The Beauty in Dying

All Signs

The underlying feeling we’ll all have over the next couple of weeks will be that combination of thrill and panic that rises when we do something we’ve never done before. We are going to experience fear, anxiety, and confusion because whether our path takes us on an inward adventure or toward an outward, physical change we will be facing new experiences and uncharted territory.

To deal with the intensity, fortify yourself through your core connection to the universe by tapping into your core connection to the planet. In other words, instead of reaching in an upward stance in your prayers and dialogues with the universe, sink into your feet and draw your attention to the energy that flows up into your body from the Earth. Universal energies and information are best filtered through the nurturing Mother frequencies of the Earth, as she is able to take the information and make it more “user friendly” for both body and mind.

Stay very focussed on what your gut is telling you when you are faced with making decisions and try to ignore your mind. Learn the difference between bursts of spontaneous emotion (defined as rash impulses that divert attention away from true knowing), and real knowing that resides in your solar plexus and the core of your heart. Sometimes we mistakenly believe that either a) our logic must be right so we shouldn’t listen to our gut instinct, or b) that our hearts are what we should follow when the heart’s impulses are in fact stories which are fabricated by our minds, made to seem like our true feelings, and imprinted on the outer layers of our heart chakras.

Trust that you will find your “right path”, that you will get through to the other side of whatever challenge or ordeal you face, and that what you are learning at this time is invaluable to your future self. Think of the seed you planted back in April of this year. See how it has matured, flowered, and is close to going to seed. As a seed sprouts and grows it must deal with many environmental factors. All of those factors have an impact on the shape it takes, how big it is, how healthy it is, etc. However, a being’s core self or soul also has influence. In other words, all roads lead home. We all do the best we can with what we have and we still manage to create things of beauty, relationships that are meaningful, and attain our dreams.

Now is not the time to give up on big dreams because the smaller ones seem more attainable. To give up on them only means that the road you chose will be much longer. Seek the adventure that awaits you and move forward with intent. Embrace the thrill and the panic will subside. Perhaps a reminder of Frank Herbert’s Litany Against Fear will help:

“I must not fear.

Fear is the mind-killer.

Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.

I will face my fear.

I will permit it to pass over me and through me.

And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.

Where the fear has gone there will be nothing….only I will remain”

~Frank Herbert

Aries – Mar. 21 to Apr. 19

Believe it or not, there really is strength in numbers. Over the next while you will be learning how to embrace your “tribe”, or those with whom you feel safe, a real connection, and the ability to co-create. You are good at picking one person (usually your partner/spouse) to be the one with whom you let down all your defenses, share and build all of your dreams, and rely on emotionally. This isn’t healthy for you or your partner and can add stress to the relationship. You need to reach out and let other people in. You need to seek out others with similar interests and discard the thought process that leads you to believe that you will only get hurt and no-one really cares about or understands you anyway. Join an activity or group that interests you. Reach out to acquaintances and make time to build friendships. Find your inner strength through the reflection you create in other peoples’ eyes.

Taurus – Apr. 20 to May 20

Trust is the key word for you over the next couple of weeks. Trust in what you are building, and trust that it will bring you the return that you seek. Whether you are still laying the foundation or putting the final touches on a project, you are having the same, energy draining thoughts that can lead to doubt and anxiety. Let them go. It will be okay. You are on the right path and you are taking the right steps toward your goal. Now is one of those times when there is a lull in energy, a kind of pause or in-breath. This pause is natural and allows you to rally your strength and prepare for the next phase. So don’t get impatient, and don’t get down on yourself or discouraged about the project as a whole. Instead, surrender and use this time to regenerate and regroup.

Gemini – May 21 to Jun. 20

Have you noticed that you change your mind easily, that you don’t really know what you want, that you’re a bit grouchy, withdrawn, and unpredictable these days? Well, others have noticed as well. Your energy is all over the place and you feel as though the ground under your feet is shaking and it might split open at any moment. You don’t know where you stand with loved ones and colleagues, and you are questioning your ability when it comes to even menial tasks. I’d like to point out that all of these symptoms are being created by your mind. You’re stuck in a rut and you keep using the same old tactics to try and get yourself out of it. You need to get creative, think outside the box, and do the unexpected. You need to find ways to nourish your heart and soul and do what feels right for you, and only you. Don’t worry, focusing healing attention on yourself will benefit those you love in the long run, even if it’s just because you’ll have a better temperament.

Cancer – Jun. 21 to Jul. 22

Many different aspects of your life are coming together and beginning to sing in synergistic harmony. You are the master, the spider, and you are weaving a tapestry. From your vantage point at the centre you can see your tapestry spread all around you, every aspect and how the micro details contribute or subtract from the whole. Ride on this wave of inspiration and use it for all it’s worth. Get creative, spice things up, and devote all your energy. Things are going to get busy so you’ll have to stay focused and treat your body well. Try to get enough sleep, eat properly, and exercise. Try to be practical with money and honest with yourself and others when it comes to your time and energy. This is an exciting time for you so don’t shy away from the hard, yet rewarding work that lies ahead.

Leo – Jul. 23 to Aug. 22

You need time with your thoughts. You need uninterrupted quiet. You need to focus on all the narrow details of your life, one at a time, and intend to let them go so that you can see the big picture. At the core of all of this thinking and need for solitude, is a need for inner silence; to still your thoughts and listen to the universe. Being the sun-sign that you are, your energy is constantly radiating outwards and you might find it hard to still your mind and your body, so it might be helpful if you imagine the kind of eternal silence that exists for the sun at the centre of our solar system. See your core as the core of that sun and imagine the tendrils of your being as the fire that reaches out into the galaxy. Though the sun is a tumultuous and violent force, it exists in the silent vacuum of space. Use your fire to burn away thoughts and elements of your life that no longer serve you and your light to survey the entirety of your realm.

Virgo – Aug. 23 to Sept. 22

It’s time to get greedy for unplanned joy and growth. It’s time to get excited about spontaneity and creating memories. Make time for friends and family, for good conversation, for moments of silence, for walks on the beach. Gather these moments to your heart, fill yourself with them as one would fill one’s self with water before a walk in the desert. You are easily distracted—you often see the grass as greener on the other side of the fence—but your soul doesn’t want to play that game anymore. It is demanding that you pay attention to how beautiful your life is in this now and in this location. When you fully understand this, with your entire being, you will be able to begin a different kind of adventure, one that you have never experienced and that revolves around your immediate environment and social connections.

Libra – Sept. 23 to Oct. 22

Get rid of the idea that you are an outsider and don’t belong. Just get rid of it. The whole story you tell yourself that others don’t really love you or don’t want to be around you is getting old, even for you. Through this story you have only half managed to isolate yourself as others don’t buy it and continue to knock on your door and make their presence felt. Through losing this story of self-depreciation you have much to gain: help where you need it, sharing where you don’t expect it, love you previously didn’t believe existed, and purpose where you thought there was none. It’s time to make up new stories, ones that involve the life you would like to lead. Begin telling yourself these stories so much that eventually you believe them as much as you have believed that you are the outsider and nobody loves you. It will do your heart and soul a world of good.

Scorpio – Oct. 23 to Nov. 21

Celebrate the disappointments. See them as mistakes that you will never have to make again, as lessons your soul sent you so that you could bypass other, more trying ones and move on to the next level. Seriously. Take delight in all the shit that you have been through and recognize that you are now free to follow your passion. There’s nothing left to lose, there’s no more mistakes that can be made, you’ve slid to the end of your rope and now you must jump. Many things in your life are going to die away soon, and the process will be quick, like a thunderbolt up your spine. If you don’t celebrate what you’ve been through, and really learn from it, this transformation will be hard. On the other hand, if you do recognize the lessons, retain the data supplied by them, and celebrate that you are moving on, the sky’s the limit, my friend.

Sagittarius – Nov. 22 to Dec. 21

You’ve been a bit pessimist as of late; a little on the negative side. But that’s okay, you’ve just been having trouble integrating the many different aspects of yourself and your life. Part of you wants to go in one direction, another part wants to wander the opposite way and because you can’t do both things at once you get tight in the stomach and grouchy with whoever happens to be around. Take a deep breath and remember that all things have right time and right place. You can do everything you want to do, you just have to get better at planning it out, seeing the long-term, and letting go of your stubborn “need” for immediate gratification. All that matters right now is how you are doing on your path to your dreams/goals. If you compare yourself to others you are only going to end up in a loop of sorrow and disappointment.

Capricorn – Dec. 22 to Jan. 19

Like a monk on a pilgrimage you are traveling to the inner recesses of your consciousness. Pay attention to your dreams, do things in small measure and only what is required. Spend time alone and in nature. Keep a diary and try not to edit your thoughts before they make it to the page. Use this record as a way to track what your soul is telling you. This kind of alone-time will allow you to lift the burden you wear emotionally and mentally. This burden has to do with obligations to family and loved ones, but it does not need to be a reality in your life. Finding a creative solution that can lift this burden will come through  time alone to think, feel, and daydream your way to inner knowing. Neglecting to do so will only mean that you will continue on in a state of anxiety and be trapped by current circumstances. Other options are available now, not in some distant future. Create the reality you want.

Aquarius – Jan. 20 to Feb. 18

Surrender to the part of you that wants to take care of and nurture others. Do those good deeds you’ve been plotting, get out and participate in your community, or find a way to join the causes that pull at your heart strings. You’re not clear on why you’re resisting the urge to do so, however, I can tell you that it has to do with fear of celebrating your brilliance. Right now, doing good for those you love as well as those you don’t know at all will give you a sense of purpose and direction. If you are already the type of Aquarius who helps with causes and participates in your community, try to see what you are overlooking. Are you spending enough time with your kids, your spouse, your parents? Are you showing them how much you really love them and need them in your life; that they matter to you? It’s not only the world that needs your talents and generosity, but your loved ones as well. A sense of purpose can also begin at home.

Pisces – Feb. 19 to Mar. 20

Trust the inward moments, Pisces. Swim deep into the murky waters of your subconscious and find the treasures that are hidden there. Things have been set in motion and there’s no stopping or changing your mind now, so all you can do is trust. I know it’s hard when you don’t know if you’ll be able to pay the rent, or if your family and friends will accept the decision you have made, or if you have chosen the right career path, but trust is the only action that will bring you any peace right now. Though there are many things you must pay attention to in your everyday life, don’t forget that you also need some down-time in order to find your centre and feel more grounded in the bigger picture of your life. Most of all, though: don’t give up. You have made the right choice and the universe is on your side.