to be very long and it’s easy to become a somewhat down and sad. So, my friend and I decided earlier this year to take a ride on such a gray day to the local greenhouse that is open all winter. Plants, flowers, trees and beautiful landscapes can change one’s state of mind and put a smile on your face!
Forgiveness Is The Solution
Forgiveness may be the path to a truly happy and fulfilled life. In his book The Forgiveness Solution, Dr. Philip Friedman puts forth the idea that all our emotional concerns, such as judgment, anger, and grievance, come from our inability to forgive. When we hold onto this emotional baggage, it harms everything. Hurt people hurt people. Taken to the extreme, it may lead to self-harm, or harm to others. But there’s a way out of this vicious cycle.
The first and most important step is to learn to forgive ourselves and develop, what Dr. Friedman calls ‘self-regulation skills.’ In essence these skills are defined by the classic Serenity prayer for courage to change what we can, acceptance of what we cannot change, and the wisdom to know the difference. In addition, becoming wholly healthy, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, will better allow self-forgiveness.
When we engage in our daily spiritual practice, we should ideally include a mantra about forgiveness. It may take a while for the idea to take root. Habits take about 30 days to become routine, but after you’ve begun to forgive, you can let the pain go by the wayside.
Keeping a positive attitude is essential to the process of forgiveness. This doesn’t mean that you have to be happy all the time. What is does mean is that setbacks and obstacles are regarded as challenges to overcome, rather than insurmountable hurdles.
Nine Lemons In A Bowl
You will always find a bowl filled with exactly nine lemons in the center of my kitchen island. It is a labor of love keeping that bowl filled to this exact number, but the happiness which fills my soul with just a quick glance at them, makes all the effort worthwhile – because I know they are doing so much for me physically, mentally and emotionally.
So, why lemons and why exactly nine? In Feng Shui, lemons are believed to help clear away bad karma and their bright yellow color is a symbol of optimism and happiness. Also, in Feng Shui, the number nine is considered to be the luckiest, as it represents wealth, accomplishment, and attaining personal goals. Why would I not want to welcome these wonderful attributes into my home with such a gift from nature?
I love the pop of color those nine lemons bring to my home and they have actually become a permanent part of the decor. Of course, it does help that I happen to have a large lemon tree in my backyard. From December to April lemons are available in abundance here in Arizona!
Lemons are also a great source of nutrition. They are a natural antioxidant and great source of Vitamin C. Lemons helps to detoxify the body and clear away negative energies, to bring balance to your health and your soul. They also create a positive, uplifting environment.
Inspiration – A Message From My Guides
In times of division and mistrust, it is often easy to see the negative side of any given issue. Rather than letting everything pile up around you and affect your own positive mood, though, it is more helpful to try and find a little sunshine as you go about your day-to-day business.
Whenever possible, search for inspiration in even the simplest of things. If you can put your negative thoughts to one side and look elsewhere for inspiration, it can make it much easier to see the positive side of life.
Look for some good in people, even if they do not share your views. Focus on interesting and creative news stories of the day and look for inspiration in the most unexpected or mundane places.
Find joy in little everyday things and don’t take anything for granted. Imagine the myriad of components that had to fall into place in order for you to be where you are in this time and place. Be grateful for the lessons you have learned and your ability to mentor others by example.
The more you search for things that inspire and make you smile, the more examples you will find and the easier it will be to recognize that your world has many points of inspiration.
Manifesting With The Lunar Cycles
In Astrology, the Moon is deemed to be the celestial body most relevant to our everyday life patterns and mundane activities. This is because the Moon is the fastest moving astrological body and thus it is more specific to our earthly rhythms and daily routines. We can see this effect in nature, as the Moon influences several of the earthly rhythms, such as the ocean tides, animal behaviors, and even women’s menstrual cycles.
Because the moon wields this kind of influence, we can ride her current, if we pay closer attention to her cycles, rather than swim against it when it comes to achieving our goals in life. You don’t have to be an astrologer to follow the rhythms of the Moon and use them to help you in getting what you want. Any old calendar will typically detail the lunar cycles, and all you need to do is hang one on your wall and take heed.
A basic understanding of the major lunar rhythms, and what they mean energetically, can easily be incorporated into your life and monthly routine, in order to make ‘big waves’ in your everyday existence.
New Moon
When you think New Moon, think increasing. The New Moon heralds the waxing moon cycle, which means between this time and the Full Moon, the Moon is increasing in size. Thus, the energy is conducive for bringing in new things, growth, and anything that we want to see more of.
If you wish to begin anything new, such as a fitness regime, diet or educational path, then choose this time, between the New Moon and the Full Moon, to launch your new endeavor. If you want something to grow, like a tree, or an investment, this is also a good time to get it started.
The Ideal Career According To Your Zodiac Sign
Astrology is a great tool for identifying your ideal career and the kind of employment that will fulfill your longing for soulful, meaningful work. Here are a few guidelines for the different signs of the zodiac and the careers they are typically drawn to, and may thrive in.
Fire Signs
Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Energetic, impatient and independent Fire signs tend to crave adventure and love a challenge.
Aries is enthusiastic and outspoken as natural-born leaders. They prefer jobs that involve a certain amount of risk or challenge, such as fire fighting, law enforcement, competitive sports or the military. Any career that recognizes initiative, ambition and the ability to overcome many obstacles is ideal for them.
Leo loves being in the limelight and being in charge. They’re often drawn to careers that will bring them the respect and appreciation they desire. Of course, acting and any career in the entertainment field would be a perfect fit. But any profession that allows them to be the center of attention is a natural for them.
Sagittarius loves to be engaged with life and enjoy talking, writing, teaching and traveling. They’re well-suited to careers in education, publishing, law and the travel industry. Always energetic, Sagittarians prefer being outdoors and can’t stand any sort of job that keeps them stuck behind a desk.