Lifestyle
The Last Days Of Mercury Retrograde
In recent weeks, you might have experienced the chaotic effect Mercury can have on our lives, since it went retrograde on August 12th.
Mercury is the planet of communication and technology. So, when Mercury is in retrograde, everything involving communication and technology tend to go haywire: flight delays; errors with online passwords; taxi drivers showing up at the wrong time and place; people arguing over nonsense; constant traffic jams; computer crashes; drama and gossip at the office; misunderstandings with friends; or text messages delivered to the wrong person (who also happened to be the person the text was about).
Mercury passes the Earth in its orbit three or four times every year. As it makes it rounds, Mercury appears to slow down, stop in its tracks and then spin backwards. This retrograde ‘movement’ lasts a few weeks, until the planet turns direct again and continues to move forward. Continue reading
Happiness Comes From Your Own Actions
People are too often stuck in a dark place in their lives, thinking that only a relationship, or financial gain, or a new job or house, is going to bring them happiness. The Dalai Lama says, “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” Take a moment to reflect on this statement. It is the simple truth, yet so many of us have a difficult time relating to the simplicity of it.
We have been brought up in a world where it is often believed that happiness is only achieved through external or material sources. But you and I are each responsible for our own happiness. This is a difficult statement for many to comprehend. How can that be? I have nothing. I am alone. I do not have a job. I do not have money in my bank account. I do not have a soulmate to love me.
The answer is very simple. No one else is responsible for your life, or your happiness. You are the sole creator of your reality. Do you choose to be happy, or miserable? Continue reading
All Aboard The Train Of Life!
I recently heard someone say he was a passenger on “the train of life” and what immediately came to mind was what a glorious opportunity we have to evaluate our own particular role in coming into this existence.
So, let us start at the beginning. First of all we would need the individual who came up with the concept of a train, no more traveling long or short distances by foot or horseback or car, embark on your journey in comfort and ease, knowing there is someone who will endeavor to get you safely to your destination while you sit back and relax.
What manner of being would even venture to come up with such a plan? That would have to be the dreamers, or visionaries. They are the ones who often have their heads in the clouds and envision a better quality of life for us all. There is an abstract thought somewhere inside of them that must find a way of arriving at a viable workable plan. Continue reading
The Protective Power Of Kyanite
I used to work at a beauty salon and spa, where the energy amongst the staff was highly toxic. We were a group of women who ideally could have come together in harmony and make others feel amazing, but that wasn’t the reality.
Initially, I was friendly and open, because I wanted to get along with my co-workers. They all smiled at first and made me feel welcome, but in time they began to show their true colors, which turned out to be less friendly and welcoming.
Eventually it no longer was a place where I wanted to be every day, but the money was great, especially during the holiday and bridal season. So, I had to make it work for the time being.
Every day, I was feeling out of place and exhausted by the time I got home from work, so I decided to do something about it. Continue reading
Living With Lady Luck!
Are you closely acquainted with Lady Luck, or is she a stranger to your life? To be lucky or not depends on your personal view on luck. If you see luck as being pure chance and something you have absolutely no control over, then this will become your reality experience. Should you, on the other hand, see luck as that moment when opportunity and careful preparation finally come together, then this should have a massive impact on how much good luck you receive in your life!
Search your memory for the last time you bought a lottery ticket and what went through your mind when you did? Did you just put it away, not think about it and tell yourself that you never win anyway? Were your thoughts on something else, or did you conjure up some images as to how great it would be when you take your prize home? Hardly surprising what the outcome was, is it? Continue reading
The Real Rewards Of Paying It Forward
What does it mean to ‘pay it forward’ from a spiritual perspective? On a simple level, paying it forward means we take a gift of kindness and pass it along to the next recipient, almost like a karma chain. We’ve all probably experienced such a gift, whether it was a cup of coffee, or a new car. But why do it in the first place? We’re all told that humanity is selfish, not selfless.
If we look at paying it forward beyond the superficial ‘it feels good,’ we see that it really does make us feel better on a physical and psychological level. Stress and depression rates are much lower for those who regularly volunteer, or perform acts of charity and kindness. Our brain experiences a ‘happiness boost’ almost immediately. Life expectancy is also higher for those who volunteer, compared to people who don’t. Doing selfless things simply does make us feel good. Continue reading
Connecting With Your Inner Bliss
I recently came across an article about spiritual seekers who travel to distant lands to achieve such a state of bliss and inner peace. But in my experience you really don’t have to go all the way to some exotic destination to achieve a higher state of consciousness.
When I am alone, I often find myself in a state of complete and utter bliss. When I am by myself, my energy is my own. I feel centered and complete, as if on my own little retreat. I have always felt this way and I savor the quiet moments of my day.
With a willing heart to carve out some time in your busy day, you can center yourself by being mindful and allowing your thoughts to simply come and go. Simply take a moment of solitude and go with the flow. Continue reading