May came crashing in

All of a sudden the month of May was here.  Where did April go?  I felt that I had been going from one thing to another without a stop.  The first weekend of May I decided it was time for a well needed break with just a morning walk on the beach, except there was no beach to be seen when I came down to the ocean.  Only water that had built up to a swell and crashed into shore.  Little did I know that was how I would feel for most of May, that a big wave came crashing into and over me.

Life is full of changes and unexpected situations, some are welcome while others are not.  This May has greeted with me with situations that made me feel like I was swept out from shore with a current so strong I had to stay in the water against my will.  Other times I have been able to do what you are supposed to do, ride with the tide.

So with the good and the bad, with both internal storms and several storms from Mother Earth, all I can do is to learn that you cannot go against the current.  Acceptance of something you cannot control is very difficult, and at times it will leave you gulping for air.  But one thing is for sure, after a storm comes a welcoming calm.  Embrace it and breathe in the love around you and breathe out the stuggles.  That way you will stand more firmly rooted when the next storm hits, and when it does - what do you do?

You ride with the tide.

New Moon in Aries

Last week the new Moon was in Aries.  Its effect is not for one night only.  It is not a lover for a night who leaves you at the break of dawn.  This new Moon can have an affect on you for many days, like a new crush hanging around.  This new Moon is positive, just like a new love.  It  can also be seen as a spring awakening, rebooting our systems for an entire year.  As we do with a newfound love interest, we need to feel our way through the energies within us to make the best of it. A new Moon will always give you a portal of two weeks in which to work, and the actions you take in that window of time can have the power to affect you positively for an entire year.  So let us make this new love affair to get off to a good start.  "How can I do that?", you wonder.  Here are a few things to consider during this time period, all to maximize the energy within you right now:

* Let anger lead you to passion

This might sound strange, but anger does not need to be a negative emotion in and of itself.  It is how we use it that matters.  It is time to find that inner warrior, because the things that upset us are often the pointers to our passion.  We can start to create a constructive change, fighting the good fight for our beliefs.

* Find your fight

Try to think if you might have given up on something or someone too soon?  If so, dust yourself off and go back to fight for what you deserve and want in your life.  If you do not know what your fight and desire is, be still and it will find you.

* Be selfish ... for a cause 

There is a great saying that rings true in regards to this matter that I am trying to take to heart.  Hopefully it will ring true for you as well:  "There can be a desire to receive to share, or the desire to receive for self alone".  When we want something just for ourselves, we burn out fast.  When we desire an abundant life for others, the universe is happy to give us more and more.

Aries energy can stun us with its entitlement.  It can also inspire us.  Aries are unafraid and want more - and this can be the basis for our inspiration to desire more.  For others.

* Tune your passion meter to E (for excitement)

When was the last time you truly felt genuine excitement and joy about something?  The Aries new Moon prompts us to awaken a spine-tingling feeling.  Let that blood pump through your veins so you can feel every beat, springing you into action.  Passion is an essential element of living a fulfilled life, and the Aries new Moon serves us as a reminder.  Emotions are E-motion.  When we can FEEL something, we can move it.  So let joy and passion help us get unstuck.

* Embrace your inner fame

This new Moon wants us to pursue our passions and awaken our gifts.  The journey starts with a baby step in the right direction towards your passion and dream.  Dare to take that first step to the unknown.

* But do not let it go to your head ...

With all the daring energy swirling around, there is also a good deal of stress that accompanies it.  As the "head" of the zodiac, Aries rules the cranium and this new Moon turns our healing focus there.  So maybe go for a scalp massage or ask someone to gently rub your neck and shoulders, which are often the cause of cranial agony.  Also, remember to stay hydrated and take note of your breathing.  Make sure that you stop to take a break a few times per day, and take several deep breaths to let your mind and body relax.  This will hopefully prevent you from getting tension headaches.

So let Aries send you focusing on creative opportunities, sharing your gift with others and letting new beginnings begin!

Solar Eclipse and Spring Equinox

This day started with a total Solar Eclipse that could be seen in parts of the world.  Thirteen hours later the Spring Equinox began.  The Moon tonight is a very powerful New Moon, so there are a lot of different energies in the atmosphere at the same time.

Today is associated with "new beginnings" in our lives.  That can mean a new beginning for certain things or just a need to permanently end certain things.  Right now it is important to remember the saying "an ending is also a beginning".

Maybe there are things, situations, relationships, etc. that do not serve us well anymore.  This is a time to wash away negative aspects in your life, aspects which do not reflect who you truly are.  Pause and tune in to your true self.  This is all about that we are at a choice point.  It is the end of avoidance.

Surrender to the flow of life.   Let regret, shame, sorrow or sadness for chances now gone go.  They were not for this time.

So pause and listen to the original story of your soul.

Spring Forward!

 

Spring is here, and with that a new promise. A promise of longer and brighter days. The energy in the air will hopefully also spill over to our inner world. Life feels a little easier when we can get some rays of sunshine into our souls, and there is a little more bounce in our steps,

I have spent the last month juggling responsibilities with trying to stay healthy. I have had too many items on my to-do-list. I easily forgot myself. I know I am not alone in this. We sit at the computer to just answer one more e-mail or to take one more phone call. In a blink of an eye the day is gone. I maybe accomplished a lot of tasks but I missed a really essential part. I missed putting me on that list. After a hectic February, I realize that I actually need to schedule appointments with myself. To catch a breath, to exercise, to eat right and sometimes to take time-out to relax, either relaxing with a cup of tea and a book, or spending time in the company of family and close friends.

I have not been completely out of touch with the importance of trying to stay healthy and feeding my inner self,  but I could have done better. It is now mid-March and we have switched over to summertime here in the US. They call it Spring Forward, and that is what March has done so far. The last couple of days it even skipped spring and became summer. We have had record warm weather and today I finally took that well needed break from duties and responsibilities. With the warm sun lingering longer over the horizon, I took the season’s first dip in the pool. I needed to cool my body and head several times throughout this hot day. Refreshed inside and out, I now am doing what I am supposed to do. I am writing … It is not something that I have to do, but need to do. Why? Because it feeds my inner self with pure joy and I am connecting with You. I missed that this last month, and I need to learn how to prioritize me-time. Time management is what it is called in the business world. In my world it is just pure self-care. Please do not forget yourself in the buzz of responsibilities. Put yourself in your calendar and spend some time doing or being who you are at the core. What is it that brings fire to your soul? Go out and do that, or sit with it if that is the case. Soon I will watch the last rays of sun dip over the horizon and my heart beats calmly. I was able to just be me today. Hope you had a chance to be You as well.

Welcome February!

It is easy for me to welcome a new "winter month" standing outside, letting the sun warm my face.  The sun is breathing life, and I feel it in every pore of my body.

Not everyone can step out into the warmth of the sun right now.  What you can do though, is to step outside and breathe fresh air.  even if it is just for a brief moment.  The fresh air, (almost) regardless of temperature will clear your mind and free your senses.

As hard as the dark winter months can be in the Northern Hemisphere, you who live there, will endure and make the most of it.  Trust me, I have lived with real winters most of my life, so I do know how difficult it can be.  I also know that the sun will shine with warm bright rays upon your skin again.  It is a known fact, so hold onto that image and cozy up after breathing some fresh air.  Cozy up by the fire, light some candles and just be.

So even if I do not need to shovel snow or put on winter clothes, I had to experience what the New Year brought me, like for all of you.  January started with a BOOM in all kinds of directions, and I am now trying to navigate how I will spend my time the next eleven months of this year.

The year started off with a lot of demands of my time, an emotional blow to the heart and some minor medical issues.  All of a sudden I sat with a "to-do-list" so large that I did not even know where to start.  I am used to being my own boss, and with some new responsibilities I had to rethink.  To prioritize correctly and manage my time plus energy became my biggest challenge.

I wanted to take on my new responsibilities with a clear head.  To do so, I needed to center myself emotionally.

The other day when the demands and tasks seemed too overwhelming. I did what I have done so many times before.  I closed the computer, turned off the phone, and put away all the papers that were spread around me.  I stepped outside to our front lawn and saw the beauty in front of me.

With several deep breaths, I saw everything clearly and smelled the goodness around me.  The salty ocean, the lush bushes and the magical sky were all there for me to take in with all my senses.

The cool evening air calmed my mind and stilled my emotions.  I walked back inside to not just do, but also to be.