Guidance

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Full Moon September 24th in Aries- Building Soul Stamina

Balance.jpgBy Michelle McClunan

Full Moon September 24th /25th is in the first degree of Aries, a very powerful point on the zodiac wheel. A Full Moon happens when the Sun and Moon are in opposite signs and is always a time when things come to a head, culminate or are shown to us… in techn-icolour. It can also be a time of great paradox, when we feel pulled in different directions. This one is more intense than most, due to both the luminaries, as well as Chiron and Mercury, being in a square to the teacher planet Saturn.

This energy can be a little heavy, but rather than focusing on that that, I would  like to explore what its asking of us and how we can grow, through working with it.

For me, this full moon and the current planetary activity, particularly Saturn’s journey through Capricorn for the next 2 years, is urging us to build our integrity, or our Soul Stamina.

On the day of the full moon, we have the Moon and Chiron (the wounded healer) in Aries, opposite the Sun and Mercury in Libra.

The Sun and Mercury (the planet of thoughts, speech, communication) in Libra, urge us to co-operate, play nice, keep the balance, maintain the status quo exactly as it is. Libra is all about creating love, peace, harmony and beauty – “Let’s just shut up and keep the peace, Let’s all love one another” says Libra.

Directly opposite to this, there’s the moon and Chiron in Aries, which urges us to be unique, independent, state our opinions, stand up for ourselves, assert ourselves, dare to be different, rock the status quo and to take the next leap forward in our lives.  “We walk straight, so you’d better get out the way”  says Aries.

Can you feel that polarity?

And then to take it up a few more notches, along comes Saturn, the somewhat stern teacher/ authority figure of the zodiac, who shows us our inner conflict or perhaps, our incongruities. As annoying as this archetype can be when he weighs in like this, it helps to remember that he is always urging us to see times of difficulty as learning opportunities.

BUILDING INTEGRITY

Over the next few weeks and months and years, we’re being encouraged to look at whether we are living our lives with integrity, which is when our  our actions are congruent with our thoughts/words and beliefs. If not, there’s little chance that we can create a sense of inner harmony, which is the theme for this month.

Here’s a little exercise:

 

First identify two or three beliefs or truths that you hold sacred. These are things that you think or say often to yourself or others.

Here’s one example. Let’s say you find yourself often saying “We are all connected. We are all one”.

Most of the time, you really feel this to be true and happily move along, blissfully connecting in a peaceful way with all in sundry. And then… suddenly… somebody or something comes hurtling in to completely upset your beautifully arranged apple cart. Right there in front of you is a situation, a person or a group of people who it is almost impossible to feel connected with, let alone feel one with. “Well, yes… I feel that we’re all connected, but not with that person or that group! “

So…  what do you actually believe?  Are you in integrity when you make the blanket statement that we are all connected… all one?  Chances are… this troublesome person or situation has appeared at exactly the right time to show you your incongruity, and… unless you’re enlightened, it’s possible that you experience this somewhere in your life!  If it feels a little uncomfortable to read this, then Saturn is doing his thing, impeccably!

Carolyn Myss suggests that when we behave in a way that is contrary to a higher truth that is functioning within our souls, we create a storm in our energy field.

In that moment, we are at war with ourselves.

She suggests that we develop soul stamina through acting congruently with our beliefs, one small step at a time, day by day.

  1. Investigate what you really believe to be true for you … now… today… it may have changed!
  2. Keep a watchful, but compassionate eye on your own actions and words.
  3. When you find yourself thinking, speaking or behaving in a way that is contrary to what you say you believe to be true, gently hold yourself accountable (Saturn) and reassess what you’re about to say or do.
  4. Do this over and over again to build the muscle
  5. If you can’t change your behavior, go back and honestly reassess the belief.
  6. By doing this consciously, situation by situation, we build congruency, integrity, maturity and what Myss calls Soul Stamina.

YOUR ASTROLOGY CHART – SATURN AND SOUL STAMINA

Whatever Saturn in Capricorn is travelling in your birth chart will be the main area where soul stamina needs to be built over the next 2 years Let me know if you would like to book a session to explore this.

CELEBRATING SPRING WORKSHOP 29th SEPTEMBER

I still have some space on my next workshop in Gillits KZN. On this one day workshop we will explore what, in our lives, is ready to come into being and how we can put practical steps into place to bring it into the world!  We will explore this artistically by creating an intuitive painting, using spring as our theme.

 

In life and light

 

Michelle

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NEW MOON 18th NOVEMBER – Powerful Healing Opportunity

 

 

New Moon November 18th November is in the watery sign of Scorpio.  For the days leading up to the new moon, we have a real  opportunity to let go of that which  isn’t serving us. On the day of the new moon, we have some powerful healing energy to help us to get in touch with our true feelings and  connect  much more deeply with our soul’s wisdom. More in the video

 

In Life and Light

 

Michelle

 

 

 

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FULL MOON SEPTEMBER 6 2017

marimba dance2September dances into being with a beautiful, gentle full moon in Pisces.  This Full Moon September 6 2017 Softens things a LOT, after the fiery intensity of the last few months.

Madame de la Luna is not only in boundless Pisces, but she is also dancing cheek to cheek with Neptune, the ruler of Pisces and the sea, making the current astrological theme even more intuitive, more oceanic, more imaginative, dreamy and FEMININE than usual.

Opposing all this dreaminess is the Sun in Virgo –  earthy, orderly, health conscious,  organised, strategic, sometimes a little critical.  Mars enters Virgo on the 5th as well, giving us a hefty dose of masculine order and pragmatism this full moon.

Mercury finally turns direct on the day of the full moon at the same degree as the eclipse , extending the eclipse season into this month. If you missed my last post, you can read more here The winged messenger then moves into Virgo on the 10th, where he will stay for the next month, lending us all some pragmatism and strategic planning ability, so that we can make positive steps regarding our health and well being for the next few weeks.

Let’s go on a little flight of fancy – Pisces loves that !

Full Moon  September 6 2017 – She’s asking us to dance!

Imagine an old-fashioned dance floor, where it was still customary for men to cross over to the other side and ask a woman to dance. Yes… it was in this century all you young ones!

The first character in our story is the Sun  in Virgo – masculine, earthy, grounded, clever, witty and pragmatic. He cuts a dashing figure, freshly shaven, immaculately turned out, in his custom designed suit and stylishly cut hair. With an eagle eye, and using his incredible powers of discernment, he starts to suss out the talent on the other side of the dance floor. “She might do… but …oh no.. her nose is a little large!” Or “… Well she’s pretty, but that laugh…. too loud!.” ” Hmmm…She looks quite interesting, but really… those colour choices?”  Mr Virgo carefully and critically weighs the options, before making his move, which will be strategically planned. He likes things to be timed properly, and to be clean and orderly. He really hates chaos and does everything in his power to avoid it. In fact, he prides himself on bringing order to chaos. He favours the pure, the healthy, the fit and the hygienic. Not too much mystical, magical stuff for him!

And then…the lights change, the  rhythms start to play and suddenly out of the corner of his beady eye, appears a vision of loveliness. Seemingly manifesting from the ethers, she floats into his line of sight, this other-worldly, ethereal looking feminine phenomenon. She’s all fragility, swathed in floaty, gossamer fabric the colour of the sea, and bedecked with fresh flowers in her hair. Her eyes are half shut, as she sways seductively to the music, seemingly lost in another world.  Miss Pisces loves to connect to and sometimes lose herself in all that is. She hates too much order, dislikes any kind of boundaries and prefers to spend her time creating, imagining, dreaming, dancing, healing, and playing. Her pleasures may very well include slowly sipping an entire bottle of excellent wine and getting more than a little tiddly, demolishing all manner of delicious tit-bits and making long and lovely love. She is oceanic and vast and difficult to catch and pin down and control – a little like an angel fish.

Mr Virgo initially is appalled that he’s even vaguely drawn to this strange creature, so he returns to his strategy of assessing the rest of the feminine contingent. However, the music is intoxicating and as  Miss  Pisces starts to dance towards him, he feels himself being irresistibly  pulled towards her. Before he knows it, he’s standing in front of her in the middle of the dance floor. His strategy and planning goes out of the window, as he feels magnetically attracted to her.  She gently touches his hand, encouraging him to sway with her, flow with her. As he imbibes her gentleness, he feels his defences dropping…. softening… gentling.  She on the other hand, is drawn to his strength, and finds his sense of order and direction reassuring, like a welcome rudder in a turbulent sea.

And this dear hearts,  is the way I see the energy of the Full Moon September 2017  playing out for the  next few weeks. The feminine within us…meeting and integrating with the masculine within us. For better or worse, in sickness and in health.  The parts of us that wish to dream and love and imagine and merge, accepting and integrating  the parts that wish to plan and strategize and order… rather than keeping  them on separate sides of the room, or the world, or the universe for that matter

Jupiter in Libra is standing on the side-lines, egging us on to find balance, peace and harmony through love and acceptance in our relationships. Not forgetting, that the most important relationship we have is the one with ourselves.

5 ways to dance with this Full Moon September 6 2017

  • Spend a little more time just “being” and not “doing”
  • Listen to your intuition – your internal gps will be more finely tuned than normal – use it
  • Engage in non-outcome driven creativity – dance, sing, make music, paint, play!
  • Flow with life more – reduce the rules and the outcomes
  • Be aware of where you criticize yourself and others and opt for love and acceptance instead

I Hope you Dance!

Have a look at this video or just read the words, but either way… I hope you dance! Thanks to my friend Toni D’amant for this!

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
HAVE YOU HAD YOUR BIRTH CHART  READ? 
 Your personal astrology chart will show you the area in which this full moon September 6 2017 is playing out for you. You might want to consider having your chart done (if you haven’t already) or having a yearly update, if you have.

My Flowering of You Workshop on 23rd September is almost full, so book quickly if you’d like to join us!

Bookings for my Tapestry of Life Workshop in Capetown are now open.

 

In Life and Light

Michelle

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Lifelight Astrology 7th June 2017

intuition muscle

FULL MOON IN SAGITTARIUS 

On Friday 9th June, we have a full moon in Sagittarius, which means that the Moon is opposite the Sun in Gemini, continuing the communication theme for the next two weeks.

Gemini represents the logical, rational mind and is concerned with our busy daily lives, our immediate environment and all incoming information. Sagittarius represents the truth seeker, the higher intuitive mind, the guru that resides within each of us.

This full moon urges us to reach higher, shoot our arrows further and explore beyond the borders of our daily lives, by developing and honing our intuition.

Even though the rational mind often gets a bad rap, without it, we would be incapable of processing any information whatsoever.

However, we need to make it a servant, not the master.

“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honours the servant and has forgotten the gift”. Albert Einstein

 

The barrage of information that comes to us on any given day, together with the gazillion thoughts and concerns we may have, tends to drown out any intuitive messages that might be trying to gain access.

Over the next few weeks, see if you can connect more consciously with your intuition. This is not something that’s reserved for a special  gifted few. It’s available to us all, but we need to work it like any other muscle.

14 WAYS TO HONE YOUR INTUITION:

  • For a few minutes each day, turn off or step away from your devices and the noise of daily life and spend some time in silence. Give the chattering mind a chance to subside, so as to allow your intuition to emerge. Remember that the words “Listen” and “silent” have the same letters.
  • Spend time in nature. Ground yourself regularly! (Read more here)
  • If you have a dilemma or a problem, try stepping away from it and doing something completely different. Go for a walk or a shower or pull some weeds out of the garden. Very often, the answer will magically appear.
  • Tune into the 5 senses regularly. It’s quick, easy and accessible and brings you into the moment, opening a channel to your higher self.
  • Do some stream of conscious journalling, which clears the mind of busy mundane thoughts and worries and makes space for intuitive guidance  to come through.
  • Try writing with your non-dominant hand. It will help you to liberate rigid patterns of expression.
  • Write down whatever you remember of your dreams. Our souls communicate every single night, but we need to listen.
  • Take some time to creatively express yourself. Spontaneous imagery, collage, painting, doodling, drawing, singing, making music and dancing help to calm the busy mind and give us more access to  our intution.
  • Start an intuitive notebook. Write down every intuitive flash or hunch you have.
  • When you have a feeling that you should call or visit someone, or reach for a book, follow it and see where it leads.
  • Pay more attention to your feelings. They are a compass and will tell you whether you’re moving in the right direction.
  • See if you can guess who’s on the phone before you look at it. Have fun with it and don’t beat yourself up if you get it wrong 🙂
  • Pick a subject and speak to yourself or to somebody else for 3 or 4 minutes – without interrupting. As you talk, notice how the clutter clears and gems of insight and wisdom start to appear.
  • Let somebody else talk for the same amount of time and just listen, without commenting, fixing or helping. As you listen, notice any new awareness that might arise  about yourself or your own life.

I’ll be sharing some insights on Intuition and Listening on FACEBOOK over the next month. Please join in the conversation and share how you connect to your intuition!

THE ART OF LISTENING WORKSHOPS

To work with the current communication/ intuition theme,  I will be running two THE ART OF LISTENING workshops in June, where I will be teaching you how to make your own deck of Soul Guidance Oracle Cards. The process of selecting images and reading the cards in a group environment will hone your intuition and listening skills and is highly likely to shed light on important issues in your life.

The workshops will be held on Saturday 10th and 24th June – 9:00 to 4:30  AND every Wednesday in June from 9:30 to 12:30

From June, Wednesday “pop-in” classes will be in the form of stand-alone courses – with a different theme each month.

 

Thanks for reading 🙂

 

In light and life

 

Michelle

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New Moon 26th April 2017

lying grass

By Michelle McClunan

On 26th April we have a new moon in Taurus , which celebrates the  recent re-emergence of the Venus from the underworld.

The planet of love and money (ruler of this new moon) has turned direct after her  retrograde journey, which happens only once every 18 months. This is often  likened to Persephone’s descent into the underworld, where she gets to face her shadow, amongst other things. During a Venus retrograde period (especially if Venus features prominently in our charts) we face the parts of ourselves which we dislike or disown.  In addition to this, any fears or insecurities about money, love, safety and self- worth very often come bubbling up to the surface.  This has been emphasised in 2017 due to Venus also being locked into a tight square with stern, restrictive Saturn.

The good news…( yes there is good news!)…. is that not only has she turned direct again,  but she is also separating from the square with Saturn,  and is about to embark on a brand new journey on the 29th April when she enters Aries.

This beautifully gentle new Taurean moon ushers in some very welcome earth energy, after all the fire and brimstone of the past month, which has left many of us scorched and gasping for breath… and for an oasis of some sort.  We need to be aware that there are still some sparks flying around, which could easily start more blazes if they’re not tended, but generally the energy seems to have quietened down a little.

This new moon is a good time to integrate any learnings we’ve received during our time underground and to set new intentions regarding money, security or relationships.

Taurean energy is not fast or fiery. It’s slow and stable, methodical and sensual. Remembering that we still have 4 planets retrograde, this is not all about forward motion and climbing the next mountain. It’s about being present and patient and then taking the next step and then the next. It’s always possible to deal with this moment and the moment 60 seconds from now!

The sun’s passage through Taurus and this  new moon also  encourage us to reconnect with mother nature in a big way.

With all that’s going on, Earthing or grounding is essential right now.

Earth is an electrical planet, and we are bio-electrical beings.  Emerging science  has revealed that direct contact with the EARTH gives us an  energy infusion, which can help to restore and stabilize the circuitry that governs our  physiology and organs, harmonise our basic biological rhythms, boost self-healing, reduce inflammation and pain, improve our sleep and engender feelings of calmness. This  must be why we always feel better when we spend time in nature!

If you’re still feeling fiery, anxious,  burnt out, sluggish, frustrated, or exhausted, take some time to reconnect with Mother Earth and ask her to  recharge you. Walk barefoot as much as you can. Try lying down on the grass for a while and allow her beautiful  energy to seep into your being. Revel in those small, simple, sensual  moments of comfort or joy – luxuriate in a bubble bath, sit under a tree, dip your toes in a stream, slow down, stroke a cat, bask in the sunlight, read a good book, sip or eat something delicious… and enjoy the long weekend!

Check out the upcoming  ART OF EARTHING workshop on 22nd May. If you’d like to do the workshop but can’t make the date, let me know and I might schedule another one.

 

In life and light

 

Michelle

 

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LIFELIGHT ASTROLOGY UPDATE 21 MARCH

firework

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

Our new Astrological year has finally begun, with the sun entering Aries, the sign that governs new intentions, new beginnings and new life. This is the time of the year when we feel a real desire to emerge from the oneness, express our individuality, stand up, be seen and push forward with new initiatives.

The cusp on which Aries falls in your Natal chart is the area of your life which is where you will be wanting to focus your energy and  where a new cycle of expression will begin.

Some other important news is that Venus, the planet of love, peace, harmony and money,  is currently travelling retrograde through Aries, which means that she will be in the sign of the warrior for 13 weeks in total, compared to the normal 3 weeks she spends in a sign.

With her being retrograde, we are asked to re-visit our relationships, our money and our value systems. If there seem to be blockages in any of those areas, this is a good time to reassess them and make the changes that need to be changed.

When you combine the feminine energy of Venus with the fiery boldness, individualism and assertion of Aries,  you can end up with a ragingly angry feminine force OR a person who stands gently, but firmly in her own power, despite the opinion and actions of others.

This is the time of the year, where we are encouraged to explore our uniqueness, to embrace life to the full… to move, to sing, to dance, to make art, to make love, to adventure….  to emerge from the  shadows, step into our power and boldly embrace the next step in our lives.

Where are you unique?

How do you stand out from the crowd?

What is one audacious dream you have for your life? ‘

Where in your life, are you prepared to make one bold step into the future?

Email me for details on the BORN TO BE BOLD Workshops in April.

We still have space on our EARTH AND AUTUMN ODYSSEYS as well, so be sure not to miss them.

 

In Life and light

 

Michelle

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To Surrender or not to Surrender?

dandelion

Coming up on the 26th February, we have a powerful solar eclipse (new moon).  The sun is joined by the Moon, Mercury, the South Node,  Neptune and widely by Chiron … all in Pisces. That’s a whole lot of water right there!

Solar Eclipses always indicate major endings, in order to usher in the new. This is  especially true when they happen in Pisces. Being the last sign of the zodiac, this signals that the end of the astrological year is nigh.  This one is connected to the Pisces  Solar eclipse in March 2015, so  there might very well be a connection, if you think back to that time.

Pisces is a dual water sign  (two fish swimming in opposite directions) and relates to the dreamworld, imagination,  intuition, surrender, Divine Connection and all things mystical. However, it is also associated with  delusion, illusion, addiction and  self-sabotage. It shows us where we let ourselves down, over and  over again, where we still consider ourselves to be victims and where we’re waiting for somebody else to come in and rescue us.

If this eclipse involved only a batch of planets in Pisces, I would expand on that, but it’s really not that simple.  Bringing all that  water to the boil , we also  have a major pattern in the sky, formed by Mars (masculine, goals, ambitions, ego drives) in fiery Aries ( the  warrior)  at the same degree as Uranus,  the planet of radical change and liberation; square  transformational Pluto and opposite expansive Jupiter.

So in English now… this combination of energy says – “What do you desire?  Where do you want to go?  How are you going to get there?  It’s time to push yourself forward, take no prisoners!  Don’t be a woes! Make those changes now and  get things moving!.”

So… what do we do with that?

Push forward or surrender?

I’ve just read a very interesting book called The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer.  He has made a life-long  commitment to release his personal preferences, and surrender to the bigger “plan” for his life. The story that emerges is very  interesting,  because every single time he relinquishes his ego drive,  something bigger and better than he ever could have imagined, opens up for him.

However, I have to admit, even though this resonated with me on one level, there was and still is, a voice inside my head  that pops up to say…. “But what happens to MY dreams, MY needs, MY purpose… if I surrender entirely to the flow???”

I’ve been mulling over this for a while and have yet to come up with anything definitive, but it does bring to mind  the first  time I ever rode a horse in the wild. It was at NIGHT, a moonless night at that and we were heading down into a valley in the middle of Zululand.  At one point, early on  in the ride,   I could see absolutely nothing. Let me tell you, my ego was freaking out. Every part of me wanted to take control of that horse, or get off and walk.  My body was stiff, I was scared and hanging on for dear life. A friend (experienced at riding in the dark) advised me to soften my body and give my horse a very long rein so that he would be able to smell and sense his way along.

This was completely counter- intuitive, because all  I wanted to do was tighten the reins and hang on with all my might. However,  due to the fact that I didn’t actually know anything about riding, and  had no idea of how to get to where we were going,  I had no option but to take his advice.  All I needed to do was to stay on the horse and keep my head down, to avoid being de-eyed by unseen branches!

The amazing thing was the  more I surrendered my control and put my faith in this  incredibly intuitive being, the more I realised that I could trust him to lead me to where I needed to go, which he did… and flawlessly at that, never even faltering once.  Along the way, on the straight sections, we cantered, wind in our hair…nothing but the sound of horses hooves on the ground and the occasional “Yeehaa!” from the likes of me and my fellow rookies.  I remember closing my eyes at one point and letting my steed do what horses do, without any interference from me at all. I felt completely connected to  him, to the evening, to the earth, the sky, the stars… the whole caboodle.

By trusting and surrendering to something bigger, I had one of the most exhilarating, liberating experiences of my life … and I reached the destination, but in an entirely different way to how I would have planned it. If I reflect on it, whenever   I have surrendered to the flow, I have been supported!

I  guess there is a midpoint somewhere between our  ego drives and surrender.  Perhaps this eclipse asks us to find it. What if we show up, wholeheartedly… get on the horse, head in the basic direction and then let go of the reins a little?  What if we are kinder, gentler, less cruel, less rigid… softer… towards ourselves and others?  What if we are able to relax and trust that we really are not alone in all  this and that there might be an even bigger, more delicious  plan in store for us than the one we’ve imagined ?

As Rumi says, “Life is a balance between holding on and letting go” … perhaps it’s  a dance between making it happen and allowing it happen.

Please see my newsletter or email me for details about my “Art of Surrender” workshops in March.

 

In life and light

Michelle