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Finding Peace In Your Natural State
While doing a nature hike the other day, the thought occurred to me that we all come from nature, and we eventually also return to nature. This may be why we tend to feel so calm and peaceful when we are out in nature. When we smell a flower, hug a tree, or put our feet in the dirt, it reconnects us to our natural state and brings us back into balance.
It has been scientifically proven that we essentially consist of ‘stardust.’ Our physical body is made of elements that were formed in the stars over the course of billions of years. Our bodies have about 97 percent of the same kind of atoms as that found in the galaxy. As the rock band Kansas so aptly proclaims, “Nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky. It slips away and all your money won’t another minute buy. Dust in the wind. All we are is dust in the wind.”
When you look up at the stars in a clear night sky, especially if you’re in a place where the air is clean and at a higher altitude, one can sometimes see the milky way. In such a moment of awe and wonder, it seems to me as if all time stands still. One’s everyday worries seem miniscule and trivial in comparison to the magnificent vastness and endless beauty of the cosmos.
Our connection to nature further brings to mind the classical elements of earth, water, air, fire, and aether that is still observed in various spiritual traditions, such as Ayurveda, Wicca and Gnosticism. Our existence in this life is essentially a magical alchemy of these elements.
In today’s world we tend to focus so much on how things should be, instead of how they actually are. Maybe much of our modern discontent stems from straying so far away from our natural state of being?
August 2021 Astrology Forecast
August 2021 will be easier to navigate compared to June and July. Fire energy embodies the first half of this month, giving us the motivation and desire to make things happen.
We start the month off with an energetic New Moon in Leo next week on August 8th. New moons represent fresh beginnings and offer wonderful opportunity for manifesting, letting go of bad habits, or starting a new routine.
Leo is associated with the heart and the inner child and gives us the courage to rise above challenging circumstances. If you have been feeling down, or a victim of injustice, this new moon will help you reclaim your power and take a stand, if necessary.
On August 11th the planet of communication, Mercury, will move into Virgo for about 20 days. Our conversations with others will be practical, down to earth, and focused. This will be an optimal time to schedule that appointment with your health, wellness, or energy healing provider to address any concerns you may have.
Venus the planet of love, enters into Libra on August 16th and will assist us in creating a sense of balance in our relationships. If you have been giving too much of yourself, this transit will encourage you to pay attention to your own needs and cultivate a stronger sense self-love.
A Full Moon in Aquarius occurs on August 22nd and brings situations to a culmination. This moon cycle is favorable for removing and releasing anything that doesn’t serve your highest good. Since it’s in the sign of Aquarius, think about your purpose, what makes you unique and how you can help to create a better world.
The Sun transits into Virgo on the same day as the full moon. This earthly energy will help us get grounded, adopt a more logical approach, and set healthier boundaries. Getting organized, tidying up our homes, and paying attention to the details is the best way to work with Virgo.
Tibetan Prayer Flags Are Blessings In The Wind
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to constantly have your prayers and blessings emanating into Universe? Well, you actually can achieve this by hanging a Tibetan prayer flag. Also known as lungta and darchor prayer flags, these beautiful, colorful flags are traditionally found festooned along the Himalayan trails. They are believed to bring peace, prosperity and good fortune to all.
Although it is a Buddhist tradition, you don’t have to be a practicing Buddhist to hang your own prayer flags. Anyone can use them with the intent to spread positivity and blessings in the wind, far and wide.
One of the most beautiful aspects of Tibetan prayer flags is that they are unique in design, and calming to look at. Each flag carries a variety of prayers, incantations and sacred symbols that represent specific blessings to be carried by the wind. Each set of flags has several different prayers written on it – one even has a special prayer specifically for the person who is hanging the flag!
A set of lungta flags feature five separate rectangles that represent the five elements, to create energy and a strong connection to the Universe. They start from the top with a blue flag representing sky or space, then a white flag representing air or wind, a red flag representing fire, followed by a green flag representing water, and lastly a yellow flag representing earth.
Most often hung vertically, with the blue (air flag) at the top and the yellow (earth flag) at the bottom, these flags aim to bring good fortune, blessings of opportunities, abundance and prosperity, inner strength, compassion, and wisdom to all.
Time To Feng Shui Your Home
Social-distancing and being quarantined at during the Covid-19 pandemic, is the ideal time to embark on a major de-clutter and clean-up. By doing a thorough cleaning and clutter clearing clutter now, we can open up the flow for positive energy to flow through our homes, offices and lives once the quarantine is lifted.
To make the most of such a spring clean, consider applying some feng shui principles to rearrange your home. Many people’s perception of feng shui is that it is just a form of interior design, but it is actually an ancient spiritual practice and philosophy. It will literally open energy channels for abundance and prosperity, as well as health and wellness to flow into your life.
Feng shui is a system of laws that govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy (chi). The aim is to create a harmonious environment that enhance the balance of yin and yang. It is about living in spiritual harmony with our environment.
When we apply feng shui to our home and lifestyle, we do so in order to achieve balance in both our working and living space, and maximize our potential for success in our personal lives and in business.
Feng shui literally translated means ‘wind water.’ Wind scatters energy and water holds energy. In applying its principles, we can clear out negative energy and generate more positive energy.
Working With Elemental Spirit Guides
There are several different classifications of spirit guides and energies that we as humans can work with to help us on our journey. Most spiritual traditions teach about the elemental energy within the four classical elements. This is found in ancient Buddhist texts, Native American spirituality, shamanic traditions, within the Judeo-Christian and other monotheistic traditions.
Working with elemental spirit guides can give us insights and strategies to promote positive changes in our lives, reveal our unconscious self-destructive patterns, and transform our subconscious mind and create a harmonious and balanced internal story. Elemental guides can also assist us when we are walking through a difficulty or life challenge, as well as intensify our ability to manifest the lives we want.
It is not difficult to connect with the elemental forces. There are many strategies that can assist in bringing these elemental forces into our everyday lives.
The Spirit Of Water
The spirit of water is associated with emotions and love. It can be used to help in assisting with emotional challenges, grief, and a better understanding and greater experience of love in our lives.
In many ancient traditions there is a parallel between water and being humble. It is said to be the humblest of all the elements, always seeking the lowest point. However, in its humble position it is also one of the strongest elements. In seeking the lowest position, it can evaporate into the air, satiate the flames of fire, and carve through the mountains of the earth.
The Energy Worker And The Air Bender
My spiritual healing work is based on pulling in energy from the Source, raising my vibration and transferring that energy to others, and the planet. I have been doing energy healings since I was a child and I have been doing it professionally for about 20 years. I am also a certified Kundalini Yoga instructor and spiritual teacher. A few months ago, I was mentoring a 15-year-old air bender. Air benders manipulate the energy of the atmosphere to help the planet, or people to heal. He had prayed for a mentor to come a few months before we talked about me mentoring him.
At the same time I started working with the young air bender, there were horrific fires in California, close to my home. Everything was chaotic. Cell phones and the Internet were not working properly, because of the fire. The air was so thick with smoke, you could barely see a few yards ahead of you.