self-reflection
How To ‘Face Everything And Rise’ (F.E.A.R.)
It’s okay to feel afraid sometimes – some fear responses are a natural and vital part of our built-in self-protection system. Rooted in our primal survival instincts, fear helps us identify and respond to real threats, such as a raging fire or a dangerous wild animal.
Survival fear arises in response to immediate, tangible threats to our safety or well-being. It’s a necessary, life-preserving mechanism based on objective, real-world risks that ensure our survival. By activating the body’s fight-or-flight response, it enables us to act quickly and stay safe.
But not all fears are instinctual, nor do they serve our highest good. Irrational fears arise from societal conditioning, cultural expectations, false beliefs, past traumas, or imagined scenarios. These fears are learned or imagined, not instinctual.
Unlike survival fear, irrational fears reflect internalized doubts, imaginery threats and false narratives that serve no protective function at all. Instead, they just interfere with our personal growth, decision-making, and well-being.
Conditioned fears are typically exaggerated or irrational, existing more in the mind than in reality. Examples include fear of failure, fear of rejection, or fear of not living up to social standards. Self-limiting fears can trap us in cycles of self-doubt and hesitation, limiting our ability to take risks, grow, and live wholeheartedly.
To live our best lives, we must learn to recognize these irrational fears, challenge their validity, and prevent them from taking control of our life and well-being. By stepping back and evaluating the source of our fears, we can release what no longer serves us, reclaim our joy, and unlock our full potential.
Is It Time To Reset Your Life?
As the festivities fade and the hype of new year’s resolutions subsides, it’s natural to pause and truly reflect on the direction of your life.
Often idealized as a time of joy and connection, the holidays rarely leave room for true introspection. Instead, they bring a whirlwind of obligations — shopping, entertaining, traveling, and endless social engagements. In the rush to meet expectations, both our own and those of others, the peace and reflection we crave are often drowned out by the festive chaos.
But as the holidays end and life returns to its normal routine, many feel a spontaneous urge to make an honest assessment of where they are in life. What’s working? What isn’t? Where do adjustments need to be made?
In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it’s easy to lose sight of our true passions and purpose. Often we carry unnecessary burdens, cling to outdated habits, or stay in situations that no longer align with our higher selves.
Now is often the time of the year when your intuition may be whispering — or even screaming — that something needs to change. This inner knowing often manifests as dissatisfaction, a longing for something more, or a deep sense that you’re meant for greater things.
Recognizing the need to reset your life can be one of the most empowering decisions you’ll ever make. Letting go of what no longer serves you is not only a courageous act, but also a fundamental aspect of personal and spiritual growth.
Tarot Forecast January 2025: Two Of Swords
This month the energy of the Two of Swords takes center stage. It is a card of indecision, stalemate, reflection, and difficult choices, potentially predicting that we may face uncertainty, difficult decisions and the need for introspection as we move into the New Year.
The Two of Swords represents moments in life when we find ourselves at a crossroads, weighing options and feeling the need to pause before making an important decision. It often comes up in readings when there is a stalemate or dead-end situation where no progress can be made until a decision is made or some action is taken.
The Two of Swords depicts a blindfolded figure sitting by a still body of water holding two crossed swords. The blindfold symbolizes the inability or unwillingness to see the whole picture or face a choice. The crossed swords signify inner conflict or conflicting choices, while the water in the background suggests the emotional undercurrents influencing the situation.
Traditionally, the Moon also appears in the card, representing uncertainty, mystery, and the unknown. Together, these symbols paint a picture of introspection, duality, and the need to find clarity and balance.
The card signifies the need to balance opposing forces or ideas. It emphasizes the importance of finding balance in a challenging situation. It can also represent emotional turmoil or an inability to reconcile conflicting aspects of a situation.
The Two of Swords encourages us to seek clarity, face challenges head-on, and strive for balance in our choices and decisions. It reminds us that avoiding a problem won’t make it go away; instead, it’s important to face it with a clear mind and an open heart.
Releasing Resistance Transforms Your Life
Many years ago I traveled to Sedona, Arizona to attend a teacher training program for The Sedona Method. Little did I know that I was about to discover one of the most important keys to a happy and fulfilling life.
I soon found myself in a conference room filled with psychiatrists, psychologists, and doctors from all over the world. I was a young mother and an novice psychic reader. I didn’t feel on the same professional level as the doctors and behavioral health professionals in the room. I felt intimidated, uncomfortable, and wanted nothing more than to go home.
But within the first few days of training, my worst nightmare came true. The trainer asked me to come to the front of the room and stand facing everyone.
“Oh no,” I thought to myself. “Why in the world did I even come to this class?”
He asked me to demonstrate one of the resistance release techniques he had taught us to a psychiatrist sitting in the front row. My knees were shaking and my heart was racing. But there was no escape, so I decided to just do it. It was a terrifying experience at the time, but it was also one of the best things that ever happened to me!
The Sedona Method is a technique designed to help you release the resistance created by painful or unwanted emotions, allowing you to experience greater personal freedom and well-being. The method involves a series of questions that help you become aware of your feelings and gently encourage you to release them. Resistance is often the cause of suffering in relationships, financial health, career, and all other areas of life.
What It Means To Align With Your Higher Self
The term “higher self” is a term often used in spirituality, metaphysics, and psychic work, but it can be very confusing. What exactly is it? Is it our subconscious, our conscience, our alter ego, our soul, our spirit?
While these aspects are all related in some way to the higher self, it’s best understood as the most enlightened and transcendent part of our being.
Our soul or spirit is the conscious, evolving part of us in this lifetime, while the higher self is our soul’s highest potential. It is our divine blueprint and our eternal spiritual essence that exists beyond our physical self in the non-physical. It’s the timeless, eternal part of us that embodies the divine essence of who we are.
While the incarnated aspect of soul is the conscious experiencer throughout our lifetime, the higher self is the permanent aspect of the soul that exists in the higher realms.
The higher self is not a separate personality or individual being, but a deeply integrated, higher foundation of our soul. It is like a spiritual archive of all the wisdom, experiences and lessons accumulated from our past lives, as well as our soul contracts and higher purpose for this lifetime, serving as a blueprint for our soul’s evolution and life journey. It reflects the highest aspects of our being.
When we connect with our higher self, we align with this elevated aspect of who we truly are and what we intend to accomplish in this life and the next. This connection gives us clarity and insight into our soul’s path. It allows us to see life from a higher perspective and guides us to make choices that promote personal and spiritual growth. Connecting with the higher self helps us navigate life’s challenges with greater ease and purpose, allowing our soul to evolve and expand.
The Spiritual Significance Of 666
The number 666 is undoubtedly the most controversial and misinterpreted number in spirituality.
Mostly shrouded in superstition and fear due to its portrayal in popular culture, based on its famous reference as the “number of the beast” in the Bible’s Book of Revelation, this enigmatic number actually carries a depth of spiritual significance and symbolism that goes far beyond its ominous reputation.
By delving into the true symbolism of this number sequence, we can uncover the profound messages and transformative potential it holds. Far from being a mere harbinger of evil and doom, 666 challenges us to integrate spiritual awareness and higher consciousness into our everyday lives, illuminating a path toward harmony, wisdom and enlightenment.
In numerology, for example, the number 6 is associated with balance, harmony and personal responsibility. It known as the “mother” of all numbers and symbolizes domesticity, love of home and family, and a nurturing, caring energy. Its energy promotes compassion and selflessness for the benefit of others.
The sequence 666 is a reminder to balance the material and spiritual aspects of life, encouraging self-reflection and aligning one’s actions with one’s higher self.
In Tarot, the number 6 is represented by the card The Lovers. This card symbolizes love, harmony, and the choices one must make to achieve balance in relationships. It emphasizes unity within oneself and with others, and the need for deeper introspection and harmonization of opposing forces.
Embracing The 12/12 Energetic Portal
Today, we have the opportunity to align with the powerful energy of the 12/12 portal, a sacred gateway traditionally celebrated in the esoteric community for its symbolic themes of unity, completion, and integration. This portal offers a chance to reflect on the lessons of the past year and prepare for the transformative energies that lie ahead.
The number 12 represents cosmic order, harmony, and wholeness. It’s a complete number tied to cycles such as the 12 months of the year, the 12 signs of the zodiac, and the 12 disciples. On December 12, this numerical energy doubles, amplifying the vibrations of balance, completion, and unity.
The 12/12 portal marks the final energetic gateway of the year, offering a moment to integrate the wisdom we’ve gained in 2024. It encourages alignment with the universal flow and the bridging of personal growth with collective evolution. Unity isn’t just about external connections — it’s about uniting the different aspects of ourselves. Consider this portal an invitation to balance your mind, body, and spirit, fostering inner peace that radiates outward.
As the year draws to a close, the 12/12 portal serves as a moment of reflection. What lessons have you learned? What challenges shaped you? This energy threshold encourages embracing both your triumphs and setbacks, recognizing them as essential parts of your personal growth. Integration is key at this time — taking a step back to evaluate how you’ve grown and how you can carry those lessons forward ensures that you will enter the next year wiser and more aligned with your higher purpose.