astrology to the rescue

Believe it or not, despite it's reputation (from people who don't know enough about it) astrology is a good tool if you need direction in life or have perhaps questions about your predispositions.  Not until I saw a reputable astrologer many years ago did I understand just how much spiritual inquiry is part of my inner make-up.  It made all the difference in deciding to go back to school for a master's degree and how to direct my studies. 

With great interest I read multi-talented Eric Francis' monthly column and horoscope section.  Originally an investigative journalist, he is the astrologer for several magazines, and the founder of Planet Waves.  His pieces on the correlation between current events and astrology are most interesting and enlightening.

More recently, I needed to help my daughter with her college search.  From her activities I had gotten two different messages about potential study areas and was confused on how to direct her - this way or that way.  Astrology to the rescue, the answer was clear, extremely helpful, and totally pertinent. 

You'd be amazed at how relevant and invaluable astrology can be if you feel stuck or have major life questions or challenges - no woo-woo, just clarity.

good change

I just finished Neale Donald Walsh's book, "When Everything Changes, Change Everything."  Often we look at change with fear or apprehension; Walsh's book shifts that perspective completely. 

When I am the one initiating the change I look at the change as welcome.   Looking for, and starting a new job for example, is a big life change and a thrilling experience.  When something unexpected happens that I would tag as "good," it's also exhilarating, and even more fun because it's serendipitous, like winning the lottery.  However, when something unexpected presents itself that I would initially tag as "bad," I'll feel nervousness, anxious, or fearful.  I recently broke down with my son's car uphill, on a hot day on a busy road, and had to be towed - definitely unexpected, and definitely not fun.

Walsh's premise is that all change is ultimately positive, and to embrace all change without resistance, because all change moves stalemates forward and promotes personal development.   His premise is that all "bad" change ends up being "good" change eventually.  He invites us to test this theory by picking a negative event from our life and inspecting it from the hindsight-is-always-20/20 perch.  Turns out that our son's car was at the end of its useful life, confirmed by two mechanics, and it was much better that we discovered it here at home where we could help, than risking his breaking down on his way to college.  All's well that ends well.

Think back to something unpleasant that happened to you some time ago, then look at the later consequences or its influence on your personal development.  Definitely a new way to look at change.  What do you think?

a positive spin

              I loved this sign I recently saw in Corning, NY so much that I took a picture.  It shows that you can look at everything from two perspectives.  An empty building from the owner's perspective means obviously lack of rental income, and we have a knack for noticing the negative aspect.  But, as this sign expresses, the same empty space can be seen as "the other side of the coin," a different perspective of the same fact.  The building is indeed full of opportunities, it's full of possibilities, your imagination is the limit as to what you can do with this space.  It is a very positive interpretation of the same fact, an unoccupied space.

            How you look at something is always in your power, always under your control.

so serendipitous

             Serendipity is my new favorite thing in life.  "The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way," is how the Oxford Dictionary defines it.  Serendipity seems to occur the more we refrain from trying so hard, from steering life too much.  Oftentimes I want something specific for lack of a better imagination, or for lack of the courage to imagine something bigger and better yet.  But when we try to will a predictable outcome we actually discourage the universe from bringing us the best of its abundance and fabulousness, we put the brakes on, w choke the energy.

            I just love it when the universe brings forth something unexpected that is way better than what I could have envisioned on my own.  Both our children found their first cars in completely serendipitous ways; exactly when they needed them, for the price they could afford, from people we could trust.  In the spring the perfect paid summer internship in Europe manifested for our son out of nowhere. And recently the possibility of producing a documentary from my book came about- something that was completely outside of my realm of imagination.

            When things like these happen my enthusiasm bubbles over and I am in awe of the amazingness of the world.  How have you experienced serendipity?

a better world

            It seems that many things in this world are currently a mess - the environment in general, the way we treat each other, social issues, climate change and erratic weather patterns, our medical paradigm and quandary, our food supply, our politics - oh my!

            But I truly believe that there is a better world under all this chaos.  We just need to create it, envision it, imagine it.  How do you do that?  You have to imagine it, then you have to live it - that's what Gandhi said. 

            There is indeed a lot of beauty already on this planet; there are a lot of wonderful, kind, compassionate people on this earth; the healthy food movement is growing stronger every day and we have all the inspirational models already out there; climate science shows what we need to do; we know that we want people to thrive, feel safe and secure, have easy access to good medical care, and easy access to good education; there are better ways of communication than judging, belittling, condemning, surmising, and berating. 

            Instead of condemning and fighting and criticizing what you don't want, just put yourself on the side you prefer - every day - with your words, your dollars, your thoughts and beliefs, and your world will change for the better. 

writing to learn

             My daughter used to play teacher and explain her school lessons to an invisible audience while writing on her dry erase board.   It was a way for her to integrate her school lessons from the day and understand them better.

            It seems that we teach best what we need to learn, or that we like to explain what we need to understand, or that we learn better if we teach what we're trying to understand.   Understanding is a process that solidifies through teaching or writing for example - hence the idea of homework, or writing papers in college.

            I am currently reading the book Learning By Teaching, which is chock full of relevant quotes.  Author Donald Murray writes "Why do writers write? ......most of all to discover what they have to say."  Brilliant!  He goes on to quote novelist E.M. Forster, who said "How do I know what I think until I see what I say?" and poet Cecil Day-Lewis, who concluded that "We do not write in order to be understood, we write in order to understand."  All these quotes express how understanding unfolds and deepens through processes, such as writing or teaching.

            Murray even takes this realization one step further when he says that, "...writing is an individual search for meaning in life."  We writers discover the meaning of our own life through writing; writing for us is a process of self-realization in the same way that painting is a process of self-realization for an artist, or baking pastries is a process of self-realization for a pâtissier.

            Life is a process, life is self-realization - through interaction with people and things.  We each chose to live, to be life, through the lense of a particular medium - for the painter the medium is his art, for the writer it is her books.  What is your medium?

saying no

           I never wanted to be a soccer mom and always told my children that their freedom ended where mine began because everyone's needs in a family had to be met.  We also said no two years ago when a college with a $60K tag and no proposed contribution accepted our son.  We've got to eat, too.   And I said no to my daughter to Barbies (and not because we couldn't afford one...).

            My parents set clear boundaries when it came to expenses.  They said no when I learned to drive and had visions of grandeur, wanting a Triumph Spitfire - I got to share a car with my mom; they also said "we will only pay for one year, you've got to manage after that," when I decided I'd had enough of the Belgian university system and wanted to continue my studies in the US (and it was way less expensive then than it is now....).

            Wednesday's NY Times article To raise better kids, say no explains that always saying yes "fosters a sense of deficiency that can never be fully satisfied," while learning to do with what you have fosters creativity, flexibility, resourcefulness, and inventiveness.  It turns out that receiving some pushback teaches children to "solve problems more effectively." 

            Creativity, flexibility, resourcefulness, inventiveness, and good problem solving are are all qualities we most definitely need in today's complex world.  So let's convey to our children that nobody's resources, most of all not our planet's, are infinite.  Say no every one in a while, you'll do them a favor.

dear moms

             Moms come in every shape, way, form, talent, and ability; and moms' roles morph and change as their kids grow up.  My roles as early-childhood educator and language teacher are long past.  Now I am personal assistant, budgeter-in-chief, travel coordinator, driving instructor, grocery shopper, mom-Uber, medical assistant, chief scheduler, laundry expert, therapist and counselor, procurement specialist, nutrition counselor, director of education, wardrobe expert, gourmet chef, guidance counselor, wise woman and elder, motivator, career counselor, debate team leader, cultural interpreter, and occasional pet manager,.... and all of this before I have even begun my real job.

            Every mom is different, every mom deserves a big hug and kiss, every mom does soooo much.  Thank you to all you moms out there for your unending dedication.  What kind of a mom are you?

why live deeply

       Living deeply is about creating a meaningful life.  It's about putting the quality back into life by creating win-win scenarios.  This requires a shift in values, away from "profit above all," quantification, and our usual win-lose scenarios, to a value-based culture that is cooperative, sustainable, compassionate, and transparent.  It's about creating a good-for-all, not just a good-for-some, culture.       

      Any reason not to want this?

setting the tone

         In some cultures wedding dates, company incorporation dates, or official opening dates for a commercial endeavor get vetted astrologically to ensure the stars are in good alignment, and the date and time are auspicious and promise a bright future. 

         Regardless of whether you believe in astrology or not, setting the tone for an event or an endeavor, I believe, does make a difference.  Sending out good energy, setting a clear direction in your mind for a new beginnings, or the tone for the New Year, matters because intent sends out forward energy.

         We had a private book launching for my book DEEP LIVING and it was a very spirited event, I would even say auspicious.  It's like when your New Year's Eve party is fabulous and it sets a festive and positive tone for the year.  It's like when you give yourself a birthday bash and celebrate yourself and feel good about feeling good.  It's like when you set the table for a special dinner nicely with effort and the intent to make it special.  Set your mind up for success next time you create an event or start on a new endeavor.