So maybe it isn’t all just hip astrological in-the-know to say…’you know, I’m going to way until Mercury Retrograde is over before i make that purchase’ or ‘the computer is on the fritz? well, it’s mercury retrograde’.

Mid-October, Mercury Retrograde will be stopping by again to pay a visit. I invite you at that time to take notice of the rhythms of your own life and how they reflect the slowing down, the tuning in, the seeming back-tracking of this planet. I found it to be quite empowering and also a quiet relief, as if the universe was saying – it’s okay to slow down. If the planets do it, we can too.

Boarding a plane in overcast skies and rainy weather, you rise up through the clouds and when you get above them, you behold a beautiful radiant sunny clear blue sky. That sky is there, the whole time, shining brilliance and clarity, no matter what is happening on the ground or in the visible sky of our daily lives. Our true nature continuously holds the space for us luminous and boundless.

Dance, sing, play, love – celebrate spring, celebrate your Self.

Tuesday is the Spring Equinox. Equality of day and night, balance of the masculine and feminine within us. Acknowledge the wisdom of both your masculine and feminine energy. Let them merge and mingle with each other. Let the divine union live in your heart. Spring Equinox is also a time of the seed beginning to grow; we are making our way back into the light; we are coming out of the darkness of winter and into the lightness of spring. What are the seeds you planted during the winter? What revelations peaked their heads up in your consciousness? What did you imagine for yourself in the deepest part of your heart?

Now is the time to bring those divine wishes to light; allow the seeds to soak up the gaining sun and begin the process of blossoming. Nurture your seeds; water them and give them good light. Take care of your dreams; keep feeding them with the rising vibration of your energy. Keep loving yourself and believing in yourself. Now is the time to stand up and walk into your destiny. We are always walking the paths of our destiny, but sometimes we doubt our own wisdom, power and creativity. We doubt that we can really have the life we feel connected to deep in our spirit. We can. Now is the time to cultivate that faith and belief in ourselves and our divinity.

Om Shanthi
Om Peace

Laying down or sitting up, one can start connecting to their breath. Feel where the breath rises and falls in the body. Where does the body move as the breath moves in and moves out? It may take place in a few different parts of the body – belly, ribs, chest – just observe for a few minutes where your breath goes. Follow its path.

As you continue to follow the breath, let the exhalations get a bit longer than the inhalations. Allow the release of the breath to linger; take your time and let it be a natural process without force. While you ride the breath out on long easy exhalations, you will find a little space at the very bottom of the exhalation before the inhalation starts. It’s like a little pocket of emptiness…and the breath re-enters.

It is this space of emptiness that I find intriguing and beautiful. We are caught right between the breath out and the breath in. We are suspended between two moments in a space of stillness and surrender. There is nothing happening – just pure presence. It is just you in a time of pause before the next inspiration.

As in our breath, we have moments in our lives (many of them) that follow a natural progression; they happen, they end and something else begins. There are cycles like this in each moment of our day; some are as big as life itself, others are as small as one breath. I wonder what would happen if we could be okay with that pause in our daily lives, if we could just sit inside the emptiness without having to push it forward or away into a new thought, emotion, situation, occupation. Mirroring our breath, if we just sit in the place of stillness after one moment ends; the next one will arise exactly when it needs to, all on its own. We can enjoy the spontaneity and inspiration in the birth of each moment.

Om Shanthi. Om Peace.
Blessed Be.

First, give yourself time to go into the nurturing sweet darkness of the winter; touch those areas in yourself that are ailing and wishing to be released. Get quiet and go inside. Dig around in the tenderness of your own beating heart and uncover what burdens you. Give that burden over to the darkness – the dark belly of the Earth Mother. Allow her to take your hurts and fears. Let her soothe your aches and pains. Make a ritual for yourself in which you let these things go – write them down and burn them, imagine you are holding them in your hands and let water run over then, washing them away, or simply move them out with breath and sound. Find a way that speaks to your spirit.

Once you open your soul to the deep darkness of winter and turning within, once you offer up the thoughts that weigh on your spirit, there is space to let in the light. Give energy to what you want to bring into your life; let the light of your being and your spirit fill your wishes with the magnificence of manifestation. Spark the fire in your spirit; light your inner flame and see how your light begins to light the hearts of those around you. Light candles to your wishes for the new season; write them down in a special place; sing your praises to the light. Share the brilliancy of light with each other – commune, celebrate, laugh, tell stories. ‘Tis the season to bask in the radiance of our beings and the sweet connection we have to each other.

Create space within yourself for the evolution of dark to light to happen. Give homage to the transition; align with nature and the changing of its ways. Be one with the season and feel how your spirit responds. If we follow these paths that are set out naturally before us, we give our hearts and our souls the most precious gift of all – the space to grow in accordance with the nature around us and within us.

Be bold. Be courageous. Listen to your heart. Listen to your own rhythm. Believe in yourself. Believe in your intuition and inner Wisdom. Let go of fear and embrace all that you are. You are a vibrant and loving being who is capable of fulfilling your dreams. Connect with your spirit’s voice and follow your own divine path to wholeness. Nurture your own creative power and manifest the life you desire. We are co-creators in this great universe and we are supported by this great universe. Be brave. Trust yourself. Spread the great unique energy that is you and your loving heart.

One day I was in his regular coffee spot hang-out. There was a little girl in there with her dad, maybe about 8 years old. Rob was there, too. He was drinking his coffee and gazing out the window with bright eyes and generous smile, giving the peace sign to anyone who walked by the coffee shop. As this sweet little girl and her father were leaving, she turns and says “Bye Rob.” Rob just gives her the biggest smile, waves his two fingers and says “Peace.” Without hesitation, she smiles right back at him with a peace sign and a genuine “Peace.”

Everyone who lives here knows him. They may not know his name or ever talk to him, but I bet they’ve received a blessing of peace from him on many days and I would bet they couldn’t help but smile and feel the warmth of his presence in our little downtown.

Peace.

She was in her wedding dress with a crown of leaves and he was adorned with their beautiful 9 month old daughter. They danced and played and communed with everyone in the room. It was one of the most amazing experiences I have had. I felt so honored and blessed to be a part of the experience. The whole room was lit up with joy and love. For this moment in time, we weren’t dancing for ourselves; we weren’t dancing to work through our own releases. We were dancing for A. and D.; we were dancing to celebrate this life-changing event in their lives.

So often, we believe we are the main characters in the story. Everything relates back to us. But this day, I was reminded that it isn’t about me. I was reminded that the most important thing is to serve others, in whatever capacity we can. It may be a simple smile to someone when they need it or picking up that extra piece of trash on the sidewalk. However we come across moments to give to others, it is an opportunity to step outside of ourselves and see our connection to the whole. We are given the gift of cutting through the illusion of ego and duality in order to see the oneness of all creation. I am grateful to A. and D. for allowing me to dance for them and to dance for love.