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Somatic Experiencing: The Wisdom Of Our Bodies

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Somatic Experiencing: Listening To The Wisdom Of Our Bodies

We have all been through hell and back. Life can be quite the challenge. While it’s helpful to soldier through it all and do our best to stay positive, it’s not too healthy to ignore what is stored within our bodies.

Emotions from life’s challenges and trauma can be stored in our organs for the entirety of our lives. These emotions connect with toxic memories. When we work to release it all, it can be even more painful – but in the long run, we clear ourselves for smooth and peaceful sailing ahead!

Working through past trauma can be one of the most horrible experiences you may face in your life. Living through that experience once was terrifying enough. Having to relive it in order to process what you felt during that time may be more than you can bear.

Somatic Experiencing uses the mind-body connection to help you stay calm during triggering events and to find your way back to a more peaceful way of being. It also helps you to release the excess energy that you may have trapped in your body – when the original trauma occurred.

Read on to learn more about Somatic Experiencing and how it could help you move forward into a happier life.

Impact of Trauma

Before we dive into the process of Somatic Experiencing therapy, let’s talk some about how trauma impacts us.

After a traumatic event, many people experience post-traumatic stress disorder. This is not a cute little thing. It can be the most difficult thing you’ve ever dealt with in your life. 

PTSD is a condition that produces a several physical symptoms. PTSD can range in severity from a mild inconvenience to an incapacitating disorder. In some cases, a PTSD patient may choose to be institutionalized for a time. This might help the person establish new boundaries and processes in her life.

Nightmares are one of the more common symptoms of PTSD, often in the form of panic attacks. These are usually flashbacks and re-imaginings of the original event, in which the person seems to relive the traumatic event and various related trajectories.

Panic attacks, anxiety, and insomnia also tend to go along with this disorder. In the most extreme and serious cases, a patient may lose the ability to differentiate from their flashbacks and nightmares and reality.

If you’re experiencing these things, you can choose to work with a Somatic Experiencing therapist, a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, a CBT or ACT therapist, and more. 

There are MANY options for healing if you are feeling completely freaked out & messed up by a horrible event in your life.

The Freeze Response

For many people, PTSD symptoms are born from the “freeze” response to danger. You may have heard that, when animals are exposed to danger, they have a fight or flight instinct in which they choose to fight for their lives or run away. However, there is also a lesser-known response to danger: the freeze response.

The freeze response causes you to stop in your tracks, unable to move or respond to the situation. Think of a deer in the headlights; even though the danger is barreling towards her, the lovely animal soul is wholly unable to move forward.

This response is central to prior and ongoing trauma, whereby we feel trapped in the moment of danger even after the threat has passed.

What Is Somatic Experiencing?

Somatic Experiencing is a therapy technique – much like others invented like neurofeedback and ACT – that aims to help people to process their traumas and find new ways to move forward. Peter Levine, who developed the theory, believed that our nervous systems might never move forward past where they were in the moment we were traumatized. Our emotions and memories get “stuck” there and have to be “reset” before we can feel empowered and clear enough to live our lives in the present moment.

Dr. Levine noticed that while people are often traumatized by the dangers we face, animals don’t deal with the same sorts of ongoing trauma. He believed this was because, at the time of the threat, their bodies let off enormous amounts of energy, even after they escaped the threat. 

Because we don’t expend this energy in the same way, that energy gets trapped in our bodies. Later, when we might least expect it, these energies can become expended. This might occur at inappropriate moments when an unrelated trigger takes us back to the original traumatic event.

If you’re experiencing any of this right now, it’s important to seek the help you need to open up your mind and heart so you can expand. If you’re feeling this right now, see if you can breathe through it and find some tears. If not, call a friend to be present with you in this moment.

When you’re feeling clear and open enough, formulate a plan to find the best modalities for your healing and recovery.

The Reasons For Somatic Experiencing

Somatic Experiencing is extremely useful as a treatment for PTSD and other trauma-based disorders. Even challenging one-off experiences can leave an imprint within us. You might consider using Somatic Experiencing to heal even the smallest fissures within your Being and body.

Oftentimes, people may feel guilt, shame, or anger after a traumatic event. Working through the mind-body connection can help to ease these painful feelings and get your body back into a healthy rhythm.

In some cases, Somatic Experiencing Therapy can help with physical symptoms related to previous traumas. This can include muscle tension, chronic pain, digestive problems, and even sleep issues.

Dealing with the physical symptoms of a trauma can give us more resources to handle the psychological aspects that are driving them.

Recognizing Bodily Sensations in Somatic Experiencing

One of the first steps of Somatic Experiencing is to start recognizing the bodily sensations you’re feeling in this moment. In many cases, people aren’t aware of the physical response they’re having to a situation or how badly it’s affecting them. They might not realize the a pain in a knee or a twitch in an arm is born from a prior trauma or their bodies reaction to a new event in the moment.

For instance, you may not realize how tense a muscle is until it relaxes and you feel what it’s like not to have that strain there.

Your Somatic Experiencing therapist might begin your therapy by helping you become more aware of the physical sensations you’re experiencing.

Your SE therapist may use mindfulness and other meditation techniques to help you discover any tension, pain, or discomfort you may be feeling.

The most wonderful Somatic Experiencing Therapists will help you note these sensations without judgement, fear, or the intent to fight them.

Just like in The Sedona Method, it’s all about witnessing what is there, embracing it, accepting it, and then releasing it.

Resourcing

Once you’ve become aware of what your body is holding and experiencing, your Somatic Experiencing therapist will help you start tapping into the inner pool of resources you have to deal with these challenges.

Resourcing can you seek the tools you need to handle that excess stored energy when it emerges. Soon enough, you’ll be able to draw on a deep inner pool of peace, strength, and resilience.

Your therapist will begin by asking you to remember a place, person, or thing that you love and that you associate with positive memories. When you start feeling that excess energy being triggered, you’ll learn to draw on this source of positivity in your life.

This can help you remain calm and present as the energy expends itself, making it easier to transition back into your most healthy and vibrant rhythms.

Titration

Once you firmly establish your resources and tools, your therapist will begin putting your new coping and healing mechanisms to the test. Armed with the tools to deal with it, you’ll begin wading back into your trauma, re-examining the event that threw your life into chaos. This will be a gradual process that allows you to slowly build your resourcing response until it’s strong enough to tackle the next challenge.

This process is known as titration. It stays focused around the physical sensations you experience as you relive that past trauma. 

You’ll step through the traumatic event in slow motion. Meanwhile, your therapist will watch your body language and physical responses. They may also ask you to report if you’re feeling hot or cold sensations, dizziness, numbness, or an overwhelming sense of weightiness. 

Your SE therapist might also ask about the emotions that are emerging and which ones feel overwhelming. They might help you walk through those emotions and eventually release them.

All of your healing is up to you. The more open and vulnerable you are with your SE therapist, the more you will heal.

Chanting mantras, sutras, and other types of prayers can help you improve your vibration. Doing so, your mind, heart, and body might naturally release many of the things your body has stored throughout years in this life – and from prior lives.

Pendulation

As you begin to experience these releases and physical effects, your SE therapist will guide you through the process of Pendulation. Somatic Experiencing therapists believe these symptoms are the way your body discharges that excess energy – the emotional energy that’s still trapped and connected to the original traumatic experience.

Faster breathing, pranic breathing, clenched hands, and allowing dizziness, shaking, anger, and crying are all considered a helpful part of this discharge.

As you work through these releases, your therapist will guide you through the come-down process. They’ll help you slowly transition back into a calmer, more peaceful state. You’ll be able to experience these discharges in a safe, judgement-free space. 

They may help you use certain breathing or relaxation techniques to ease back into a more relaxed state of energy. Doing so, you won’t be in danger of trapping that excess energy in your body – more so, you can eventually release all of it. The more you practice this pendulation, the more natural that response will become.

Learn More About Somatic Experiencing

Somatic Experiencing is an exciting technique that can help people process and release PTSD, old trauma, and the most challenging events.

Somatic Experiencing relies on the brain-body connection and inspires patients to walk through the physical and emotional symptoms of their traumas – all the while releasing all of the related imprisoned energy.

Although this technique is still considered “new,” it is helping millions of people walk through their body’s responses to traumatic experiences and become healthier and happier than ever before.

I am here to help you awaken and bravely create an inspired life. Learn more about my loving services today and start changing your life in the most positive way.

REMEMBER!

You are a beautiful Living Being filled with light and love, born from stardust. You are unlimited potential in every direction. With a focus on discipline, virtue, and your own goodness, you can become as expanded and liberated as you desire. 

Pray for others and the Universe prays for us. 

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THE YEAR OF THE TIGER! IT’S TIME TO ROAR!

Happy Chinese New Year 2022: Year of the Tiger. A Shutterstock licensed image. 

THE YEAR OF THE TIGER! IT’S TIME TO ROAR!

Once a year, loving human beings just like you and me begin to reflect on what we’ve done, what we want, and where we’d like to venture. We take stock of our challenges and accomplishments, and we reassess how our goals serve us. Whether it has to do with our physical, mental, or spiritual health, we are likely to begin this reflection process in the weeks prior to the New Year.

Whether we call it New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year, Rosh Hashanah, or What Happened To My Dreams Day – or something else entirely: WE ARE HUNGRY FOR A CHANGE!

In the days surrounding January 1st (and anytime of year), we have a wonderful opportunity to transform and realign ourselves.

If you love rituals, check out my Free Resources pages. You’ll find ancient ceremonies, lovely prayers, and encouragement that you might find helpful during times of change and transition. You might also consider using my Personality Cards – they’re wonderful for all sorts of rituals. 

Let’s Dive In!

You might be wondering, “How did astrology-based New Years’ celebrations get started in the first place?” Since civilization began, the best answer is that humanity has looked to the stars for guidance.

During this time of year, we look beyond ourselves and we reach to the Cosmos, asking questions about our existence and purpose. For eons, ancient astronomers, shamans, and seers have used the movements of the sun, moon, and constellations to find stability and meaning in time and space. 

While many of the most colorful cultures throughout the world long-ago formed unique traditions for their New Years’ celebrations, the Chinese New Year is one of the most specific, complex, and fascinating. Whether you plan on celebrating for fun or for a deep transformation, or you’re just interested in learning more, look no further!

What is the Origin of the Chinese New Year?

The earliest recorded New Years’ celebrations occurred in Babylon over 4000 years ago. These celebrations were marked by the first new moon after the vernal Equinox, as Babylonians celebrated their religious festival called Akitu. Akitu celebrations were closely tied to harvesting barley in the Spring, where devotees would worship various Gods and entities – and crown a new King.

Similarly ancient is the origin of the Chinese New Year. As early as the 14th century BC, the Shang Dynasty began celebrating this holiday with a focus on religious and political significance. Unlike our Western understanding of New Years Day, which is always January 1st, the Chinese New Year has always been changeable according to the empire’s lunar cycle and political power changes. 

While the Babylonians chose their New Year’s celebration schedule according to the moon, the Chinese celebrated the second new moon after the winter solstice. In other words, Chinese New Year always falls between January and February, instead of March or later. The Chinese also track the year differently than other cultures, in that they allow solstices, equinoxes, and religious influences to affect their calendar.

The Chinese begin New Year’s celebrations at the start of that second new moon and continue celebrating for about 15 days, until the Festival of Lanterns, marked by the next full moon. This 15 day period is full of traditions that illuminate the darkness, inviting hope and good fortune. If you were to celebrate Chinese New Year, you might light lanterns and candles and set fireworks aglow.

Why is The Chinese New Year So Late in 2022?

In 2022, the Chinese New Year will occur on February 1st. The date for the Chinese New Year shifts every year according to the lunar calendar. February 1st of 2022 will be the day we experience the second new moon after the winter solstice. If you want to follow the tradition down to the letter of Beijing “law,” you might also make yourself some delicious dumplings. 

What many don’t realize is that China is predominantly Buddhist. While the government of China rightfully rejects the over-organization of religions, it allows temples and worship within reason. This modest policy allows people to choose their practices but prevents religious propaganda from infecting the hearts and minds of the population. With such a large population, any massive movement can affect the economic balance, psychological profile, and the sense of oneness and community within the country.

As each festival ensues, many families will include Buddhist prayers in their daily rituals and they’ll venture out to their favorite temple to honor the Divine Beings who nourished them throughout the year. This is when devotees will pray for their ancestors and living family members, and invite divine grace for the days ahead.

Why Do The Chinese Celebrate The Lunar Year?

The Chinese traditions for the modern Lunar Year are mainly religious and social in nature. During the preparation for the festival and throughout, the Chinese will perform a variety of rituals to appease the various aspects within their cultural and Buddhist traditions. 

For example, those preparing for the Chinese New Year will clean their houses as a way to serve and honor God, cleansing their environments of any negative energy from the past year. They might also sacrifice paper goods and food to their ancestors, while families use firecrackers to dispel any evil spirits.

The Chinese New Year also centers around ensuring good luck for the coming year. Elders sometimes give out money to children, and many will post scrolls with good luck messages. People might also keep their doors unlocked or open to allow good luck to enter their homes.

The New Year celebrations are also meant to ensure longevity for families, so much of the tradition centers around feasting. Long noodles symbolize long life, and the last course, meant to be left uneaten, symbolizes abundance. Extended families gather around dumplings which stand for perfection and the family unit.

The Chinese treat their chronological calendar as part of their zodiac, which uses animals to symbolize personalities and destinies throughout the years. These signs are also used to mark the sun’s path as it visually moves around the Earth.  Each New Year, the Chinese celebrate the end of one animal year and the beginning of a new animal year. Each animal symbolizes specific characteristics for that year. 

What Are The Chinese New Year Symbols?

There are 12 Chinese Zodiac symbols which rotate in a chronological cycle. Each year, a new animal is assigned to that year, marking the year’s characteristics and the people born during that year. According to this tradition and the Zodiac Calendar, 2022 Is The Year Of The Tiger.

The 12 Chinese Zodiac symbols are:

      • Rat
      • Ox
      • Tiger – YAY!
      • Rabbit
      • Dragon
      • Snake
      • Horse
      • Sheep
      • Monkey
      • Rooster
      • Dog
      • Pig

The next animal is always assigned in the same order as each year passes. In other words, 2022 is the third year into the newest cycle of the Zodiac calendar. 

Meaning Of The Year Of The Tiger

The Tiger in the Chinese Zodiac is a symbol of confidence and strength. Those who have birthdays in the Year Of The Tiger are meant to be enthusiastic and confident leaders. At the same time, these people are also sensitive to others’ needs, generous, and committed to selflessly serving others. 

These traits are helpful for those who must lead in business, politics, or religion, because those marked by the Tiger are bold yet compassionate. These Tigers have the necessary emotional intelligence to guide others, while also being ultra-sensitive to the intricacies of life.

This year is marked by the Tiger, but the Tiger comes around every 12 years. That means that anyone born in 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, and so forth are also marked by the characteristics of the Tiger. 

What Should I Do If I’m Born In The Year Of The Tiger?

Born as a Tiger, you’ll have lucky and unlucky colors, numbers, flowers, and directions. You’ll also have opposite and compatible signs!

If you’re a Tiger, your lucky numbers of 1, 3, and 4. Your unlucky numbers are 6, 7, and 8, and your unlucky color is brown.

Your lucky colors are blue, gray, and orange, and you’re in good hands if you’re facing East, North, or South. You’ll want to avoid facing Southwest, which is your unlucky direction!

You also have lucky days and months! Try to plan good things on the 16th and 27th of any month, especially during each lunar year’s 3rd, 7th, and 10th months. Try to avoid planning things for any Chinese year’s 1st, 4th, 5th, and 11th lunar month, as those are your unlucky months.

If you’re looking for love, you’ll want to avoid the Monkey signs at all costs since they are your opposite. Though, for some reason, Tigers and Monkey folk might have very intense and consuming sexual exchanges.

Tigers might also have bad luck with anyone who is an Ox, Snake, or Goat. If you’re a Tiger and hoping for the best life possible, you might consider aiming  for relationships with people who fall under the Horse, Dog, or Pig signs.

Some predictions say that 2022 is a great year for Tiger signs to get married or find a relationship, but those 24 or 36 years old should pay close attention to their love lives, as their luck in love might waver during this year.

For Tigers, having good luck in financial areas might be tricky, but don’t worry, a huge promotion might be on the way as 2022 is a year of personal advancement.

REMEMBER!

In all things astrological, please realize that these aspects are only suggestions to help ease some stress. You are far more powerful than you realize. The blueprints that astrology suggest are not hard and fast rules. It might also be that you have other influences in your life that might greatly enhance your ability to receive what you desire.

To improve your vibration, luck, and happiness, spend time chanting Sanskrit mantras and love-filled sutras. Pray for others and the Universe prays for you.

YOU ARE LOVE!

You are a beautiful Living Being filled with light and love, born from stardust. You are unlimited potential in every direction. With a focus on discipline, virtue, and your own goodness, you can become as expanded and liberated as you desire. 

 

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Neurofeedback, ACT, And CBT: Powerful Healing for the Heart & Mind

Shutterstock licensed image:  Heal your heart, your mind and life will follow.

Neurofeedback, ACT, and CBT: Powerful Modalities for Healing the Heart & Mind

The events and conditions within our lives can feel dramatic or difficult. At various junctures in our lives, we might feel completely overwhelmed and unable to cope.  We might even lose hope, faith, and focus.

Luckily, our world is constantly changing – and so are we. And while many of the aspects in our lives can feel insurmountable, we are always in control of our perspectives, attitudes, and abilities to look deeply within ourselves. 

Even the darkest night has a dawn.

Shadows disappear when obstacles are dissolved.

Science is working on behalf of all the people who are in pain. Many are creating inspiring, life-changing technological advancements that promise to improve life as we know it. All of these emerging innovations are making life more peaceful and bearable for those who are struggling.

Let’s be honest.

Most of us suffer from at least one of these things: stress, frustration, anxiety, depression, panic attacks – or all of the above. Sadly, each of these things is fueling an accelerating mental health crisis.

It might seem difficult to significantly change our immediate environments or have lasting impacts on the world around us. We might not realize just how powerful and impactful we can be!

Regardless, we can change how we respond to everything. If we’re disciplined, we can deeply heal ourselves and become more resilient. By approaching life with a sense of warriorship – a sense of adventure – we can accomplish just about anything. 

Upon every challenge, we must focus on the positive and forge ahead with courage. It’s vital that we dig deeply within ourselves so that we may heal our hearts, minds, and spirits.

While God and Guru are here to nourish and guide us, the only person who can truly heal and save us is ourselves. 

We’re actually lucky to be on the planet right now.

There are so many unique healing and scientific innovations appearing almost every day —  ever heard of somatic experiencing? Specifically, new therapies are gaining momentum in the mental health space that could unlock a future of brighter days.

No matter the modality, begin by being vulnerable with yourself. Ask yourself what you’re feeling and what you need. If you can, call out to God and ask for Her loving guidance. When we’re open and vulnerable to the Divine, angels and transformative forces will come to our aid.

Knowing which options are available to you during your healing process is important. Here are a few that I love: CBT, ACT, and Neurofeedback therapy. 

What is CBT?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, commonly shortened to CBT, is a wildly successful therapeutic method that has recently gained a lot of recognition. The idea behind CBT is that we can train the brain to respond to certain situations differently than it had before. This method involves talk-therapy mixed with Gestalt-style experiencing. This modality can also be found integrated into mobile phone apps that prompt and guide seekers to change the way they speak, feel, and think about their current situations and feelings.

Why does this work? The mind functions by firing neurons and creating neural pathways. The more your brain responds to a particular event, the more permanent this pathway becomes. People who often react negatively to events might do so because this is the most familiar way the brain knows how to respond. 

In other words, the more you can coax yourself to respond differently or positively to things, the more familiar and comfortable it becomes to stay positive rather than react negatively. 

Through CBT, we can learn to not only cope with stressful situations, we can learn to master and transcend them. Through CBT processes, we can learn to respond positively to even the most disruptive chaos. Breaking our negative cycles and teaching our brains to respond positively help and heal our minds, hearts, and spirits. 

What is ACT?

ACT, or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, is a direct descendent of CBT, and for many people, it’s the most important modality they’ve adopted in their lives. This method uses CBT in conjunction with acceptance therapy, which teaches the patient to genuinely accept the world and all situations so that they can find peace. Another word for this technique is mindfulness, which encourages us to live in the present and be aware of ourselves and our decisions within the moment. 

An adjunct to ACT and CBT – or something that can replace them entirely – is The Sedona Method, a uniquely powerful and effective technique that helps participants acknowledge, accept, and release every experience and related emotions that emerge. More on that, later!

ACT comes in two steps. First, you accept the things out of your control, whether it is the people around you, your environment, or negative events. Then, you commit to specific actions that will help you handle the stress and pain within your situation. 

This method is useful for everybody, from all walks of life. It can help you,  your mind, heart, and spirit become more flexible, open, and (eventually) more detached. The more we can respond positively or proactively under stress, the stronger we become.

What is Neurofeedback?

While CBT and ACT rely solely on human beings changing their behaviors, Neurofeedback elevates these methods utilizing technology. In Neurofeedback therapy, a practitioner uses EEG Biofeedback to help the patient visualize, track, and understand exactly how their brains respond to a variety of stimuli.

With this technology, the practitioner and patient watch a screen to see the way the brain responds, which becomes a primary tool within the therapeutic model. The practitioner applies electrodes to the scalp and shows the patient how their brain waves appear. Then, the patient is asked to alter this activity consciously through a video-game-like interface. 

Through this method, the brain is trained to reroute its pathways, alter its activity, and ultimately respond positively, all within a fascinating reward system. This method is being used to treat conditions like anxiety, panic attacks, depression, anger, attention-deficits, sleep disorders, migraines, and even seizures and autism.

CBT vs. ACT vs. Neurofeedback: Which Is More Effective?

Whether CBT, ACT, and Neurofeedback therapies are effective has been in question for years. Many therapists are committed to using only these modalities, while more traditional therapists worry that aspects of these things are superfluous and ineffective. 

Experts are regularly and rigorously testing new therapy methods to determine which are truly beneficial to psychotherapeutic practitioners. This trend is especially true for recent attempts to administer CBT through mobile apps, which had once threatened the commonly-held belief that professional therapy requires consistent human interaction and face-time with a therapist.

In 2017, a German study revealed that CBT and Neurofeedback showed the same positive results in adults who had attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The kicker? The same positive results were found in the control (placebo) group. If nothing else, doesn’t this show that it’s not about what technologies and advancements we apply, but what our perception of them is? Maybe knowing you’ve acknowledged the problem and taken action to better your health is the most significant step towards healing.

It’s all about you. How do you feel? What helps you heal? What will help you change your mindset, and in turn, your response to the world around you? Whatever that is, that’s the answer.

Using Mindfulness To Heal

Being present and aware is natural to us, yet it often seems so far away from us. With the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, amid all of our complex webs of  responsibilities, we don’t realize how far outside of our bodies we usually are. We are too often living in tomorrow, next month, or even 5 years ahead of this present moment. When we aren’t in the future, we’re thinking of the past. All the while, we’re neglecting ourselves in the present.

Mindfulness is the first step towards healing, and it can be achieved through any of the above therapies. If you choose to attend a CBT or ACT group or individual session, you’re choosing to acknowledge your problems and pain in the present and take action now.

 If you choose to explore Neurofeedback therapy, you’re choosing to be aware of how your brain reacts and performs upon various stimuli and in the moment. 

When conscious of ourselves in the present, we’re paying attention to who we are, what we feel, and what we want. Knowing some of these things, we can successfully heal the aspects that are most troubling to us.

Of course, you don’t need CBT, ACT, or Neurofeedback to become mindful. Mindfulness is the most basic of all modalities for healing. All you need is yourself and the conscious decision to become fully present. 

Just like with CBT, you can train your brain to be mindful by default. Like with ACT, you can accept your reality in the present without being too reactive or overwhelmed. If you sit quietly amid a challenging feeling, you can find its source, accept the feeling, and then release it. This might take some time to master, but along the way, you’ll clear years of stealth emotions and experiences. Doing so, you can become free.

Find a way to make meditation a habit in your life. Encourage yourself to regularly turn inward so that you can acknowledge how you feel  in the present. This alone will train your brain to advance. 

Through mindfulness, we can become non-judgemental of ourselves and others. Instead of judging and feeling ashamed of our thoughts and feelings, we can fully explore them and get to know who we are. 

What can be more healing than completely and unconditionally embracing our authentic selves? Nada. Dive deeply and you’ll find that you are part of a luminous and expanded consciousness.

Get To Know Your True Self

If you truly want to heal your heart and mind, begin with a 10-minute meditation every morning and evening. As you meditate, focus on your inward and outward breaths. You might even imagine that your inward breaths are full of light and your outward breaths carry away stored negativity and stress. 

Explore different methods of therapy and tools for self-reflection. 

Seek a guru like Amma (Amma.org), Jesus, Buddha, or other living saints like Mother Meera and Karunamayi Ma. 

Talking to a professional or a trusted friend can help you acknowledge your pain and hear out loud what you’re really thinking for the first time. 

Use a diary or my Personality Cards to delve deeply into your soul to source and release behaviors and emotions that are stifling you. 

Any resources that help you pause, breathe, and explore yourself in the present will put you on the path to healing.

REMEMBER!

You are a beautiful Living Being filled with light and love, born from stardust. You are unlimited potential in every direction. With a focus on discipline, virtue, and your own goodness, you can become as expanded and liberated as you desire. 

Pray for others and the Universe prays for us. 

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St. Patrick: Loving Magic

Shutterstock licensed image: St. Patrick Was Full Of Love

The Loving Magic of St. Patrick

Have you ever thought to yourself, “If only I could find just a teeny tiny bit of luck!”? Maybe you’ve been out of work, enduring endless job interviews, or you’re on the tenth blind date this year. Or maybe you’re going through a challenging time emotionally or psychologically. If you’re feeling down on yourself or your luck, it might be time to lean into the loving magic of St. Patrick.

After all, even when deceased, high-vibration souls like his still emanate light and love. Just like any deity we can tap into this vibrant soul’s divine light.

Sure, it might not be March 17th, but his legacy and healing aura extends throughout time. St. Patrick is a man, a devotee of God, and a legend who can guide us and help us learn more about ourselves. In turn, we can manifest new paths and find happiness without the need to rely on luck.

So, how can St. Patrick do all this for us?

Who is St. Patrick?

While St. Patrick has emerged a legend, he lived in the 5th century. One of the things that made him so unique was that he understood the nature of human beings and the Universe. He looked to the divine, yet he was practical in how he served inhabitants of the earth. Additionally, his work was so profound, he deeply impacted Irish, Catholic, Christian, and global cultures for centuries – any milleniums to come.

Modern historians often paint a simple, gentle picture of St. Patrick, as he walked among the Irish, but his life was difficult, full of challenging experiences and painful decisions. Just like you and me, he had to come to know himself and choose his path one hurdle at a time. Once he tapped into his soul and found his divine strength and resolve, this wonderful saint drew from his will power to touch the lives of many individuals throughout time.

The myths of St. Patrick are among the most inspiring in all of human history. Many believe he used clovers as a way to teach a new belief system. Others say he was the first significant leader in history to reject the practice of slavery. It seems this dynamic soul affected the spiritual and political lives of many people.

If you’re looking for the facts of St. Patrick’s life, he was born in Great Britain and torn from his family at the age of 16. Broken hearted, lost, confused, destitute, and without a single companion, young Patrick was sold into slavery. This hardship was his first experience in Ireland, where he toiled as a herdsman and had no belongings to call his own. Instead of losing hope, St. Patrick turned to his faith, praying for guidance and relief.

Devout and loyal to the Divine, he knew that God would help him. He never wavered.

One night, St. Patrick dreamed of a ship that would carry him from slavery and back to his family. He broke from the dreamscape and left his slave owner in the middle of the night. He ran with all his might.

After many hurdles and further hardship, but with heroic determination, St. Patrick found his way back to his homeland. This successful escape might have been the end of his story, but St. Patrick could not ignore what he experienced in Ireland.

He eventually dreamed about the Irish begging for his return.

While he could not banish the chains of slavery that held an entire population, he set out to free the Irish people in another way. Once he made landfall, he immediately began evangelizing and converting the Irish to Christianity. While he was there, he suffered persecution and arrest, but these physical pains did not dampen his spirit.

With glowing love for the Irish and their freedom, St. Patrick fought to help them until his death.

The Powerful Icon of St. Patrick

The best account that we have today of St. Patrick’s life is the Confessio, his diary, in which he bared his soul. Thought to be written near to the time of his death, the Confessio shows the saint’s religious devotion and fervent love for the Irish. It also helps us to better understand his personality, struggles, and motivations. He was truly a remarkable human being!

When you step back and view St. Patrick from a distance, however, he is a powerful icon. Christianity upholds him as one of the most important and influential Christians to have lived. He is revered as a powerful force that converted Ireland from Pagan to mostly Christian. He is now the national apostle and patron saint of Ireland. And as luck would have it, Paganism survived the abuse it endured and is again flourishing today.

A large part of the symbolism, myth, and meditation on St. Patrick that exists today originated in the Catholic faith. St Patrick is often depicted with clovers, snakes, and a shepherd’s staff. This powerful imagery can help us to understand St. Patrick’s power and love of humanity. These icons can help us turn inward, expand ourselves, forgive everything, and become holy servants of humanity.

In many ways, Amma, The Hugging Saint is doing the same for all of the world, not just Hinduism. Check out Amma’s divine magic and global humanitarian mission HERE.

St. Patrick Symbolism

By the 7th century, St. Patrick’s legacy had grown  in numbers and spread throughout various parts of the world. Throughout history, St. Patrick’s image has been recreated, most commonly with his foot on a snake, as he held a wooden staff. These images are no coincidence. They emerged from true stories about his life. As you learn about these stories, consider meditating on the image of St. Patrick. This can help you center yourself and find strength within.

The Shepherd’s Staff

The shepherd’s staff is a symbol used in Christian tradition to represent tender yet strict leadership. Just as a shepherd tends to his flock of sheep, a person depicted with a staff is seen as a gentle father-like figure, guiding his followers. St. Patrick was both literally and figuratively a shepherd in Ireland. He was an enslaved herdsmen at first, and then he chose to tend to the Irish people in their need as a loving shepherd of the people. 

Today, we can rely on St. Patrick as our shepherd during difficult times, using his loving magic as a guide in our own lives.

Are you in need of guidance?

Are our heart and mind wandering far from afield?

Can you find the inspiration and strength you need to bring you back to yourself?

Go within, seek the help of St. Patrick and the depth of your own divinity. 

 

The Snakes

St. Patrick is often famously depicted with a snake under his foot, which originated from the legend that he drove all the snakes out of Ireland. While snakes never existed on the Emerald Isle, this legend actually uses snakes as a symbol for evil. Just like in the Garden of Eden story, the snake is a representation of evil and temptation. As we reflect on St. Patrick’s ability to cast out temptations and evil forces, we should identify the toxic habits, passions, and forces in our own lives and find ways to cast them out.

Three-Leaf And Four-Leaf Clovers

Finally, St. Patrick and his famous St. Patrick’s Day holiday are often tied to  three and four-leaf clovers. While three is the number of the Christian Trinity – Father, Son, And Holy Ghost, Four symbolizes the perfect triune’s connection to eternity and the concept of manifestation on three-dimensional planes.

The numbers three and four are extremely powerful. They are used as powerful symbols and tools beyond St. Patrick. 

For the Irish, the three Gods Brigid, Ériu, and the Morrigan held serious significance. With the image of a three-leaf clover, he converted the triple Goddesses of the Irish to the three Divine Beings of the Catholic faith. This imagery was so powerful that it eventually turned the innocent little three-leaf clover into the national flower of Ireland.

The number three can give us structure and guidance, just as St. Patrick did for the Irish.

You are far more capable and expanded than we often realize.

 

St. Patrick Miracles

St. Patrick holds such powerful love and magic that many of his works are still revered today. He recounts in his Confessio raising 33 men from the dead (see that “3” again?), many of whom had been gone for years. There are also reports that a herd of swine mysteriously appeared after St. Patrick prayed for food and water provisions for desperate travelers.

Whether you believe these events occurred or not, there is a powerful lesson here. St. Patrick’s strength and devotion poured out of him and created an undeniable movement that changed the world.

Forge Ahead, No Luck Needed!

Let’s learn from St. Patrick! No matter our circumstances or pains in life, we must turn inward and seek guidance. By meditating on the personality and symbolism of St. Patrick, we can better understand ourselves.

Doing so, we can tackle our challenges from more inspired angles.

If we believe in the Providence Of The Divine and the Power Of Love, we can cast out snakes, evil, and toxins no matter how and when they appear.

Take up your staff and join divine saints like St. Patrick. Your divinity can carry you anywhere. Stay positive, remain prayerful, and seek the light in all things. 

You might enjoy my Free Resources pages, as they offer many prayers and rituals that can heal, illuminate, and change your life.

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THE SPRING EQUINOX: MAGIC OF BIRTH & REBIRTH

Shutterstock licensed image: Spring is a time of magic, life, love, and rebirth.

SPRING EQUINOX – THE MAGIC OF BIRTH & REBIRTH

Ahhh Spring! The sun outshines the moon, light overcomes dark, and life once again flourishes on the ground and illuminates our skies. We can feel Spring in our bones. Our guts tell us it’s time to get out there and create. We want to dance, play, and celebrate creation. 

Equinoxes mark a time when day and night are equally long. This is rare: the equally long day and night only happen twice in twelve months. During this time, we can experience palpable and delicious Earthly magic. The Spring Equinox is a time of rebirth for all life. We feel the sun’s energy penetrate and uplift our spirits. We hear the rippling of fountains and the pitter patter of light rain on our roofs. We have renewed hope and faith. Flowers bloom, Bees buzz, Bunnies appear, and ALL IS WELL!

The blossoming season is the embodiment of the connection and cooperation between all Living Beings. It’s during Spring that we feel our connection to every creature and all the luscious, invisible threads that bind us. Every creature rejoices during this time.

Spring is truly the embodiment of the Universe’s love for us.

TRANSITIONING FROM FALL TO SPRING

The Spring Equinox invites us to be truly reborn. During the fall and winter, we
pause, reflect, forgive, heal, and regenerate. After setting ourselves free from the past, we’re ready to flourish.

In case you missed the chance to move on from the lessons of the last year, try this on for size:

REFLECT – FORGIVE – ACCEPT – RELEASE

FORGIVING EVERYTHING, 

WE TRANSFORM OUR REALITIES.

In the Fall, during the Autumnal Equinox, we ask ourselves:

What has been holding me back?

What did I learn?

What can I forgive?

The Spring Equinox symbolizes rebirth as well as new life on Earth. Start your Spring Equinox change by revisiting the hidden parts of yourself that you evaluated in the Autumnal Equinox. By finding and opening the hidden that lives within you, you gain insight into your unique spiritual aspects and gifts – ones you may have never before allowed. Then, we can move on in celebration.

In the Spring, we ask ourselves:

What can I celebrate?

What can I create?

What can I embrace?

How can I give birth to joy?

What do I really want?

What do I truly love?

Where am I going?

Who is going with me?

What will I do when I get there?

THE VERNAL EQUINOX MARKS PROFOUND MOMENTS IN TIME

When the Spring Equinox is upon us, it means the Vernal Equinox is here. The Vernal Equinox is also known as the celebration of Ostara. It’s one of eight Sabbaths or festivals that make up what some people call “The Wheel of the Year.” Every turn of the wheel celebrates endings and births, and during Ostara, we celebrate the possibilities of new life and romance.

YES! It’s time to reflect on where you’ve been and where you’re going. During this section of The Wheel of the Year, it is the perfect moment to say to yourself:

I ALLOW MY PAST. I ACCEPT MY PAST. I RELEASE MY PAST. I RELEASE THE ASSOCIATED EMOTIONS TO ALL EVENTS AND IDEAS. I WILL NOT LOOK BACK. I WILL WALK BRAVELY FORWARD WITH LOVE, LIGHT, HOPE, FAITH, AND JOY!

 

OSTARA OPENS DOORS TO NEW POSSIBILITIES 

We are fascinated and obsessed with our attachments. We easily become blinded by our egos, temporary self-identities, emotions, and projections. Upon viewing one social media post, we can lose touch of ourselves and reality. When we allow this to continue for years on end, we put ourselves into vulnerable positions. After all, near the moments of our deaths, we will feel a surge of unresolved emotions, thrusting us toward a threshold that leads to the Beyond.

It takes courage to release everything that has been holding you back and blocking your connection to the Divine.

Why not begin this process now? 

Release the pain from your past and make way for space within you. Doing so, you will feel more whole and available to love.

Forgive yourself, forgive others, forgive everything. 

Try the Ho’oponopono process. Say these things in your mind to either yourself or another: I love you. I’m sorry. Forgive Me. Thank you. 

Repeat these things over and over again until you truly release. Deep and unlimited forgiveness will set you free.

AWESOME THINGS TO DO DURING SPRING EQUINOX

The three days during equinox provide you with the opportunity to change your perspective, cleanse your heart, and improve your health. 

  • Accept yourself for who you are.
  • Commit to a process that allows you to accept everything as a gift.
  • Commit to growing virtue.
  • Commit to living a Dharmic life instead of a Karmic one. Karmic lives involve contracts where you do this for me, I do this for you. Dharmic lives involve spiritual law.
  • Send love and gratitude to the living Earth.  
  • Pray for those who have harmed you. 
  • Pray for those whom you love.
  • Meditate every day.
  • Find small ways to serve others. A smile can be a tremendous gift to a sad soul. 
  • Do a toxicity cleanse using Ayurvedic herbs. Banyan is a wonderful company for this class of medicine. 
  • Clean the house.
  • Empty the attic.
  • Give away as much as possible to charities.
  • Lean to cook and garden.
  • Commit to exercise and yoga. 
  • Think of your favorite people and give them gifts that will make their lives better.

The Spring Equinox reminds us to be proactive and disciplined, telling us that infinite possibilities are within us. 

 

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THE AUTUMNAL EQUINOX: Season Of Reflection

Shutterstock licensed image: Autumnal Equinox is the time to relax into and release emotions.

 

THE AUTUMNAL EQUINOX: The Season Of Reflection And Deepening

Every year, near the end of September, you might notice a change in temperature in the early evening. From there, the leaves are beginning to change colors and you might notice feelings of happiness, sadness, regret, and pride arise within you.

During this time, we might think about all those who helped us throughout the year and those whom we have helped. Using these thoughts as creative fodder, we might form visions and plans to enact in the new year.

The Autumn Equinox is the beginning of a period of pause, self-reflection, and dormancy. It’s a time of reassessment and inner-planning. It’s when humans, plants, trees, bugs, bunnies, birds, animals, and millions of soil inhabitants go deep within themselves. Even the life of bees is altered!

While it might appear as if everything is beginning to sleep, the energy systems of all of these beings are actually actively gathering strength and energy for a later time. Soon, we will all reemerge in the Spring. 

WHAT EXACTLY IS THE AUTUMN EQUINOX?

The Autumn Equinox is when we honor the harvests of our efforts. It’s when we reflect on who we are and why we’re here on this uniquely beautiful planet. During this time, we might also rethink our processes and procedures. We might even reassess our relationships. 

Certainly, the Autumnal Equinox is a time to process all of our emotions and experiences throughout the prior months, releasing the challenging aspects, celebrating the good, and fully embracing who we are in this moment. 

To take full advantage of the planetary influences and this magical time of year, you might explore performing the Seven Arrows Ceremony or Changing The Book Of Life Ritual found on my Free Resources pages. Through these simple processes, you can connect with the Divine, immerse yourself in the energies of Mother Earth, release emotional and intellectual toxins, and create a pathway to begin again.

WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING DURING THE AUTUMNAL EQUINOX?

Indigenous cultures mark this time of year as an important period of self-reflection, renewal, growth, transition, and rebirth. To those who are deeply connected to the rhythms of the Earth and Cosmos, it’s a time to gather strength, release the past, deepen our resolve to be loving, vibrant Beings, and imagine new beginnings. 

During this time, we might even venture into exploring the experiences and potentialities around our own deaths. As death opens a door to a new life, so do the Autumn and Winter seasons.

During this equinox, we have equal hours of daylight and night. This is a great time to reflect on the balance of our public personas and our shadow aspects. Where there is light, there is openness and growth, where there is darkness, there is a great potential for learning and expanding. 

When we rest, it is a form of self-care. When we write in our journals to express our thoughts and emotions, it’s a form of self-love. This equinox is a time for silence and looking within.

Given that our lives are moving so quickly, with too many responsibilities, each of us needs time to decompress. If we can write in our journals, find tears of forgiveness, and make time for prayer, even for just a half-hour each day, we will set the stage to become fully rejuvenated, fresh, and expanded at the start of Spring.

For those of us who operate at a rapid pace, we might also need acupuncture, massage, herbal cleanses, and healing sessions. We might feel confused or broken during this time of pause. Be conscious of what you need and seek the healers and helpers with whom you most resonate. This is the time to invest in your healing and expansion. 

When we nurture our inner stillness, we improve our vibrations and allow for growth and positive change.

IMPROVE YOUR SPIRITUAL AWARENESS

As days are getting shorter and nights are growing longer, you might feel a little isolated or disconnected. Consider putting a support system in place. As you reach out to loved ones, you’ll find that everyone is processing something deep during the Autumnal Equinox. 

Truth be told, you are an expanded, connected, Light-Being with unlimited potential in every direction. To source your power and light, meditate 3 times per day, even if only for 5 minutes each time. This will have you know your core Self. Knowing who she is, you can align your personality and identity with her. As you depend on your spiritual practices, you’ll notice that your inner Being is far more expanded than you may have previously realized.

Given the holiday season and all its noise and complications, you might consider foregoing the traditional popular route and create new rituals – ones that truly connect you with God, the Universe, yourself, and those whom you treasure most.

A TIME FOR SELFLESS SERVICE

During these intense transition periods, you might feel that you are focusing too much on the past. If you are unable to truly be in the present, consider volunteering for a few hours every week or every day. By doing so, your heart will come to life and your connection to the Divine will deepen. 

When we selflessly serve others and when we pray for others, the Universe does the same in return. 

The Autumnal Equinox awakens the loving spirits who reside in the Earth’s soil. This time beckons the ancients and our long-ago relatives to nurture us. 

As you venture forward, choose love over stubbornness, hope over grumpiness, and light over shadows. During this equinox, you are being called to forgive, allow, accept, and release all aspects that do not serve your core nature and the light.

Forgive – Allow – Accept – Release

 

In all new endeavors, decide to be more aloof, less attached, and less dramatic. Decide to choose service over selfishness. During this time, you can create a whole new you. 

Take the time to meditate, forgive, cry, pray, and serve others. The seeds you plant within yourself during this time will give birth to a remarkable, luscious Spring.

 

 

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Mercury Retrograde: How To Handle This Wonderful Phenomenon

 

Shutterstock licensed photo.

If you travel in new-age styled circles, you’ve heard of Mercury Retrograde. If you listen to most of the folks preaching about this unique cycle, you might think these are dangerous and horrible events. They’re not. Mercury Retrogrades tend to be wonderful for pausing, reflecting, writing, depending ourselves, and expanding our most creative projects.

What is a Mercury Retrograde?

As science tells us, all of the planets in our solar system orbit the Sun at various speeds and unique distances. Mercury Retrograde is when the planet Mercury appears to shift directions as it orbits the Sun. This is only an optical illusion because of the position Mercury in relation to our position on Earth.

It’s not really changing direction. It never changes direction or goes in reverse. It just appears that way.

As planets rotate around the sun, they are all at unique distances from the Sun and each other. When one planet is nearer to the Sun than a second planet, it might appear to pass the second planet in its rotation. This is what creates the illusion, possibly appearing that the second planet is going backward. This Retrograde concept is how the ancients saw this phenomenon.

Mercury goes retrograde 3-4 times every year, going into this phase more than any other planet. Every Mercury Retrograde lasts roughly a month, yet we will also want to consider the “shadow periods,” which run about 1 week prior and 1 week following the retrograde. These shadow periods are when the energies are either forming or dissolving.

A Mercury Retrograde, or any planetary dynamic is how The Eternal Consciousness rejuvenates, regenerates, and re-stimulates the energies throughout the cosmos. We are, after all, made of stardust. It would make sense that we would feel the shift as planets move around the Sun.

What’s Challenging About Mercury Retrograde?

Many feel confused and even dizzy during a Mercury Retrograde. Some feel like a completely different person living a completely different life. You might feel like you’re personality has changed some or you might feel like you’ve somehow become a Super-Intuitive Psychic  and Super-Healing Superhero! You might also feel somehow defeated during the shadow periods or during the majority of the retrograde. It all depends on how deeply tuned you are to your true nature.

Retrogrades can cause a lot of problems in relationships, even between soulmates, because somehow communication becomes a little more emotional or less specific. This creates the confusion that many might feel during these times. The confusion is generated by the disparity between who you truly are and you are pretending to be.

Most of make decisions and live our lives from a temporary self-identity – one that we contrived in order to sustain our ego-related goals and satisfy our temporary desires. When we’re confronted with a shift in universal dynamics with the planetary system we live within, we are basically confronted with our true nature.

Within that experience, we might run from what we created during our pre-retrograde lives or run head-first into experiences that are born from a whole other set of contrivances – ones based on our warped sense of creativity, our inner-feminine aspects, or our secret, unprocessed desires.

We are complex to say the least.

Things to temper:

      • Signing contracts
      • Having sex with new people
      • Making long-term plans
      • Signing a lease
      • Starting a business (although it’s a great time to explore ways to expand a business already in progress)
      • Playing with technology
      • Being angry
      • Being sad
      • Beating yourself up

I tell all of my coaching clients that Mercury Retrogrades are the perfect time to clean house, cry, write, and move beyond the desire to become “something” in this world. They are the perfect times to get over ourselves and go within.

What’s Awesome About Mercury Retrograde?

I LOVE Mercury Retrogrades. They’re wonderful for getting back in touch with aspects of yourself that either fell by the wayside or that you neglected for one reason or another. The downside of retrogrades are often overplayed and over-exaggerated. This is because the new-age scene loves to crank out hilariously insane content that tends to create more fear than anything else.

Btw, the new-age movement is a weak, spineless ego-realized collective that over-accentuates the feminine and devalues the masculine. It’s a warped scene.  The new-age encourages people to build narcissistic self-identities instead of promoting spiritual discipline. It’s all about how you look and feel – and who you pretend to be – instead of knowing yourself, loving yourself, being authentic, and going within. New-agers love selfies while donning Prana pants and faux-light makeup. And they love talking about how spiritually evolved they are. It’s so sad!

It’s the perfect time to:

      • Write
      • Be creative
      • Express your feelings
      • Pray
      • Start new and deeper spiritual disciplines
      • Reflect on prior experiences
      • Unearth old emotions and finally release them
      • Forgive others
      • Set boundaries
      • Heal & evolve broken aspects of yourself
      • Heal relationships
      • Release relationships
      • Release aspects of your life and nature
      • Meet new people

But wait, aren’t we all connected to the Divine? Aren’t we able to surpass all the limits a retrograde might present? Yes, but even Superman had issues with kryptonite.

In all things: Be Happy. Be Peaceful. Encourage the same in others. You are truly an infinite Being. Live according to this idea and life will flow accordingly.

 

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The Year of the Ox: The History, Meaning & Power

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The Year of the Ox: The History, Meaning & Power

Every 12 years, we experience a Year of the Ox in the Chinese Zodiac. Most recently, we rode the rollercoaster of the year 2021, and the next time we see the Ox will be in 2033. You might have heard about years marked by animals in the past, but what does it all mean?

Coming to understand the history, symbolism, and ultimate power of the animals that stretch across the 12-year cycle of the Chinese Zodiac can help you come to understand yourself and the Universe so much better. Armed with this new tool and information, you can better delve into self-reflection, spiritual development, and rebirth!

The Origin Of The Chinese Zodiac

As early as the 14th century, the Chinese used a celestial calendar and celebrated the New Year. The Chinese lunar calendar is the oldest structured example of the zodiac animals used in conjunction with years passing. However, the Chinese Zodiac itself is so ancient that we can’t pinpoint its origin exactly!

However, there is a legend of the Great Race, which tells the story of the Chinese Zodiac’s beginnings. The Jade Emperor commanded all the animals to race across a river in the story.

The first 12 animals to make it to the other side would have years named after them, and they would appear in the order that they placed in the race. According to the legend, the Ox would have been first if it weren’t for the cunning of the Rat, which hid in the Ox’s ear and jumped out across the finish line as soon as the Ox made it to the other side.

When it comes to archeological evidence, signs of the 12 animals in the zodiac first appeared around the 5th century B.C. during the Zhan Guo period. It wasn’t until the Han Dynasty between 206 B.C. and 9 A.D. that the zodiac was officially identified. It was not until the late 500s A.D. that the animals were used to identify people born in their corresponding years. The North Zhou Dynasty was officially in power when the zodiac animals became popular!

We now know that Chinese Zodiac uses animals and elements to mark time passing. Partnered with the lunar calendar, the Zodiac uses animals to mark years, days, and hours in 12 segments each.

Overall, the Zodiac spans 60-year cycles with different combinations of animals and elements to uniquely identify them.

Why An Ox?

The Chinese Zodiac consists of animals significant to China’s culture and history. Each animal was chosen intentionally as being helpful, majestic, and powerful in the people’s eyes.

The animals are always cycled through in the same order, starting with the Rat. Following are the Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and finally, the Pig.

As a result, if your birth year lands within the second year of the Chinese lunar calendar cycle, you are marked by the Ox.

So why did the Chinese choose to honor the Ox so highly? Oxen have been an essential part of the Chinese’s ability to farm, transport go

ods, and build a powerful military throughout history. For farming, they are strong, sturdy animals that can move heavy materials, graze and provide milk.

They are low-maintenance, providing great help without needing rewards or anything in return.

On the back of the Ox, Chinese agricultural success and history stand tall. As a result, the Ox is highly revered and often used to compliment others, such as “You are very like an Ox!”

What Happens in the Year of the Ox?

Many predictions are told by seers using the elements and animals, including the year ahead, the people born in those years, and guidance such as for relationships and financial success. Though highly revering each animal in their zodiac calendar, the Chinese have never denied the existence of negative forces and flaws.

Each animal in the zodiac has positive and negative traits that help those born in their years better understand themselves and what awaits them.

One might guess being an Ox in the current year of the Ox (also known as your natal year) is a great thing, but it’s quite the opposite! Chinese astrology says that Tai Sui, otherwise known as the “God of the Year,” works to make the natal year of that person unlucky for them.

Tai Sui can be found as a constellation connected in opposition with the planet Jupiter and draws on the unstable energy of the planet.

Using the knowledge of Tai Sui and the characteristics of the Ox, fortune tellers have formulated horoscopes. For those born an Ox, seers have predicted turmoil and strain in love and finances during natal years. Each year has exceptions, however.

In 2021, for example, those marked by the Ox might find some good fortune in their career even if the overall situation was still mainly negative. Which element is combined with the animal during that year can help bring insights to the nuances of those lucky and unlucky events.

If you are born in the Year of the Ox and are entering your natal year, fortune tellers warn that attempts at success beyond self-development are risky. Rejection in love and missteps in your career can lead to turmoil for you. Instead, focus on your wellbeing and take steps to balance your inner self.

What Are The Chinese Zodiac Elements?

Each year, the animals also cycle through five elements. The Chinese Zodiac includes water, metal, earth, fire, and wood. In 2021, the Year of the Ox was also metal, giving the personality of the Ox nuances of popularity among friends and hardworking, active work ethics.

If you are Wood Ox, you’re probably restless and headstrong. If you’re a Fire Ox, you might be practical but narrow-minded.

If you’re an Earth Ox, you could be honest and responsible. If you’re a Water Ox, you might be ambitious and have excellent observational skills.

Using both your animal and water signs, you can begin to explore yourself further and better respond to relationships and situations in the future!

What Does It Mean to Be Born in the Year of the Ox?

Born in the Year of the Ox? A few set things according to the Chinese Zodiac are good and bad luck for you. Your lucky numbers, for example, are 1 and 4, and your lucky colors are white, yellow, and green. You can also have particular affinities to tulips and peach blossoms and to north and south directions.

You also have compatible and incompatible signs! You should stick close to people with Rat, Snake, and Rooster signs, as they are most likely to work well with you.

Lesser compatible signs are the Tiger, Horse, Goat, and Monkey, so you might want to proceed with caution when entering relationships with these signs.

Like the Ox, those with the Ox sign usually enjoy a long and healthy life. They are also best suited for hard work requiring close attention to detail, like agriculture, engineering, carpentry, or politics.

The Chinese recommend wearing red throughout your natal year to avoid some of the bad luck that might come!

REMEMBER!

In all things astrological, please realize that these aspects are only suggestions to help you better delve into self-reflection and ease some stress. You are far more powerful than you realize.

The blueprints that astrology suggests are not hard and fast rules. It might also be that you have other influences in your life that might greatly enhance your ability to receive what you desire.

To improve your vibration, luck, and happiness, spend time chanting Sanskrit mantras and love-filled sutras.

Pray for others and the Universe prays for you.

If you’re looking for more tools to delve into self-reflection, you can try out my personality cards or look into my FREE YOURSELF course. It’s wonderful.

YOU ARE LOVE!

You are a beautiful Living Being filled with light and love, born from stardust. You are unlimited potential in every direction. With a focus on discipline, virtue, and your own goodness, you can become as expanded and liberated as you desire. 

BLESSINGS TO YOU!

There is no “Other.” There is only you experiencing yourself.

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