Energy
The Spiritual Power Of Choosing To Forgive
Forgiveness is a much-discussed topic in spiritual circles. It is also often deeply misunderstood.
Forgiveness does not mean condoning wrongdoing or accepting abuse or cruelty. Instead, it involves choosing not to carry the darkness and negativity that has been inflicted upon you, and refusing to allow it to affect your well-being, either physically or emotionally.
While it’s ideal to find compassion for those who have wronged you, it’s not always possible. Understand that those who caused you harm are often suffering themselves.
Happy and fulfilled people are naturally kind, generous, and honest. In contrast, those consumed by self-loathing and misery tend to spread chaos and cruelty. Their relationships are full of conflict and dissatisfaction.
I once worked with a man who was clearly struggling with mental illness. Circumstances placed us in a business relationship that I initially tried to avoid, preferring to distance myself from unhealthy situations. However, I was compelled to help him because I was told that my true role was to support his children and providing help where it was needed most.
This unfortunate man is consumed by rage from his own traumatic past-abuse by his mother, mistreatment by her successive husbands, and conflict with his first ex-wife. His life is a testament to the destructive power of unresolved anger and lack of forgiveness. His toxic energy is rooted in past hurts and a cycle of inflicting pain on others.
The Magic Of Crystals And Gemstones
Many of my clients light up when you mention the magic of crystals and gemstones, and they usually have a story to tell about a particular stone they own or carry with them for specific intentions, healing, added strength, protection, and so on.
How do crystals and gems work for you? Well, in many magical ways. When you are attracted to a particular stone, whether it’s color, texture, shape, or other qualities, the attraction you feel to it is the first step in the magical process. This attraction is actually the stone’s way of calling you to it, to make contact.
Sometimes a stone may be given to you by someone, or it may just find its way into your hands in one way or another. The circumstances under which you found it, or perhaps how it found you, is just the beginning of a new and magical relationship.
There are many metaphysicians who believe that crystals and gemstones are our ancestors or ancient beings or life force crystallized from history. Some people believe that certain stones you come in contact with are stones you had in a past life.
They could be pieces of land or rock that surrounded you in past lives here on Earth and are showing up in your life today as a friend or ally. This is pretty cool to think about! Imagine a stone that you have now that you also carried with you before, from another time. Would you still see that stone the same way when you looked at it?
Researchers and historians have hypothesized about pre-Christian cultures and civilizations that considered the standing stones to be the ancient sages or ancient gods. There are unusual theories about sites like Stonehenge and how these large stones got there, as there is still no logical explanation. Some say that Merlin the Magician brought them to Wiltshire, England from a town in Wales called Maenclochog.
Astrology Forecast August 12 – 18, 2024
A Half Moon in Scorpio may increase your drive to tackle emotional or psychological challenges today.
You may feel the urge to deal with things you’ve been avoiding or to make significant changes in your life. It can be a powerful time for personal growth and transformation, especially if you’re willing to face uncomfortable truths or delve into deeper emotional work.
The Moon quincunx Jupiter will add an extra layer of complexity to this transit, highlighting the need for inner alignment and adjustment. It’s an opportunity to reconcile emotional needs with your broader goals, and to navigate any internal conflicts with flexibility and openness.
Overall, it could be a Monday that feels particularly intense or charged, making it a powerful day to focus on what’s truly important to you and to take decisive action in alignment with your deeper values and goals.
The intensity will continue tomorrow with the combination of a Sagittarius Moon with the Moon sextile Pluto in Aquarius and the Moon square Mercury in Virgo, bringing together a dynamic mix of emotional exploration, deep transformation, and potential communication challenges.
Overall, this combination of transits suggests a time of significant emotional and intellectual activity, with the potential for deep personal growth tempered by challenges in communication and understanding. It’s a good time to work on aligning your emotional insights with practical communication strategies, harnessing the transformative energy while being mindful of potential misunderstandings.
The Spiritual Significance Of Colors
Color permeates our very existence, profoundly affecting our homes, our work environments, the food we eat and the clothes we wear.
In every facet of our lives, color exerts a significant influence, shaping our moods, behaviors, and spiritual well-being.
In Kundalini Yoga, for example, teachers traditionally wear white outfits made of natural fibers, along with a white head covering. This custom is not just for practical or aesthetic reasons.
Just as the color white deflects the sun’s rays while black absorbs them, white also deflects negative energy while black attracts and absorbs it.
This practice thus serves a dual purpose: it symbolizes the purity and spiritual clarity that the teacher exemplifies, and it also protects the teacher from negative energy that may emanate from his or her students.
Kundalini Yoga can attract a wide range of students, from those who are highly developed spiritually to those who struggle with emotional instability. The white attire acts as a shield against negative energy that may be projected or “dumped” on the teacher.
In particular, the head covering protects the seventh chakra, which is located at the top of the head. This chakra is essentially our ‘spiritual umbilical cord’ that connects us to God, Source, Spirit, the Divine, so its protection is crucial.
Astrology Forecast August 5 -11, 2024
Two astrologically significant events are occurring today as Mercury goes retrograde and the Moon enters Virgo. Their combined effects will be powerful, especially since Monday is traditionally ruled by the Moon.
Because of this dual cosmic influence, we can expect heightened scrutiny, reflection, and possible frustration with communication and organization during the first two days of the week.
The Virgo Moon’s emphasis on detail and order may clash with the communication disruptions of Mercury retrograde, possibly leading to frustration over minor mistakes or inefficiencies.
There could also be a tendency to overanalyze emotions and personal interactions, given Virgo’s critical nature and Mercury retrograde’s propensity for misunderstanding.
We may also experience increased introspection and emotional analysis, possibly leading to insights or resolutions from the past, albeit with some emotional turbulence.
Tomorrow’s Virgo Moon square Mars in Gemini is likely to further fan the flames of misunderstanding and emotional upheaval, with impatience, agitation, and people being more argumentative than usual. Today and tomorrow is a time to be patient and emotionally centered, double-checking details and staying grounded as we navigate through potential challenges for the rest of the week.
Tarot Forecast August 2024: Seven Of Wands
The card for this month is the Seven of Wands, which predicts the need for determination, resilience and facing challenges head-on.
The Seven of Wands depicts a figure standing on higher ground, holding off opponents below with a single wand. The imagery conveys a sense of defiance and unwavering determination, suggesting that despite the challenges and competition, victory is possible through perseverance and courage.
As we enter this month with the Seven of Wands as our guiding influence, we are reminded of the importance of staying true to our values and beliefs, even in the face of significant obstacles. The Seven of Wands encourages us to adopt a warrior-like spirit, ready to defend our positions and protect what we hold dear.
This card signals a time when we must be prepared to encounter resistance and opposition, whether in our personal, professional or spiritual pursuits. It serves as a reminder that while challenges are inevitable, our strength lies in our ability to remain steadfast and resilient. The Seven of Wands teaches us that through determination and unwavering focus we can overcome adversity and emerge victorious.
We are likely to find ourselves in situations this month where we need to defend our position or beliefs, but remember that your courage and inner strength will see you through. Our resilience and positive attitude will inspire those around us, creating an atmosphere of motivation and progress.
Astrology Forecast July 29 – August 4, 2024
The week begins this morning with the Moon in a moody semisextile aspect to Chiron and a semisquare to the Node, causing us to feel more emotionally sensitive and introspective, with a hint of tension about our path forward.
Pay attention to subtle inner cues, as these can offer profound insights into personal growth and understanding. You may feel a slight tug between past patterns and future aspirations this morning, requiring a balanced approach to resolution. Trust your intuition and consider how your actions align with your long-term goals.
Fortunately, the Sun’s quintile to the Moon later this morning offers a spark of creative inspiration and emotional clarity. This aspect enhances your ability to express yourself authentically and creatively, paving the way for positive interactions and innovative solutions.
This week we can expect to feel the pre-shadow effects of Mercury going retrograde on Sunday. As it is, Mercury is already slowing down to retrace its steps through the degrees it will later revisit during retrograde.
We may begin to notice miscommunication, delays, and technological glitches even before the official retrograde period begins next week. The pre-shadow phase sets the stage for retrograde, and being aware of it can help you prepare and manage its potential effects more effectively. If you have not already done so, now is the time to back up all your data and update your computer and smartphone.