How often it is that we work against ourselves! New Moon in Sagittarius is a time to work with this energy and look at where we can make changes so that we can flow with our True Nature more easily and consistently.
I love the image above of the cat giving a high-five to his human friend because animals see us as we are and love us no matter what!
Hope you find the reading helpful! Check it out here or below. XO, Barb
Listening to a gathering of wise women a few days ago, the theme of the event hosted by Martha Hines, astrologer, was about how we can each be a lighthouse in the world.
I was struck and moved by one woman in particular, galactic astrologer, Julia Balaz, and what she shared.
Speaking in large part to those who are introverts and doing their inner work to help shift the planet into one with more love, compassion, and peace can seem at times like it’s not helping. I can certainly identify with this feeling sometimes.
But I was inspired all over again to keep following the path that is in alignment for me, as that is how I indeed do shine my light, and to remember that it is making a difference. Though, at times it may not be visible or tangible to others in a conscious way or even to myself at times. But just knowing that by being ourselves we plant seeds of inspiration along the way.
Julia shared a practice she does to help others, especially those she loves where she has witnessed this simple but profound affect it can have. Her daughter, now 12-years old, shared that especially when a young child of four or five, when words wouldn’t help, Julia would shift her awareness inward to support her daughter who was going through an emotional time. There she would imagine pink sparkly light flowing through her and extended to her sweet little girl. This would often help shift the energy for her daughter to bring her back into a more peaceful state.
Hearing this, tears came to my eyes and emotions stirred within me. How it is that we can sometimes get bogged down by wishing we could have been seen or heard by a parent when we were troubled as a young child. While it’s important to acknowledge those feelings, how can we then shift out of this space when need be?
As thoughts tumbled through my mind from what Julia had just shared and I related to my own feelings, I looked out my window to see a female cardinal landing on my deck. Immediately my body relaxed, and I let go of thoughts that were spiraling downward.
I thought about how I’m more drawn to the female cardinal than the male. As I sat with this, I realized it is her quiet presence, along with a gentleness and softness she exudes that I was reminded again of the importance of acknowledging and loving our inner child. And as an adult, I am responsible for my needs and doing my inner work which helps the little one within me to be seen and heard…and in turn guides me to be my best self.
One of the symbolic messages of a female cardinal is that of brighter days ahead. That certainly feels fitting given that when we continue to work on the emotional aspects of ourselves that need most healing we indeed find ourselves in a happier place…and shining that lighthouse beam out into the world.
XO
Barb
Late December I started to see the familiar offerings to take part in creating a word or vision board for the New Year. But it didn’t particularly call to me and I had no plans to do this. Vision boards, especially, I’d found to have become too focused on material things though I’d certainly participated in doing them a few times.
Not that I don’t like material things, as I do. But, let’s just say that they aren’t quite as important to me as they used to be. I realized that over the years, buying things was sometimes more about not dealing with my inner emotions.
It was during two oracle readings in December that I did for myself on the new moon and then the full moon and the card I pulled from my Animal Reflections Healing Oracle that Deer presented herself each time. In my deck, Deer represents gentleness. Both times I pulled the card, tears immediately pooled in my eyes.
I can still be hard on myself at times. I realized Deer was reminding me of the importance of checking in and examining why I get lost within myself at times.
From my guidebook: Deer, gentle and sweet, is a reminder you are your own gentle and powerful healer with the ability to regenerate new roots as you heal your wounded parts. As you become adept at making positive changes you are then able to connect with your empathetic nature, becoming a thoughtful and skilled listener for others who are also in need of some gentle care, understanding, and love.
The more I sat with the word gentleness, the more it moved into my being as a personal focus I wish to live from on a more consistent basis. It fits those areas I can still feel challenged by.
Then came along an offering to do a vision board based on how one wants to feel in the New Year. Now that spoke to me.
And from that experience came my vision board, incorporated with my word for the year, which you can see in the photo above. Then just this morning during my breathwork session, I saw the vision for pulling an animal guide for each of the categories I’d created for my board.
We could choose from a total of eight categories and could do all of them, or pick the ones that most spoke to us. I chose four: family/pets, health/well-being, love/friends, and passion/creativity. I also chose to try and find just one image to convey what I want to feel in each of the categories.
Dragonfly with the message of graceful reminds me that when I move from a place of ease and trust that life flows in such a magical way.
Cat with the message of choice says to me that I always have a choice – I can feel frustrated by my breathing challenges and go down the rabbit hole of internally beating myself up, or I can pause, check in with my breath, allow myself the space to do some breathwork, and check in with where I’m at. This is what helps not only allow my lungs to expand but for my mind to expand and let go of any negative thoughts.
Hummingbird with the message of believe reminds me to continue to focus on my own north star and that when I do the rest of my life falls into place just as it’s meant to be.
Vulture with the message of poised is so perfect. I know that when I continue to do my inner work this is what joyfully and passionately feeds my creativity for all that I do, not only for others but in my personal life too. The more I put my focus first and foremost on taking care of myself, the more I am poised to be of service to those that need my guidance.
And just like that. I have a word for 2023 and a vision that feels in alignment with who I already am and who I will deepen into becoming. And best of all? I really appreciate how it evolved in the most organic way.
XO
Barb
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