Lifestyle
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.
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.
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.
Protect Yourself From Negative Energy Attachments
A neighbor once asked me to smudge her home and bless it, because she felt there was a lot of negative energy there. She could just ‘feel it.’ People lived below her that she could hear arguing until late hours in the night, using foul language. They would chain smoke too, to the extent that it would rise up through the floorboards. It made her feel sick and caused her to have migraine headaches. Apart from that there were also some old ‘cobwebs’ of trapped negative energy that she wanted me to some and clean out.
She had been dealing with the ups and downs of depression for as long I’ve known her. She is one of the sweetest people you could ever hope to meet, let alone have as a neighbor. She is very kind and always there if you need her. She would be very social at times, inviting friends from church over and entertaining friends regularly, for several weeks, and then she would suddenly feel overwhelmed by the chaos and drama of the people around her, feel drained and depressed, and withdraw from everyone. Then you would not see her for weeks, sometimes months.
I told her I felt that she needed to protect herself energetically and shared with her ways that she can do this. I explained to her that sometimes, when we engage with people, we can pick up some of their negative energies. Even if they are seemingly good people, who go to church and so on, it doesn’t necessarily mean that these people are free from negative energies, or worse, unwanted spirit attachments.
Astrology Forecast July 17 – 23, 2023
The week begins with a gentle Cancer New Moon today, which will instill us with the desire to nurture ourselves and others. Under a Cancer New Moon our emotions take center stage and our sense of compassion, kindness and tolerance becomes elevated. This evening’s Cancer Moon trine with Neptune in Pisces will add to our heightened empathy and understanding.
Make the most of these energies by reaching out to someone you care about, or step up to make the peace with someone you have been at odds with.
Tonight will also be a great time to catch up on your spiritual practice with some meditation, prayer for others, oracle card or rune reading, or journaling.
Our love-and-belonging mindset will escalate even further tomorrow and Wednesday, as the Moon glides through big-hearted Leo and inspires us to lean in and reconnect with those closest to us.
We’ll also have to do some productive work this week, of course, and the Virgo Moon will make Thursday and Friday’s the ideal days to take care of responsibilities and tasks we cannot postpone until next week.
The Sun enters Leo on Saturday, heralding a four-week cycle of self-love, generosity, and strength of heart. A few hours later, Venus will turn retrograde, kicking off a six-week cycle of romance and relationship energies that we’ll need to pay close attention to. This aspect can bring lovers back from the past (not necessarily for a reconnection) or create the opportunity to magically connect with your soulmate.
If you’re in a relationship that has run its course, this will become more apparent in the weeks ahead, and if you have been neglecting a valued relationship in your life, this will become equally apparent. Expect changes in your relationships over the next month and a half. Being more mindful with your partner, loved ones and friends will work in your favor during this time.
Astrology Forecast July 10 – 16, 2023
Mars transits into Virgo today, heralding a two-month cycle of detailed and deliberate action, strong intellectual energy, enterprising ambition and increased productivity.
Whether you’re doing research to write the next Oscar-worthy screenplay, mapping out a plan for a big remodeling project, or setting up a new business, the next two months will prove invaluable to set the stage of the next chapter in your life.
Tuesday will be the most powerful day for productive work and business success. Mercury will move into Leo to add to our Mars-in-Virgo inspired ‘star power’ by further elevating our ideas and inspirations.
Tuesday morning’s Taurus Moon sextile with Saturn in Pisces will also chime in to add to our sense of responsibility, goal-oriented action, and organizational abilities.
In the afternoon, the Moon’s conjunction with Jupiter in Taurus will reward our efforts with heightened social influence and financial gains. So, take advantage of this powerful window of opportunity to shine tomorrow!
We’ll take a step back on Wednesday as the Moon moves through Taurus, to ground, center and rebalance, before moving forward.
Thursday and Friday’s Gemini Moon will lure us into more social activities to connect with friends, or brainstorm with colleagues..
Give yourself permission to embrace the free-flowing, easy-going vibes of Saturday and Sunday’s Cancer Moon. It’s okay to take some time out from all the planning, analysis and deep thinking for a relaxing weekend after all the mental gymnastics of the week.