Life Design
From Fictional Self To Authentic Self
A new concept that seems to be going around a lot lately in the spiritual community is to be your ‘authentic self.’ But what does this really mean? How do you know who your authentic self is? Heck, you may say, “I’m still trying to find out what my life purpose is, never mind who I truly am!”
Well, as a result of our education, our upbringing, our family dynamics, our job, and such, when we are asked the question “who are you,” we resort to answers such as: a mom, a dad, engineer, doctor, janitor. We tend to express our identity by what work we do, what credentials we have, and what society or our community has told us to be. We are bombarded by social, political, environmental and family expectations that can overwhelm us in modern life.
On top of this, the world today seems to be in chaos. There is distrust everywhere, and we have to contend with challenges like identity theft and social peer pressure. Yet, we are now also expected to know our authentic self? “God, help me, I don’t have time to look for that! I have the kids to take care of, work deadlines to keep, dinner and laundry to do, and I urgently need to sign up for an exercise program to reduce my weight!”
It is never ending, you say. Your authentic self is somewhere, you just don’t know where and no time to find it. But that is just the point! All these things we are expected to do are there because of the pressure we put on ourselves. As we look through our colored lenses of self-inflicted expectations and the social pressure we have learned from family or peers, we lose touch with who we really are, and what we truly want.
Frog’s Wisdom To Adapt To Change
I must admit, when I initially discovered that my spirit animal is the frog, my ego took somewhat of a dive! The frog is such a small, insignificant creature that is mostly overlooked, and certainly not the most attractive of species.
In had secretly hoped my totem animal might be a majestic, powerful animal that commands attention and is admired, even adored. But here was the tiny frog, my spirit guide.
However, once I uncovered some of the spiritual symbolism of this amazing little being, I soon grew to embrace its guiding presence in my life. Frog has in fact been teaching me much about myself, my path, and my place in the world.
The magnificent little frog’s most prominent attribute is its ability to adapt and transform. Frogs are all about change and new beginnings. They are also associated with purification, rebirth, and welcoming luck and abundance into your life. Frog is therefore the ideal power animal for anyone going through major changes in their life.
In my case, it was the opposite. Over the years, I had gradually developed a worldview that was somewhat stringent, restrained, and resistant to change. My inability to communicate with grace and clarity further complicated this outlook by causing me to become frustrated, and sometimes even angry and resentful.
The fact that I chose to perceive life in a self-limiting way was not apparent to me, until frog showed up. But with frog’s inspiration the realization started to sink in that it was not that the world was not kind, patient and accommodating towards me, but instead that I was creating resistance and that my needs and expectations were not always clearly expressed to others.
Astrology Forecast July 31 – August 6, 2023
If there’s anything important you simply must get done this week, do it today while the Moon is still in diligent Capricorn, because from tomorrow things may become a bit challenging when the Moon waxes full in Aquarius.
Tomorrow’s Aquarius Full Moon may trigger sudden changes in direction or unexpected events. These shifts could work in your favor, but sometimes it’s difficult to see the higher purpose of new developments when we feel thrown off course.
We will also tend to be more restless, moody, confused, or irritable than usual and family drama is much more likely to erupt. Focus on staying in your joy and maintain your inner peace. Stay in the moment, focus on gratitude and potential opportunities, and practice a stance of flexibility and patience.
If things still do go awry in your life tomorow, be sure to at least seek your peace and equilibrium by the evening, because tomorrow night’s Mercury in Virgo opposition to Saturn in Pisces, combined with the full moon energy, may weigh heavily on our mental health. Do not entertain the temporary feelings of loneliness or depression. The Leo Sun will come out again on Wednesday! More will also become clear or make more sense once the Moon glides through gentle, spiritual Pisces on Thursday and Friday.
The weekend unfolds under a creative Aries Moon, so if you were handed some full moon lemons this week, consider some new recipes for making lemonade! Overall this week will make for an interesting few days, as is often the case when we transition from easy-going July into fiery August.
Seven Powerful Ways To Attract True Love
For the metaphysically aware single person there are powerful, tried-and-tested ways to create, attract and manifest romantic love. Many of my clients have attracted their life mate using these techniques, and it has also helped some of my single friends to find love and romance.
The following are ways to open up and allow your heart to connect with someone who is your vibrational love match.
Alignment. First, you need to understand that we cannot attract anyone or anything into our life unless we are on the same frequency with that person or thing. We need to align our energy vibration with that which we are hoping to attract. Attuning ourselves to what we feel worthy of manifesting is key.
Higher Vibration. We also need to raise our vibration to a level of consciousness where we are consistently in greater alignment with the energies of unconditional love, compassion, kindness, tolerance, patience, gratitude, peace and joy. Why? Because true, long-lasting love of the ‘soulmate’ variety is found in these higher realms of vibration.
Non-Resistance. An important ingredient is to not create resistance by being too intensely attached to the outcome. If we put too much focus or emphasis on our intentions and goals, we create resistance. God, Source, Spirit, the Divine wants all of us to experience happiness and fulfillment, and live our best life. But if we want something too badly, we delay or deflect it from coming into our life. Being overly attached creates self-defeating energy roadblocks.
Happiness Is To Follow Your Path With Joy
Discouragement, failure, heartache. Poor Moses did not have it easy. He went daily to the throne of the Pharaoh to ask for the release of his people. His life hadn’t started out very well. His mother had to hide him in the bulrushes, so he wouldn’t be killed right after his birth.
Then he went to live in the princess’s house, and knowing he was different he often felt alone. Adopted by royalty, his biological mother and sister were still living as slaves in the fields. He wasn’t happy. He should have been in high spirits, because he had everything a young man could desire…except he knew he didn’t belong.
Then, before he realized what had happened, this young man had killed an Egyptian soldier! So, here he was, a sought criminal, running away and going into hiding.
He had a stutter when he spoke, so he was a quiet man. But then Great Spirit puts him on his true path, instructing him to “go talk to Pharaoh, tell him to let my people go.”
What! Look, this path can’t be right? Yet, reassured by the prophets, the messengers, he embraced his task of getting the Israelites out of Egypt. With his brother by his side to do the talking, Moses finally went to the Pharaoh, and kickstarted the dream of freedom from slavery.
God helped Moses by creating problems for the Egyptians. He sent plagues and calamities. At first the results were disappointing and there was no change. Time after time, ten times in fact, just as the release seemed to be granted, the Pharaoh snatched it back again. But eventually see the plan finally work out.
Astrology Forecast July 24 – 30, 2023
Today’s energies will be easy-going as there are no changing aspects. Just remain cheerful and balanced under the rest of the Libra Moon, because when it ventures into Scorpio tomorrow for a three-day tour, we can expect more intense, impulsive energies.
Tomorrow evening’s Scorpio Half Moon could trigger relationship conflict, family drama, or public disputes, so stay calm and think twice before you act. Especially keep the peace and stay on good terms with your partner, spouse, or love interest, as the likelihood of romantic conflict will continue through to Wednesday under the Scorpio Moon’s opposition to Jupiter in Taurus.
To potentially make matters worse, the Scorpio Moon square with Venus in Leo on Thursday may additonally become the source of conflict with motherly figures in your life. If trouble has already ensued with your beloved on Tuesday or Wednesday, do not be surprised if their mother, sister or ex gets involved in the matter. Stay calm, and go high if the women in your partner’s life decide to go low, instead of minding their own business.
The mood with your significant other should improve under Friday morning’s Leo Sun trine with a Sagittarius Moon. If so, then leave well enough alone, otherwise you may be up for a drama reboot by late afternoon under the Sagittarius Moon square with Mars in Virgo. Fortunately, love and romance should be very much back on track by Saturday evening under the Sagittarius Moon trine with Venus in Leo.
The most significant astrological shift this week will be Mercury’s move into Virgo on Friday. Mercury rules the sign of Virgo, so don’t be surprised if your attention to detail increases or you find yourself nitpicking about things that really aren’t important.
The weekend might turn out to be more work than play when the Moon moves into Capricorn on Saturday. This aspect tends to inspire a more serious, ambitious and determinded mood, so when duty calls don’t try to fight it. Make the most of this deliberate, focused energy to get some pressing tasks done at the office or home, and set goals for the coming week.
Life Lesson From A Resilient Robin
A few days after I saw a robin attempting to build a nest on a neighbor’s balcony in my apartment building, I spotted another robin with a chest covered in mud. I was thrilled, as I knew this meant a little miracle of life was going to happen. And, it did. Three days later, she laid her clutch of tiny blue eggs in a nest built in a perennial shrub, next to the complex entry way where residents come and go all day.
Her strategy for building the nest in such a busy location became apparent two days after she had laid her eggs. A pack of savage crows descended on the nest, tragically cutting her clutch in half. Unlike the other robins, she had built her nest here so that she could potentially depend on human activity for added protection. Sadly, her plan failed.
Crows are one of the most intelligent bird species on the planet. They know and remember their potential enemies and prey. She may have cleverly built her nest here, hoping to avoid them because there are constantly humans around, but keeping crows away can be a real challenge, because of their intelligence and their adaptability. Things that scare them off at first, soon does not bother them anymore.
The crows were however the least of the strategic robin’s problems. After the crow rampage, the landscaping crew came through the property, using a weed whacker on the shrub where her nest was located. I later found her outside. Assuming she was traumatized and stress-foraging, I felt really sad for her. But she stared at me questioningly, then flew into a tree, while I feebly tried to console her. “All your efforts have been in vain,” I sadly thought while looking at her.