conflict
Dealing With Negative Energy This Holiday Season
What do you do when you have to go to a family holiday gathering you have dreaded all year? What is supposed to be a positive, happy reunion this time of the year is often a negative, argumentative and energetically draining occasion!
I know from experience that diverse personalities show up to these types of gatherings and over the years I have learned to keep quiet, and smile, and muster through it. I have helped several of my clients lately find solutions to deal with these challenging situation.
There was the uncle that swears around the children who my client is trying to raise in a loving, Christian environment. I have also helped a client find out why her sisters-in-law and mother-in-law constantly gossip about her behind her back. I have helped bring light to a client’s ongoing problems with her siblings’ argumentative nature.
I want you to know that the choice is yours if you choose to deal with these people. Remember you always have free will, even in the most dire circumstances. You don’t have to be around family members who steal your energy and drop their poison of negative energy and comments on you.
It’s unhealthy to put yourself in situations that are uncomfortable, especially when the environment is saturated with dis-ease. Sometimes you have to exercise your right to say: “No thank you, I will pass!” If you do this, you will find you have more energy for those that do treat you well and don’t talk about you behind your back.
Also, do not allow yourself to feel guilty that your not going to attend. Make positive changes this holiday season by saying no to unnecessary stress, negative people and toxic energy. Embrace your own assertiveness for the betterment of your health and mental well-being.
Sometimes It’s Okay To Keep Your Distance!
Many of us have that one relative we do get along with. In every family there is a ‘Cousin John’ or an ‘Aunt Lydia’ who we simply cannot stand. Try as we might, we just cannot find it in our hearts to love them unconditionally.
In my case it is an uncle who’s views and opinions I just cannot tolerate. I despise all forms of racism, misogyny, and bigotry, and I am also an avid supporter of the LGBTQ community. I have no patience with people who criticize or belittle others for who they were born to be. It is unacceptable and despicable.
For many years now I have been consciously practicing healthy boundaries with relatives and people in general. I preach it! Healthy boundaries are vital for one’s mental health, personal growth and emotional well-being.
My Grandmother and I got along so well when she was in this life. We were like two peas in a pod. When she eventually came to live with us later in her life, there was however one issue that caused tension between us – her son.
My uncle was so out of line, in so many ways that I just could not tolerate having him anywhere near me. He is an extremely hateful man who has no qualms about freely spewing his vitriolic prejudice, verbal abuse and bigoted views in front of anyone who cares to listen, including the children in the family.
My grandmother stubbornly remained loyal to her son through it all, and she could now understand why I could not accept him. She said that it was such a shame that we could not all get along, while I felt it as a shame that he is so hateful. She would make excuses for him, saying for example that he was bullied in school. But I felt he should work on himself, instead of hating on other folks for no reason. She could not see my perspective from her way of thinking. Continue reading
Shine Your Heart Light This Holiday Season
Times have been tough this year. The alignment of the stars have not been overly kind to most of us. Public health crises, economy, politics, mayhem. And in this atmosphere relationships are even tougher than ever to navigate, especially with Venus and Pluto aligning in Scorpio.
My beloved dad, who passed twelve years ago, often said, “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” Situations or people may appear hopeless and dark in these times, but it is important to remember that even the smallest flicker of just one tiny candle can shine a light for others to hold on to. Astrologer Pam Gregory, reminds us to breath into our heart centers, to raise our vibrations. In doing so, each one of us can be that tiny candle, flickering in the dark.
The holidays will bring families together. But holidays can either be celebratory occasion of merriment and cheer… or a war zone of toxic viewpoints and unwelcome meddling. It can often be an unresolved issues ‘free-for-all.’ A nosy sibling might tell you what they think, while you did not ask their opinion! Or, Uncle Bob may dip a little too frequently into the spiked eggnog, drowning all the fa-la-la in his wake.
It occurs to me now that the happy Bing Crosby tune Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive I heard on the radio earlier was no accident.
You’ve got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don’t mess with Mister In-Between
You’ve got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
Have faith or pandemonium
Liable to walk upon the scene
Astrology Forecast August 9 – 15, 2021
You may feel overwhelmed or take on too much today and tomorrow, as the Moon moves through expansive Virgo. Remember to pace yourself and where possible, delegate!
Venus in Virgo opposite Neptune in Pisces could create some awkwardness in our relationships and romantic lives today. Former sexual inhibitions or shyness may resurface, or unfilled erotic desires may emerge that could lead to uncharacteristic behavior and unwise sexual choices. Avoid the temptation to stray from a committed relationship today, as it may not end well.
Tomorrow’s Mercury in Leo opposition to Jupiter in Aquarius may cause conflict in discussions about religion and politics. We may also be prone to talk to much and even reveal confidential information that is not ours to disclose. So, tomorrow it may be best to keep our opinions to ourselves, stay out of the office gossip, and say as little as possible, despite our burning curiosity.
The Libra Moon will fortunately lighten the mood for the second half of the week, allowing us to flow with more realistic and achievable goals. That will be punctuated by Mercury’s move into Virgo – it’s ruling sign. It is the perfect time to brainstorm, map out a plan of action, or gather missing details for future projects.
Mercury in Virgo has a way of bringing forgotten ideas to the surface, so we may experience an ‘aha moment’ later this week, as we recall important obligations that have fallen to the back burner. We may also think of friends we’ve lost touch with (social media could reconnect us) and go in search of lost items or paperwork.
A Scorpio Moon this weekend will inspire us to dive deeper into neglected creative or spiritual pursuits. And with Venus moving into its ruling sign of Libra, romance or the search for true love could also prove a fruitful endeavor on Sunday.
The Perils Of Mercury Square Neptune
As an astrologer, it is my job to get information across to my clients in a clear and concise way, that won’t leave them perplexed or confused.
But on occasion there is a clear and present danger. There are astrological aspects that can challenge astrologers, muddle our minds, drape us in a fog of uncertainty and confusion. Such a dreaded hazard is when Mercury square Neptune comes along and clouds our normal channels of communication.
When this mentally perilous aspect rolls around, it is time to switch channels and watch another station. If there is ever a time we must trust in our inner wisdom and knowledge, yet speak the messages that come through from higher places, then it would be when this square rides into town!
We endured a triple whammy of this the past three months, with Mercury squaring Neptune in May, June and July, on the back of one of the most chaotic Mercury Retrogrades in a very long time.
Yes, when the dreaded Mercury square Neptune arrives it howls like Johnny in The Shining, “I’m here…!” Under this astrological influence we’re on shaky ground when it comes communication and getting your message across. It’s usually really difficult to talk sense, let alone think in any sort of rational, logical, coherent, organized way.
Mercury is all about the mind, our thoughts, our reason. Mercury is all about ‘just give me the facts,’ while Neptune wants to infiltrate our thoughts, sink into the murky depths of the subconscious ocean, and expand outward with absolutely no borders to stop its movement from spilling out all over the place.
This Neptune intrusion is way too messy for the fussy Mercury, who likes its contents in small, neat, digestible, bite-sized files it can dissect and differentiate. But being a curious guy, Mercury ventures out anyway, despite the warning buoys signaling chaotic doom.
Astrology Forecast July 5 – 11, 2021
Our best bet for getting anything productive done this week will be under today’s Taurus Moon moving into Gemini this evening. The rest of the week will however unfold under a veil of emotional confusion and the tendency to go hide in our Cancer shells. The Moon in Taurus has been making us more success-driven, while the Moon in the Gemini tends to sharpen our mental faculties. We are more awake this afternoon and looking for new experiences and impressions. This is a good time for all kinds of communication, contacts, training, and learning.
We’ll need to watch for gossip or misinformation on Tuesday and Wednesday, as the Gemini Moon inspires people to share without the facts or make comments that could be taken the wrong way. Our best bet during this phase is to watch and listen, rather than advising or sharing our opinions.
Beware the Gemini Moon square Jupiter in Pisces tomorrow, as it can get us into trouble with the authorities or invite legal problems. Be sure to follow the rules and comply with regulations. Conflict and drama could also surface in romantic relationships, so mind your P’s and Q’s when interacting with your partner or that new love interest.
The Moon will dive into emotional Cancer on Thursday, culminating in a Cancer New Moon on Friday. If you feel the urge to hide out under the covers or draw the drapes and take the phone off the hook, it’s not a bad idea, as feelings are easily hurt and self-doubt or confusion can make it difficult to interact with the rest of the world. On an up note, this time of isolation will give us a chance to go deep within and revisit our spiritual centers, clearing out whatever messages or ideas aren’t working while encouraging us to trust our intuition more readily.
Sunday’s Leo Moon will have us feeling more like ourselves, ready to face the world again, and thanks to Mercury’s entry into Cancer, encouraging us to share from the heart and soul.
Astrology Forecast June 28 – July 4, 2021
Whew! After all the chaos in the heavens last week, we can regroup for the next seven days, as there are no major astrological events on the agenda. All in all, it will be a good week to rebalance: first spiritually and then physically later in the week.
The Moon will glide through Pisces today and tomorrow, bringing out our spiritual and reflective side. It calls us today to take some time out to focus on the inner self. The Moon conjunction with Jupiter in Pisces may also bring along a welcome financial windfall or an opportunity for social influence and success.
Tomorrow’s Pisces Moon square Mercury in Gemini creates a window of opportunity for us to access our spiritual gifts and talents, but be careful not to abuse the privilege or take it for granted.
We may not get much done the first three days of the week, but whatever we manage to process internally this week will be essential for us to move forward next week.
We can get back to work with more focus as the Moon cruises through action-oriented Aries on Wednesday, and most likely get twice as much done, compared to anything we attempted at the start of the week. Use the rest of the week to make up for lost time!
On Sunday the United States will be celebrate Independence Day under a Taurus Moon, and unlike last year, most of us should be free to safely enjoy holiday events and gatherings with our loved ones. The Taurus Moon square Mars in Leo has the potential however to make us impulsive, moody and argumentative on Sunday, so be sure to keep your calm around family and friends with whom you have a unresolved conflicts or lingering disputes – especially around loved ones of the opposite sex.
This weekend is also a great time to tackle those household repairs or renovations and engage in activities that challenge us on a physical and mental level.