Self-Help
Astrology Forecast June 26 – July 2, 2023
Mercury moving into the sign of Cancer today will encourage us to review the first half of this year to uncover what we have learned and where we have succeeded, as well as what still needs to be done.
Combined with the easy going Libra Moon today and tomorrow, as well as Wednesday’s Scorpio Moon trine with Mercury in Cancer, the first three days of this week is a valuable opportunity for sound judgment and practical thinking to help us rebalance and regroup.
The vibe may seem a bit ethereal under Wednesday and Thursday’s Scorpio Moon, followed by Neptune, the epitome of ethereal, turning retrograde on Friday.
For the next five months this planet that rules spirituality, soulfulness, the occult and the unseen will travel backward through Pisces, the sign it rules. The esoteric energies of this aspect will inspire new visions for the future, reveal answers to questions we haven’t been able to answer for quite some time, and clear out any illusions or misconceptions that may have been holding us back.
Saturday and Sunday is about choices. Saturday’s Sagittarius Moon offers us the choice of allowing restlessness to distract and frustrate us, or we can opt to channel its fiery energy into learning something new or mastering a useful skill.
Sunday’s Capricorn Moon will give us another choice: do we want to clean out the garage and post the clutter in an online auction? Or do we just want to slouch on the couch and catch up on our binge streaming, and napping?
The Messenger Must Know When To Hold Her Peace
Ever heard of “less is more?” Well, there is a lot of spiritual truth in the saying. It is especially valid in this day and age, where everyone seems to have preconceived ideas and strong opinions on just about everything. Sometimes saying less, or even saying nothing at all, is enough, and usually for the best.
Saying nothing can be very empowering and liberating. We have free will to choose how we want to spend our time and energy. I choose to focus on things that are for my highest good, and those I care about.
It is not our duty to correct every misinformed opinion or ignorant viewpoint we encounter. Does that mean we should be self-absorbed and uncaring? No, certainly not. But we can also not make the world a better place by wasting our precious time and energy trying to fix everyone, and correct everything, while our own inner peace and well-being suffers.
Compassion, charity, and kindness are all much needed in the world today, but not if it is constantly at our own expense. I therefore prefer to wisely pick my battles, and stick to my lane. One person cannot be everything for everyone. We must focus on our own unique strengths and capabilities when helping others.
If we randomly go out on a limb to help everyone with advice and support, it is often not appreciated and frequently met with negativity and resistance. Not to mention trying to point out the facts or truth of a matter, which can be very risky these days! There are some things in life people just need to figure out for themselves. They don’t always need to hear it from us.
Gratitude Is The Essential Spiritual Practice
In a fast-paced world with many distractions and challenges, it is easy to overlook gratitude’s transformative power. Cultivating a mindset of appreciation by acknowledging all the good in our life greatly enhances our well-being and quality of life.
Gratitude is advocated in many cultures, religious teachings, and spiritual traditions. It is generally considered the mother of all virtues and the essential spiritual practice. In Judaism, for example, gratitude is considered an essential part of worship. Islam encourages believers to be grateful and express thanks to Allah in all circumstances. Christians are encouraged to praise and give gratitude to God not just in thought and feeling, but also in deeds and action.
Gratitude is also a virtue that Hindus believe should be cultivated in order to live a fulfilling life of inner peace and contentment. Many Buddhist monks begin each day with a chant of gratitude for the blessings in their life. In fact, in Shin Buddhism, gratitude is seen as a primary practice that has priority over meditation and study.
In modern times, scientific research has shed further light on the profound benefits of having an ‘attitude of gratitude.’
While traditionally confined to the realm of philosophy, gratitude has garnered much attention in the field of positive psychology in recent years. Neuroscientists have also begun exploring gratitude from a scientific perspective, seeking to unravel the intricate workings of the brain when we practice and experience gratitude.
Let Spirituality Be Your Guiding Light
In a fast-paced world where superficial, materialistic pursuits tend to dominate our lives, the search for deeper meaning and purpose has become even more significant for many people. Spirituality has always been a guiding light in this quest.
Spirituality offers solace, clarity, and a profound connection to something greater than ourselves. It is inherently personal and subjective, and not limited to religious affiliations, formal belief systems, or cultural traditions.
To be spiritual is to have a deep awareness of the higher self, as well as a heightened connection to God, Goddess, Source, Spirit, the Divine, the Universe.
Our preferred spiritual practice does not have to be some form of dogmatic religion, which tends to involve organized rituals, ceremony, and fixed doctrines. Instead, it can also be an individual exploration of higher consciousness that seeks a direct and personal experience of the sacred and divine.
Spiritual awareness is also not confined to merely a few isolated moments of contemplation, but instead a holistic, consistent state of mind, or way of being in the world, that permeates every aspect of our life.
By integrating spiritual principles and practices into our daily life, we infuse our everyday choices and actions with intention and authenticity, leading to a more balanced, fulfilling, and purposeful existence.
The Simple Secret To True Happiness
It is easy to become too focused on the pursuit of happiness, to the detriment of true happiness. For many years, I was constantly setting goals for my ‘future happiness,’ only to eventually realize that I had been missing out on the joy available in the present moment.
I am certainly not alone in this, as I find many of my friends and clients tend to postpone joy and contentment, believing that they will finally be happy once they have achieved milestones, or acquired certain possessions.
Meanwhile, the key to living one’s best life is to fully embrace the present moment. This does not mean that we should stop dreaming of a better future or no longer pursue important personal goals. However, our future hopes and ambitions should not cause us to put our life on hold, nor prevent us from being fully immersed in the now.
If you are also someone with such an intense future-focus, I encourage you to begin living more in the present. You will soon discover a more fulfilling and joyful way of life.
Future-Focused Thinking
The first step is to let go of future-focused thinking. Many of us tend to constantly think about the future, worrying about what lies ahead or longing for future achievements. This mindset deprives us of the beauty and opportunities that exist in the present.
Astrology Forecast June 19 – 25, 2023
Energies will slow down this week as we move into the watery vibes of a Cancer Moon today and tomorrow, followed by the Sun’s entry into Cancer on Wednesday.
For the next four weeks, our focus will turn to home life, family, and comfort-seeking activities. Gardening, cooking, and restoring order to our homes and relationships are the hallmarks of Cancer energy.
Emotions and spiritual activities will also serve as a focus, reminding us to rebalance those aspects of our inner life that may have become scattered or disconnected.
Self-focus will be prevalent Wednesday and Thursday under the Leo Moon, as we pause to look at where we may have been giving too much, while not taking proper care of ourselves. Wednesday a Mercury in Gemini sextile with Mars in Leo will further boost our energy levels, communication skills and self-confidence. This is a good time to turn the focus back on our own needs for a few days and set some much-needed boundaries.
Thursday’s Leo Moon square with Uranus in Taurus may cause some trouble. We may feel irritable, moody and rebellious, act unnecessarily stubborn, and make rash decisions. Abrupt changes or challenges may arise unexpectedly, so focus on staying centered and grounded.
Once the Moon enters Virgo on Friday, we’ll have two days to concentrate on restoring physical order to our surroundings, clearing out clutter, making lists, and creating a blueprint for future plans and projects.
Sunday we can welcome the Moon’s entry into Libra on Sunday, where we can assimilate all the activities and insights of the past week to find our balance.
Left Holding The Bag
One of my clients recently said, “I’m the one left holding the bag.” Have you ever been ‘left holding the bag?’ This is when you are put in a situation where you are unfairly held responsible, because other people fail or refuse to take responsibility.
The expression “left holding the bag” originated in 18th-century Britain, but at the time it referred to a person being caught with stolen goods, while the rest of their criminal gang escape responsibility.
Many of us are left holding the bag at some point in our life. This is especially true for empaths, healers and highly sensitive people. They are often the scapegoat in their family, or the friend who is taken advantage of, or the coworker who has to pick up the pieces when others neglect their duties.
The solution for this is often found in spiritual self-empowerment, inner child healing, energy shielding, or simply the setting of boundaries. These are challenges I often assist clients with.
A client was about to purchase a bed and breakfast establishment with the support of an investor. When the day came to sign the papers, the investor decided it was just too much to deal with at the time. This left my client ‘holding the bag,’ having to find a new investor.
Another client was abandoned by her siblings when their mother’s mental and physical health suddenly began to deteriorate, and she was left to her own devices having to care for her mom with no assstance or support from the rest of the family.