Can’t see the forest for the trees.

All Signs

Anger is not an emotion that many of us want to feel. We do our best not to show or even feel our anger. Yet when it does succeed in passing the threshold of our inner control, it pummels its way through our heart and psyche with a force that can be frightening in its violence.

But anger, the feeling of rage that can at times swell in our chest and take over our entire body, is also a warning, or a signal, that something is not right. It’s all well and good for us to focus on the positive, the light, and having good intentions, etc., but when anger is denied it can cause us to act passive aggressively, or it can bring about ill health.

There are many different types of anger, but the particular flavor of the emotion that I am highlighting here is the kind that we can’t easily make sense of. Like when you wake up in the morning in a bad mood, having crawled out of the “wrong side of the bed” so to speak; you can’t quite put your finger on it, but you’re pissed off with everything and everybody. Or when the universe seems to shit on you and everything is going wrong and you watch as every action you make – whether it’s backing into that car parked behind you at the drug store, or spilling coffee on your brand new white shirt – only works to reinforce this perception.

This is when you have to pay particular attention, especially at this time. More and more of us are waking up angry or living with anger as a daily reality. We don’t want anyone to know, we want the world to think we’re doing just fine. But we live with a constant sense of discontent. We are restless, sometimes filled with anxiety, and unsure of the future; not just our own, but of the world at large.

This is understandable, considering the high intensity with which we are inundated with bad news in terms of governments, poverty, wars, unrest, injustice, the destruction of our environment, and the list goes on.

Now, the love and light believers will tell you that you have to focus on the “positive”, be compassionate, send love out into the world. (You can probably sense the derision oozing out of my fingers onto the page.) Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for more love and solving the world’s problems through constructive, love and compassion filled solutions, but I also have a bone to pick with these love and light proselytizers. For if we don’t stand up and get angry once in a while, nothing would change for the better. The poor would keep getting poorer, the environment will keep being ravaged, and minority’s rights would never be acknowledged.

But if we bring this conversation back down to our individual microcosms, it is sometimes hard to find the root of this inexplicable anger. What I mean by this is, once you have acknowledged that something is wrong and therefor you feel angry and you know you need to do something about it, it might not be as easy as you think to find out the real reason for the anger. But it’s there, buried inside you and you need to find it and heal it even if it looks petty and insignificant. There is a reason for your anger, a reason that needs healing and tenderness and the chance to be heard.

You might want to reach for the first thing that comes to mind, like the asshole who parked behind you or the barista who made your coffee too hot, but that would be a mistake. You’ve really got to dig here. You’ve got to take some time to go inward, to explore all the emotions boiling around inside of you and trace those emotions back to their origin. This might mean you’ve got to let out some tears, throw some rocks into the ocean or scream into the wind. But only once you reach the heart of the anger, the real reason your body and emotions are reacting, or signaling to you that there is something wrong, will you be able to heal.

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Aries – Mar. 21 to Apr. 19

You might be noticing that you are feeling things more intensely these days. In fact, intense emotion might be taking you by surprise, surfacing and even sideswiping you at unexpected moments, and over things that you might normally find trivial. It’s OK. Don’t panic. There is nothing wrong with you and this is all part of a natural process; you are learning to own your emotions in the moment instead of being passive aggressive. Because you are not someone who normally allows yourself to express emotion, especially in a public place, and because you only allow yourself to feel emotion when you feel relaxed or have ingested a courage inducing substance, these impromptu surges of emotion may feel traumatizing. However, that is all part of the lesson. The universe, and in fact your soul, wants you to burst through the barriers that keep you from being real with yourself and with others. Your passive aggressive tendencies are an old story, and one that you must shed.

Taurus – Apr. 20 to May 20

Often the barriers we face in life are of our own making. These barriers keep us from experiencing new things, attaining our goals, or having the kind of close, intimate relationships we dream of. So, if you are feeling like an outsider these days, take a look at the views you hold of the world and those around you. For it is the views you have that are holding you back, or keeping you separate. How? Well, these views are simply too narrow. You are not allowing for the unexpected. You want everything tied up in a nice bow and you have a particular idea of how this should happen. Practice letting go, loosen your clenched fist and allow for magic; the unexpected unfolding of the universe. Let other points of view filter past your projected ideals and see what happens.

Gemini – May 21 to Jun. 20

I’m sure you would agree that the human assumption that we are the only form of sentient life to have evolved in this vast universe, is a narrow one. Though we have no proof that any such sentient life exists beyond this planet, the topic is one that you can sink your teeth into and one for which you do not mind a healthy debate. So let’s take this back to your personal experience, or who you are in the micro galaxy that is your family and loved ones. From this perspective you are in a state of learning to see that you are merely one part of a grand whole. However, that’s not to say that you’re not an integral part, just that you are not the only integral part. In other words, it’s time to start acknowledging the meaningful roles others play in your life. Life is not a one person sport. You’ve got to learn to be a team player.

Cancer – Jun. 21 to Jul. 22

You will never become a master of your existence if you insist on clinging to the past. What’s done is done, and all you can do is learn from it. You have talent that is screaming to be let out. You have dreams and goals that are worth attaining. So why not let yourself move forward? Well, in a word, it has to do with fear. Despite the stories you make up to console yourself you are not afraid of the world or what other people may think of you or what you want to do with your life. What you are afraid of is yourself. You are afraid of owning the master inside of you. You are literally afraid of saying, “I know about this”, or “I have something valuable to contribute”. This fear stems from apparent blunders you have made in the past; those moments where you have felt ashamed of your own actions or where someone has shamed you into feeling small. You are not small. You are grand and gorgeous. Let your true self shine.

Leo – Jul. 23 to Aug. 22

Love has its own kind of logic, wouldn’t you say? Things that make sense when we are drugged up on “love” endorphins don’t make sense when our bodies are not under the control of such forces. However, the logic of true, heart-felt love is not the same as when we are under the influence of lust. Telling the two apart is extremely difficult sometimes, but it’s important to learn this difference. When real, unconditional love is at the core of any interaction, we are more inclined to think about the needs of others without any attachment to personal gain. Simply put, we want what’s best for the other, not what will give us the most satisfaction. Therefore, if you truly care about that love interest, your friends, and your family, your actions will be such that you will do what is in the best interest of everyone. Now is the time to ask yourself about your own, personal motivations in all interactions where your heart is involved. Do what you know is right.

Virgo – Aug. 23 to Sept. 22

You need to fill the inner cup, metaphorically speaking. In other words, you need to take a time-out, do some self-pampering, and tap into your inner reservoir. Many people, when they feel drained or like they need to take a break and re-group, will try to regenerate in a social setting. However, you are well schooled in this area. You know that the best way for you to re-charge is to take some alone-time. Most people see being alone as a bad thing, but you know just how powerful and positive it can be. So trust your instincts. Hide away for as long as you can manage. Turn off your phone, sign out of Facebook, take a walk in your favourite park, read a good book, or just sit and think. I promise, that half haggard feeling you’ve been walking around with will be replaced with renewed energy.

Libra – Sept. 23 to Oct. 22

Whether or not we acknowledge it, our intent, that intent that comes from somewhere beyond our rational minds, is at work at all times. Once we set our intent, or once we decide on a plan of action (note: this is not always conscious), the universe conspires with us to bring that intent to fruition. And right now that is exactly what is happening to you, dear Libra. You might not agree that the things that are falling into place are the result of your intentions, but they are. You just have to do a little self-reflecting, or soul searching, in order to discover that you did indeed set your intent in this direction. In other words, if what is happening in your life right now is not what you expected, is negative, or downright scary, you will have to own your role in its creation. Somewhere inside, you said “Yes” to this plan, and even though you went about living your life as if nothing had happened, the universe did not forget.

Scorpio – Oct. 23 to Nov. 21

You have braved rough weather, emotionally speaking, over the last few months, and I’m glad to report that the winds are showing signs of calming down. There are many different elements coming together to create more harmony in your life and the momentum you have worked so hard to set in motion is not facing any gnarly crags or dead-heads in the near future. Your job is to stay awake and alert at the wheel. Notice all those aforementioned elements and how they are coming together to create synergy and purpose. At the same time, take a few well-earned moments to just enjoy the harmony that you so deserve.

Sagittarius – Nov. 22 to Dec. 21

Well, for you, dear Sagittarius, it might feel as though your world is falling apart right now. You might be dealing with the loss of a loved one, or you might be experiencing a major transition in your life (break-up, loss of a long-term job), but whatever the case, this is not the universe shitting on you. In fact, whatever hardship you are going through is in fact a gateway to a new phase in your life. So be gentle with yourself, allow yourself to feel whatever sorrow, pain or confusion you may be feeling right now. At the same time, don’t lose hope for the future. With grace, allow the old to fall away and have courage to step into the new. Success will follow in time, and only when you have consciously made the choice to move on. Key word: surrender.

Capricorn – Dec. 22 to Jan. 19

Think of yourself as a spider at the centre of a web. You are your own planet and the web is the galaxy in which you reside. You can choose to go in any direction, you can fashion your web in any way you wish, making changes, reinforcements, or breaking all the rules. The problem is that sometimes this web, and the multitude of choices it presents to you makes you feel a little overwhelmed. Faced with this overwhelming array of choices, you make rash decisions because you don’t want to admit that you don’t know what you should do. Well, maybe it’s time to remember that 1) there is no “right” decision here, and 2) if you don’t pay attention to your basic needs, such as keeping your web intact, it will fall apart. This is a delicate balance. So go back to your centre and take some time to look at the entire web of your life. Ask yourself what you really want and start from there.

Aquarius – Jan. 20 to Feb. 18

Through completing tasks that have been set aside for quite some time, you will feel a sense of accomplishment. All the required elements are available to you and that is why you have had an unexplainable itch to get busy. Don’t hold back, don’t doubt yourself. Get down to business and get your hands dirty. Once these tasks are completed you will have freed up energy to move on to the next phase of your overarching goals. This means that instead of staying in your current state of stagnation or standstill, you will tap into new energy sources and a drive to keep going. Oh, and one other thing. Celebrate each time you complete one of these tasks. Chances are they are things you have waited—in some cases years—to complete and it is worth taking a minute to pat yourself on the back. Everyone deserves to bask in their own magnificence once in a while.

Pisces – Feb. 19 to Mar. 20

Through the rambling, bumbling acts of the Fool Child, you are finding your source. I hate to say it, but sometimes we need to forget where we are going in order to actually get there. Though you may find this frustrating, as all you’ve been asking for lately is a sign that you’re on the right track, you’re going to have to just go with the flow. It would help if you didn’t resist so much. Do what your body needs to do, let go of guilt and shame, and find the meaning you are searching for through spontaneity and trust.