There is as much wisdom in stillness as in movement, in harmony as in change, in retreat as in expansion.

When things become unclear, when the heart becomes diverted, when the ego is unsatisfied — the answer, more often than not, is to regain a sense of balance. To make small adjustments and intuitively guided calibrations. To honor the physical body, the vessel, and expand from a place of stability. To bring a deeper level of devotion to your choices and trust the process. To release from distraction and retreat into space of self-healing and inquiry.

Upheaval and change may be tempting — a short-term solution to what seems like a long and deeply imbedded lesson, and necessary in some cases. But devotion and a commitment to harmonizing your choices and path will allow expansion from a place of trust. And TRUST is how the seeker becomes the sage. DEVOTION is how the magician becomes the alchemist. HARMONY is how the teacher becomes a pillar.

The harmony of nature teaches us how to evolve and gain wisdom by surrendering to the cycle. We can fight the process. Or we can trust and gain wisdom from it with eyes and heart fully open and aware.

I’ve been exploring the theme of satya, or truth, all week — and through this practice, many deep conversations and insights have emerged. Authenticity, for example, often comes with difficult choices. Sometimes it’s easy to grasp onto things we think we want, or think we should want, but these attachments keep us from expressing authentically and expanding into truth. We spend so much time exploring the outer layers of personality, that the inner truth goes unnoticed. Lately I’ve been noticing my reactions to things/situations as keys to uncovering deep desires and truths that lie beneath the layers of conditioning, rather than dismissing those reactions as behavioral traits that need to be adjusted.

Authenticity doesn’t need to be proven. It simply is. You can grasp, hold on, define, attach — but the truth comes from releasing the story and simply allowing the radiance within to express. It’s the inner work of learning to be within and allow, and it’s the outer work of accepting how the self manifests and creates.

And when you feel it within, the “I AM,” can you be with that truth and love it unconditionally?

Drums beating,
Fires roaring,
Golden skin and bright eyes.
She dances in the meadow,
Communes with the butterflies,
Moves to the sway of light.

I am yours, she tells the sun.
Always have been,
Always will be.
I’ll let your wisdom guide me.
Just meet me here,
For a moment.

She lays in the thick, warm grass,
Remembering times long ago,
When she and the sun were one.
When they promised to return,
In cycles and lifetimes,
Lessons in light.

The sounds of summer vibrate,
The earth bathed in beauty,
And in this space of light, she sings.
Her voice echoing
In the tallest mountains,
In the deepest oceans.

The clouds disappear,
And the sun beams,
As bright as his undying love.
Keep singing, he says.
When you sing, you call to me.
When you sing, you call to God.

Will you meet me here, she asks,
For just a moment?
In this space,
In this love,
In this vibration,
Let me hear your voice.

But rather than wait,
She dances.
In the meadow,
At the river,
With the butterflies,
By the trees.

And the sun watches
From his highest height.
Giving her longer days
Of warmth and energy.
Drums beating,
Fires roaring,
She dances, she sings
A love song to the sun.

On the precipice of life, there is a stirring.
If you put your ears to the ground, you can hear it.
If you put your hands to your heart, you can feel it.
Earth is awakening.
Solar streams with creative inspiration,
Painting over hardened soul.
Love’s symphony pulsing through the ground,
Growing in the light.
Eyes opening like wings ready for flight.
Arms reach out, creaking tree branches towards father’s warmth.
And with the power of sun’s life-giving rays,
The wind sweeps through,
Clearing old stories, carrying the seeds,
Positioning clouds with spring’s nourishing rain.
Reminding the cosmos that life (Love) blooms with things unseen, but felt.
And although this invisible force cannot be tamed or grasped,
She will always move towards truth.
Towards growth.
Towards life.

As I’m writing this, the planetoid Chiron is in the last critical degree (29th degree) of Pisces where it traveled for eight years. Chiron may be considered a minor planet in astronomy terms, but from the astrological perspective, Chiron is highly significant, and every transit and aspect brings incredible shifts. If you feel like you’ve been going through a purging of emotions/energies or have suddenly awoken to new perspectives and/or developments — you’re not alone.

Chiron is termed the “wounded healer” in alignment with its legendary mythos. It was first discovered in 1977 during a period of intense collective healing and cultural acceleration. When Chiron travels through a sign, it surfaces hidden wounds and stimulates healing of those wounds in powerful ways. The past eight years of Chiron in Pisces reframed our relationship with Source, the ways in which we are globally connected, the rose-colored glasses some of us wear (and others remove), new methods of escapism, and our ability to connect energetically and explore unseen realms. As an example, the use of mind-altering substances and plant medicines reached new heights. And — while it’s not something I have any experience in — plants such as ayahuasca or cannabis have become much more prevalent as a resource for healing. The surge of global connection through social media and online learning offered new opportunities for exploration and self-healing, while also opening up an interesting conversation around electronic addiction and escapism (some of the wounds of Pisces). Collective healing was the primary energy of Chiron in Pisces, and now that shift focuses on the self.

Aries is all about the self, the ego, and personal identity. It corresponds with the first house of the natal chart and the newborn age, in which the identity is moldable, fluid, and begins to take shape based on genetics, karma, and external influences. It is the beginning of the natal wheel, so the transit into Aries TOMORROW (Feb. 18, 2019) represents a new karmic cycle of healing. Aries is a fire starter and a trailblazer. It is a highly masculine sign, and those with Aries influence tend to be leaders with a strong presence and ability to inspire others. I expect Chiron in Aries (where it will be until 2027!) will bring some much needed healing to the masculine and ego, and shed light on areas where these energies have been out of balance.

There is a notion that because the masculine has gone through a period of imbalance, that somehow the energy is negative or needs to convert to a feminine energy, or that somehow feminine energy needs to be more masculine and dominant in order to retain balance. In my opinion, perfect balance is achieved when both energies rediscover their true essence and exist in respect and harmony. I don’t think it’s helpful to project negativity on either side — rather it’s time to shed a positive light on aspects of both polarities: masculine and feminine, yin and yang, light and shadow, etc. That is how healing begins to truly take place. And it’s all beautiful.

I also believe our existence is about to go through an identity crisis of sorts. This is beginning to happen as awareness increases and we become more curious about who and what we are, where we come from, and the basis of existential reality. There could be big decisions on the horizon, such as: How much influence do we give technology over our everyday lives? How do we reclaim our personal power? How can we best use our gifts to benefit society? How can we embrace our authentic nature? How can we become more connected to what is real and tangible? Those who are more aligned to leadership roles will likely have to step up and accelerate their path quickly. It will feel like things are moving fast, and opportunities and connections will seem to appear out of thin air.

This is a good time to release any negative influences/patterns and surge forward with confidence and strength. I can already feel the changes begin to percolate both personally and collectively. It has been a difficult few months for many people, but it’s helping us prepare for this new shift and cycle of healing. The journey of self-exploration and discovery is here — and it’s going to be a powerful time.

Oh, winter...⁣
What golden waves of color you paint,⁣
Barely lighting the ground with your dusky rays.⁣
The way widens, so I keep my eyes open,⁣
Lest everything change and die⁣
⁣
My days are spent seeking shelter from old stories.⁣
Holding a lantern to those who need a light⁣
Through hardened ground and clearer paths through the trees,⁣
Air so light it electrifies my veins.⁣
⁣
Oh, winter...⁣
Everything has changed⁣
And everything stays the same,⁣
In this life and the next.⁣
But all I can do is stay silent and wait.⁣
I’ve done all that I can do.⁣
⁣
Yet I work to make my lantern brighter.⁣
In guiding the way, I always find the sun⁣
And winter’s milky golden glow,⁣
Just warm enough to soften the heart in eclipses’ chill.⁣
Keeping eyes open,⁣
Stronger every day,⁣
And waiting still.

Like Persephone, I feel the icy grip of Hades’ hand,
Turning meadow flowers into cold wet leaves and darkness.
Fragments of memories dust the land with white.
Solar plexus aching for summer’s laughter.

Is there beauty here in this new land?
The silence offers healing and softness,
A possibility of rebirth,
With a heart freshly hardened to the past.

But in these first days, my hands grip the frozen crevice longing for warmth.
The Sun has forgotten about me.

Hades breathes his winter chill into my eyes,
Turning them frosty grey.
“You forget yourself.”
“Yes.”

And so I leave them all behind,
Rejection, disappointment, empty words,
Like crisp snakeskin shattered by the frost.

Thick mists between time swallow the longing.
Deep breaths.
A new cycle, another skin,
Harder and more resilient this time,
With an eternal flame of my own making.

I have no idea why I’m reflecting on this topic on a beautiful sunny Thursday morning. Maybe it was because I was getting dressed and felt an anxious twinge from memories of feeling different or out of place. Maybe it was because I then started to analyze this feeling and why it still exists — since I thought I stopped caring a long time ago. And then I started to analyze why I even cared in the first place, especially since I enjoy being different and am usually comfortable in my own skin. And then, why am I like this?

My rational mind loves going through a checklist of factors. Environmental conditions, upbringing, genetics, ancestral karma, astrology, human design, etc., etc., etc. Well obviously my mutable-dominant chart conflicts with my Libra rising that just wants to fit in and make everyone happy. My human design did say that I have a defined heart center or sense of identity that can’t be changed. I did grow up in a highly artistic and entrepreneurial environment where creativity and originality was praised more than good grades and social status. Oh yeah, and what do they say about INFPs being idealistic and sensitive?

I’m not saying that these things do not contribute in the makeup of a person, especially as someone who believes in and studies astrology and karmic imprinting. But I am going to say that sometimes this needs to be pushed aside. The constant analyzing and rationalizing of the human condition (especially our own) can turn into programming that fits in with these qualities. Decision making might be supported by your personality profile or your natal chart, but are you going to make the same decision anyways? And why?

Who are you underneath all of the imprinting and programming? Are you comfortable with that person when there’s no rational definition?

It seems simpler to place everything into some sort of box. Desires and decisions are often born from expectation rather than the heart. When things get complicated, emotions start to take over or stories begin to unravel, we rationalize, define, control, attempt to simplify, suppress, and block our ability to feel and our nature to be free.

What happens if your career makes you miserable, or you fall in love, or something else sudden and expected happens that changes the programming? Because things do change and lives are turned around every day. That’s the thing about being human. You can control your environment as tightly as you can, but emotions will always win. The person you are will eventually rebel in some form or another.

My inner rebel may be louder than most, but there were times I didn’t listen. And then it hit me. I choose the paths/people/situations that allow me to be who I am. And I reject the ones that don’t. As long as I keep following that decision-making tree, I won’t feel out of place or away from myself ever again. And neither will you.

Affirmation: My body is in a constant state of restoration and healing. I find balance in my life through play, work, rest, exercise, and laughter. I easily nurture myself. I have constant protection surrounding me, which deflects anything that is not for my highest good. - Margaret Ann Lembo

Geranium oil is my constant go-to at the moment, and for good reason! First of all, it smells amazing. I use it for a number of therapeutic and healing purposes, but the flowery scent also works beautifully in perfumes and beauty products. In fact, I recently crafted an ocean-scented lip balm using geranium essential oil (among many others).

Second of all, I use it for everything. I use it on my face, skin, and hair. This oil has antibacterial, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiseptic, deodorizing, regulating, and uplifting properties, among many many other things. (Margaret Ann Lembo’s book is a great resource.) It can regulate female hormones, rebalance your mood, reduce irritability, and support personal transformation.

I make a natural deodorant out of geranium with apple cider vinegar and a few other oils such as lavender and grapefruit. An amazing skin care serum that I use daily has 11 drops of geranium, 11 drops of wild orange, 11 drops of roman chamomile, a couple of drops of blue tansy, a big glug of rosehip seed oil, and fractionated coconut oil. Not only is it the only blend that doesn’t irritate my skin, but it brightens, tones, and reduces signs of aging. Also, there is something magical about the combination of those oils… because it smells heavenly. I also craft a water-based spray that I use in my hair daily which has geranium and few other necessities like cedarwood and peppermint.

With the transition to winter and the overall feeling of seriousness and frigidity, geranium is a beautiful oil to use to get out of a funk. Just put a few drops in a diffuser or blend with an uplifting oil such as wild orange to deflect negative thinking and bring some lightness into your life.

If you have questions about where to purchase your oils, I recommend doTERRA or Eden Botanicals (although I have not tried Eden’s version of geranium because I love the doTERRA one so much). I’m also happy to answer any questions about essential oils or how to receive wholesale pricing — just contact me!

Rondane National Park, Norway

By Emma Restall Orr

We begin at Samhain.

The first chill winds of Scorpio are howling in, blasting through the trees, tearing off the old leaves, bringing dead wood crashing to the forest floor. The first frosts of dawn are killing back the annuals, stripping herbs down to the mud, leaving stalks pale and bare. Everyone and everything that hopes to survive til spring is crawling into the warmth of the rotting leafmould, retreating to the roots, wrapping themselves up in layers of soft fat, in thick coats, gloves and scarves. There is no denying that winter is sliding in. Even when the sun shines between the clouds it’s not warm. It’s a time when we could slide too, into grey days and dark mornings shivering in the shower, clutching at hot coffee and dreams of summer nights.

Yes, winter is coming and with it that urge to curl up in our burrows and caves to hibernate. But we must wait just a little longer. Samhain is the last festival til the spring for which people will travel far to gather together and celebrate life, and the last great tales of the year must be told again, the wild songs of the summer camping-grounds must be sung one last time. Those whose harvest has been full will bring their excess for those in need as the bonds of peace and support are affirmed between tribes and allies, should they need to be called upon through the cold hard moons ahead.

Ahead of us lie the unknown seasons of the future, but whilst our hands are still sticky with the experiences of the past year, the sweat and blood of our work, the tears and ecstasy of our creativity, we have no hope of fully grasping the potential of the next. So rites and ceremonies are written and played out to focus on the chance to give thanks for the closing of another cycle before the winter covers the land. The past is addressed, honoured, and put behind us.

At Samhain, then, untying ourselves from the structure of the old, dismantling the framework, we enter a period where there is no framework — and so no limitations already laid down which need to be contended with. The scope of our potential is once again opened out to its fullest extent. There is the possibility of the most poignant sensation of freedom. Suddenly anything can happen. And in the frenetic dancing of the Samhain rite and celebrations, exhilarated with the release and spinning round the fires, the night air is alive with this experience.

Photo by Paperlens Photography

What is real?

For me, it’s the stillness of the forest.
My feet on the cool earth.
Stacking firewood, washing windows, harvesting tomatoes.
It’s the sensation of my body in motion.
The intensity of breathing.
The way the sky always changes its colors and shapes.
Waves of emotion and memories.
Laughing with a friend.
The warmth of my bed.
Raindrops on my skin.
The smell of books.
Pure joy just for being alive.

No one else can tell me what’s real.
I am free.
The louder the noise and distraction, the less I will pay attention.
Because the stars are out.
The owls are singing.
And I’m running barefoot through the grass.