Listen more

Most of us like to talk and some of us like to talk a lot! Talking is a way in which we convey our feelings, thoughts and opinions. It’s also a way we disguise what we’re feeling and a way we hide our anxiety and fear.  And, as much as we like to talk, what we are really looking for in all that talking is a connection with another human being. But a conversation in which people are talking, but not listening, is not really a conversation. It’s selfish, unsatisfying, and does absolutely nothing to build real connections. In fact, it usually leaves us feeling alone and disconnected. And, the only way you can connect is to talk less and to listen more. Today, set your intentions to listen more, to be fully present in your conversations. Today, talk less and listen more. Know that you do not always need to share a story of your own in order to connect.  You don’t need to give everyone the brilliant solution to their problems. In fact, sometimes the most helpful thing you can do is to just give people the space they need. And, you do not need to let the world know how together you are by talking, talking, and talking. Today, listen more, listen longer and really connect, be fully present and watch you and your relationships begin to bloom and flourish.

Just for today, I am willing to talk less and listen more. I cannot learn other people’s lessons for them. They must do the work themselves, and they will do it when they are ready. I am willing to begin anew. I am willing to grow and change and I am willing to listen. All is truly well in my world. And so it is.

Patience❤️

Often our most painful moments, the times that test the very core of who we are, are the moments that provide us with the greatest opportunity for growth. Those moments become an opportunity for you to develop greater self-love and greater self-trust, which is exactly why you and I were put on this planet.  Today, as you integrate the lessons from last year and perhaps from yesterday,  it is the time to be extra loving and extra patient with yourself. Today,  set your intentions to be patient with yourself and hold patience and presence in every moment. Trust in the process of Life and be grateful for all your blessings even if they aren't exactly as you thought they would or should be. Today, consciously choose to be at peace with the imperfect process of Life.

Just for today, I recognize that I have come to this planet to learn to love myself more and to share that love with others. I recognize that patience is being at peace with the process of Life. I relax and know that everything I need to know will be revealed to me in the perfect time, in the perfect way. I will not be distracted by noise, chatter or setbacks. I will allow patience, commitment, purpose and grace to guide me. I am safe and I trust that everything is always working out for my highest good. And so it is.

Social Media is NOT your friend 😜

We live in a time of information overload-constantly being bombarded with information from a myriad of sources. Whether it be constant scrolling through social media, watching 24 hr news or binging on endless streaming videos, we are constantly being distracted from what is really going on in our lives, inside of ourselves. And, we keep coming back to those distractions, ironically looking for connection and external gratification.

This constant outward search for approval is often the reason why we don’t look for an internal source of approval. It becomes a habit to keep checking on social media, as a way to receive validation of who we are. In some way we are actually asking others to define who we are, and become unable to see the reality for ourselves. If they tell us we are doing the right thing, by liking our posts or following us on Facebook, then we must be okay; otherwise, we are not that sure. The result of this constant checking in with technology is we have no time left to reflect or ponder. If, on occasion, we do look inward, we feel a sense of emptiness and fear. Not knowing what to do with it, we then try to fill that emptiness with some external source of gratification, usually in the form of “scrolling”.

However, that emptiness is important. It is telling us that we are disconnected from who we are. This disconnect is one of the main reasons why we end up in painful life situations-accepting and living with less than we deserve. Today, set your intentions to become aware of how you use external sources to gain the peace, safety, security and the identity that you have become uncertain of. Today, instead of being distracted and entertained, spend time disconnected so that you can reconnect with yourself. When we are connected inward, our instincts become stronger, and we understand who were are and what we need to feel connected and whole.  And, a strong connection with ourselves is sometimes all we need, and in some cases, all we have, to keep us sane in this insane world.

Just for today, I look within to find my treasures. It is safe for me to look within. I allow myself to be quiet and still, and I am amazed at what I discover, Life is just waiting to share its secrets with me. I know that everything I seek is already within me. I am safe. This is only change and out of this situation only good will come. And so it is.

New Moon in Capricorn on 111

Today we have our first New Moon of the New Year and it carries with it waves of fresh inspiration, inspiring us to get excited about the year ahead. This New Moon, which falls on 111, also offers us a potent opportunity for intention setting. And, it's important not to head into this year on autopilot. Rather than stepping into 2024 hoping for the best, it's vital to be intentional about the lessons from last year and what you wish to co-create moving forward. If you want your dreams to come true, they must be heartfelt and inspired. Furthermore, it is said that intentions or goals made on a Capricorn New Moon hold the promise of longevity. So, if there is something you really want to commit to for the long term, set your intentions and then take a small action in that direction under this New Moon. And, most importantly, today you need to begin by consciously letting go of last year’s energy, allowing space for you to plant new seeds to take root for what truly matters. Today, allow this New Moon to help you to see the big picture of your life and then set your intentions to achieve your grandest aspiration in this New Year.

Just for today, I am willing to let go. I am willing to listen to my intuition and follow its guidance. I am willing to change. And everything is working out for my highest good. And so it is.

Let go and allow yourself to be seen!

We are hard-wired to connect with others, it’s what gives our lives purpose and meaning, and without it, there will be suffering. And yet, there may be times that you need or just want to disappear and hide. In truth, disappearing or shutting down doesn’t take much energy and may seem so much easier than acknowledging that you’re worthy of being here and facing the pain that’s required to be seen.

However, we all need to be seen. It’s part of what makes us human. When we don’t allow ourselves to be seen, we diminish our importance in this world. We undervalue ourselves. We hold ourselves back from greatness. We stifle our contributions. And it just plain doesn’t feel good. So, today set your intentions to allow your true, authentic self to be seen. And being seen begins with you loving and approving of yourself. It begins with loving yourself even when you stumble and fall, even when other people seem to not like you or have decided that you’re not quite right.

Today, accept that a life of joy is one in which you feel comfortable showing who you are to the world. It begins with knowing that you deserve a life of joy. When you love yourself, you become illuminated, and you can’t help but be seen. So today, allow yourself to be seen because the truth is that the world needs to see you as much as you need to be seen.

Just for today, I love and approve of myself unconditionally. I will not allow noise, chatter, or setbacks to distract me. I will allow patience, purpose, commitment, and grace to guide me. I am safe. I am seen and loved. And everything is working out for my highest good. And so, it is.

Life is Fragile

Life is fragile and fleeting. There really are no guarantees. No order or set amount of time our friends and loved ones will be there for us. No promise that how we feel, and what we can do today, will be how we feel and what we can do tomorrow. No promise that the health and relative wealth we enjoy today will be with us tomorrow morning. Facing up to the fragility of life can be scary. It can also be empowering. It can help us hold onto a perspective that supports us living a life filled with positive experiences. It can leave us with a conviction to make the most of our days. Today, acknowledge that you and I are not promised another day or any amount of time in this Life. So, today set your intentions to make the most of every moment of this precious day. Today make time for the people that matter most to you and allow yourself to let go of those who do not serve any purpose in your Life right now. Today, make time for yourself. Today, accept that it’s admirable to work hard, but you need to ensure you are making ample time to celebrate your successes and enjoy your journey. These are fleeting and precious moments in time. Today, make the most of them.

Just for today, I am grateful for every experience I have ever had for they have shaped me into who I am today. I am a powerful person because I live in this present moment. I am worthy of all that is good in this Life and I now lovingly allow myself to accept it. I am safe. I am so grateful for this time that I have on this earth. And, everything is always working out for my highest good. And so it is

Expect less, accept more this New Year!

Yesterday as we started a New Year, Mercury, the planet of communication, stationed direct. For the next three week, during the post-shadow phase of Mercury retrograde, it is important to move slowly and deliberately, so you can integrate everything that's surfaced for you during December. Furthermore,  the post-retrograde period combined with our New Years resolutions and expectations,  may also bring disappointments and unwelcome surprises.  So, during the next couple of weeks,  it's crucial to set expectations and boundaries to avoid feeling let down and disappointed. Today, start off this New Year by “expecting” less and accepting more. Today, choose to be positive and hopeful in this present moment. You don't have to give up hope and you can still anticipate a good outcome, just be ready to be okay with "what is" and accept it. As the old saying goes: "Don't count your chickens before they've hatched." Your expectations can limit your happiness and in truth your life, if you allow them. Today expect less and accept the bounty of goodness that Life gives you instead.

Just for today, I now release all expectations, knowing that Life will always take care of me. I let go of all expectations and flow lovingly with Life. I love myself and I know only good awaits me at every turn. Everything I do is a success and all is truly well in my world right now. And so it is.

Full Moon in Cancer

We have our last Full Moon of the year, and it falls in the nurturing and sensitive sign of Cancer. Full moons always illuminate what lies beneath the surface, and this one, in the midst of Mercury Retrograde, will feel different. For you see, although this Full Moon will bring what’s been hidden deep within you, this Full Moon will give you the opportunity to pause and really begin to heal what comes up for you. It's a pause at the end of the year where you can reflect upon your journey. Synchronistically, Chiron, the Wounded Healer, emerges from its retrograde today, urging you to acknowledge the needs you may have neglected in the whirlwind of giving. Remember, self-care isn't just bubble baths and massages (though those have their place!). It is the deliberate tending of your emotional garden and an unwavering commitment to showing yourself the same nurturing you so readily offer others. Today, intentionally slow down and give yourself some time to feel all the feels so that you can heal! Allow yourself to begin feel powerful in your own skin and free of all that no longer supports you. Today, celebrate your accomplishments and tend to your needs, allow your dreams to root in the fertile soil of this Full Moon. And as the year draws to a close, remember the seeds you plant now will blossom in the sunshine of the year to come. Today, embrace the light of this Full Moon, celebrate your journey, and step into the future with an open heart and ready to shine!

Just for today, I am willing to let go. I easily, effortlessly and joyously let go of all that no longer serves any purpose in my life. I willingly release the need to struggle and suffer. I deserve all that is good in Life. I have the power to create the Life I desire and I claim that power now. Life supports me in every possible way and all is truly well in my world. And so it is.

Merry Christmas!

Regardless of what holiday you celebrate, or how you honor it, there’s no denying this is an emotionally charged time of year! It seems as if we either celebrate all our blessings or wonder why we don’t have more; we over eat, over drink and over think and we anxiously look towards the new year to come, wondering what it will bring us. We encounter people who we may not have seen for years, which may warm our hearts or perhaps break them. Today, whatever your unique situation this year—whether you’re in a growth cycle or working through feelings of loss—consciously acknowledge that you indeed have many gifts to give and receive, if you allow yourself to recognize them. Today celebrate the gifts that you RECEIVE every day-your breath, your freedom to change and to live the life you truly desire; the lessons that you have learned this year and your ability to connect with those people who love you. And, you also have so much to GIVE like your attention, your kindness, your acceptance, your forgiveness and your light. Today, set your intentions to celebrate, to give and to receive. Today acknowledge and accept that you are worthy, beautiful, and valuable to the world around you and to me. I thank you for the gifts you give me every day by being a part of my journey. Thank you and merry Christmas.

Just for today, I celebrate my life and I am grateful. I give myself the gift of freedom from the past and move with joy into the now. I give myself the gift of forgiveness and set myself free. I give myself the gift of unconditional love. I am blessed and I believe that everything is always working out for my highest good. And so it is.

The Winter Solstice

Today, we celebrate the Solstice, a time when the Sun “stands still” and we experience the shortest day and the longest night of the year. The increased hours of darkness is said to help guide us to enter into the dark night of the soul, a time of retreat where we can go within and hear the subtler stirrings of our being. For you see, sometimes it is only in the darkness that we can truly feel comfortable to be ourselves. When the spotlight of the Sun shines down on us, we can feel exposed, we can feel that we have to act or be a certain way. When the lights are turned off, when it is just us, alone with our thoughts at midnight that is when we can truly dive deep into our core and come face to face with a new truth of who we are. 

Today’s Solstice offers us an opportunity to enter into the darkness. To move away from the spotlight and instead to sit with ourselves and our own truth. We don’t need to explain this truth to anyone. We just have to sit with them and allow them to be. In the darkness, our thoughts don’t matter. It is our feelings that can truly shine. It is our emotional voice that gets a chance to speak, and we have to allow it to be heard. Today, create some space and time to sit with the stillness of the Solstice, for when you do, you will be able to step into a new power and a new truth of who you really are.

Just for today, I choose to know the truth the truth sets me free. Divine wisdom, divine harmony and divine love reign supreme in me and all around me and around each and every person. We are all centered in truth and live in joy. All is truly well in my world. And so it is.

Eclipse energy

We are in the midst of Eclipse season, which can be intense! It can bring up surprising and unexpected events-some of which can be startling and shake you to your core. Eclipses bring to the surface the darkness that we, as individuals and we as a collective have been ignoring or have keeping buried deep within us. Eclipses bring to light all the darkness we want to ignore so that we can let go or heal those dark places. Therefore, there is a good chance that you are most likely confronting aspects of your life you've attempted to sweep under the rug or "thought" you were done with. But, the Universe won't allow you nor I, nor our world to continue to ignore those aspects and they are all coming to light now. That is why we are now seeing unimaginable inhumane acts being played out all over the world. All the injustices and hatred is coming to the surface. Today, instead of wanting to distract yourself, numb yourself out or just hide in the darkness, create some time to go within to see what the eclipse energy has brought up for you. Then set your intentions to finally let go of the darkness, fear, frustration and anger towards yourself and others from your past and your present. Only by feeling the pain, guilt, and remorse of your past will you be able to move forward into a new way of being. Today, take time to go within to see, feel and then to actively let go of everything that serves no purpose in your life. Today, choose to forgive and let go. Choose to see every situation differently through new eyes-the eyes of a beginner. Choose to find the light within these darkness of Eclipse season.

Just for today, I focus my attention on loving myself and trusting the Universe. I choose to forgive everyone for all past perceived wrongs. I choose to forgive myself for every mistake and misstep that I have every made. I know that regardless of my setbacks, I always have a comeback in me. I am a capable person. I can handle anything that comes my way. I am safe, divinely guided and loved. And out of this situation only good will come. And so it is.

Not everyone is going to like you. And, that's okay!

One of the most uncomfortable things in life is to realize that someone does not like us. And, you perhaps struggle with that notion and valiantly try to get those people to like you. But, that is a waste of time and only ends up with you feeling less than and wondering what’s wrong with you. Today, the Universe wants us to become okay with not being liked. Today, accept that you are not for everyone, and that’s okay. Accept that the world is full of people who, no matter what you do, will point blank not like you. But it is also filled with people who will love you fiercely. Today, accept that you are not for everyone, and that’s okay. So, today choose to talk to the people who can hear you. Don’t waste your precious time and gifts trying to convince those people who don’t like you of your value, they won’t ever want what you’re selling. Don’t convince them to walk alongside you. You’ll be wasting both your time and theirs and will inflict unnecessary wounds, which will take precious time to heal. You are not for them and they are not for you; politely wave them on, and continue along your way. Sharing your path with someone is a sacred gift; don’t cheapen your gift by facing yours in the wrong direction. And, as you “drive people away,” you only get closer to your ideal people. Those who love you, who want to be close to you, who truly value you, are one step closer. Being disliked by some is simply a byproduct of being authentic to who you truly are. The more you embody your true personality, the more incompatible people will pull away from you. That’s okay, because at the same time, the more you adopt your true self, the more like-minded people you’ll draw toward you.Today, acknowledge and accept that you are not for everyone, and that’s not just okay, that’s amazing.

Just for today, I am my own best friend. Other friends will come and go. But, I am always here with and for myself. I honor myself for who and what I am. It does not matter what other people say, do or think. What does matter is how I choose to react and what I choose to believe about myself. I choose to love myself unconditionally and accept that everything is working out for my highest good. And so it is.

Instant Gratification isn't fast enough!

This week we begin to shift seasons from Summer to Fall with the Fall Equinox on Saturday. And with the change of seasons we will be asked to release and let go in preparation for the winter. We are being asked to let go of behaviors that no longer serve us. For you see, as humans we have a tendency to listen to the part of ourselves that just wants a quick fix. The part that whispers in our ear: just take the easy road. In truth, we get drawn into a cycle of instant gratification. And it is through our belief that we will find comfort in not so healthy behaviors, through instant gratification, that we become disconnected and lost. Whether it’s a relationship based purely on pleasure that’s disconnected from our hearts, a job that pays the bills but does not fulfill us, glasses of wine, endless bowls of weed or endless scrolling on social media- we have become patterned to use those useless activities to soothe our brain and bring us some sort of fleeting happiness. However, no matter how soothing those activities may be, they do not fuel our spirit and instead ending up fueling us to continue those behaviors so that we can receive the instant gratification they offer us. Those behaviors, in truth, can easily deceive us into thinking that they are something we “need”. In fact, we start to crave that way of operating instead of healthier more sustainable choices. Today, the Universe wants us to begin to see through the illusion of our need for instant gratification. And, even though it may be hard to make healthy choices because they usually require more planning and effort, we are being called to remember that these things are not making us happy. It may be delaying unhappiness for the time being, but it is not making us stronger or more joyful in the long run. Today, know that although there is nothing wrong with pleasure, it is time for us to truly begin to fill our cups with long lasting, true happiness. It it time we stop and cultivate a life that enriches us and makes us feel more alive. Today, take a step back and look at your patterns to see where you know you’ve been taking the easy way out, so you will be able to adjust and recalibrate, rather than operating on autopilot. Today know that this recalibration will be worth the effort and will usher you into a new more sustainable path, which will provide you with long lasting happiness rather than fleeting moments of instant gratification. Today accept that instant gratification does not provide the solution, it only temporarily frees you from the pain of feeling like you’re not good enough as is. Today, accept that relief does not have to remain for only an instant. You can find genuine relief in the beauty of delaying our gratification by choosing to change your unhealthy behavior patterns and to have patience by taking the “harder” way out towards sustainable and long lasting peace and happiness.

Just for today, I am willing to see how and where I need to change. I release all destructive fears and doubts. I trust the power that created me to protect me, guide me and love me at all times and under all circumstances. I am safe and out of this situation only good will come And so it is.