Even in the most unlikely of places, life finds a way.

All Signs

In this media driven age, where every aspect of our lives is shaped by outside cultural influences beamed into our lives via our televisions, phones, tablets, and computers, many of us get caught up in thinking that if we have not achieved what others have then we are not good enough, or that we will never “make it,” or fit in to the rest of society. Our childhood dreams of what we wanted to be when we grew up were obliterated by cultural norms, gender norms, and the idea that we must be “practical” to succeed in life. We learned through our informal societal education (family and friends) that we must, in every way, compare ourselves to others. From how we look to what we think, we are conditioned to examine our presence in our social context and make adjustments to ensure that we fit in.

This is not an abstract thought, it is a reality. You may think you’re a rebel because you’re a hippy, an environmentalist, a feminist, or just against capitalism and you’re not going to be taken in by “the man,” but that just isn’t so. What car you drive, whether you buy at Walmart or the local farm stand, how you act in a social situation, how private you are, your political views; all of these kinds of things ensure that you fit into at least one social group.

At this time we are all learning about how these structural norms are actually inhibiting us. With the information we carry around inside our bodies and our psyches, we carry a great burden, one that is bound to us by the population we are surrounded by. When we compare ourselves to others and only try to fit into a classified, and socially accepted role we are actually cutting ourselves off from the supply of support from our own innate beings. And when we let go of the demands we put on ourselves about how things “should be,” we can then surrender to the path we are on in the now and see it for the lesson that it is. We are consumed by the thought that we are wrong; we must not be doing it right because what we’re doing isn’t turning out just like everyone else. But we are each individuals who are connected at the very core of our cells by the fabric of the universe. No matter how much we pretend to be separate, we are all connected and we effect each other.

Our logic is beginning to coincide with our inner knowing. That knowing says that the only way we can be, is to be ourselves. Having expectations of what “should” be, when these expectations take away from what feels good and whole and true to the inner self, only serve to take us more and more off track — in terms of being at peace, feeling fulfilled, and like our lives have meaning — and in fact embed us more firmly into the social norms of the culture of our upbringing.

Therefore, I recommend that you promise yourself something. If what you are about to do with your life (hint: this has to do with the major decision consuming your thoughts and reality) causes you to panic and think that you are not doing enough to leave your mark on this world, punch that thought in the face.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t fight for what you want and keep going even when things get tough. What I am saying is that we will be much happier if we forgive ourselves for being what we are and surrender to the process of actualizing that whole self, whatever that self may be.

Note: If you are interested in reading an article or two about social structure theory by leading anthropologists, I recommend checking out “On Social Structure” by A. R. Radcliffe-Brown, or “Social Structure” by Claude Levi-Strauss.

Aries – Mar. 21 to Apr. 19

Practice sharing. Spread that shit on everything. Share your feelings (good or bad), your joys, your pain, your heart, your worldly goods. There is an opportunity for a lot of love to flow through your life right now, but you need to be open to it. The control you exert over your emotions, the way you deny what you are really feeling and what you really need in order to play the hero role, only causes you to lash out at inappropriate times because you feel taken advantage of. If you practice sharing what’s really going on in that head of yours, being honest with yourself as well as others, you will experience a shift in how you experience love in your life. The trust you have such a hard time putting in others will find space to grow and be nurtured. The joy you want to share with loved ones will blossom and become more spontaneous and more frequent. There is no way that you can carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, so stop trying. You are actually depriving your loved ones of their right to be responsible for their own lives.

Taurus – Apr. 20 to May 20

Lately you have felt suppressed from every angle. It’s as though those around you have collectively agreed not allow you to express who you really are. Or maybe they’ve agreed that they just won’t see you. Or maybe it’s just that you are suppressing who you really are and what you are really feeling. Perhaps you are not facing tough, emotional issues that are staring you in the face? In either case your soul is responding by giving you the tools to deal with this suppression through play and travel. This means that the more joy and playfulness you bring to your work, your relationships, your daily routine, the more you are going to free yourself from suppression. Look at yourself with eyes that are forgiving, compassionate, and filled with a sense of humour. Allow your mind to wander, and follow your feet. Through these actions you are able to access past life information, or the knowing of your soul, that will allow you to understand that the suppression is an illusion.

Gemini – May 21 to Jun. 20

You will need courage to face the next couple of weeks and months, my friend. For what is required in your life is a letting go of disappointment. You are holding on too tight to the past, but it has already slipped through your fingers. You are grasping an illusion, or ghost memory, that is still floating around on the hard drive of your psyche. You need to approach your life and the world with innocence. Let go of the idea that you know anything. Surrender to being the listener, the learner, and dedicate yourself to opening your mind to new possibilities. The narrow scope of your perception and permission is causing you undue pain. There are many more options available than just the ones you keep replaying in your head.

Cancer – Jun. 21 to Jul. 22

Ever heard the saying, “when something goes wrong in your life, just yell ‘plot twist,’ and move on”? You might want to make that your motto for a while. Or have you all ready begun to clue into this? All the strange, frustrating, and even infuriating things that have been happening to you are signalling that you need to change your approach to life. Expect to be flooded with a new vision. Expect that you will decide that you have to do something different and that doing so will effect your whole reality. Your search for totality is laden with too many expectations and you’re not able to hear what your soul and your heart are really telling you. Here’s a thought, keep it simple. Stop trying to complicate things so much that the goals you set for yourself are pretty much unattainable. Stick to one thing and focus on that. Alleviate distractions of all kinds. And most of all, focus on what makes you feel happy and those things that help to remove stress from your day-to-day reality.

Leo – Jul. 23 to Aug. 22

If you don’t stop clinging to the past, you will never be able to heal and move on. Playing out politics that are outdated and no longer relevant is only adding layers to the masks you put on every day. It’s time to get more basic. It’s time to strip layers and cut down to the bones of the matter. You want movement, you even crave it. You want your life to be full of love and joy, but for some reason you push away every opportunity for love or joy that the universe sends to you. I can see you shaking your head and thinking that I’m totally off. You are saying, “I do so invite love and joy into my life! I do so work to change and move on from past issues!” But if this is true, then why aren’t you going anywhere? Why does it still feel like the same-old, same-old? What’s the problem? You’ve got one foot in the past, and one foot in the present, and you need to decide which reality you are going to live in. There’s an aspect of your personality that still has not grown up and you need to give this child-self room to mature.

Virgo – Aug. 23 to Sept. 22

You’ve been working too hard. Time to find some fun things to do and rest and rejuvenate your body and mind. If you let yourself stop for a second you might just realize how exhausted you are. I know that things have to get done and you have deadlines just like the rest of us, but some of those things on the to-do list can be accomplished through the synchronistic workings of the universe. You never know, taking a nap, reading a book, or going to lunch with friends, may just provide the space in your head to allow your imagination to show you the answer to a key problem or question. Or you might get introduced to someone who could fill a role in your business or work-place, or fill that gap in that project you’ve been working on. Just be aware that if you don’t take care of the exhaustion, if you keep pushing to get more and more done without giving yourself some down-time, your work, home-life, and your body are going to suffer.

Libra – Sept. 23 to Oct. 22

What you are experiencing is the construction of the foundation for the rest of your life. No matter what age you are, what you have learned about your own will to survive has opened you up to changing unhealthy patterns and allowed you to reassess what really matters to you. Through letting go of your control over circumstances and allowing yourself harmonize with the moment, you are accessing the guidance that you were looking for. The thoughts and attitudes that you develop now will dictate how you see the world for years to come, so be mindful and be present. You are choosing the direction of things to come, things as practical as where you will live, the state of your health, and the people you are surrounded by. Remember, there is no right or wrong answer, so you don’t have to get hung up on trying to determine and then justify the direction you are headed in. It’s all about letting go.

Scorpio – Oct. 23 to Nov. 21

This battle you’ve got raging within you is only filling you with sorrow. You think you’re battling the sorrow, but you’re gravely mistaken, my friend. You are at war with yourself. You’re so hell-bent on believing that you are bad or doing something wrong that you have diminished your ability to see any light or joy or hope. Why are you doing this to yourself? Well, you’re afraid to integrate all the different aspects of who you are and let others see that kaleidoscopic being. You may be pretty extroverted these days when it comes to expressing your anger, but you have shoved all other emotions down your preverbal gullet. Nobody knows what you’re thinking or feeling, and contrary to what you think, this is not a good thing. Let the moon guide you. Try to be at ease with the ebb and flow of emotions, and the tendency of your mind to wander into la-la land. Be open to the big picture and remember that you are going through a necessary phase or season. This phase is not the end-all and be-all of your existence, and it will not last forever. What you are experiencing now does not define you as a person.

Sagittarius – Nov. 22 to Dec. 21

No matter what your head is telling you, don’t listen. You are ready to take that leap of faith, start your education, get that new job, move to another community, or commit to that relationship. I know you’re waffling. You think there’s no way in hell that now is the right time, but it is. All you need is a little courage to do what your gut is telling you. And in case you didn’t get this point all ready, your head has no idea what’s going on. All your head is succeeding in doing is filling you with anxiety and fear. Breathe, look at all that you have accomplished in your life up to this point. You do have the strength to do what is required, and you are ready to make the changes that are necessary. The heavy burden that you are allowing to sit on your shoulders is not yours and you need to let it go. The more you waffle back and forth about it, the more you will prolong your pain.

Capricorn – Dec. 22 to Jan. 19

You are doing a good job of letting go of the conditioned responses and beliefs you acquired as a child. You are letting go of your assumption that these societal conditionings have any actual hold on you, and you are therefore allowing your true self to shine like never before. Don’t lose the momentum; you are not out of the woods yet. The more you strip these beliefs and responses, the more you learn to act from your own will or intent instead of react to circumstances, the more you will be rewarded with a sense of fulfilment. You are also learning a little bit about balance and equilibrium. The tendency to run yourself to the point of exhaustion, not take time for self-care, is being balanced out by a new-found ability to see how the ecosystems of the different aspects of your life effect each other. You know the part of you that overindulges? Well, it’s is being mellowed and tempered and is being trained to have it’s eye on a greater fulfilment than can be provided by the urge to be instantly gratified.

Aquarius – Jan. 20 to Feb. 18

As is true to your nature, you are going through another rebirth phase. This time it’s about getting in touch with your inner knowing. You’re more of a head person than a mushy-gushy feel-from-the-heart person, but you’re discovering as you get older that the old ticker has a lot more knowledge to impart than you had given it credit for. Through mistakes you have made in the past and the paths you have chosen to wander throughout your lifetime, you are beginning to see that not everything is explained by science and logic. Sometimes we just know things. Practice honing this skill, Aquarius. You could even make a game out of it: is my intuition right? You can play this with your friends and tally up the score. Just remember, you have to want to listen for real to the messages your heart and solar plexus are sending you, otherwise you’re not playing fair with yourself.

Pisces – Feb. 19 to Mar. 20

Magic is going to come to you through friendly interaction with the outside world. Keep lines of communication open and jump on the opportunity to have new experiences. You can’t predict the future because it’s still in the making. You have no idea of the opportunities that are trying to make their way into your life. There is immense growth taking place both inside you and with how you deal with the world. You have recently discovered that the path you were on needed a slight adjustment in its course. For a while this made you feel like a failure and like you were leaving something important behind. Now you are realizing that the change was/is necessary and is still in alignment with your higher goals. Follow the path of least resistance and give into the process. Let the answers come to you through the mouths of people you will soon meet.