Lifestyle
The Healing Power Of Tree Hugging
Trees and plants are the most powerful energy conduits on the planet, next to the various bodies of water, such as the ocean, lakes, rivers, ponds, and so on.
It is no coincidence that many of the powerful energy vortex locations on the planet are typically surrounded by forests and abundant vegetation, such as Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England; Es Vedrà on the Spanish island of Ibiza; Mount Shasta in Siskiyou County, California; Machu Picchu in southern Peru; and the Mayan ruins in Tulum, Mexico. All these spiritual power spots feature either natural or man-made rock formations with a unique structure or design that draws energy from the surrounding vegetation, especially the trees.
Did you know that without trees humanity would not survive? Without trees to filter and replenish our air with oxygen, we would not be able to breathe without wearing gas masks. Trees are a vital link in the carbon cycle – a process in which carbon dioxide is constantly circulating through the atmosphere into organisms and back again.
Carbon is the second most valuable element to life, after water. Trees absorb carbon from the atmosphere and turns it into energy. The carbon is then either transformed into oxygen and released into the air we breathe, or stored inside the tree until it decomposes into the earth.
Without trees we will also starve, as there will no longer be nutrient-rich soil for us to grow food, and there will be chronic droughts. Planet Earth will in time become an arid wasteland. There will be no food to eat and very little fresh water to drink. Trees are essential to the energy of life.
Seasonal Crystals To Prepare For The Spring
The second half of the winter season, after the solstice, is an ideal time to establish new patterns and laying the groundwork for the coming spring and summer. Now is the ideal time to start adopting healthier lifestyle habits and plant spiritual seeds that will bloom in the months ahead.
Crystal that pairs well with this kind of winter energy work is clear, transparent quartz. It is a metaphysical staple for many practitioners, regardless the time of year, as it facilitates mental and emotional clarity and helps clear out negative energies. However, like a pristine winter pool of icy water, it also does not tolerate shadows and secrets.
Another winter-friendly crystal is selenite, which resembles an opaque spike of white ice. It acts as a cleanser, sweeping away the painful memories of the past and embracing the transition into a new year. Selenite is also closely associated with guardian angels and spirit guides, so it helps us to tap into their guiding wisdom more clearly.
Warmer, more fiery crystals can also help us generate some sparks and bring new heat to even the coldest, most hibernated of intentions. Citrine, with its inviting citrus hues attracts good luck and prosperity to the bearer. This crystal helps us stick to our goals and fulfill our greater purpose.
If you are wanting to increase your creativity and productivity this year, try fiery carnelian, with its sweltering deep orange and red-brown overtures. Its leading energy associations are inspiration, determination, and tenacity. Also, red or fuchsia garnet (appropriately also the birthstone for January) increases motivation and allows us to manifest our goals and aspirations.
Astrology Forecast January 23 – 29, 2023
After all the cosmic upheaval of last week’s planetary shifts, you may be pleased to know that this week starts out on a much calmer note under a Waxing Crescent Pisces Moon.
A waxing crescent moon phase is a hopeful and positive time to recover, restore and rebuild, and in Pisces this becomes an especially healing energy to release what does not serve us. Fully embrace this harmonious, restorative, liberating vibration today and tomorrow, because on Wednesday the fiery Aries Moon will spur us back into action.
The Aries Moon will offer a great time for the rest of the work week until Friday for brainstorming, making big plans, putting new ideas into action, and energetic negotiation. The Aries Moon conjunction with Jupiter in Aries on Wednesday bodes especially well for potential financial gains, ambitious action, and enhanced social influence. Wednesday morning will therefore be the best time this week for promoting your services, selling your products, and striking those deals!
Venus will be moving into Pisces on Thursday, turning our focus to magic, fantasy, and all things metaphysical. Our intuitions will be on higher alert, and following those random hunches could pay off handsomely over the next four weeks!
The weekend unfolds under a Taurus Moon, where we can choose to tackle the clutter at home, or simply drop on the couch and catch up on all those binge-worthy TV shows we’ve been wanting to stream. Or perhaps a more sensible mixture of both?. Either way, the weekend is for regrouping, restoring, and relaxing, so make the most of the homely vibes of Taurus comfort and security.
Take Some Time To Envision A Better Life
The most valuable thing we can do for ourselves is to envision a better life and future for ourselves. We are the creators of our own reality and the masters of our own destiny. If your life is not the way you wish it to be, then you can begin to change it for the better starting today.
The best way to begin is to take honest inventory of your life – focusing on those things that are within your control – to determine what achievements and successes you are proud of. At the same time, also take careful look at what you might want to do differently or accomplish going forward.
If you are unhappy with your life as it currently is, know that your circumstances do not need to remain the same for the rest of your life
If we look at our current lifestyle, prosperity and well-being and do not like what we see, it is usually a sign that our level of self-worth or our sense of feeling deserving has been very low and that we have most likely succumbed to negative thinking and beliefs in recent times.
To transform our lives for the better, we must then change our thinking and visualization habits, in order to start attracting the superior conditions and improved quality of life that we would prefer to have in our lives.
It’s perfectly okay to dream of greater glories, whether that means more money, a new home, a loving partner, or something all-encompassing such as delightful happiness, superior health, and true abundance.
Astrology Forecast January 16 – 22, 2023
This week there is a cosmic ‘musical chairs’ occuring with various planets shifting as the heavens align for the beginning of the Chinese New Year this weekend.
Today, the Scorpio Moon will carry an intense vibration, enabling us to get a lot of things taken care of that have been on the back burner since last year.
A lighter energy prevails tomorrow and Wednesday, as the Moon dances through Sagittarius, but we’ll have to watch out for overly sensitive people and potential emotional outbursts. This may partly be due also to Mercury turning direct in Capricorn on Wednesday. This return can cause miscommunication and technical glitches that are sure to try some folks’ last nerve!
The Sun will move into Aquarius on Friday and meet up with Pluto, giving us a sense of destiny and karma to guide our way forward.
On Saturday the Aquarius New Moon will announce the dawn of the Chinese New Year. To add to the drama, Uranus will also turn direct this weekend, after four months of backward motion. This aspect will cement the fact that new beginnings are upon us! With the rare trio of the Sun moving into Aquarius, as well as the New Moon in Aquarius, and Aquarius as the ruling planet of Uranus going direct (as well as Mercury), plus the Chinese New Year all happening within a matter of days, the writing is certainly on the wall: major change for the better is on the horizon.
Astrology Forecast January 9 – 15, 2023
New doors may open for us today, as the Leo Moon empowers us to reach for the stars and confidently pursue our dreams. Leo is the sign of self-expression, creative expression, and extrovert confidence, so make the most of this energy if it is your first day back at the office after the holidays.
Watch your temper this evening when the Leo Moon is opposite Saturn in Aquarius, as this transit can cause tension and conflict at home. Especially avoid getting into any argument over the household finances or your kids. Also do not ask parents or older family members for any advice under this opposition, as they might only help you out of the frying pan into the fire.
The best thing to do this evening amidst this moody, volatile energy is to get some light exercise, eat a healthy meal and go to bed early for a good night’s sleep. Your mental state will be much improved in the morning.
Tomorrow the Moon moves into Virgo for three days, bringing forward our detailed, organized side and getting work done will be our focus. However, guard against being too analytical, stubborn, or critical of yourself and others, as these Virgo influences left unchecked can sabotage even our best efforts.
Mars will turn direct on Thursday after a two-month retrograde cycle, and officially boost our new year goals with action, action, and more action. Get ready to rock and roll!
Friday and Saturday’s Libra Moon will be a call for balance, as we clear out the remnants of last year and step into the new one. If you haven’t hung your 2023 calendars, dusted off your day planner, or set up your virtual scheduling app, now is the time to do it.
Sunday’s Scorpio Moon will cast a spiritual vibe all around us, compelling us to stop, pause, and look internally for the balance and intuitive direction we need to move forward.
Unwrap The Gift Of Your True Self
As you step into the new year, consider giving yourself the gift of your true self and start living your best life. Your authentic self is a one-of-a-kind, priceless jewel that is unlike anyone or anything else in the entire universe.
Just as one would unwrap a gift to celebrate a special occasion, we can gently unwrap the layers of our original soul self. While our superficial ego layers may act as a cocoon providing a false sense of protection, it also creates a barrier that blocks out our dreams.
Removing our defensive walls can be overwhelming, especially as we uncover doubts, insecurities and fears rooted in unpleasant past experiences and traumas. We all have emotional scars and insecurities that we quietly harbor.
However, to live our best life we must resist the urge to live like an unopened gift wrapped up in a box – even when it feels like the safest space. We must call on our angels, spirit guides, and loved ones in spirit to help remove the outer layers that are keeping us from our best life.
While opening yourself up to living an authentic life might feel daunting, even frightening to embrace, putting ourselves out there is necessary to create the life we truly deserve. The shift does not have to be big and bold; our transformation can come incrementally in small steps. Smaller, more attainable steps towards change will ultimately cultivate much grand, more significant outcomes.
The essential component to transforming one’s life for the better is to carefully and honestly assess where change may be needed. This way we can identify the promising, successful aspects of our life, as well as those with growth opportunities requiring adjustments and greater authenticity.