Cosmic Weathering

With Mars beginning its retrograde motion since yesterday and Mercury on 26th, we'll be covering grounds already travelled and going over thoughts and ideas impinging on our consciousness since the beginning of this month.  With it travelling in Capricorn, perhaps our ideas are practical and materially-oriented, coupled with its backward motion, we are likely to feel more cautious with taking any overt actions.  This is especially so with Mars also in retrograde, where our energy and motivation would be turned inward.  We are more contemplative and less likely to take unnecessary risks.  Mars will turn direct again in the 2nd week of March 2010.  What did you expend your energy on back in mid-October?  This Martian retrograde period basically takes us back to that time.  Personally, that was when I was hooked up on my appearance.  I spent a small fortune on a new wardrobe to transform my face - looking at my birth afterwards I noticed Mars was hovering over my Ascendant!  No wonder I was working on a new 'mask' to greet the world!

Dead End

I was walking home with my cousins one night after a barbecue.  Despite being on unfamiliar grounds, I was, somehow, taking the lead and walking ahead of everyone.  

'Turn right here,' one of my cousins called out behind me.

I turned right and found myself staring at a long and dark alleyway with a wall at the end of it.  

'It's a dead end!'  I replied.

'Just keep walking and you'll see a sharp turning on your left,' my cousin explained.

Unconvinced, I remained rooted to the ground.  I could not possibly imagine how another road could branch off from this narrow passageway.

'Trust me!'  my cousin continued.

I took one tentative step forward, then another, all the while thinking 'This is silly, it's a dead end.....'  then all of a sudden, a side lane appeared on my left!

'Told you!'

Life is the same.  Sometimes you may go through a phase in your life where you feel/think you are approaching an obvious dead end.  But unbeknown to you, there is a way out - you may not be able to see it yet, but it is there.  All you need to do is to trust the Universe that it won't forsake you.

Meditation Videos

Doreen Virtue has posted a series of spiritually inspiring meditation videos on Youtube.com.

From releasing negativity to working on forgiveness, these powerful meditations can help you to quieten your mind so you can listen to that inner voice within.

Simply type in '4angeltherapy'.

Enjoy!

A Timely Reminder

With all the positive affirmation books I have read in the last few years, you would think that I should be an expert on putting those theories into practice.  However, just like in James Redfield's 'The Celestine Prophecy', it is hard to 'hold the vision' when you are once again dropped into the world of reality, and surrounded by materialism and skepticism of all sorts.  

Just as I was struggling with the usual problems of the mundane kind, I received my monthly e-newsletter from Susan Jeffers.  The contents consisted of no new concepts, but it was a timely reminder of what I should be doing - to focus on the positive and to think loving thoughts - regardless of the situation involved. 

I'm thankful for Jeffers' message on trying to work on our internal reaction instead of trying to change other people.  'One suggestion is that, instead of trying to change someone, despite how he or she is behaving, just keep silently repeating to yourself "I love you. I love you. I love you." No, I have not lost my mind. As you say these beautiful words, your internal energy starts to shift toward a very loving place. You can't imagine the profound effect it has on others when you project your love onto them!!! Try it and report back to me! As you continue to project your love onto others, you will ultimately melt into the realization that we are all human beings doing the best we can. And from this place, compassion for others...and for ourselves...is born.

Note that it's not that the behavior of others is always right; it's that we hurt only ourselves by letting their behavior take away our peace of mind. Also, we lose our ability to reach out in love when we are constantly in judgment of others. To let others be who they are and reach out to them anyway is the height of loving others. Sending "I love you" thoughts is a wonderful "reaction" to others...despite what they are doing.

Saturn in Libra

Transiting Saturn moved into Libra on 30th October.  Saturn represents structures, stability and authority figures.  Having transiting Saturn in Virgo for the past 2 years had certainly been a tough ride for me personally.  The fact that I have natal Saturn in Virgo in 2nd house does not help either.   One moment I thought I have mastered my assigned life lessons, but the next, found myself back to square one again.  Since the Saturnian sign change, I have felt the shift of energy in my internal and external world.  To start with, I have been feeling much more relaxed.  I no longer feel guilty for spending money on myself and be affected by external factors as much.  Unfortunately, the relaxed attitude turned into procrastination, hence my lack of contribution on my blog for the past six weeks.  Thanks Tamare for the reminder and for visiting my blog despite my lazy silence.  More posts will follow.

Appreciate the Small Things in Life

This morning, on my way to work, the panic outburst of a woman chasing after her escaping puppy caught my attention.  The lady managed to put a firm grasp on her doggie before it left the park gate, but as I continued onward with my journey, I soon witnessed a man, whose doggie was also running away from him, but this time towards the park gate.  It turned out that the two dogs were running towards one another because they couldn't wait to see each other!  I momentarily stopped to make sure that was the case, afterall, why would dogs do that?!  However, that was exactly what it was, the two doggies met at the gate and then, totally ignoring their owners, sauntered into the park side by side.  

I know there are many stories of this kind where animals have demonstrated human traits/behaviours, but this incident instantly put a smile on my face as I continued on my way to work.

The Anger Button

I've always had a problem with controlling my anger, in that, I allow the tiniest irritant to get the better of me.

I like Louise Hay's doctrine on anger.  Louise believes that we are actually responsible for our anger seemingly caused by external factors.  Imagine an 'anger button' within each of us. Basically, we should not allow other people's words and actions to annoy us to the point that the button is pressed, triggering the anger process.

Easier said than done.  But yesterday, while I was on my way to my apartment, I overheard a conversation between two grandmas in the lift.  One said to the other 'You would never have guessed what I had to put up with today at the newspaper stand.'  

I began to pray for the lift to move slowly enough so I would hear the whole conversation.  

'I went to get a newspaper and told the man I was in a hurry so he would serve me quickly.  And do you know what he said?  He turned to his colleague, as if I was invisible, and remarked 'Everyone says they're in a hurry, isn't that funny?'  I was fuming hearing that but I managed to keep my mouth shut - so rude of him!'

Oh, I thought, feeling a bit disappointed.  What's the point of getting angry over THAT?  If I was in the woman's position, I would just assume the guy made a passing comment.  I personally don't see the rudeness in that.  However, that incident neatly illustrates that the anger button in each of us is pressed easier than others.  I know people who don't even seem to have an anger button at all!  

I wonder what your reaction would be if you were the woman in the lift?