“Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth… : that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
As I begin this newsletter, the moon has just waned new in the sign of Leo, and the last of three successive eclipses co-occurs. We are in the final stage of a tumultuous astrological period where six planets have been retrograde, and forces of cosmic disruption and karmic cleansing have brought everything from flood to fire to firing to suicide. Even Mars has been enveloped in a dust storm the size of North America and Russia combined.
As above so below.
How has your life changed in the last 2 months? Have you been side-swiped or served a curve-ball? Are you changing jobs, ending a relationship, moving or finding yourself faced with some deep pattern or issue you thought was long-since resolved? If you’re like many, this deluge feels chaotic, uncontrollable, and bad.
As is often the case, we tend to look at the worst possible scenario and proceed forward with that mindset, which, of course, perpetuates itself. Mercury retrograde gets an especially unwarranted bad rap, and it’s unfortunate that many treat these times as disasters waiting to happen instead of the opportunity for growth and possibility that they are. According to astrologer Pam Younghans:
“Mercury’s retrograde cycle takes about eight weeks, and this is the same every single time Mercury goes through this cycle, every four months. Three times a year eight weeks of our lives are devoted to a mental process of experience, revisitation and ultimately redefinition of whatever we are connecting with at the time. This is a very regular, very significant part of our mental process. To be able to “understand” what we are experiencing, we need to go out toward something (a person place or thing), go in and revisit, and then go toward it again with more conscious awareness than we had before. This is the way the power of comprehension works. It’s a real, rhythmic cycle, and we should be well accustomed to it, allowing it rather than resisting it.”
So. how do we navigate the dismantling of our lives and find stability in times of chaos and change? Over decades of spiritual seeking and finding reassurance in the natural world I have found a few things which help:
First, we are governed by laws of nature which are both universal and impersonal. The mystical law referenced above, As above so below, refers to this phenomena. Both personal and collective, we can see these forces at work in our own lives and in our communities, nations, species, planet and the cosmos as well. There is comfort in this knowing, that, no matter the challenge, we are not alone.
There is also an undercurrent in the wisdom teachings of the general benevolence of the universe. John O’Donohue calls this The First Gift, and writes: “There is a kindness that dwells deep down in things; it presides everywhere, often in the places we least expect. The world can be harsh and negative, but if we remain generous and patient, kindness inevitably reveals itself. Something deep in the human soul seems to depend on the presence of kindness; something instinctive in us expects it, and once we sense it we are able to trust and open ourselves. If we did not feel that some ultimate kindness holds sway, we would feel like outsiders confronted on every side by a world toward which we could make no real bridges.”
I have come to know these forces as allies available to give us a power we would not have on our own. What if these seeming negative aspects were actually summoning on our behalf; igniting currents of energy to give us the strength we do not have alone?
For me, this change moves me from deep water to the grounded stability of dirt. Mercury retrograde escorted me back to a longing and dream I’ve had consciously for three decades. I’m leaving my lakeside cottage to buy a small farm, giving up the pull of wave and tide for deep root and sweet earth. The world is a rich reservoir of guidance and support; a divine force lent to us with flowing generosity at the smallest effort we make. The moment you turn and walk towards God, God turns and runs to you.
Body, Energy & Soul Care is the product of twenty-five years working in mental health and healing. The foundation of all my work is spiritual, the goal transcendent the medium a combination of energy and bodywork and sacred teaching. Interwoven is my relationship with the natural and invisible world which I see as a physical manifestation of God’s presence and a live and interactive force available for support, guidance, and wisdom. In between my mental health years and massage therapy, I spent a decade working with horses and know what it means to work to the bone, in all weather, to live in-tune and necessity with the seasons, and to embrace the natural circle of life which includes death both accidental and devastating and ultimately miraculous and healing.
Monthly Massage Benefit
Reduce Anxiety
Anxiety and other mental distress are unfortunate companions of almost everyone at some point in their life. Massage sessions can relieve and eliminate these stresses in both adults as well as children.
Monthly Flower Essence Special !!
Chamo-Mild Calm: A Liquid Lullaby to Quiet & Comfort
A new addition to the FloraFusions line of herbal bath and body oils, formulated in a base of Terra Flora Chamomile flowers in organic olive oil, with a medley of flower essences and essential oils.
The Flower Fusion:
After the oil is fully suffused with the Chamomile flowers, it is hand-pressed and stored. When we are ready to prepare the new blend, we gather our Biodynamic® flower essences and the finest medicinal-grade essential oils, and potentize them with prayer and reverence into the Chamomile oil infusion.
Chamomile flower essence provides foundational emotional nurturing and equilibrium, assisted by Star of Bethlehem and Mariposa Lily. California Valerian, Lavender and Magnolia flower essences promote deep body relaxation; Lilac and Sweet Alyssum uplift and purify the mental field; and Pink Angel’s Trumpet provides bodily release and connection with higher realms.
The botanical essential oils of Sandalwood and Lavender are added to provide nerve health; Frankincense and Cistus to restore breathing harmony; Spruce and Cedarwood to bestow physical warmth and grounding; and Vanilla and Ylang Ylang impart mellow sweetness.
Flower Essence Society
What are Flower Essences ?
Flower essences are herbal infusions or decoctions, made from the flowering part of the plant, which uniquely address emotional and mental aspects of wellness. The first 38 flower remedies were formulated by a British physician, Dr. Edward Bach, in the 1930’s, although new remedies from other plant species are now available. To understand how flower essences work requires a recognition that the human being is more than a physical body, but also incorporates a “body” of life energy, a “body” of sensitivity and feelings, and a spiritual essence or Self. Flower essences are energetic imprints of the life force of plants which interact with these subtle bodies of the human being, and evoke specific qualities within us.
Flower Essence Society
Monthly Specials !!
60-Minute Full Body Massage
Flower Essence Oil
75-Minute Full Body Massage
Reiki
Flower Essence Oil
60-Minute Spiritual Guidance