resilience
How To Anchor Yourself In Any Storm
Happiness, peace, calm, no drama. This is the way of life we all really strive for and long for. We even design our lives in such a way as to create the illusion of having attained this.
Yet, life happens. There are stresses. There are arguments, fights, heartaches. Yes, there is pain.
We sometimes find ourselves in situations not of our own making, and circumstances that anger us. Yet, at the end of each day, if we can go to bed knowing we were honest, and we did what we believed with all our heart was right, then we have inner peace and happiness.
Yes, we all do make mistakes. We do things out of anger or hurt, then later regret. But if we work hard to try to resolve the situation, we can be happy within ourselves.
No one can say words to us that bring us to unhappiness; no one can take actions that hurt us if we don’t let it destroy our faith within.
Becoming the rock in the middle of the storm is key. We must keep our mind clear, not let others tell us that we are no good, and avoid trying to become what others want us to be.
We have to be what the spirit within tells us to be. Then we will be happy. We will be anchored in the center of the storm.
In all our lives, there comes a time to make major decisions. Our first wisest choice is to ask the Creator, our Higher Power, through our prayers and meditations, what is best. The second is to get expert opinions.
Tarot Forecast December 2025: Queen Of Swords
As we near the end of the year, the Queen of Swords comes up as our guiding archetype for this final month of 2025. Her energy is one of discernment, honesty, and mental clarity. She is a powerful presence that calls us to rise above emotional noise and align with truth.
Where other cards might emphasize emotional depth or spiritual surrender, the Queen of Swords reminds us of the sacred wisdom of logic, perception, and clear boundaries. She is the elder counsel of the Tarot court, known for her keen intellect and ability to cut through illusion with precision and grace.
This month, her influence brings an invitation to end the year with conscious reflection and empowered decision-making. December’s energy is not about rushing into resolutions or emotional reactions, but about taking a pause to consider where we’ve been, what we value, and where we wish to go.
The Queen of Swords challenges us to lead with truth, not just in our communication with others, but in the narratives we hold within ourselves. She speaks to the power of thoughtful boundaries, the necessity of honest dialogue, and the liberation that comes when we finally let go of what no longer serves our growth.
Under her watchful eye, we may find ourselves more reflective, more intentional, and more willing to let clarity guide us. Whether it’s setting boundaries, speaking our truth, making a strategic decision, or decluttering our mental and emotional landscape, this month asks us to do so with integrity and intelligence. The Queen of Swords helps us end the year not in chaos, but in clarity. Continue reading
The Hidden Blessing Of Dysfunctional Parents
For those of us who grew up with dysfunctional or abusive parents, the journey of healing is not a straight path. It twists and turns through shadows of anger, grief, and longing.
But, within this curse always lies a paradoxical hidden blessing or two. Even the most wounded parents can be our teachers and a source of inspiration, not because of what they gave us, but because of what they could not.
Yes, dysfunctional and abusive parents can be an inspiration. Not in the sentimental sense of gratitude for their suffering, but in the clear-eyed recognition that their brokenness became the rich soil in which your awareness grew.
A damaged parent can inspire you to live more consciously, to love with intention, and to stop the cycle of ancestral pain that shaped them and you.
They can inspire you to use their example as a guide for what not to do, what not to say, and who not to become.
Their absence of nurturing can ignite within you the sacred resolve to be present and compassionate. Their harshness can awaken your gentleness. Their coldness can teach you warmth. The rejection you endured can remind you daily to make every person you love feel safe, seen, and cherished!
Even if your parents were never healed, you can be. Even if they never awakened, you can awaken. Their story does not have to become your destiny. You can use their limitations as fuel to create something better, purer, and truer.
Why Manifestation (Sometimes) Doesn’t Work
For many years, manifestation has been a buzzword in the spiritual community. An array of manifestation gurus advise us every day to journal, set intentions, clear our chakras, consult our pendulums, visualize our wishes and goals as if they are already real, and maintain a “high vibe” energy.
In theory, this should bring our desires into manifested form. But wha tif we do all the right things…and still, nothing happens?
If you’ve ever felt deflated after months, even years of affirmations, vision boards, visualized meditations, crystal grids, and candle lighting rituals, you’re not alone. There are real reasons why manifestation doesn’t always work the way we expect.
Years ago, a young man called me for a reading, utterly discouraged. He’d been practicing the Law of Attraction for months with no results.
“I still don’t have a Porsche in my driveway,” he said flatly. “This manifestation thing just doesn’t work.”
So, I asked him, “What have you actually done to get the Porsche?”
He looked confused. “Well, I’ve visualized it. I’ve journaled about it. I imagine myself driving it every night before I fall asleep. But it’s still not there.”
I smiled and said, “That’s a great start. But what else have you done?”
Confused silence.
That’s when I explained: manifestation isn’t just about imagining or magic. It’s about alignment. You can affirm, wishlist and believe all you want, but if your daily choices, habits, and actions aren’t in harmony with your vision, the energy stalls.
The Simple Secret To Building Real Confidence
Building your confidence can feel vague or out of reach, like something you’re supposed to just know how to do, but often we don’t.
The typical advice is to do affirmations, spoken aloud or posted around your home, along with journaling and gratitude practices.
While these practices can help us cultivate things like intuitive awareness, inner peace or emotional balance, they aren’t always the most effective confidence builders.
There is one essential step we must take if we want to build genuine, lasting confidence. That step is action.
It’s easy to wait for confidence to arrive like a bolt of lightning, expecting it to empower us and prepare us to finally walk the empowered path of our dreams.
But the reality is that confidence doesn’t simply appear before the journey begins. It actually grows as we move forward.
Taking action can feel intimidating. You may not feel ready. You might believe you need more time, more clarity, or more skills. But readiness doesn’t magically arrive.
Change begins when we choose to take action, even if it’s imperfect. Manifestation requires more than thought and feeling. It calls for aligned, inspired action.
The Empath’s Sacred Gift Of Compassion
Being an empath is more than just having a high sensitivity to the suffering of others. It is also the sacred gift of compassion. Empaths do not only perceive other people’s pain, but we also want to soothe, heal, and uplift them. These twin gifts of discernment and compassionate action are inseparable.
I have yet to meet an empath who doesn’t feel the calling to alleviate suffering in some way. In a world that so often feels cruel and chaotic, our tender hearts are now needed more than ever.
Compassion, both inward and outward, is a powerful force. It can transform relationships, heal roots of insecurity, and reshape the texture of our inner lives.
In leadership settings, compassionate responses consistently foster trust, deep connection, and lasting loyalty. Harsh reactions, on the other hand, often erect walls and breed resistance.
When someone feels seen, supported, and deeply cared for, their loyalty and dedication follow naturally. This principle applies not only in professional spheres but in every relationship we nurture.
I’ve come to see self-compassion as just as vital as the compassion we extend to others.
Empaths especially can be our own harshest critics. We measure ourselves against external standards and comparisons, often coming up short in our inner dialogue. But offering ourselves a warm, non-judgmental embrace opens new doors: to deeper confidence, heightened clarity, and a grounded sense of worth that doesn’t depend on outperforming someone else.
