I am a Healer, Psychologist, educator and Sound Therapist with an avid interest in consciousness and transpersonal experiences. Oh and did I mention Astrology?Archives
October 2014
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27/1/2014 Who are you - really? Yesterday I blogged about conformity and how it restrains us in a particular paradigm of accepted beliefs. We are paralysed by our need for acceptance.
Humans are social and greagarious animals. We also get our understanding of our individual identity from comparisons with those around us. We are all mirrors both reflecting and to some extent distorting the world and immediate environment. In this respect are we ever really free to be ourselves - our true selves? It takes courage to step outside the consensus of behavioural patterns and mental imagery we have jointly constructed through our media, politics, economic and religious institutions. Yet to do so can bring great relief and personal growth. Whilst the following quote was written by a lesbian author I believe the message is for everyone in every walk of life. Where and when have you been subjected to criticism and prejudice? In work places, school, family or other social situations? We are all weird in some respect. We all have our own ideosynchracies. How likely are we to express these openly? How likely are we to suppress our true beliefs, values and personality just to conform? How 'brave' are we in stepping out not only to express ourselves but also to support those 'others' who are strong enough to be different? “You're neither unnatural, nor abominable, nor mad; you're as much a part of what people call nature as anyone else; only you're unexplained as yet--you've not got your niche in creation. But some day that will come, and meanwhile don't shrink from yourself, but face yourself calmly and bravely. Have courage; do the best you can with your burden. But above all be honourable. Cling to your honour for the sake of those others who share the same burden. For their sakes show the world that people like you and they can be quite as selfless and fine as the rest of mankind. Let your life go to prove this--it would be a really great life-work.” ― Radclyffe Hall, The Well of Loneliness
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26/1/2014 Conformity - the enemy of the people! Conformity is the enemy of the people! Nothing could be more true right now. We are faced with governments eroding our human rights and democracy becoming a complete farce (see http://mikesivier.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/death-of-democracy-is-confirmed-as-cameron-ignores-the-will-of-parliament/). In the face of it however, most people sit around complaining and never actually do anything. Why? There is a total belief that it is not worth trying as one or a few people cannot change the world. Yet Margaret Mead the well known and respected American anthropologist declared - “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Unfortunately we buy into the idea that someone else will do it for us. This is neither true on a personal level nor on a social scale. There is no one else who can take your place, no one with your ideas, ideals and potential no matter who you are or what your physical or mental abilities may be. Only you are accountable for your life and what you do or do not do with it. Armchair philosophers abound but theory is not practice and in a world where action is the only measure of success (usually based on a financial scale of comparative wealth) what have you achieved? Those who are most 'comfortable' in financial terms, regardless of their mental capacity to debate and understand, are most easily lulled into a false sense of security. Afterall, if it doesn't affect me directly, why rock the boat? There is also the tremendous fear of stepping outside the acceptable paradigms. Being ostracised, excommunicated, isolated are all quite threatening to the average person. Yet, it is this belief that you cannot be your self in its full glory that stymies progress. It also enables injustice and outright demonisation of those who do not conform. Nazi Germany is a recent example of how such situations snowball into an avalanche of insidious control over a population. With the Pluto~Uranus square tightening again, the push-pull of governance/finance versus the individual is coming yet more sharply into focus. An increasing number of revolutions are breaking out around the globe, many being instigated by the secret services of foreign regimes. It is time to ask yourself; what sort of world do you wish to live in and what type of person do you want to be? 24/1/2014 No time is a waste of time Time is the only thing that we have that we can give away and say it is truely ours to give. None of us know how much we have and therefore how we use it is vitally important. Giving people your time in an open and honest way, particularly being really 'present' for others, is the best possible gift you can give anyone.
Often we find ourselves in places that we didn't expect to be or with people we might prefer not to be with and then we call this a waste of time. However, no time is a waste of time if we remain 'awake' and aware of the possible opportunities. Someone may have a particular message for you which, if you are listening, could have profound repercussions on your life. Often these are what may seem to be chance remarks overheard, or they may be direct intentional comments made to you that would not otherwise have occured had you been where you were 'supposed' to have been. Places also have hidden treasures, seen only because you were diverted from your original route but remained inquisitive rather than annoyed. Gifts are available in every place and every circumstance. One's attitude is what allows them to be available to us. Miracles are usually fairly ordinary events. It is the ability to see, hear and appreciate them that gives them that extra special quality. So don't go around with your head in a proverbial paper bag. Remain in a state of child-like wonder, particularly if you find your self in a situation that at first appears to be a waste of time! 23/1/2014 Fear and indecision I have been dithering about over a couple of quite interesting options that have cropped up in my life recently. It seems I relish dilemmas even though they drive me mad as I pick apart the pros and cons. Those astrologers amongst you are rightly asking if I have a Libran moon - yes, of course I do! It is therefore part of my character to see not just two sides to every coin but a thousand facets to each of those sides.
To say this makes me indecisive is perhaps an understatement. However, when I know, I really know and there are no questions in my mind at all. These moments come, not just because something is so obviously right, but mostly when I am calm and centred. It is in these moments that I can 'cut through the crap' and really see the essence of the situation. Indecision can make us fearful as we dither between options. It is part of human nature to believe that when we finally make a decision that means we have to relinquish any possibility of the other tempting choice. Decision-making therefore feels like the destruction of alternate pathways over which we may have regrets later down the line. This can occur whether the decision is life changing or of minor importance. Fear itself however is probably the greatest factor in creating indecision. At these moments we are blinded by our own insecurities and emotional responses. Making a decision at this time may not be a good idea as it is not possible to evaluate the situation from a relatively objective stand point... and you know what - it is OK to say I don't know! I have often said that I have never made a decision in my life. Quite simply, as said before, if I know the answer then there is no question at all. It is just an accepted fact that this is what has to be done. On the other hand if I am dithering about and questioning every possible angle then I need to walk away and create space for myself to go quietly within and reassess my own reactions, belief systems and habitual behaviours as it is these that are creating this state of uncertainty. Once I am able to contact a place of peace it is as if the decision makes itself. I would not suggest that this is particularly easy to achieve in all circumstances but it certainly resolves a great many issues very quickly. 22/1/2014 Focus I am sitting in a De Vere hotel venue writing this blog. It is the first time I have ever done so. This was the idea of a friend of mine. We are here together to encourage and enthuse each other. Both of us need to be outside our familiar surrounds in order to be more productive. I am sure anyone who works from home can relate to this. Perhaps it is also something that affects women even more so - the distractions at home are endless! Did I put the washing on? Have I forgotten something at the shops? Oh and I've just realised I haven't cleaned the bathroom this week etc. etc. Normally none of these things would drift up into my conscious mind but as soon as I sit to write or focus on a creative idea, there they are!
I know I am not alone in this. When I was studying my student cohort found that as the submission date for another assignment came closer so the piles of ironing suddenly became 'interesting' or bizarrely a cupboard that had not been sorted or cleaned out became an absolute imperative! You have to laugh at yourself when this happens. It is human nature. Taking yourself out of your normal environment can be threatening under certain circumstances of course. However, when planned with a particular intention in mind nothing could be better. Isn't that what holidays are for afterall? We need a change of atmosphere, environment and energetic input in order to prompt us to move forward. If these come without us willing their presence in our lives this can be both shocking and unsettling. Looking at this from an astrological point of view Uranus is the planet that brings great unexpected upheaval, whilst Saturn is the disciplinarian which deals in structure. The two seem totally opposed in intent but each brings both positive and challenging lessons. When we remember that the situations are lessons, not punishments, we regain our power over the situation and are able to rise above any 'threatening' changes that they may herald. Indeed this is just as valid if the results are 'positive' as we may otherwise become complacent and miss the lesson or opportunity afforded us. Staying 'awake' to both opportunity and challenges is quite a feat. We often find ourselves caught up in the emotion of a situation. This can be further exacerbated by those around us. Watching the news or reading the daily papers certainly adds to the fuel of discontent and divisiveness. As I write Sky news is disseminating what I consider to be Western propaganda as well as the government's agenda on unemployment (always read between the lines!). I am finding it difficult not to engage in a political debate as my views are contrary to those being promulgated. However, I am here to write a blog, not to rant about politics. This in itself is a lesson to me to practice what I preach!! Focus, focus, focus. I am here to write and to develop several creative ideas as well as to write up the handouts for my next astrology class. Guess what? I have nearly achieved just that! |