Coffee Thoughts \ Trust Your Instincts

So many times we don’t start something because we think we don’t have enough time, or because we believe we must wait – even if we don’t have a reason. The more we teach ourselves to jump in and trust our instincts, the more they speak to us and the more we learn to do things by being guided from within and above. More often than not your instincts will be correct. They are always the first messengers to reach you before your mind jumps in and takes over. Learn to trust that first message, don’t dismiss is as inconsequential, and you’ll find that your success rate and what you are able to accomplish has greatly increased.

Coffee Thoughts \ Life Is A Challenge

Life is a challenge. The journey is not easy but the attitude you adopt to cope with the ups and downs is essential to your happiness. The key is acceptance – embrace the challenges. There is nothing more disempowering than to believe that an obstacle in your life was placed there because you are cursed or don’t deserve good things. If what you believe you create, then your thoughts can either lift you up or bring you down. Learn from everything that happens to you and keep your sense of humor. There is nothing that gets you through the hard times better than laughter. When you don’t take yourself so seriously, you gain distance and this allows you to see the bigger picture – and yes, you have more options. Train yourself to enjoy it all; we’re not here long enough to worry about the small stuff. And as someone wise said “It’s all small stuff.”

Coffee Thoughts \ Procrastination

It’s amazing how we all procrastinate somewhere in our lives. The last few weeks I have been encouraged to translate ideas into action immediately, and because of this I have felt my resistance and hesitation. There was no need to wait, except to make me feel better about adding something new to my schedule, but I wanted to. The momentary discomfort I felt, made me look at my resistance. Why not do it now? Why wait? Life is all too short, and when you complete one step you always see the next. The fastest way to move something forward is to act now. It gets the energy moving and things start to happen. It’s changed me forever. So stop putting off for tomorrow what you can do today. This is a choice you’ll never regret.

COFFEE THOUGHTS \ SIMPLE PLEASURES

It’s one of life’s tragedies that we become aware of what is missing from our lives early on, rather than focusing on what we love, what turns us on, and what makes us happy. Actually, happy people know their pleasures, they are clear about what brings them joy and so they attract it to them. If you haven’t found your passion yet, then chances are you’re holding back from simple life experiences. Passion is felt by surrendering, by throwing yourself into life with abandonment and allowing yourself to go deeper. The reason this process is often avoided is because when you go deeper you also reach pain and sadness – by the way they are connected to joy. To have one you’ve got to accept the other. So meet life with a fearless attitude, meet your challenges head-on. Embrace it all and the joy will rise to the top like cream, and you’ll get the best out of everything you do.

Coffee Thoughts \ You Are Unique

Jordana, my daughter, suggested that I start recording some of my thoughts daily, short ones and she gave me the title -- Coffee Thoughts. She reminded me that I have a very unique way of seeing the world and it would be nice to share. Astrology has certainly contributed to that uniqueness, and it is true that I see life through my own vision. In fact, each of you do, you just don’t always pay attention to it or value it more than someone else’s opinion. The key to happiness is in your ability to separate your individuality, desires and ideas from others, especially those you love or those you want approval from. The reward is nothing less than freedom, the freedom to be you. Freedom has nothing to do with space or money, it has only to do with the way you think, the beliefs you live by and the choices you make based on what you believe to be true or possible. So honor yourself today by listening to yourself, that inner voice that is always trying to be heard above the noise and chaos of the opinions of others.

Crisis or Opportunity

There is a battle going on, and it looks as if it will not be resolved as early as I had originally hoped. Change is never easy to implement, because it requires the removal of those who are and have been in power. No one gives up power easily, even when they have been exposed as deceitful and unworthy. The irrevocable change that I’m talking about began in 2008 with the entry of Pluto into Capricorn. On this momentous occasion, banks and financial institutions that were not solid from within, came crashing down. What seemed so invincible, suddenly no longer existed – and it all happened so quickly. I had hoped that the exposure of the problem, would lead to a resolution, but life is never that simple. Greed is something our society seems to value or not want to put limits on. And so if nothing was changed, then it may fall again. Pluto’s energy requires a restructuring, not a quick fix. This struggle to reorganize the laws and regulate business may take us into 2016. This does not mean we have to have a recession, but if we believe that this can be fixed without sacrifices and a joint effort from opposing political sides, then those unreal expectations will meet a harsh reality over and over again. False expectations lead to quick disappointments, and that diminishes faith and faith and confidence is what drives the stock market up and down.

With Pluto in Capricorn, consequences to the misuse of power are seen rather quickly. We just saw the badly handled debate over raising the debt limit in America end with an immediate down grading of their credit rating, the first-ever in history. The old ways are falling away and the good news is all our sacrificing and suffering is meant for positive change. The purpose is not to bring us down, but to create a greater world order. 2012 is almost upon us; the new energies astrology has been talking about are trying to emerge. Nothing really new comes into being without resistance. From now and until 2016 the old and new will wage a war, I have total faith that the new energy will win, but it can be done with cooperation or with a costly battle.

Since the entry of Pluto into Capricorn in 2008, we have a new player – Uranus in Aries, it left the sign of Pisces and entered the warring sign of Aries on March 13^th of this year. With its entry, revolution broke out in the Far East, a rebellion against the old order. Uranus is the planet of change, revolution and invention, it also brings enlightenment or a higher sense of awareness. It loves to shock, be unpredictable and is often seen as erratic. Pluto, on the other hand, represents globalization, transformation, destruction and renewal; its effect is always ruthless and extreme. Both of these planets operate without compassion, their mission is to get the job done. The boundaries of our lives have changed, we saw this happen even in nature. A rare Polar bear attack happened to campers and one was killed – global warming forced it to seek food in new places! The sooner we can accept that change is here and meet it with dignity and courage, the easier this transition will be.

The last time Pluto squared Uranus was during the Great Depression. Are we headed for another one? I don’t believe that it has to be so. What has to happen is a restructuring of our lives. A new vision is emerging, not just for the world, but in each of our lives. Don’t waste time licking your wounds, or longing for what no longer exists. If you don’t have your old job, create a new one. Find your passion, your path, and yes, try something new. See change as opportunity, see struggle as a chance to grow strong. When we are too comfortable we actually become lazy and our expectations and sense of entitlement increases. A struggle is with us for a few years, even if we are financially secure, change must occur. Quick fixes will no longer work; the structure of our lives needs realignment. So go with the new, reach out to seeing a more positive world. Use the internet, global networking, and whatever resources you have to create a new reality and put your talents out there, make them work for you. Take calculated risks for what you believe in, and don’t be discouraged by the first few “no’s.” You’re stronger than that, and your belief must take you beyond the known, you are asked to have faith enough to bridge the gap from where you are to where you need to be. If you’re not sure of what that means then turn inward and listen to your own heart, for within you is all the answers. Change can be painful, but it also opens up amazing new opportunities. Find a new position in your life that reflects a greater you. This is your opportunity to rid yourself of the past and step into a better future. Change is always challenging, but it can also be inspiring and give us all hope that what lays ahead is a new and better tomorrow.

The Solar Eclipse July 1, 2011

A solar eclipse is a New Moon, a time of beginnings, but with impact. The solar Sun with its visible strength and power is joined together briefly with the dark and mysterious Moon. However, the Moon blocks the light of the Sun, and there is this brief opportunity for the two energies to unite spiritually and uplift the individual through faith.

The summer begins with the Eclipse on July 1^st and Saturn going direct on July 13^th. Saturn has been retrograde for four and a half months in Libra. As it prepares to move forward, it first squares the Sun\Moon eclipse. Saturn is a powerful planet; it forces one to be practical and look at what is really going on, no illusions here. To add to the tension Uranus joins the group by also squaring the Sun and Moon and so we now have the zero zero on the roulette wheel, the probability of surprise or a crisis.

The planetary picture is as follows:

The Sun and the Moon are conjunct or side by side: Solar energy is strong and proud. It loves to shine. It wants to be at the center of everything but it’s being deprived of its talents. Lunar energy is deep and ensconced in personal needs, emotions and intuition. It loves to reflect and analyze. It will have more say in the events than are obvious.

Pluto in Capricorn is in opposition to the Sun and Moon: Pluto is all about control and transformation. Capricorn is about our goals, career, and work ethics. It has a critical eye and always sees the problem or what’s missing.

Uranus in Aries is square Pluto, the Sun and the Moon and in opposition to Saturn: Uranus is the “wild card” you never know what its going to do, but what you do know is that it acts spontaneously and in respect for freedom and truth. It adds volatility to the picture and makes it a hard call, in the sense of predictions.

Saturn in Libra is in opposition to Uranus and square the Sun and the Moon and Pluto. Saturn takes its time, even if there is a crisis, it makes one examine and look at the problem so that the best resolution can be had. It won’t let you escape and disappear in fantasies or illusions. It demands practicality and hard work. Thus, Saturn will challenge the control of Pluto and try and hold down the spontaneity of Uranus.

Thus the Sun and Moon find themselves in the middle of a grand square with powerful planets – they are surrounded by strength and different points of view. The eclipse will reveal the conflict of needs present in your life. Emotions could be high, even if they are not visible. Challenges are everywhere. So keep to your purpose, listen to your heart, don’t be discouraged – keep working, and allow the situation to serve you, it will lift you to a new level in your life, either by changing how you see yourself or others, or by what you finally decide not to put up with. This could push your tolerance level over the top. And last of all, don’t be afraid to express your uniqueness and disagree with the group. You’re an individual, and you don’t want those that speak up and try to control things, to get away with what they should not.