Life Purpose: the Call of the Holy Spirit

Each one of us is born with a divine purpose and a host of gifts that we are given to live out this sacred purpose.  One of our gifts is the ability to listen from within. Sometimes called intuition, insight, intelligence, or wisdom, it is the inner knowledge that reside in our physical, mental, emotional, kinesthetic, and and spiritual bodies.  Those of us who have had acupuncture may understand the energy channels that run throughout our bodies. Those with some knowledge of chakras (vortices of energy located throughout our bodies) understand how blocks and challenges in one area of our bodies and lives can have an impact on other areas of our bodies. Those of us who keep up with the latest information about from the sciences understand how our systems interact and work, and how we can have an intentional impact on our own health and levels of energy. Our whole health depends upon balance, which depends on paying attention to all areas of our lives and taking steps to keep ourselves nourished, energized, healed, and rested.

Today I am resting after a three-day conference where I sat and listened to discussions, talks, and sat among strangers for hour on end.  When I drove up the Oregon Coast yesterday, stopping to take in the beauty of the ocean, the rivers, and some of the idiosyntricities of coastal, rural Oregon, I was reminded of how exhausting it is for me to sit in meetings. While there were some very interesting people talking about some very important topics, my focus, attention, and energy were constantly reminding me that I am no longer a part of the system which I was trying to participate in. The result was a very tired, exhausted, poorly nourished person looking back at me in the mirror last night. The food at the conference was plentiful and well-balanced, the setting was beautiful and luxurious, yet my experience was draining and it depleted me of energy rather than nourishing me.

I share this experience as a way to highlight what happens when we are not listening to the inner voice, the intuitive sense we have of knowing what is good for us and what is not. We live in a time of great transformation and transition. We look at the world around us, the systems that have been operating for long periods of time, falling apart. The conference I attended had to do with higher education, and the trends, statistics, and conflicting values and interests were evident throughout all the conversations that took place. Most of us can observe in the world around us, how institutional, societal, cultural, and political change abound. What we often overlook, as most of us are caught up in holding on for dear life to the boat we call our life, to keep our own lives in order and functioning. Through the process however, we sometimes miss the inner turmoil, urgings, callings, and messages that our own lives require that we attend. Those of us who acknowledge a Divine Creator, God, Higher Power, Divine Mind and Intelligence, or omnipotent and omnipresent Holy One, we honor the tradition of God's voice speaking to us, through the holiness of God's Spirit. Not the voice of our inner critique that whispers you can't, or you aren't smart, strong, young, or old enough or the rationalizer who tries to convince us that "you had no choice" or it's someone else's fault. The voice of inner wisdom, the Holy Spirit, the intuitive whisper comes from a pure place that speaks of a truth that resounds throughout your body and whole being. It may hit you in the gut, tingle on the surface of your skin, warm and fill your heart, pop the synapses of your brain in a burst, or zing throughout your body like an electric current...however it comes to you, it is the strong voice of Divine wisdom connecting you to your soul purpose.

Much of our understanding and listening happens on the subconscious levels, the dream levels, or through the rational mind and aware heart connection. Those of us who rely on these pathways of wisdom, are often surprised when the answers we seek either don't come through the usual channels or we seem unable to discern or translate the meaning. I bring this up because being a highly intuitive person, I depend on the silent, subconscious messages, and find that in the process, I sometimes overlook that which dwells on the surface and in my full, conscious awareness. Over the weekend I had the experience of watching a movie about J.K. Rawlings, and her journey as a writer. One scene described the moment when the writer experienced the feeling of being acknowledged as a writer. She was at the time, a teacher. She had been called out of her classroom to receive a phone call letting her know her book was to be published. She stood by herself, trying to contain her feelings, and then she whooped and leaped for joy. At that moment, my entire body was shot full of electricity, and I recognized within myself, the feeling of joy at acknowledging my soul purpose. From that moment on, everything else became clear to me, and while looking outside or hoping for some divine inspiration, I found the connection by recognizing in a fictional discovery, the discovery I seek. On the way home, I stopped along the way to take photographs of an area that I'm setting a mystery novel I'm writing. As I photographed the street that features in one of my books, I looked up and saw a banner on a lightpost. It is the photograph posted with this article. There are signs all around us. We receive support from those who love and care for us, and we follow the path that seems to be the right one until we come to a realization, a dead end, a block, or a sign post that jangles our nervous system, awakens our dreams, or reminds us where we are meant to be headed. The discernment of our spiritual purpose and the pathways that we are meant to travel, are by no means set in stone, for we always have choices about which direction to head. We are fortunate to live in times when we have too many choices, according to some, but through spending more time paying attention to that intuitive knowledge we each possess, we are more likely to find ourselves living out the dreams, the passions, the life we believe we are meant to live.
One of the most horrifying things I heard at the conference I attended was the statement by an educator that he backed with facts saying, and I paraphrase, students don't like too many choices. They like to have the plan laid out in front of them, and to know where they are headed and what steps it will take to get there. They like to know what is expected, and then follow the path exactly as it is laid out.

Having been involved in education, one way or the other, for over 60 years (since kindergarten), I wouldn't want to put my faith in any educational system's ideas of reform, trends, or best practices. While I have enjoyed my experiences in academia, I no longer believe as many of my colleagues do, that the only path to the living out of one's dreams is through the educational system. Neither do I believe that an education is not important. Most of my educational experiences were a great support to me, and I regret nothing of my experiences. However, to truly meet the needs of others, we have to encourage the development of the whole person, and the reliance of each of us on the power of our intuitive knowledge and ability to connect to our own gifts, talents, dreams, and desires so that we can develop and live lives in collaboration, in relationship, and in communication in our families, communities, and world of nations and peoples.

Maybe we all "like" a plan and a knowledge of where we are headed and exactly how we are going to get there. The problem with this mindset is things rarely work out according to plan, and living with the expectation that they will, leads to an inability to deal with change. While there is some truth to having a plan and preparing for certain goals, a more important experience is learning to listen to one's own intuitive knowledge, combine it with knowledge, experience, reflection, and relationships that encourage communication, tolerance, synthesis of ideas, and focus on one's emotional, spiritual, intellectual, relational, and physical development and growth.

This morning, the Moon moves into Capricorn, where it meets the transforming Pluto to give us a desire to conscientiously put our hearts, minds, and souls into practical actions and steps toward living out our soul purposes more consistently, more truthfully, and more in alignment with the Divine Spirit in our lives. This process of facing our truth may trigger emotions and make us a bit uncomfortable. Emotions, however, are signals, signs, and indicators of what is moving within us, what is calling us to shift, change, and improve our lives. Neptune in Acquaius at 28 degrees, is allowing for a wealth of spiritual experiences...seeing beyond the traditional and into the wholeness of Divinity and the expansiveness of living a spiritually-based life. Tonight the moon conjuncts bountiful Jupiter encourages us to connect to that which nourishes, sustains, and enriches us; later a lunar conjunction with Pluto (the great Transformer) may trigger reactions from others. When we are feeling full and connected and in what feels like spiritual alignment, we need to be careful with our expectations of others. Our deep and sacred experiences are of the realm of the ineffable; therefore, we are not always able to communicate the depth and power they have on us to others. Let your experiences, ideas, bounty and abundance be what they are. Let them nourish you now for what you have to do, complete, serve, provide, create, or experience later...as part of your spiritual purpose and path. Let others do the same with theirs. Be supportive and provide a safe space for those you love and share your lives with to be with what is for their journey. Avoid competing over values, dreams, and expectations. There is no one right path for everyone; respect and honor your pathway and the pathways others have chosen.
Late tonight the Moon sextiles the Sun, and creates a peaceful, harmonious time for all of us to reflect, revel, relate, and remember our spiritual gifts and calling as we live out our physical experience of life.

Yesterday's New Moon occurred just two days before the Jupiter trines Pluto, both in earth signs and also before the date that signals the end of an age as described with the Mayan calendar.  Whether or not we follow the series of earthshaking predictions, we cannot help but observe how much the world in which we live is shifting and changing.  The rapid advances and changes in communications, the technology, and the subsequent changes in how we come to understand the world in which we live, all bring our attention to cultural and relational changes.  Looking out on this quiet morning, I see the world around me much as it was yesterday. Today the sky is clear, the sun is bright, and the colors of the river, sky, and mountains sparkle in the cool autumn sun.  For the first time in several days, my insides are calm and I move from one task to another in peace and serenity.  What makes the difference from one day to the next, in the way we experience our lives?

The shifting of perceptions has much to do with the changes I experience.  Being able to settle my mind on the tasks before me, or handle a task I have been putting off, often frees me from the edginess or preoccupation I suffer sometimes when I feel blocked, exhausted, afraid, or confused. Moving with intention helps, but only when I have truly acknowledged the underlying issues that keep me from living life freely and peacefully.  The energy of transitional times like new moon times, trigger us to refresh our memories, resolve those disturbing parts of life, and release the patterns, habits, and mind-trapping beliefs that bring us into battle with ourselves and the world around us.  Allowing ourselves to face the truth of who we are, what we need to take care of in life, and what we are being called to change, do, be, or create are all required in order to shift our perceptions and then our life paths. 

Without facing our inner, hidden or buried truths, desires, and fears, we live as if we were pushing the tides of the oceans with our hands alone.  Moving in rhythm with the tides, understanding and seeing the flows and ebbs of our lives, relationships, work, projects, creativity, indeed, all areas of our lives, enables us to living in harmony with the beat of the earth, in peace with the Cosmos, and in balance with ourselves and those we love.

We are always at a moment in time when we are either approaching change, resting in the midst of movement, or entering into a new adventure.  Paying attention to where we are on each leg of our journey, requires a time to rest in place so we can calmly acknowledge what we need in order to move forward.  The threshold times, the in-between times, come in moments, weeks, and sometimes longer periods, and they offer us opportunities that we can use or squander.  Respect your life enough to honor the moments of your days, the gifts of your unique incarnation, and the call of the Universe, the Divine Spirit to live out your intended purpose as a gift to yourself and those you meet along the road.

Devotion and ritual provide us with ways of honoring the sacredness of our lives. Gather with those who share a  vision and commitment to a more heart-centered approach to living and connecting with the Sacred within our lives, connecting us to all that is, and calling us to respond to the crucial needs of the cultures and peoples of the Earth who must decide how we are to live together and work on healing of the human spirit and the wounded soul of the planet and her people.

With Jupiter and Pluto forming a bright trine to one another, lighting up the night sky, we are also called to combine the power of our own bounty, gifts and abundance with the transformative powers and intentions of our times to commit ourselves to creating and living a more sustainable, united world for good of all who inhabit the earth and for the generations to come. 

Listen to what your heart, soul, mind, and conscience call you to do, be, and begin.  Acknowledge what needs to be released in order for you to live more present to the life you have been given. Enjoy the power of being in the world at this time, on this day, and with all the gifts of your life.  Be grateful and stand in awe of what beauty there is and how important it is for each of us to live with intention to sustain one another.  Enjoy the beauty of Life. Spend time in meditation, prayers, and contemplation acknowledging and sensing all the bounty of the transformation taking place in your life now. 

Moving into the Depths

Waking this morning to the river shrouded with fog, the ships' whistles blowing warnings of danger in the channel, reminded me of the different stages of life we live.  There are times when the stillness and lack of movement on the surface of our lives seems to hide the growth, transformation, and mystery brewing inside.  There are times when movement is not evident, when change seems distant, and when we seem so focused on one issue or situation or another that we can scarcely see beyond the moment.

Early today, the energy of Mars aspects the transformative nature of of Pluto, perhaps causing some to feel a sense of urgency to change, move on, or "do" something. On a day when many of us need to rest and refresh, we may sense a struggle within ourselves and between those with whom we live. Noticing that the nature of the urgency or frustration comes from planetary energetic shifts and reactions (as seen by the rash and emotional responses of people and the shaking up of the earth itself with the tidal shifts and earth movement), may help us channel the energy more positively than we might feel like.
Playing, exercising, sorting and shifting things around may be some of the ways to use the more frenetic energy apparent we might be feeling.  Often at this time of the year, we begin to feel the push-me, pull-me of the expectations of the lives we live. Well into a new school year, yet tired from having been on a treadmill for what may seem like an endless cycle of expectations, obligations, and keeping up. Time to get out of the rat race and onto the treadmill, bicycle, swimming pool, yoga mat, trail, or track to exert and expend some of the energy that has become trapped in places where we need to release.

Today the Sun moves into the constellation of Scorpio, the metaphoric symbol of the mysteries hidden in the depths of our subconscious or in the mysteries of the transcendence of the Universe. The interplay between what is brewing within our own being and how we are responding and reacting to the conditions, energies, and activities of the world in which we live, provide us with a constant series of stories that we live out. 

Something there is about the passage of the year and the changing of seasons, especially when we move from lightness to darkness, that calls our attention to our human mortality.  At its worse, some people trend into depression when the days grown darker. At best, we move into the cycles and activities of being present to each season and using the change as a way to deepen and use our energy to meet our immediate needs.  Time to pull out our warmer clothes, and arrange our homes, our wardrobe, our lives, and our thinking to appreciate the fruits of the harvest and to prepare ourselves for the winter season. Time to adjust our diet (something that often comes by a sudden change of tastes) and time to notice how our bodies are signaling us to slow down, to notice the shifts in temperature and the effect such shifts have on our movement and flexibility.  Living more intentionally because the call is stronger from within, and is unmistakable outside of ourselves.

Developing some practices that allow you to live more mindfully, move with more intention, and rest and nourish yourself and others with less need for structure and more need for creating a peaceful, calm, and enjoyable environment that nurtures everyone, allows for time for pleasure and fun, and allows everyone to let off steam without creating chaos in relationships. 

Sing and dance what you might not want to express out loud. Take your anxiety for a walk or burn off some anger by shouting out to the sea. Paint your expression, or write out thoughts that allow you to release feelings and irrational  desires in a safe and sane manner.  Allow yourself to view the shadow displays that come up from within or that are flying about in the environment like ghosts on All Hallow's Eve...and create a ritual or prayer, a story or creative display to put the expression of difficult energy and experiences in a form that helps change perspective and perception. Make someone laugh. Find the absurdity of a piece of your reactions, or learn how to forgive and release your spirit from the traps it might otherwise remain trapped in.  Mercury and Uranus aspect one another as the day ends, and we may find ourselves needing to communicate bursts of ideas, thoughts, or opinions. Find a peaceful way to channel those ideas into prayer, meditation, or a bedtime story. Nurture yourself and those you love. Allow yourself and others time, space, peace, and calm to tend to the care of the soul, the mind, and the body as live in awareness of that which we see and that which we sense. Listen for the messages of your dreams, your insight, your intuitive, as well as the messages you are receiving from those with whom you live, work, and interact. 

Just a Turn of the Head, Heart, and Life

Sometimes we wander along our life path, seemingly at the whims of unforeseen forces, overwhelming circumstances, or conditions beyond our control.  More and more people everywhere are awakening to not only their individual power and strength, but also to their collective power of strength.  We humans have always had an understanding of this power, energy, and strength, and we know this because of some of the beauty and grandeur, innovations and discoveries, and destruction and and misery we have created. Yes, we have the power to do good or create chaos and destruction.

Much of the time, however, we have all we can do to take care of the life we live from day to day. For the most part, we set good intentions and try to do our best.  There are exceptions to this evident in crime statistics, wars, and other destructive behavior and outcomes.  This morning as I listened to a Course in Miracles broadcast, a conversation with Jennifer Hadley and Karen Russo, I was reminded of three simple truths that support my belief that my life is my spiritual practice.  My life, the day to day living of it, is not in any way divorced from my spiritual practice and core beliefs. 

There are three elements of my practice that help me navigate the pathways and passages of life.
In every moment,  seek to come into alignment with the Divine Creative Force, God, within you, acting through you, infusing you with wisdom, insight, love, and intuitive knowledge. That may mean invoking or calling the Holy Spirit, the Divine Light, to awaken in me an awareness of the ever-present connection we have with God~within us, working through us, guiding us.  Aligning with the  Divine Presence within me and around me means being intentional with my actions.  Turning towards that which is Holy, Listening, feeling, watching for ways to recognize the Light.  It may be through the eyes of your child or in a moment of inspiration, or the lifting of a sense of dread. Allowing ourselves to release the need to define God, but instead allowing the Divine to infuse us with a sense of knowing, being, loving. In using the practice of forgiveness to release ourselves from those areas where we have allowed ourselves to be trapped in anger, fear, disgust, intolerance, shame, or blame, frees us for being more connected to Divine Being.

Second, examining our beliefs, to see if our beliefs are in alignment with our actions, thoughts, motivations, and the way we are living our lives.  Again, this is an intentional practice; noticing how what I say I believe jives with how I'm acting. And then, without judging or diving into blame or shame, accepting when things are out of alignment and then making some adjustments. What is the Truth about who is the source of my life energy, abundance, creativity, love? What do I need to change or forgive, release or turn from?  Do I possess some kind of magic wand that guarantees that by simply doing enough or the right thing, everything I want will come to me?  Is my life just something I concoct or does my path and purpose come through a revelation in the daily living of life?  What do I really believe about life, and how are those beliefs affecting the way I"m living? If, for example, I say I believe in the power of prayer and in the idea that the Divine Being provides and guides me, and if I never pray or make an attempt to listen for how God manifests in my life, but instead really believe that my life is all about what I do or don't do, I experience cognitive dissonance. What I believe is in direct conflict with how I'm living. My real belief is that I am in control, the mover and the shaker. This belief interferes from my connecting to the  Divine in co-creating. Calling in the Holy Spirit is crucial for living life in spiritual practice.

Finally, what habits and patterns of behavior do I need to develop to live more fully, more thoughtfully, more in alignment with Divine Goodness? One of the affirmations Karen Russo gives is the following: I love and respect myself enough to live a financially prosperous and responsible life." I would add to this, I love and respect myself enough to live a life of abundance and responsibility in all areas of my life.

When we walk our spiritual journey in constant awareness of our need to be in alignment with God in co-creation of our lives, be willing to examine our beliefs and adjust our thinking to more clearly align our beliefs with our actions and thinking, and finally, by making the difficult, shadow aspects of our lives a regular part of our spiritual practice~not separating the challenges out from the good stuff. Everything holds a lesson for us to learn, to hone our skills, gifts, and talents, and to bring us into alignment with the Divine and our divine purpose and life path.

Tonight there is a Grand Trine in Earth signs. The Moon (representing our emotional nature), Pluto (representing deep transformation) and Uranus (representing change, experiment, innovation, sudden flashes of insight, intuitive brilliance) all ground us in our experience as Spiritual beings having a physical experience. We are here as one. We are not dualistic beings, but we are wholly physical and spiritual united. And we connect to everyone and everything that is in a universal unification of energy, tapping into the Divine or Universal Source of Being, Truth, Life, Love, Soul, Spirit, Mind, all Being and Knowing.  Take it all in, and be grateful for the abundance of your spirit and the gift of your life.

Portals in the October Night Sky: Seeing Possibility

Coastal Night Skies, Clear and Full of Beauty

Those of us who live along the coast line of North America, often find our summer nights shrouded in fog or low cloud cover. Autumn is the time the night sky tends to clear making the night sky perfect for star gazing.  The temperatures are higher than they have been for a while on the Central and Southern California coastlines, and skies here in the Pacific Northwest are clearer than usual as well (in between fog coming and rolling out).  We have had some beautiful views of the night sky. The waning Gibbous Moon rises after dark, and will becoming dimmer and dimmer until the New Moon in early November. That makes the sky darker and better for stargazing.  Living along the river at the mouth near the ocean, makes for a constant change of weather. As the spiders weave their glorious webs, in a non-stop effort to capture their food, the wind blows, the leaves begin to fall, trees change color.  As the colors deepen and grow richer as each day passes, the changes in the light deepen even the blue of the river waters and the mountains to the north.  This morning as I rose before dawn, I watched as ruddy Mars rose in the Eastern sky. October is a wonderful month for stargazing.


In October Jupiter is dominating the night sky. Jupiter rises early on the eastern horizon. Pegasus,the constellation named after the mythical unicorn, is formed, the stars known as the Great Square, its legs composed of other stars lined out like the horses legs.   You can locate Pegasus by locating the stars that form what is known as the Great Square. Pegasus  is the 1st star to host an extrasolar planet, 51 Pegasi. Just to the southwest of Pegasus, you can locate a bright star cluster

During late October, an interesting meteor shower happens. If you look to the East, you may be able to see the remnants of Halley’s Comet as it makes its closest approach in many years, to the Earth.  Every few minutes you may spot a tiny remnant of Halley’s comet burning up high in the atmosphere. This is known at the Orion  meteor shower. You can look for the meteor shower from your backyard.
In the middle of the east side of the Great Square, you will find the brightest star in the constellation.  This star points you in the direction of the constellation Andromeda. In mythology, Andromeda was a woman changed to stone in order to appease a jealous and angry god. In the middle of the constellation Andromeda is what appears to be a blur of light. This is a galaxy island of billions of stars, spinning and devouring another gallaxy. Approximately 2.5 million light-years away, this  is the closest spiral galaxy to our own Milky Way galaxy. Get out your binoculars or your telescope, and make a date with Jupiter, the Orian Meteor Showers, Andromeda, or the early-morning Mars.

I highly recommend the Hubble Space Telescope website and NASA’s Hubblesite.

The Sun in Libra is moving through the final degrees of Libra. Mercury is in 7 degrees of Scorpio,   the event 16° Scorpio, Jupiter  is early degrees Taurus Mars is in 17  degrees of Leo.  Uranus, the planet of sudden, unexpected changes, is in the early degrees of Aries. New beginnings happen suddenly for some who are ready; and perhaps for some who are not ready.  Ready or not, here comes something new, and how are you going to greet this new experience?  Doorways, gates, even walls and bridges, can be used for time to stop and ponder, ways to move across to a new experience, or for reasons to wonder what in the heck you're doing. Courage! Enjoy the opening for something worthy of you. 

Jupiter in the early degrees of Taurus, continues to be the brightest heavenly body in the early night sky. The Moon's entry into Cancer moves into opposition to Pluto in Capricorn, making us more aware of unexpressed fears and desires, dreams and visions.  Pluto, the great transformer, represents the energy of digging deeper and connecting our earthly being to our divine nature. Facing the truth of what we desire and what we fear, enable us to quell the fears with focus, action, and movement toward living more in alignment with developing our gifts and putting our energy, time, and resources into creating and acting on our dreams. No time for wishful thinking; time to take steps to ground ourselves in the reality of what we have to work with and how we are best to use our talents, resources, and vision. 

This morning, the Moon formed a sextile to Jupiter encouraging optimistic thinking and practical application in the that which we do to direct our work, time, and creative energies.  Step into acts with a sense of confidence and positive intention. Later in the evening when the Moon first trines Mercury, the planet that represents communications on all levels, and later Venus, the planet representing our feminine energies, our female friends, and the gifts, talents, and nature of the Divine Feminine within each of us and within the Universal makeup.  What we think, what we do, what we say, what we love, and what we create --all our being, actions, and intentions enable us to connect with one another, with ourselves, and with the Divine action that is revealed on the path when we are willing to listen, accept, and identify (name) clearly as the Truth of our being. 

This morning when I prayed and meditated on divine truth, I asked for a sense of alignment to take hold, connecting me to my Divine Creator, directly from within my Divine nature. Word came to listen to how the sacred was alive the quiet and calm. To watch and see. To wait and give thanks. To be and let be. There are signs all around. They appear in the call from a friend who is suffering, in the bird in flight that appears unexpectedly, in the dream, the fleeting thought or the nagging sensation. In the crisis that erupts, in the birth that takes place, and in the sense of overwhelming blessings that rise up when we least expect it.  Give thanks and be grateful for what you are, what you have, and what you can do.  Be a blessing to yourself; take care of yourself so you can be present and attentive to others when they need it, not just when it's convenient.  Move beyond the ordinary, the humdrum, the usual, and open your eyes to being at peace wherever you are. 

The Moon in Cancer, reminds us that home is where the heart is, and when we are struggling with our sense of feeling at home, it is a reminder that where we are is the right and perfect place to be now. We seem to get so caught up in the energetic movement of our lives, that being still, resting in place, and being at peace in the middle of the storms of life may seem counter intuitive. With the racing of our planet through the energetic tides of shifting and transforming movement, we are called to stand still and be at peace with who we are, where we are.  Connect with those who need to be reminded of your love and devotion; find stillness in your thoughts, actions, even you inner churnings. Let things unfold, and live in trust that the right and perfect movement includes you but doesn't depend on what you do or don't do, where you are or aren't, or what you think you should do or not. Be at peace today. Listen and watch for reminders, affirmations, and signs that all is well.

Star Explorer....Friday Feature: Sun Conjunct Saturn 2:14 PDT/21/13 UT/GMT

On the table near my front window, I keep my Star Explorer. My neighbor downstairs has his telescope set up by his window, but I'm using my wonderful Star Explorer Wheel to locate and identify the constellations in the night sky. For some reason, this seems like more fun when the days grow shorter and the nights grow longer and darker. The Star Explorer I use is a disc wheel that helps me locate constellations from wherever I am, any night of the year. Tonight as I look to the northern sky, I'm going to be looking for the 6-star constellation of Cassiopeia...the lady of the Autumn night sky in the Northern Hemisphere. Andromeda and Pegasus should be just below Cassiopeia, and at the tip of Pegasus, I should be able to spot Equulius. There are so many constellations that should be visible in a clear night sky, but I usually limit myself to trying to identify just two or three. The rest, I simply enjoy, watching for shooting stars, and perhaps a satellite or some cluster of dense matter that may be visible. Regardless of what I see in the sky, I look forward to clear skies so I can star gaze.

The stars take us back in time, and forward too. They remind us of our Source, and promise us the constancy of change and dynamism of the Universe, and the possibilities of Universes and dimensions beyond our reach or understanding. The stars also connect us to our own personal experiences. It was a year ago this week that I woke in the middle of the night, wondering about a dear friend who was in the hospital. As I looked out at the midnight and early morning sky, a shooting star shot straight down, looking as if it had crashed into the mountains north, across the river. Later I would discover that my friend had died. Coincidence? For me a comforting reminder that we are all part of the stardust universe of souls and energy, and when we lose someone near, it is nice to have a window sill, a star finder, a telescope, or a clear view to remind us of those we love the most, and to remember what really matters.

May you find a star to gaze upon tonight or sometime soon. Feel a part of the Oneness of the Universe; feel at home in the starlight and moonlight where you find yourself. Remember those stars that looked as if you could touch them on a high mountain road or the desert sky on a beautiful summer's night? Remember the full moon shining through the trees or the new crescent moon signaling the start of a new lunar month and the coming holy days? Enjoy the stars and the beauty of the sky and our place in it all.

Full Moon in Aries Oct. 11-12

On the West Coast of the U.S. (PDT), the Full Moon reaches its peak at 18/24 degrees of Aries at 7:06 PM on Tuesday evening. The Sun is in Libra, 18/24, and is conjunct (within 1 degree in this case) of the transiting Saturn (the Great Teacher). When Moon Aries opposes Sun Libra, it generally calls on us to balance the energies of Aries's need to express ourselves in unique ways with Libra's tendency to keep things in balance by being accommodating. With such close aspect to Saturn and the moon (ruler of tides, emotional temperment, grounding), we have great need of maintaining order, calm, and patience (with ourselves, with others, and with conditions and circumstances). Nothing much is coming easily; alliances are shaky, and compromise and self control are required. Embrace the waves, and find ways to be accountable, responsible, and willing to do your best, regardless of the circumstances.
Two pieces of advice have come to me from different friends these past few days, and they seem appropriate for the energy of the waxing full moon (we feel the energy and influence before and after). One practice associated with the High Holy Days of Judaism is the practice of forgiveness. The wonderful practice of forgiveness, an aspect of most spiritual traditions and religions, releases so much when we can make it part of our intentional experience. The practice she told me about was in a ceremony of letting go, releasing what you want to release from the past year or so...whatever you have carried with you that is not serving you, is the practice of forgiving yourself and releasing yourself from choices and decisions, commitments and promises made under duress. Considering the Full Moon and the current impact of a great many planetary and energetic aspects that are moving, uprooting, and transitioning us into a new way of living, any ideas that help make our journey a bit lighter and more focused will help. If you feel you are hitting a brick wall, see the wall as a signal for a change of direction/perspective. Practice forgiveness for yourself and others, and lighten a burden of energy that is deflecting your from where you need to be focused.

The second piece of advice has to do with a ritual that Astrologer, Dana Gearhardt recommends for this full moon cycle. Dana is big on intention and ritual, and has a strong affinity to the power and energy, the light and healing inspiration of the Moon. Her suggestion is to get out into the moonlight during the full moon, and bathe symbolically bathe in the moonlight. Use the moon's light and beauty, inspiration and poetic symbolism to drink in and bathe in the highest intentions you are setting at this point in your life. Visit Mooncircles to read her description of this lovely ritual along with the articles by the other writers on the Mooncircles blog.

On Tuesday morning, there is an enjoyable, harmonious trine between the Moon in Aries and Mars at 12 degrees of Leo. Use the energy to be creative in some way, and tame it as the full moon peaks so as not to make yourself obnoxious in some way.
A creative idea or a project to create something unusual or in an unusual way, can come to form or structure as the light, the need for cooperation and compromise that is evident at the peak of the full moon. Perhaps just in a more solid, well-rounded idea; perhaps in a beautiful expression of unity rather than discord.

If you know your astrological chart, look to see which areas of your life are receiving these aspects. If you don't know a thing about astrology, just notice which areas of your life seem to be affected more than others. Whatever you do, enjoy the beauty of the Full Moon in Aries, as we begin a new lunar year.

Intuitive Insight Pathways: What's Your Sign?

Intuitive Insight Pathways: What's Your Sign?: It's cliche now to ask someone, "What's your sign?" Most people know their sun sign, and probably have no way of knowing what that means bes...

What's Your Sign?

It's cliche now to ask someone, "What's your sign?" Most people know their sun sign, and probably have no way of knowing what that means besides a few stereotypical characteristics. To really use a tool, like an astrological chart, a personality profile  (Jungian or Enneagram), or any other tool designed to help a person discern deeper meaning and connection in body, mind, and spirit, it takes knowledge, study, discernment, and support.  Spiritual and psychological development are ongoing, lifelong aspects of our human journey.  We are spiritual beings having a physical experience, and it helps to have support at times along the way.

Pablo Picasso once said, "The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away."   

In my practice, I have been using an integrative approach to counseling and spiritual direction to help clients discover their gifts and to unlock the power to discover more about their unique spiritual journey. Through the use of dreams, intuition, active imagination, reflection, meditation, and a variety of approaches to understand the connection with body, mind, and spirit, you can discover a bridge to enter a more intentional path to development and growth.


The process of finding our gifts is a lifelong process.  Learn more about how to use the gifts of your dreams, your intuition, and universal tools (astrology, archetypal symbols, and spiritual models). Unlock the hidden treasures that lie within you. Discover how to use your gifts to open the path to a more fulfilling life. 

Introductory readings (first time clients) just $30.00 for a half hour reading. Progressed chart readings (forecast and trends)  are $80.00 (normally $150).   

Dr. Catherine Al-Meten provides in-depth, integrative astrological and spiritual counseling.  Natal, progressions, compatibility, relocation,  personal development and transformation. Private instruction/online astrology classes. Consultations available in person, by phone (recorded), and by mail or email (recorded).