All Signs

Sometimes we climb out of bed in the morning suffused in a fog, hearts twisted making arms heavy and ambition low. All we want is to go back to sleep, and forget the responsibilities and the challenges the new day brings. And even though spring has sprung around us and we see deer munching on green shoots and we witness the unfurling of daffodil petals and maple tree shoots and we are excited for spring and warmer days, we are like a bear who’s just waking up in its den: groggy, lost in dreamland, and with the vestiges of fatigue still clinging to the outer fringes of our personal energetic spheres. In other words, many of us are having a hard time feeling motivated and we just want to go back to sleep.

To add to this, we are having a hard time adjusting to the random chaos that spring brings; the bursting forth of life that means that anything could happen, especially where the youth of the world are involved. This chaos creates a sense of unease as it takes us outside of our comfort zones. We are likely to think fondly on days of yore, seeing that green grass lining the yesteryear of experience.

Well, get on your cleaning gloves, folks! For now is the time to clear the cobwebs and make way for the new. Don’t worry, your foggy mind will clear in the coming weeks and the sunshine will open up cracks within your permission. Many of us think that New Year’s is the time for resolutions and ringing in the new, but if you reflect on the natural rhythms of the planet, you will have to agree that it is in spring-time that the earth cleanses herself with rains, warms herself in the sunshine, and brings forth new life to wander among the wonders of the planet.

The recent eclipse on April 15 has helped begin the process of bringing clarity and clearing the fog. But it has also added to our sense of unease as its energy is to open doorways for those willing to go on an adventure into the heart of the unknown. If you have a dream or plan brewing inside of you, if you have been struggling with the strains and chains of your regular job and dream of doing something bigger, now is the time to take the plunge. You know there is hard work ahead, but don’t let that scare you. The universe is on your side, your soul is on your side, and a thrust of creative energies has just been funneled into your body, mind, and spirit, if you let it. Taking a leap of faith now will quickly result in magic and return. Positive feedback, valuable connections, and co-creative endeavors are all not only possible, but probable. So get up, show up, and be willing to get your hands dirty.

Here are a few practical things you can do to help you wake from your winter slumber and embrace the days ahead.

1. Spend a few minutes each day in quiet thought, preferably in nature, whether that be actual meditation or in letting your imagination roam. These moments of quiet will allow you to better know, with certainty, which path your spirit is directing you to take on any given decision or action you are faced with making.

2. Eat spring foods and stay away from heavy saturated fats, carbs, and sugars. Nettles are poking their heads up all over the forest floor, as are blackberry shoots, fiddleheads, and dandelion greens. Making teas infused with these wild herbs, or cooking with them, will help to give you more energy and boost your immune system. As well, eating more fresh vegetables and whole proteins will help to clean your system and allow it to respond to the more energetic demands of the season.

3. Practice making time for what you love, even if it’s only 10 minutes a day. Dig in the garden, go for a walk, read a book, sit on the deck and listen to the birds, paint, draw, or write, it doesn’t matter. Just get out there and do it. You will be amazed at how much doing so helps to clear the fuzz from your mind and helps you feel clear, energized, and creatively inspired.

To kick off the first installation of Navigating the Stars for the 2014 year, I have paired each sign with a wildflower currently or having just passed its bloom. These flowers represent your ability to receive the bounty of your inner garden. Whatever the focus of your attention, whether it is a new career, what to do about a relationship, or how to deal with your kids, this flower energy is meant to help you draw from the fertile soil of your soul. Be open and surrender to the fact that what you have sown, what you have composted, what you have tended too, will grow and you will be able to reap its benefits. Keep in mind this is also true of negativity or denial. For some, there will be lessons to be learned.

Aries – Mar. 21 to Apr. 19

Tulip

“Tulips are  . . . a symbol of opportunity, adjustment, advancement, and aspiration. They are commonly thought to represent attainment of spiritual awareness too. They  . . . return every year [and] are symbolic of resurrection and determination.” ~ Whats-your-sign.com

Lately you have felt as though you can’t move in any direction because every direction feels too overwhelming and there are too many directions to keep track of. You have been stuck on the couch because you can’t see your dreams or your true self through the chatter of your brain. You probably haven’t been able to sleep well, either. Right? You’re worried about tomorrow, you’re worried about today. You’re worried about growing old, and you’re worried you’ll never realize your dreams. Now take a moment and think of a city plaza and the vibrant splash of colour created through a sea of swaying red tulips in a circle at its centre. Think of yourself as one of those tulips. Think of the sun on your face and the feeling of pure existence in that moment. Breathe out all of your stress. Draw from the earth; imagine a flow of energy moving from the core of the earth, up through your feet, filling your body, and moving out through the top of your head. From this place, you can know that you do not need to continue to be trapped inside your fears.

The tulip brings with it an ability to move beyond these fears and embrace the challenges associated with attainting your dreams. It also brings an explosion of adventure and magic. Expect your creativity to soar, to feel inspired and jazzed about ideas and get your hands dirty. You are ready to dig into any project and through doing so you create an energy of momentum and connection. Don’t be afraid to meet new people, don’t be afraid to collaborate. Let your gut guide you, literally. If it feels good, do it.

Taurus – Apr. 20 to May 20

Crocus

“They come into flower soon after snowdrops are over and they possess a sprightliness and a piquant charm which is very endearing.”  ~ Bush-Brown, America’s Garden Book, 1965.

You are being filled with new vision at this time. Ideas come to you easily, you can see the future and you know where you want to go. However, you are also been cautious. You don’t want things to get out of your control, and you don’t want to repeat mistakes you feel you have made in the past. But things want to take a new direction. You sense that things need to be refreshed and given new life.

The crocus tells you not to take things too seriously. There’s joy in the playfulness of engaging the participation of others to work toward a common goal, and if you allow yourself the opportunity to be surrounded by people whose vision is similar to yours, you will discover in a very real way how much your soul or Self is on your side. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.” In fact, I would say that for the next leg of your journey, it is crucial that you build a co-creative atmosphere around yourself. And yes, stay grounded, look at all angles, and generally keep on top of the practicalities of everything involved, but allow the new vision that pulls at you to have sway in your life right now. It never hurts to open new doors.

Gemini – May 21 to Jun. 20

Bleeding Heart

“Even in a small garden Bleeding-heart does not seem out of place in spite of the wide spread of its arching branches.” ~ Bush-Brown, America’s Garden Book, 1965.

I’m sure you have no idea what the heck is going on, Gemini. You are learning things on an inner level, having weird and coincidental experiences, and generally sorting through psychological baggage, all of which you have not allowed yourself to do for quite some time and that’s why it feels shocking to your system. But your soul, or your source, or the real you under all the layers, has had enough of your denial and so you have been forced on a journey of self-discovery.

First on the list of discoveries will be learning that you are not alone in your weirdness. There are others who share your perspectives, passions, quirks, and idiosyncrasies. So dance and sing like you want to. Shed the self that worries what other people think and learn to shine in the joy that comes from pure, and shared, self-abandonment. Doing so will provide you with the inner, and irrefutable knowledge that you are not an outcast. You have a place in the world, and a valuable one to boot. Your bleeding heart can, and will, be healed.

Cancer – Jun. 21 to Jul. 22

Snowdrops

“A patch by the door or below a window will bring to those within a message that spring is soon to come.” ~ Bush-Brown, America’s Garden Book, 1965.

Life isn’t all excitement, action, and change. Over the next while remind yourself to trust in the process. You are an old soul; you have walked this earth many times before. So sometimes the ordinary can seem quite mundane. However, now is the time to listen to those past lives, to learn to recognize how they speak to you through your bones, your blood, and your emotions. Go through the motions of keeping your home, of working your job, of being in your relationship and trust that things are okay how they are, there is nothing that needs to change or be uprooted. Take comfort in daily rituals like making breakfast, gardening, doing dishes. You are not trapped by these realities, you are learning that you are supported and grounded by them. They keep you fed and nourished, both physically and emotionally.

Like the Snowdrop, the joys of daily life are signs that the spring of your soul is just around the corner. If you work hard now to take care of all of the things that seem mundane or boring at times, you will be able to enjoy the flurry of activity that is to come.

Leo – Jul. 23 to Aug. 22

Dandelion

“The floral meaning of the Dandelion is that it is a gift to a loved one that will provide happiness and is a promise of total faithfulness.” ~ Canadianflowerdelivery.com

For a long time you have felt a heavy weight of disappointment as well as an undertone of anger at the universe and how your life has turned out in comparison to the dreams you had when you were young. It may have seemed as though the universe, or the world, has been against you. You have gone through the dark days of realizing that you can’t count on anyone but yourself only to be left with anger because no-one has proved you wrong. But if you examine your feelings closely, if you really reflect on the events of your recent past, you will recognize that you have moved through these emotions and lessons and have come out the other side. Now you are at a place of calm inner knowledge that tells you that those lessons, those challenges, were ones you were meant to learn and to face.

Things will be different now because you have a different focus. And you are also different. You know that not everyone can be relied upon and that everyone has their own path. You are also more self-sufficient emotionally. But you need guidance to fully realize, or own, this knowing. In other words, you need a little help to find your way out of the briar patch. And it’s okay to say that you don’t know the way. The Dandelion is telling you that there are those that are willing to give a helping hand, and more than that, they want to gift you because they can see your beauty; they see the sun that burns in your belly even if you have forgotten that it even existed.

Virgo – Aug. 23 to Sept. 22

Fawn Lily

“They look like ballerinas as they dance on the slightest breeze.” ~ The Wild Garden.

You may not know it yet, but you are in some serious need of being understood by others. You want someone to get inside your head and really identify with who you are and where you are coming from. The thing is, you have to break down both your inner and outer resistance in order for that to happen. And in order to break down that resistance, you have to recognize that you have carried a lot of responsibility that has become so normalized in your everyday life that you no longer feel the weight of it consciously. You have taken on this responsibility out of the goodness of your heart and because at the time you were the only one who could. But now, there are at least some aspects of it that you need to let go. In other words, you need to re-discover the value of protecting yourself and bringing balance into your own being so that those you love are also in balance, protected, and well cared for.

There are people around you who are ready to help you bear the burden of your responsibilities, give you the space and time you need to regenerate, and who empathize more than you know with what it’s like to be you. It’s time for you to receive some reward for all the hard work you have done, so open your permission to allow this reward into your life. Like the Fawn Lily, you long to dance as light and free a ballerina in the cool spring breeze. That is not too much to ask or wish for, I promise.

Libra – Sept. 23 to Oct. 22

Trillium

“There are few woodland flowers more exquisite in form than the large flowering trilliums.” ~ Bush-Brown, America’s Garden Book, 1965.

Things are coming into perspective for you, Libra. The experiences that have brought you to this point in your life are no longer distant or abstract. Your life is starting to feel less like a movie that you’ve been watching from somewhere tucked in your psyche. Once again you find yourself searching for meaning, yet this time you feel ready, you even want change to take place because now you feel like you have two feet on the ground and you are at least somewhat aware of who you really are. Think of it this way: you have been Don Draper from “Mad Men” and now you are truly ready for change.

You have a beauty about you that attracts the attention of others. Your easygoing and accepting attitude can set them at ease, and you are eloquent and persuasive when you want to make a point. Part of the process of change that is moving into your life will be about using these qualities to instigate change within others in a way that is whole and truly compassionate. But you are ready now. Open your arms to the universe and surrender. Oh, and you might want to buckle up for the ride, change is never easy.

Scorpio – Oct. 23 to Nov. 21

Thimbleberry

“Thimbleberry should be named Queen of the Berries with her ruby amulets and velvet green robes.” ~ The Wild Garden

Prepare for a smack down, Scorpio. You were waiting for that omen weren’t you? Almost praying for it. In a way you want the intensity of a fight so it can shift you from where you are to where you want to be. Well, you’ve gotten what you asked for. Are you sure you want it? Are you sure this is the way to go? Your soul wants harmony. In your heart of hearts you want to go with the flow, to take each day as it comes yet you never allow this to happen. Do you see that now? With your brain you think this is what you have been doing all along, this going with the flow and being in harmony with yourself and the world. But in fact you have been as melodramatic as a queen having a temper tantrum. Perhaps this flair for the dramatic needs to be channeled in a different direction? Perhaps what is needed now is a letting go. Loosen the grips of your control and let life take you on a journey.

Sagittarius – Nov. 22 to Dec. 21

Plum blossoms

“The plum blossom has been an important symbol in Chinese culture. As a “friend of winter,” the plum blossom most vividly represents the value of endurance, as life ultimately overcomes through the vicissitude of time.” ~ theepochtimes.com

Sometimes we endure the moral judgments of others for so long that we begin to hold those beliefs as our own. We are no longer able to objectively look at the situation of our lives and see ourselves and our actions as an outsider would. This is where you are currently stuck, Sagittarius. You believe so strongly that you have done the wrong that others have accused you of, and you believe so strongly that you are not worthy of love, admiration, respect, that a deep and powerful sorrow has invaded your heart.

However, like the plum blossom, you will endure and overcome. And not only that, but you will bring light to others through your ability to finally share who you really are and what you really believe. You will shed the constraints of the past and walk into a future where the movements of your soul are not restricted.

Capricorn – Dec. 22 to Jan. 19

Apple blossom

“Intoxicating by their very nature, apple blossoms are symbolic of heady love, peace, sensuality, and fertility.” ~ Whats-your-sign.com

With only one foot through the door you are going to cause yourself a whole lot of exhaustion. You can’t decide what you want to do. Or, more to the point, you are not able to determine what it is you think you should do. There are many things pulling you in many directions and because you are hungry for life you have committed, in some way, to all of them. Yet you haven’t actually committed to anything, because you don’t know what you want to do. Do you see the problem here? You’re not the greatest at following your heart. You try to, but it’s never with clarity and so things get messy and out of control and you end up getting hurt or hurting someone else. There is a solution: you can choose to stand before the gateway to nothingness, or the place where all possibilities come from, long enough that you rejoice in the options that come your way. These options will come along because by standing in the place where there are no choices, no noise, no obligations, you are able to finally decide what it is you want to do, and how you want to do it. Become intoxicated with the universe, fall in love with ideas, have a romance with yourself. I know it sounds cliché, but learn to love your own company.

Aquarius – Jan. 20 to Feb. 18

Camellia

“With its delicate soft, round petals and gentle curves the camellia is considered a symbol of desire, passion, and refinement. It indicates a deep longing in the heart for your beloved. It is also a symbol of perfection and excellence.” ~ Whats-your-sign.com

Rally your strength, Aquarius. Gather it like you would precious stones from a beach, with both awe and wonder. You have more strength than you give yourself credit for, and you are going to need it. Your heart longs for true connection with another soul, does it not? Well, if you want that true connection, you are going to have to face your demons and this will mean trekking through the sorrow that you have kept so buried within the recesses of your heart. You are going to have to face the fact that you are the one who has put on the brakes as far as “true love” is concerned. You have kept it at arms-length, always assuming that now is not the right time, the person you are currently with is not the right person, or that they simply could never understand you, or that you could never trust them. But love means sacrifice, it means being vulnerable, it means opening your heart despite your fear of rejection or the chance that you will not be understood. Love wants to find you, and if you allow it into your life without all the petty ideals you hold (such as looks, money, or any of the other socially contrived norms about relationships that we are trained to believe) the lonely, hurt, and isolated parts of yourself will be allowed to heal.

Pisces – Feb. 19 to Mar. 20

Daffodil

“Symbolic daffodil meanings encourage us to ‘toot our own horns,’ so to speak. This is a time (Spring, when the Daffodil is neigh) to announce our souls-growth after a long slumber. Let the music of your spirit ring true through the ethers, make a joyful noise unto the world, and let your inner orchestrations reverberate clear-joy into the realms of awareness.” ~ Whats-your-sign.com

Listen to your inner voice. I mean it. Make time to sit and meditate, follow your gut, and act on what you know is right for you. You are about to burst forth into a new phase, dear Pisces. But in order to do so, you need to trust yourself. You need to know that what you want, what you think, and what you dream, is right. Over the last year you have been feeling as though there is something missing; you long for something but you are not quite sure what it is. I call bullshit. You know what it is, you’ve known all along, you’ve just been too afraid that no one will understand you to pursue it. Go for it. Take a leap of faith. Your creativity is overflowing and there is no need to second guess it. If your relationship sucks and you know that you should get out of it, then do so. If your kids need more attention and understanding, or if they need harsh love, then give it to them. If you are starting a new project, one that scares the crap out of you because it is all that you have longed for, then leap into it. Don’t think. Just do. Again, listen to that inner voice, listen to your dreams, follow your emotions: you are on the right track.