Pisces New Moon (March 1, 2014): Keep on Swimming, Dreaming , Loving & Planning

The New Moon in Pisces took place early this morning at 3 AM EST. New Moons are a great time to gain a new perspective and set new intentions for the month. We are now completing the astrological year and getting ready for Spring. So many of my friends, and myself included are so ready for Winter to be over, as we hear there is another snowstorm on the way for Sunday and Monday in the Northeast of the US. As Dory, “the happy go lucky fish” from Finding Nemo says “You Got to Just Keep Swimming!”

Such a fitting clip for today with the Sun, Moon in watery Pisces along with the planet Neptune aka “the King of the Waters”, and Chiron, a comet that teaches us about healing. So much is changing and shifting in our world right now. Seeing that for myself, as I plan to move halfway across the country later this year. This new plan came about because I was willing to let go of my resistances to a big change. Astrologically, Mercury just came out of out of retrograde yesterday and Mars, Saturn & Jupiter turn inward this week. So life may seem a bit unclear or having some of you doubting your direction right now. However, it is not a time to give up. It is a time to let go of what is not working. Give up only where you are resisting and go with the flow! Don’t let challenges  get you down, like another snowstorm.

Feeling a bit under the weather, unsure of what you need to do or feeling challenged by others, then take time to slow down and reflect this weekend. The Pisces New Moon is also inviting us to dream and use our imaginations. I am definitely tapping into the imaginary realms through movies this weekend. Yesterday while babysitting, I watched another wonderful children’s movie, “Rise of the Guardians“.  It definitely has so much to say on a deeper spiritual level. I found a blogger who couldn’t have said it better:

“The heart of the movie (Rise of the Guardians) is Jack Frost’s desire to know why he exists, why he was made, and why his life has meaning and value. The struggles of Jack Frost are the struggles of all humanity. He understands he is special, but he doesn’t understand the purpose of him being different from every other being on the face of the earth. As Jack Frost discovers his unique motivating purpose in life, the audience is reminded of their own unique value and worth”.            – Doug Bursch from his blog Fairlyspiritual

Simple Pisces New Moon Rituals: May be a lot to contemplate over one weekend…. yet, I encourage you to look beyond what is limiting you right now and just let yourself imagine your life with more positive outcomes. If you don’t like to meditate than ask for a dream before you go to bed tonight, on what part of your life needs some upliftment. Not a dreamer, than take a shower or bath and relax a bit. Make an intention that you are letting go of what no longer serves you. Pisces also rules victimhood and addictions so a magical time to release self sabotaging patterns. You may not know how to do this, but now is the time to have faith that you can do it! From yet another family movie classic, The Wizard of Oz: I love this quote that Glinda, the good witch said to Dorothy when she didn’t know how she was going to get back to Kansas. You can watch the clip here.

This is my greatest lesson to date– to know I have my own power and use it wisely. I can see clearly that I spend so many precious minutes caught up in thinking that others are not being fair (one of my Libra traits). However, I  now realize, I have no control over others! I do need to speak up sometimes but more importantly, I am choosing to see what I do have control over — and that is my own emotions and thoughts. I choose peace now instead of getting caught up in lots of drama and unnecessary hurt. I own my own power which is love. If you can relate to my story, then it just might be time for you to go within and see how you need to use your own power. Also intend to stop blaming others and judging them for your challenges. Know that at a higher level, Pisces connects us with compassion, forgiveness and our deepest soul’s yearning to love unconditionally.

Last but not least, I want  to share with you how planning ties in with this new moon. You maybe asking planning??? with all these less tangible energies about. Yes, because of the retrograde planets, it is a time to re-evaluate. Thinking processes are becoming clearer  as new information may be at hand as Mercury begins forward momentum
after 3 weeks of being in backward motion. And with Saturn turning retrograde tomorrow, it is still a time to look at lessons learned and taking care of unfinished business. With Spring approaching later this month, think of it as a time to look at the seeds you want to bloom this Summer and coming Fall. Prepare the Soil, Lay your foundation.Interesting, Christians begin Lent this week which literally means preparation — getting ready for Easter and Spring. Pisces is the end and the beginning…about the  Oneness of all life, so the higher realms and our earthly life are all connected. So let yourself flow and imagine in the mysterious waters of life yet also give yourself time over the next month to review your daily plans for the coming new Season. I am actually making my plans to go to “the land of Oz”, aka Kansas City for Easter to plant some new vibrant blooms in my life. To help you plant your Pisces new intentions, I leave you with one of my favorite songs that is great for contemplating any season of life:

Full Snow Moon in Leo Offers Keys to Open the Heart: February 14, 2014

The Full “Snow Moon” in Leo takes place at 6:53 PM EST on Valentine’s Day. With the Moon in dramatic Leo opposing the Sun in objective Aquarius, the energies are asking us to find balance between our emotions and thoughts in how we approach our relations and what we desire.

With it being Valentine’s Day, I want to talk first about this day of sharing love. The true story of Valentine’s Day is a bit of a mystery, and you can read about it by clicking on the link in this sentence.  All I know that Valentine is portrayed as a very giving man to many and so today is a day to celebrate love –all kinds of love not just romantic love. All week long, I have been posting on Heartlight Peace Ministries Facebook page, the many ways to express love for oneself, one’s family and even God along with intimate partners. The Leo Moon may bring out some of you to be more playful tonight and desiring your heart’s expression to take center stage; while others may want a more mellow evening to reflect  on their heartfelt intentions for their relationships and all aspects of living.

No matter how you choose to spend this evening, the key is to be true to yourself. If you are feeling sensitive or being pulled into some unwanted drama, it may be a night to slow down and seek mindful insights what you need to be more in balance in loving yourself more and/or your loved ones. If you are feeling the need to express “big love” do it in a genuine way–think about what will bring you, and those your love the most joy right now. Want to expand your love more — send loving thoughts through prayer and meditation to family and friends far away, spend quality time with a pet or just take a few  moments to beam healing love to those less fortunate in your communities and beyond. As humans, we are given a choice to love, yet  our souls yearns to love fully with out conditions. What will help you to live from your heart now while taking into consideration your everyday priorities?

Credit: Art Revolution (Toni Nicolle)

– With an ever expanding heart, wishing you a Happy Valentine’s Day, Rev. Annika

Valentine’s Day Specials

A wonderful gift for Valentine’s Day is a couple’s or relationship astrology reading. Visit my website for more info.

Blessings of the heart!

Finding a New Stride: Aquarius Super New Moon ( January 30, 2014)

The second new moon of January took place yesterday at 4:30 EDT in the sign of Aquarius, officially kicking off Chinese New Year. The first new moon of the month, which was also a super moon fell on our calendar New Year’s Day. What an auspicious beginning to all these new year markings. In my January 1 post, I urged my readers to set practical intentions while setting a slow steady course for implementing new projects. As we enter the Year of the Wood Horse and embark on a new moon cycle in the sign of Aquarius , it is now time to pick up the pace. So take time this weekend to get clear on your direction if you didn’t do this earlier in the month.

Mid-Winter Sunrise

This weekend is the perfect time for reflection and setting a course, for the rest of the year. Mid Winter is also upon us in the Northern Hemisphere, meaning, we are at the half way point between Winter and Spring  Read my blog post of Mid-Winter holidays for more info on the customs and rituals associated with this time.

If you know where the Aquarius New Moon falls in your natal birth chart*, then this is an area of your life you especially want to meditate on. For me, this sun and moon team lands in my 6th house of everyday living in my own birth chart. This tells me, it is a time to pay attention and re-energize my health, my everyday routines such as eating sleeping, work, and exercise. Very important for me considering, I still am on a journey of healing some strange physical challenges.

If you do not know your astrology chart, Aquarius is about change, gaining new perspectives. Here are some questions to ponder and some things to consider for the weekend:

* Are there any places in your own life that you need to be more authentic?

* Is there a pattern in your life that feels old? Ask for some new insights on how to transform or how to re- structure your current situation.

* Are there part of your inner resources, gifts that you have not been using?

* Notice people and situations that feel intense right now. If you are not usually comfortable with strong emotions whether positive or negative then take time to explore your feelings. You may realize you have some unfinished business to attend to or there is something new emerging in your life that is stirring you. A wonderful way to honor and  uplift what is happening in your life right now is to create a symbol (talisman) for your feelings or the situation at hand. Use your creation as a reminder of what you are transforming or possibly what you want more of. (Venus is buddying with Pluto today, 1/31 as she gets ready to move forward. Relationships intensify now. Some will be ignited with passion while other will decide to let go of what has been, yet move forward more easily then in the past.)

* Do something unfamiliar this weekend –get out of your normal routine. Think outside the box and do something that you want to do and not what someone else wants. It is a time to be true to yourself!

* Want some new ideas on connecting with your authentic self, here is a book that was just recommended to me: The Gift of Being Oneself.

One final point, Mercury the planet of communications and short range travel will be retrograde from 2/6 through 2/28. So know, during the next month you may be changing your direction as well as the speed in which you travel on your journey. When your communications start breaking down whether in relationships or with technology that supports your communication, this is a message to slow down and review.

Blessings of New Light, New Ideas and Regeneration!

* Note: The New Moon was exact at 11 degrees Aquarius. If you need help with learning your birth chart, you can go to this astrology website: www. astro.com and draw up your own chart. You need to know where you were born and the time you were born. If you need help interpreting your chart, contact me for a reading.

New Year’s Day Capricorn Super New Moon: Steady Forward Motion (Jan.1, 2014)

I, like many people are not sorry to say good-bye to 2013. I know as a spiritual teacher, I often talk about how important it is to be in the moment. Well, in this moment, I see the roller coaster ride that so many of us have been on this past year. And, I just have this feeling that 2014 is going to be more fruitful, especially for those who have been learning to move through their challenges — taking time to celebrate how they have grown, even if there are not physical signs of an outward manifestation of change, just yet. For myself my physical health has been a real challenge and still is, yet I am eating healthier than ever and have opened to receiving more love and support in my life.

I do see that 2014 will be full of new developments. However, I challenge  many of the posts that I have been reading, over the past few days, tooting how glorious 2014 is going to be with a Super New Moon starting off the New Year at 6:14 am EST. Yes, it is true that we have not had a new moon on New Year’s Day in 19 years, so it is auspicious beginning. Also,  a super moon is when a new moon or full moon comes its closest distance to the earth. Energetically then, the moon’s  magnetic pull is going to have more impact on us humans, especially with all the determined, “hill climbing goat” energies  of the five planets  (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Pluto and retrograde Venus) in the sign of Capricorn. Capricorn is an earth sign, so it will support us in coming up with practical resolutions for the new year!  As with any new moon, aka “the dark of the moon”, this is a time to set new intentions,  to begin anew. And this new moon is super charged, so how can the new year not to start off with a big bang?

from elsaelsa.com

I caution you, my readers to not take too many risks right now. The full configuration of the New Moon chart contains a grand square ( see red lines in inner wheel of chart) hinting that there is some limiting pattern in our life that is causing a lot of tension and if not worked may bring about change through upheaval.  I urge you first to use tomorrow’s grounding energies to center yourself. Even it it is cold outside, go for a walk. Get clear on what are the pillars of your life (what’s working) –that hold you steady. If you are feeling blocked and try to force your way to a different outcome than your breaking free will just cause chaos for yourself and others.  Take time to acknowledge where you need help. Many times when we name what is holding us back, we then can begin to move forward. So the struggle may not be over especially in the areas of relationships and finances. This year, however, will bring a greater sense of faith to those that seek answers from their inner most truth (one’s heart). Meaningful answers will start to manifest that will help clear up issues. New directions and reorganized plans will be shown to those who are willing to see the higher purpose in all situations and to seek out what nurtures one’s heart & soul. If you know your astrology chart, look to where  the new moon and all the Capricorn energies fall –this is the area of your life where you will want to commit some time and set new intentions for this month and the year. (If you are not sure which direction to go in 2014, you may want to consider contacting me for an astrology consultation.)

2014 will still be a year to break free from old patterns, but more positive results will be seen most likely, in the second half of the year. I sense more people will wake up spiritually and come together. People will find the time to reflect on what true freedom means to them on both a personal and more universal level. The key is to have patience — even if at times, you feel like a fool because you don’t know have all the answers. Keep letting go of what does not serve you and live each and every day in a way that renews your life, so that you are putting your best foot forward.

I thank all my readers for following my blog this past year. I wish everyone a Happy New Year —  seeing you enjoying the simple pleasures of life, while honoring your unique purpose for being on this planet. For some inspiration to move into 2014, especially if you found 2013 to be difficult, here is Tom Petty with “I Won’t Back Down”. 

This Christmas: Let Your Light Shine

I have been posting on my Heartlight Peace Ministries Facebook page about keeping it simple through the winter holidays and asking folks to remember what Christmas is all about. This year, I have heard people complaining that there was not enough time to get ready for Christmas with Thanksgiving being later in November than usual. This has not been the case for me. I have been celebrating the Christmas season for weeks, just being in the moment, finding ways to let those who are important in my life know how much I love them. It is not about the gifts, but I do love to give! So I just kept asking for inspiration how to let each person I was interacting with how to convey how special they are. Feeling special to me is about connecting with others on the heart level and enjoying being in the moment with them. One of my biggest learnings these days is to remember to fully get out of my head and into my heart . Yes, I do get caught up in my challenges from time to time, especially when I have health or financial issues going on. So, I need to be reminded to let go of my daily worries and be in the LOVE!

As I have heard my friend Bill Free, who a teacher of the “Course in Miracles” for the Teachers of God Foundation say many times, Lay Your Burdens Down on God’s Alter. Give them to him, right here. Bill, in fact  helped me to incorporate this holy inspiration into an exercise for a class I teach, “Finding Your Spiritual Gifts” for Unity on the River in Amesbury, MA. I was reminded of these powerful words  this morning when Bill’s wife Lisa Natoli shared her Christmas message in an email from the Teachers of God Foundation with this excerpt from Chapter 15 of the Course in Miracles:

“This Christmas, give the Holy Spirit EVERYTHING that would hurt you. LET yourself be healed completely, that you may JOIN with Him in healing. And let us celebrate our release together, by releasing everyone WITH us. Leave nothing behind, for release is TOTAL. And when you have accepted it WITH me, you will GIVE it with me. All pain and sacrifice and littleness will disappear in OUR relationship, which is as innocent as our relationship with our Father, and as powerful. Pain will be brought to us, and disappear in our presence. And, WITHOUT pain, there can BE no sacrifice. And WITHOUT SACRIFICE, there love MUST be.”    

After I read this my heart lightened.  Then I was lead to this music post on Facebook which moved me so deeply:

I have heard Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah sung by other singers, but I never really appreciated it, until today. On this Christmas Eve, it has lit a spark of of light to my heart for healing — to help me let go of my pains and sorrows. To  be back in the NOW — rejoicing in the moment and once again remembering what Christmas is all about!

May you know the peace in your heart and celebrate your light with those you love!

Merry Christmas

 

Tuning into the Return of the Light: Winter Solstice

I spoke about the Winter Solstice in my last astrology post on December’s Full Moon, but it is my most favorite seasonal celebrations, soI thought I would dedicate a whole post to this day just like I did back just before the Winter Solstice in 2010. Back then, I shared much about the history and significance of the shortest day of the year along with some simple rituals to help reflect on the deeper meaning of this event. Since then I have found more information on the spiritual significance of the return of the sun which also ties into the birth of Christ.

Yes, thousands of years ago, our ancestors were more concerned about whether or not the sun would return to bring light for growing crops and such. Today however, we know more about the cycles of the season with our calendars and all, but I ask you are we more intuned with  the cycles of life? Today, most of us don’t grow our own food, but I believe it is important to stay in flow with the messages of the seasons. So, I hope to share with you ways that help me to experience  the inner joy in my heart during the winter season.

Winter Solstice Alter

As I think most of you who read my posts know by now, creating ritual is a so much part of my daily living and my work. Yes, I love to create beautiful elaborate alter spaces to honor the seasonal changes. At this time of year, I an lighting advent candles daily and tonight will build a winter fire to honor the return of the Sun in my small fire pit.  Know however, lighting one candle or even beaming a flashlight can help set the tone for tuning into your own winter energies.

Listening to music, especially Celtic songs also help me tune into the more hopeful energies of this dark time of year. A friend of mine who is a Celtic singer recently shared this beautiful piece with called Winter Song.

To me, this time of year is about having faith that there is so much more to life even when we may be surrounded by so much darkness in the outside world. The key is to seek our own inner light (the warmth of our hearts) and  acknowledge this love in others as well. One of the easiest ways for me to see the light and joy in people is to be around children. They are so in the moment and get so excited about the littlest things such as a shiny little rock that most of us adults would fail to notice. What also helps me to bring out my childlike nature during the month of December  is to watch children’s holiday movies. Last night, I watched a children’s movie called The Littlest Light on the Christmas Tree. This movie totally warmed my heart and helped me to remember about believing in my own inner light and  in all mankind!  

Blessings to the Sun and the Light within us all!

Full Cold Moon: Awakening & Integrating Truth (Dec. 17th, 2013)

The Full “Cold Moon” takes place at 4:28am EST on December 17, 2013 in the sign of Gemini as it sits opposite the Sun in Sagittarius in our heavens. We are just a few days before the Winter Solstice in the Northern

Hemisphere when the Sun at this time of year is at its lowest giving energy to this part of the Earth. Yet, this Full Moon is very energetic as it connects with other planetary bodies and charges our skies. This play of dark and light energy reminds me of a quote from the bible: For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God…. 2 Corinthians 4:6. To me, this says that when faced with darkness, in our outer reality, whether it be something fearful or maybe unsettling, than it is time to seek the truth through the light, the love of our own hearts which will reveal the truth!

Are you ready to know the truth? Well, it looks like in the next few days you will receive information that you need to know, if you take the time to listen and receive what you need to know. This Full Moon, with its Gemini and Sagittarius energies is so much about communications. Gemini more wants to convey everyday thoughts where Sagittarius is interested in sharing visions and broader perspective.

This Full Moon is asking us to find  greater harmony in understanding our thoughts and individual truths in order to share them with others to serve the greatest good. I’m now thinking of an old Buddhist parable from India, that one of my favorite folks singers, David Roth, made into a song. Five Blind Men helped me see so clearly how easy it is for people to get caught up in their own truth and that it takes someone with a larger view to help us see the whole picture.

Some of the information you receive over the next couple of days may be surprising since Uranus, the planet also known as “The Trickster” or “Geat Awakener” is coming out of retrograde right after the Full Moon. When a planet is retrograde in our skies, energetically it impacts us, humans more on an inner level. Then, when the planet begins its forward motion again, new levels of awareness come into consciousness. Uranus has been retrograde in the sign of Aries since the middle of July, so you may notice some new insights related to an event or situation that what was going on back then. Also know that Aries is a bit fiery, so info coming to you now maybe from someone with a great deal of emotions to share too.

The best way to integrate all the information is to slow down. Just like a computer needs to reboot from time to time, give your mind a chance to let go of old patterns and align with your highest beliefs. As you take time to reflect here are some questions to ask yourself: Are you open to new information or being more open minded? Do you connect with ideas and people that inspire you to broaden your views? Do you seek out new adventures to learn more about who you are?

If you are knocked over by new insights and not sure what to do with them. Acknowledge this fact. Set intentions that you will receive the help you need to move in the direction of your overall truth. Give yourself time to be flexible and integrate where you see more change needed in your life. Be compassionate toward yourself and those around you who are being unpredictable at the moment. Also with all the holiday events going on, don’t forget to celebrate all that you have learned about yourself and who you really are over the last 6-12 months!

Wishing everyone a light filled Winter Solstice!

Lighten up with the Sagittarius New Moon (November 3, 2013)

With the New Moon in Sagittarius taking place at 7:22pm EST on November 3, 2013, it is time to gain some new perspective from all that we learned while going through the depths of Scorpio last month. If you read my post for last month’s New Moon, I shared much about death and rebirth as symbolically portrayed by the “phoenix rising from the ashes”.  This energy actually continues this month since it really is the astrological theme of 2013. It has been a year to let go of old structures to find a new way of being. Speaking of old structures breaking down, did you hear that the Comet ISON has been officially declared “No more“. It has been a confusing few days on what happened to this comet as it passed close by our Earth’s Sun. Many had hopes that right after Christmas, this comet would bring us an amazing light show to our dark winter skies. I feel a little sad that we will not get to see the streaking comet, but  I take it as a message to shine my own inner light more into this world during this holy season!

With this New Moon, you may well still be in the midst of change, but you should be getting a sense of the larger picture.  The “season of light” is upon us as the Winter Solstice approaches. It is getting darker outside, but the light inside is getting brighter in more ways than one. Hanukkah candles are being lit on the menorah in Jewish households this week, while Christian families began lighting Advent candles on Sunday in preparation for Christmas.  And last but not least, the illuminated fiery energies of Sagittarius are helping us see what we have brought forth from our unconscious last month and giving us space to make more changes in our emotional body and align our beliefs to our new awarenesses. Take time to be inspired and uplifted over the next day or so. Set a course to expand into your future. The phoenix is ready to fly and be free in knowing its own truth!

Here is a song by Amy Grant “If I Could See (What the Angels See)” to inspire you and set your intention with this New Moon. Aim your sights high and if you don’t yet know it, use your imagination to envision that you can see, hear and be just like the angels!

Thanksgiving and Gratitude

Thanksgiving

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

–Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

I have just driven all night to be with family that I have not seen in quite sometime for Thanksgiving. I am so grateful to have gotten to my destination safely. It was a very windy and wet drive that was somewhat nerve wracking. I also so glad my brother was willing to drive the whole way even though there were times, I asked him to slow down as we came to large puddles of water on the highway. We did have to sit on Rt 95 in Connecticut for about 20 minutes which we took in stride and thanking God, we were not in one of the mangled cars that we saw being towed off. We found out later there were 10 people that were transported to the hospital to be treated for injuries. I am so sorry that all those people got hurt, but I am truly grateful that we left a half hour later we had planned.

Was not planning on sharing the good and bad of traveling by car right before Thanksgiving, but this is a time to share gratitude and these recent events has my heart feeling full , especially since I am now in the beautiful home of my niece, her husband and 4 boys, enjoying myself catching up with one of my sister’s as I write this. Acknowledging what I am grateful for is a daily spiritual ritual for me. Over the years it has helped me to see God in everyone and everything just as Thomas Merton stated:

“To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us – and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him. 

Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.”    ― Thomas Merton

May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving sharing your own blessing with family and friends. Please feel free to share what you are grateful for in a comment.