Where Am I Going?
RELATING DURING RETROGRADES
Q:Where Am I Going?
A: What a great question. Have you asked yourself this lately? What comes up for you? For me, many different layers to the answer are resounding in thought waves with every realization and aha. From “I don’t know” to “home” to “communion” to “do the laundry” to “the direction of my discernment” to “get some food” to “into the future” to “self-realization” to “somewhere new” to…and the story goes.
I am asking this of myself these days, a lot. Perhaps the recent Aquarius moon is still echoing inside the chambers of my intellect, boosted by the Jupiter trine Mars that accompanied that glow-ball in the night sky last week. How has your week been? Was it powerful and insightful? Any big news or hurdles? How about your inner work? What themes are you chewing on? To name one, I am certainly working through the “myself/other” axis that has been illuminated by the new ecliptic chapter of these next two years in Aries and Libra.
IN RELATION TO…
As I wander about the earth, or just within a 100 or so miles radius of my apartment, I am in a deep study of the inter-relating of that which is me, myself, I, and my soul, my breath, my body, my being, and all the rest in relation to everyone else. To strangers, friends, family, colleagues, my dry cleaner, my Uber driver, my food deliverer, my community (past and new ones forming), etc.
Sometimes I am super uncomfortable in this process, the emotions, thoughts, doubts, empathy, concerns, etc are very strong and I have to just observe myself and ride it out. At other times, the experience is very heartfelt, warm, connected, and curious too. Venus is retrograde until September 3rd and I am feeling this deep review of my relationships in every direction. Pangs of heartache, sweet memories, bitter truths, acceptance, reminiscing, feeling repelled, avoidance, diving-in-ness, gratitude, nourishment, missing, all of this is in my face, my field, and in my body too.
On August 3rd, we entered the shadow for the upcoming Mercury in retrograde which begins on August 23rd. The overlap between Venus and Mercury retrograde will add even more of a contemplative and potent review to the end of this retro-summer (joining Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, and soon Uranus will also be appearing to be moving backward in space). All the Re-words are in effect. Revise, Reflect, Rest, Rejuvenate, Recalibrate, Reorganize, Reconsider, Return, Revamp, Reconfigure, Reboot, (add yours here).
UNPLUGGING FROM SOCIAL MEDIA
In a recent mediation which I will share more about later, I received some very clear instructions to unplug. This wasn’t inner guidance to take a retreat, although the more of those the merrier for sure. It was to remove myself from social media and deactivate all of my accounts. To literally unplug from the tools that I “just use for promoting my work” lol and to comprehend the reality of the impact that being plugged into a manipulative machine designed to alter my behavior has over my unconscious mind.
In other words, I need clarity as I have things to do that require a pristine mindset. The amount of unconscious programming is too much even for my diligent approach to using social media technology responsibly. At first, I was a bit shocked (not sure why because it is an obvious addiction) and realized that I had been caught in the dopamine cycle. I had a few moments of feeling some loss over not “seeing my friends” and had a decent laugh at that one. I started to philosophize, “What does it mean to watch my friends' lives pass by on a screen?” How will I promote my work? Btw, word of mouth is just fine (and if you’ve worked with me in the past, I do offer discounts for your next Astrology reading or coaching session when you refer friends, family, acquaintances etc).
The temptation for me is very real, the false sense of connection that I had used to justify my time there is also very real. After a few days of abandoning my social media domain, I feel lighter and more enthusiastic to cultivate my relationships in real-time versus online. Texting is great, calls are even better. Let’s connect and talk about where we are going! xo
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We cannot change the world until we accept we are the world. This is the new conversation.