Photo by Tamu Miles

All Signs

Many of us have a million things on our plates, what with things like work, maybe a home-based business, perhaps school, and then there’s simply keeping up with household chores like spring cleaning and house maintenance, and dealing with year-end stuff for our kids like graduation ceremonies and exams. So it’s no surprise that we are feeling a little exhausted and worn out, perhaps even overwhelmed.

However, we do have help, and that’s a good thing because it’s not like we can just kick up our feet and decide we don’t want to participate in life any more, right? I mean, it would be nice, but . . .

Imagine the connection that all matter has at a subatomic level, then imagine that we, in our bodied locations, are connected core to core with all the other planets in our galaxy, including the sun. Now imagine the planets in our galaxy as the chakras in the human body. The sun is the galaxy’s solar plexus, and thus the solar plexus in our individual bodies.

On June 10 and 11, NASA says it detected three X-class flares from our sun. Our inner suns have been doing the same thing: shooting out big bursts of energy meant to help us have the stamina and inspiration we need to keep moving in the direction of our dreams. However, because these flares point themselves in whatever direction we choose, consciously or subconsciously, we have to really work at being conscious so we don’t waste this energy or have it wreak havoc in our lives. Though doing so might be easier said than done because these flares of energy can carry passion and emotion with them, leading to situations of anger, fights with spouses or loved ones, or, in cooperation with Mercury Retrograde, create communication break-down, mechanical malfunctions, and things just not going right.

But if we are conscious and we use this energy in a constructive manner, we will enjoy prolonged endurance, bouts of inspiration, and synchronistic events that further our intent.

But should you find yourself going off track and dealing with the exhaustion that comes with the over-exertion of energy, try meditation, going for walks in nature, or taking a few minutes a day to do whatever rejuvenates and grounds you. Making time for personal care can help us tap back into the underlying dream that sent us on the path we are on right now. So keep an eye on the big picture and try to remember that whatever you choose to do in this life, whatever endeavour you have chosen that arose within you as a passion, as something you cannot help but do, is of your own cosmic design. Your soul is on your side, no matter how rough the going gets. If you are able to focus on the underlying dream and on this big picture you will find that you have more energy to accomplish your goals than you realize. Stay on track, be clear about what you want, and takes steps (even baby ones) that lead in the direction of your intent.

But perhaps above all, be open and receptive to your ability to achieve. If your self-esteem has been at a low, if your brain is working overtime telling you that you are not worthy, that no-one will care, or if you have felt like just giving up, do whatever you can to keep going. Look to the small things that bring you joy. Remember that you are one of a kind and that even though you may not have people lavishing praise on you at the moment, your time will come and you will be recognized. But that can only happen if you keep moving forward and in some small way believe in yourself.

Aries – Mar. 21 to Apr. 19

Your energy, thoughts, and feelings are moving inward over the next while, Aries. Your social life will be put on the back burner, whether you want it to or not, and you will somehow be forced to stay at home. It looks like it’s more than likely that this will be through some kind of accident or unforeseen event such as hurting yourself, work giving you time off, or you ending up sick in bed. Regardless, it will feel like the universe is shitting on you in some way. But don’t be so naïve! You know that you create your own reality and you even know that for some reason you really need this time alone with your thoughts. You need to reassess where you’re at in the grand scheme of things and hopefully you will come to an epiphany that has something to do with realizing how lucky you are. Plus, you’ve been riding the crest of a wave that has given you the chance to achieve your lifelong goal! So what are you complaining about?

Taurus – Apr. 20 to May 20

Things are moving along nicely, and if they’re not, they’re going to be infused with action real quick. It feels as though all the pieces are fitting together and you are more like an orchestrator than a grunt worker at this stage of your endeavours. This is a great feeling, and you have worked hard to attain it. But be careful, if you get too serious or narrow minded in your thinking, what you are working to create will turn out to be a mere shadow of what it could have been. In other words, what you do will not be true to your soul’s intent. Try to remember to be playful both at work and in your spare time. Look at the big picture like a kid does when playing with Lego. With Lego, there are millions of possibilities that can be created out of a simple, set number of blocks with set colours and sizes. Within these parameters one can do almost anything one wants. This is also true for your life right now. So be creative and remember there is never only one way to do things. Oh, also, many hands make light work and if you get to dictatorial you’ll lose loyal helpers whose energy and time you cannot so easily replace.

Gemini – May 21 to June 20

When we’re at the crest of a wave, or at the leading edge of something (i.e., a movement or trend), it takes a lot of energy to keep ourselves there. We have to be alert, awake, quick to respond (both mentally and physically), and able to adapt. You are at the crest of such a wave right now in terms of your work or creative life. You have put a lot of time and energy into getting where you are. You’ve beat out much of your competition and shown yourself to be more than competent. But there’s another wave rising up under this first one, and this second wave is all about birth. What are you birthing? Why, yourself of course! I can hear your alter ego chuckling malevolently, concocting a plan to subvert this very real effort from your spirit/soul. But I warn you, this birth has already begun and it is inevitable. You’re contractions are still light, but they will get stronger and closer together, and soon you won’t be able to ignore them. Let me just remind you of that old, cliché proverb: the caterpillar does not know he will change into a butterfly. Surrender or you’ll only make the process more painful than it has to be.

Cancer – June 21 to July 22

Let’s face it, you’re not the best at cooperating or working with others. You tend to want to run your own show, and fair enough. But we all need a little help now and again and sometimes attaining our goals means we have to rely on others to do the things we cannot. This is the lesson the universe is teaching you right now: It’s okay to loosen the reigns and even let others have creative control once in a while. The outcome may surprise you and if you pay attention (instead of obsessing and worrying that they’re doing it wrong) you might find that you have the energy and time you need to do things that really do require your undivided attention. You might want to kick and scream and throw a temper tantrum over the next couple of weeks, but I hope you get over it quickly. You have a lot to do, what with all those big dreams and goals in the works. So hop-to what really matters and let others take care of the rest. You know who they are.

Leo – July 23 to Aug. 22

Want to feel fulfilled? Let out your inner rebel. Break the rules, be spontaneous, and follow what makes you feel passionate. You feel a little like a caged animal these days. You’re stuck in stasis and life is not feeling as full or as rich as you’d like it to feel. So break the door down and do something about it! And just so we’re clear, I don’t mean be a rebel in the sense that you cause harm to others, I mean be a rebel in the sense that you are thinking outside the box, you are willing to take chances to achieve the aspirations of your higher self, and you are not afraid to speak your truth. If you are the type of Leo who gets what you want through subtle, yet powerful, manipulation, this rebellion could also include breaking your patterns and being more forthright about your motives and intent with yourself and with others. In other words, fulfilment means shamelessly owning what you want and how you are going to go about getting it.

Virgo – Aug. 23 to Sept. 22

You’re still on the theme of love, dear Virgo. Except that now you are learning to receive it. This could almost be harder for you than the recent lesson of allowing the love you feel to move out of your heart toward others. You’re pretty good at keeping friends and family at arm’s length, and acquaintances never make it further than your surface personality. This could be for a myriad of reasons, but they all stem from the fact that you refuse to be hurt. But there are those around you right now who really care and they want to show it. They want to help you, provide support, and nurture the beauty they see within you. Could that be so bad? Grasp the extended hand and don’t be afraid to share a little bit of yourself in those rare moments when you are in the company of those who make you feel comfortable and safe.

Libra – Sept. 23 to Oct. 22

Just as NASA’s Grail mission has recently begun to explore the dark side of the moon, so too have you begun an exploration to the dark side of yourself. We both know that you like to stay in the sunlight—or in the silver lining of the heavens where everything’s coming up roses. Even on a down day you are not willing to admit to others just how bad things really are. The reason for this is twofold: you care too much about what others think of you, and you are afraid that if you explore this dark side it will consume you. However, nothing could be further from the truth. This exploration precedes a transformation that wants to take place in terms of how you share on a personal level with others and how you engage with creatively like-minded people. The dark side of yourself has some hidden light that you have yet to discover. There is beauty and quiet and a knowing that will turn your current perceptions and beliefs upside down.

Scorpio – Oct. 23 to Nov. 21

You know what to do: the actions you should take, the words you should say, the thoughts that matter enough to think, but your current attitude toward life is blocking your ability to execute this knowing. The solution to your problems does not reside in answers that are right or wrong or black and white and is not contained within the set of parameters you yourself have established. Your body, your very cells, have experience that you can draw upon. If you keep fighting it, if you keep taking other’s advice over your listening to your own intuition, and if you keep being afraid that this knowing might be wrong, the anger and confusion burning in your belly will only be further fuelled. The anger isn’t getting you anywhere and it’s not even giving you the chance to face its trigger or underlying issue, which has to do with that try as you might you can’t quite get your mind (or logical self) to trust what your body already knows. Pay attention to late-night ideas, your dreams, and moments of inspiration when you’re alone. Write them down and do your best to follow up. You want the tightness in your belly to ease, don’t you?

Sagittarius – Nov. 22 to Dec. 21

Sometimes when we set out into the world and we are looking for our destiny we have no idea what we will find. Other times, we set out with an image in our head and what actually happens is something so far removed from that image that we feel like it has nothing to do with our original intent. The second one is you these days, Sagittarius. You set out on a journey to accomplish something and you thought that the path you took would get you to the image in your head, but the path has taken you somewhere else and right now you’re feeling a little lost. Don’t fret. This path was the one you were supposed to take, life just had something else to teach you that you couldn’t have learned any other way. If you surrender to where you have ended up you will discover that you are going through a birthing process, you are changing and learning, and you are in fact more you, more happy, and more creatively challenged than you would have been if things had turned out the way you had planned. So keep on truckin’, keep looking for what fills your heart with joy, but learn to let go of the projections and expectations. Right now life is a journey and your soul, not your brain, is in charge.

Capricorn – Dec. 22 to Jan. 19

Take things one step at a time right now. The future is hazy and has no definite outcome (not that it does in general anyway). If you try to plan too far ahead you will only end up with a mess of some kind later on down the road. There are many layers of your personality and ingrained patterns that are dying and falling away, which makes life quite confusing. Your opinions and beliefs are going to jump all over the place and change from one moment to the next, and that’s okay. Just let it happen. Own that you are exploring, and concentrate on purging the parts of yourself that are no longer useful. Imagine them shedding from your psyche and body like a snake sheds its skin. Seek out beauty and things that give you joy. Sit in the sunshine with your eyes closed and watch as colours dance behind your eyelids. You need to be real with yourself and with others about where you are at so that your inability to meet expectations and obligations is not seen as indifference or laziness. Oh, and remember, this isn’t the end of the world. You will get through this.

Aquarius – Jan. 20 to Feb. 18

Over the next few weeks it’s important that you let your integrity be your guide. You may want to make rash or spontaneous decisions, you may want to react negatively to others’ behaviour or to trying circumstances, but it’s important that you take a moment to think things through and act in the best interest of everyone involved. This is because situations could get real sticky over the next while: misunderstandings, compromising circumstances, and things not going the way you planned. Some of these could be events that significantly change the course of your life in terms of meeting new people, working on projects, or even where you live and you don’t want to be stuck with regret, or worse, guilt because of a momentary testy or selfish attitude. Deep down your ornery mood is actually a change in attitude wherein you are learning how to protect the playfulness or joy of the moments of your life without letting your anxiety or fear be the emotions in charge.

Pisces – Feb. 19 to Mar. 20

Our inner voice is often the hardest to hear, either because it is too quiet underneath all the noise of our busy little brains or because we don’t want to hear what it has to say. Your inner voice is doing its best to shout loud and clear right now, but you are having a hard time hearing it because you are over-analysing the information it has to offer. Try approaching the situation like when you were a child who and you were exploring with crayons for the first time. And I mean the very first time you were ever given a crayon to draw with. That piece of paper, the canvas on which you will paint what you know, can be anything you want it to be and there is no right or wrong. When you were a child the weight of the endless options that a blank piece of paper creates wasn’t so heavy as it is now. But if you see yourself as a child in the act of exploration, you can set yourself free of the fabricated obligations created by your perception of your place in the world. Holding on to ideals that are based on values from the outer world will only leave you feeling frustrated, emotional, and angry. You need to explore and let the crayon go where it wants to. You need to let yourself experiment and find joy and magic in the process. In doing so you will discover that you are not stupid or worthless, and that you do have something valuable to offer the world. You just don’t know what it is yet.