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Horizons Magazine
NOVEMBER 1998
Finally we're getting some dry, cool nights - this is what living in Florida is
all about! I've had the a/c off for a month now and I feel my body and spirit
coming back into balance after 6 months of windows shut tight and the
constant hum of the a/c compressor. I love the feel of fresh air rushing
through the house, sending the wind chimes into song and the papers
flying. I love the sound of the wind rushing past the pines and oaks outside my window, especially at night when the wind picks up and the stars are so bright above. Now if we can have another 6 months of this, I'm happy. Well, actually I'm happy either way : )
TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN
Wow, the holiday season is here already? It seems hard to believe. In my teens and 20's, time used to move so slowly and now at 46, the weeks and months just fly by. Maybe because in my teens and 20's I spent more time "waiting for things to happen" and now I spend more time doing things or planning things to do. I always have lots of ideas for fun things I'd like to do, and when I get an idea, I write it down and place it in a file to look at later when I have more time. That way I'm never at a loss for things to do.
CULTIVATING SOLITARY PURSUITS & THE IDEA BASKET
A lot of Lightworkers will find themselves alone during the holiday season, which I feel is great for introspection and working on solitary projects. Having 5 planets in Aries, I always have lots of projects started. Since all 5 planets are in my 12th house, I'm "actively introspective" and enjoying doing things alone. I have 3 planets in Libra, meaning I like to promote harmony and all 3 are in my 6th house, which is the area of health, work and service. So this makes me want to share with others what I've created alone, which I do through sharing my ideas, and thus you could say I'm fulfilling my own destiny. Isn't it time you began to discover and fulfill your own destiny? As this holiday season begins, you might want to start a file or, better yet, make an Idea Basket and write down some ideas of projects you'd like to begin, and drop the notes in the basket. Then when the free time appears, you can remind yourself of what might be fun. One idea is to study your own astrological chart to see what potentials might be undiscovered within you and use it as a daily meditation piece to gain insight into your higher purpose.
GAINING DEEPER INSIGHT
I first discovered astrology in 1973 when had my birth chart done. I was surprised that so much of it was accurate. What seemed inaccurate back then, has since become to be. It wasn't until years later that I studied it myself, mostly to find the potentials and remedies for personality characteristics or health challenges, for myself and for friends. A whole new world opened to me as I began to see the patterns created by specific planet placements and could correlate those placements with the personality traits of people I knew. How could a Libra be so un-Libra like? Well, give her a Leo rising and a Virgo moon. Then put Saturn in her 1st house, and you understand that she suffers more than anyone else with her challenges. Knowing that encourages me to be compassionate with her and not take things personally. I learned why some of us receive limitations and frustrations from others, and why some of us create our own limitations within ourselves. And, best of all, I learned there is an easy, practical way to remedy everything that appears as an obstacle or an unwanted characteristic. You can indeed reach your highest potential and also overcome your worst challenge. If you'd like your chart done, see my ad on page 40 and I'd be honored to do it for you.
GETTING IN THE SPIRIT
This holiday season could be the best yet, even if you're spending it alone. It could be a great time to discover what part of you you'd like to express in the coming year and what area of your life you'd like to improve. It's a good time also to contemplate why we are so programmed to feel "the Christmas spirit" only one month each year. The media focuses on November and December as months for thanksgiving and celebration, a time when people the world over are focused on unity and brotherhood. We enjoy other people when we're filled with the holiday spirit and when we share the same focus. We feel a sense of belonging with those around us and, when we feel connected to others, we are more likely to feel safe and secure in the other areas of our life as well. It's easy to focus on sharing love when those around you are acting happy and loving also.
THE MORNING AFTER
Then January 2nd dawns and like clockwork, we turn our attention to the bills that need to be paid and how much we dislike our job. We dread going into work the next day as we remember we'd become a little too familiar with a co-worker at the office party last week. "What on earth was I thinking?!?" you ask yourself. Yes, what were you thinking? Were you perhaps, in the spirit of the moment, as you were connecting with this person one on one, seeing them as an individual in their own right, rather than as a co-worker or supervisor? Were you so focused on communicating and sharing with them all the things you have in common, that the work relationship faded out of your consciousness? "But, we never get along at work, " you lament. Well, at work, it's likely that one or both of you hate your job, so "work" is not a shared interest, so "work" is not where you'll have a good relationship with them.
PRAISE YOURSELF FOR BEING GENUINE
So, rather than kicking yourself afterward for having been "too friendly" with a co-worker at an office party, praise yourself for having finally recognized their Godself and honoring it by sharing yourself deeply with them, even if only for one brief, shining moment.
HOLDING THE LIGHT FOR OTHERS
If we could keep the "holiday - holy day " spirit within us at all times, we'd easily attract the same attitude from others 365 days a year. But it seems like so few want to be the first to do it. Lightworkers are those who choose to keep an uplifted attitude no matter what the circumstances. Lightworkers are those who remind others to have faith, and that everything has been organized by a Higher Power for a designed purpose. Keeping an uplifted attitude is not denying that whatever is happening is happening, rather it is a process of seeing through the troubled situation to unveil the higher purpose within it. When we unveil the higher purpose, we begin to discard the illusion, and true understanding begins to dawn.
LOOK FOR THE SYMBOLISM IN DAILY LIFE
Everyone, in every area of their life, is receiving Divine guidance right now and guidance most often comes in the form of symbolism. No matter how restricted or boring your life appears, it is filled with symbolism in every moment. It's up to you to decipher it if you want to understand why things are as they are. You don't need to go to a teacher or buy a book to begin studying symbolism, although that might be inspiring in the beginning. All you need to do is to begin to look closely at the people, circumstances and events around you every day, and insight will begin to flood into you. Looking closely will reveal what symbolism is telling you about your Now.
MY NEW VAN AS SYMBOLISM
My new van was my first experience with power steering and power brakes, so I contemplated the symbolism of that as I drove around. When I drove smaller vehicles, I didn't need power steering or power brakes. In a smaller car, it was easier to have control with very little effort. The van weighs more. It's constructed to carry a heavier load. It has lots more power than I've ever had in a vehicle before. It has better brakes than I've ever had. That taught me that the more power you have behind you, the more responsible you have to be in directing your course. I could apply each of those phrases to my personal human experience as well.
MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU
As Lightworkers, we have a dynamic and powerful force within us that is ever-increasing as we exercise and use it. We're now designed to carry a heavier load than we ever had to carry before. We're responsible for staying more clearly on course, since we're lighting the way for many. When we begin to move, great momentum builds inside us. We must think things through a little more carefully and make course corrections along the way, to accommodate the increased power and disburse it efficiently. It's easier to move forward, but takes a little more planning before coming to a halt, once the momentum begins.
THIS IS POWERFUL STUFF
That's a taste of what I learned by contemplating the symbolism of power steering. It made me more aware of how powerful I am becoming, how I am evolving from one level of understanding to a deeper level. When we understand the things around us, and especially understand our own power, we no longer have to fight and defend against what we don't want, because we KNOW we are at the helm of our fate. As understanding dawns and our perception changes so that we begin to recognize the power within us, big changes start to take place in our material world, our physical world as well. Our lives get more comfortable, emotionally, psychologically, financially, and in every other way. Our relationships get easier. Health challenges are improved. The more we understand, the more valuable we are in helping others. And nothing changes but our perception. This is powerful stuff!
OUT WITH THE OLD
As I was doing some home remodeling in August, I went from room to room, emptying everything out one room at a time for the tile to be put down, and then took care in deciding what would come back into the house and into each room. As we speak, I have a garageful of furniture that is just now making it slowly back in, as each piece is needed and not before. As I cleaned out my china cabinet before moving it, I took care since it contained my "good" china and crystal, which I'd saved unused for the past few decades. As I cleaned out my hall closet, I came across my grandmother's china and crystal as well. Now, I'm the kind of person who drinks out of a Flintstone jelly jar, and I usually eat out of one special bowl I bought in a thrift store in the early 70's. I began to reflect on what exactly was I saving the "good" stuff for? For some remote time in some theoretical future when I'd "deserve" it? Well, I think I deserve it right now!
USING THE BEST EVERY DAY
So I gave away all my mismatched dishes and glassware and put my good ones in their place. I now drink my morning cranberry-peach juice out of good crystal and have my toasted garlic and onion bagel on my best china. When the knife touches the plate, I hear a melodic tone. As I raise my glass to toast the rising sun, the light pours through the crystal much differently than through my jelly jar. It catches the light and sparkles and forms prisms which the cats chase along the garden wall. I flick the glass with my pinkie and hear its beautiful ting. Using my best china turns the mundane act of mealtime into an enchanting experience.
RE-ENCHANT YOUR WORLD
Since I've "lightened up" here at home by clearing out unwanted "stuff," there's room for so much more to take place. I've gotten very inspired with ideas and the opportunities come from every direction. It's like once I created an environment that I felt was enchanting and fun to be in, then more fun and enchantment came right in! Lightening up the clutter around the house and yard created wide open spaces and thus I felt freer and less restricted. As I felt less restricted, I began to relax and remembered who I really was. Ideas began to come to me, and insights into the different areas of my life that needed attention. it was like the more I lightened up and relaxed and did fun things and forgot about my troubles, the easier they were to resolve without me trying to figure them out! When I relaxed, the ideas just came to me! As I made a decision to act on my ideas, opportunities just came to me! The answer to a particular, puzzling problem came to me while I was playing acorn soccer with the cats on the driveway yesterday morning!
CULTIVATE INSPIRATION
Little by little, create a personal space for yourself, where you can be alone and have inspirational books and photos around you. Find a greeting card with a beautiful angel on it and cut her out and make her the guardian angel of your secret space. Keep inspiring tapes to listen to and any special mementos you have. Sit a few minutes every day in this room and read or pray or meditate and read some inspiring words. A friend, talented artist Connie Sutherland of Rockledge, just gave me a beautiful 42x60 prayer flag that she'd painted by hand, with various inspiring images, angelic beings and much symbolism. I gave it a place of honor above a meditation area in the main room, so I can contemplate the images and be inspired by them. She's created wonderful wall art for friends and clients, and her work is always awe-inspiring. If I didn't have wallpaper on every wall, I'd love an angelic mural. If you're interested in having her create personal art for your special space, contact her at 407-690-0844 and take a look at her portfolio or current works in process. She's a graceful and wonderful soul and a joy to know.
FRIENDS TO INSPIRE US
It's great when we have friends who inspire us to be the best we can be, we love hanging out with those people! Actually, why would we hang out with anyone else? It often happens that we outgrow a group we used to belong to as our focus changes. A good rule of thumb is, when it stops being fun, be elsewhere. If the same people no longer hold our interest, it's time to seek out those who do. That happens pretty often with discussion groups, especially metaphysical discussion groups. You have those that are deeply interested and it's fun to share thoughts and ideas with them. You have those that are open minded and seeking more information. You have those that are more knowledgeable and it's fun to learn from them. You have those that come just to debate without doing their homework first, and without really trying to understand. You have those that spend their time theorizing yet never putting anything into practice. As Ram Dass put it in Grist for the Mill, "It's like trying to find out how many angels can fit on the head of a pin. Finally, the only thing you can do is become an angel and see how many of your friends can hang out on the pin with you." So, how many angels are on your pin?