Vernal Equinox and the Darkening of the Moon

Happy Passages Evolving Revolutionaries! 

Spring is upon us just as the Sun moved into Aries in perfect conjunction with the darkening of the Moon.

With lunar, solar and seasonal phases evolving simultaneously we cannot help feeling a surge of great power. Power to transform by turning within and experiencing the buzzing vibrancy of growth resulting from the seeds of change which we planted for and inside of ourselves many moons ago. 

What desires did you wish to fulfill last Autumn? Did you want to change careers? Did you plan a belief-altering vacation? Perhaps you conceived or birthed a baby? Did you wish for a new push in a more self-affirming direction? How do those wishes feel to you now? I bet you are seeing the in fruition, or at least budding, no?

Spring is in the air, and it is of no coincidence that this time of year sparks a little pep in many a'foot. Seeing the colorful flowers and plants as they start their sprouting and blooming cycle while hearing the animals jabber away chipperly is hard not to smile at. Even in a city, life is making good on it's promises of renewal. No wonder I feel so hopeful... I am also a sucker for seeing chubby robin red-breasts hopping gingerly across the street, which I have witnessed oodles of. 

As today brought the Sun out of watery Pisces, [i.e.: dreamy, intuitive, social, compassionate, "I Sense" - ruled by Neptune] and into firey Aries [i.e.: action, initiation, drive, force, "I AM"- ruled by Mars] did you find yourself feeling a little boost of confidence, willingness to let go, or even in a more playful, carefree mood? I did, in spite of the seemingly negative occurrences beyond my control which reared their groggy heads today. I literally feel lighter, as if a link in my chain broke, the chain which holds me to limitations based in the past. I know I can step beyond that chain.

Hmmm... nice!

Don't get me wrong, I adore Sun in Pisces time of the year, as it gifts me a space to reconnect with any mystical elements I wish to strengthen within myself. Piscean energy is soulful and very deep, like unchartered waters, many leagues deep down under the surface. Going within, embracing our dark periphery or shadow side is necessary for endurance and growth. Just ask a bear. Epic tales of Father Neptune with his trident have been told about the unknown seas and many more will been written based on theories about under-water civilizations. 

I love that with Pisces, what you see is not always what you get. 

Then straight forward, head-first blasting into Aries!!! 

Q: Do the flowers ask permission to bloom? Neither does Aries. 

Aries asks nothing, it just IS. 

Sunny, daring, bold Aries does not hold back. Aries is the un-numbered first in the deck- tarot card- often called the vagabond, more known as: the Fool. Forever leaping, rarely looking. We could all use that type of zest sometimes... I know I can! 

Aries encourages us to be courageous and even a bit impulsive. 

How does this tie into the Moon?

The Moon reflects the Sun. If the Sun is the beacon of our core selves, the Moon is the receptive receiver. If the Sun is the assertion of character and intent, the Moon is where the emotive rhythm generates. 

To those who think they are not effected by the basic Sun or Moon astrological concepts, 

I say: 

Think what you will. 

But the effects of these huge magnetic forces cannot be overpowered by our mere mortal minds. 

When the moon is in Pisces as it is now, many dream prophetically. Perhaps they are even sleepier than usual, or more restless and cannot sleep. 

It can be an intense night with a Pisces Moon hovering in the sky. 

Tomorrow, she will be completely Dark, in Aries. 

[Moon and Sun are in the same sign when she is dark, and in opposing signs when she is full.] 

New Moon, Full Moon, ra ra ra! 

What happens when your cup is empty? You fill it up. But like any vessel, over-fill it, and it's contents spill out. Such is with the phases of the Moon. During Dark (or New) Moon phase, it is a good time to fill'er up- plan or initiate a new project, diet, job, etc. Perfect for Aries! 

During Full Moon phase, it is a good time to release the overflow, the un-needed un-wanted or out-dated habits and beliefs (or clean the closet and donate those dust-collectors!) 

So I invite you to join me in welcoming the Spring, as do the enterprising Aries' Sun and Moon encouraging you to start anew! 

BE exactly as you dreamed to see yourself.

  

For you are the reflection you project!!!

The above is the Astrological chart for this exact moment, at the exact longitude and latitude where I am typing this from. 

Looks like a boat. Come and sail away with me on the bubbling blue seas!

Happy Equinox ALL!!!

In the time since I began typing this, the Moon has moved an entire degree. 

Traveling at 13.2° a day, she's a quick mover!  

  

The Power of Words

As I type this, I am steeping in a bath tinged with sea and epsom salts also sprinkled with eucalyptus oil.

Ginger Lemon Tea- for one

Verdict: I am a warrior on the germy front lines.
Pathogens have shot blazing arrows at the fortress of my immune system. Yowch! 

But it's okay. 

When I feel under the proverbial weather, I see it as a time to gently heed the messages my body is trying to tell me. 

Message received: Mind your Words, Violet.

We all know there is great power in words. Think about how you felt when you were last praised for doing a job well done. You can probably reflect on the exact moment, maybe even picture the exact scenario and conjure up some good feelings about it. Now think about how you felt when you last said something you regret saying. Perhaps you were not kind- to yourself or another. Feels pretty icky, huh? (Don't dwell on that though.)

Words can be healing or damaging, soothing or exciting, loving or violent and everything in between. Being a chatty type, I tend to prattle on ad nauseum. Sometimes I am having a "good" day and I naturally say loving, kind things, generally informative or pontificating things, or make idle chit-chat. On a "bad" day, I can be seething, acidic, judgey and worse- 99% of it to myself. 

When we make statements like "it IS a beautiful day" more often than not, it IS. We may have a spring in our step, let stuff slide that we may otherwise take personally, and see the positive more easily. Same is true of days we proclaim negative statements. The car at the light cuts you off, the cashier charges you double, you break your favorite mug... you get the picture.

What it comes down to is magnetizing with words which you put out there.
Garbage out, garbage in, as my family elders said.
They didn't know the half of it. 

I have been taking a step back from certain people in my life who use words harshly on a regular basis. It just made me feel bad being around them. Their abrasive ways were rubbing off on me. I noticed my heart rate going up, my muscles tightening, and my desire to run. Whether someone is blaming you for some nasty, unrealistic whatever, or harshly putting themselves down, it is sending out a negative vibration.
Like a boomerang, it always returns. It may come in a different form, but it comes back. 

Saying statements like "I hate this ___(job, town, event, etc.)___" are telling the Universe to send us some hatred back.
Statements like "I am stupid for not knowing ____" or "I will never understand____" only set you out on a CAN'T path. 

Roadblock up! Forget being an obstacle, it is a great wall!

Folks in the know know this is true, so it is obvious sometimes when the "I hate/ I can't" energy knocks at the door. But do we even notice we are doing it? I know I was sometimes noticing, but mostly, I was planning a self-pity party for one. Victim mentality (and pompous pragmatism is another offender, more devious and sneakier than negativity) and subservience to "Murphy's Law" are futile. 

Standing in your power always wins. 

So, I can replace words like always, never, can't and hate.
I shall use: now, sometimes, won't/am not and dislike. Soften the blow a bit. Because if you are a hard-hitter, like I am, the boomerang punch-back is a doozy. Living and speaking with intention is a kinder way to be anyhow.
Only with awareness, patience and practice will the words change. 

What does this have to do with my sore throat? Everything.

The throat chakra, Vishuddha, is where our energetic voice resides. It is the Gemini-ish hub for communication. When we speak too much, perhaps in vain, or too little, as when we do not speak up for ourselves, Vishuddha becomes out of balance. It may be of no surprise, but not of no consequence, that I have not been using my words and communication to serve my highest power. 

Lesson: Quiet down. Listen to the words and hear what is said behind them. Speak only when it is necessary, and do so intelligently, with Love and kindness. Talking can be a giving away of ideas and energy and I have been running on back-up recently. 

I could use the peace and quiet. 

Perfect time to listen... Mercury (the great communicator) went into retrograde today and he will be that way for 3 weeks.  Great time to restart that meditation practice...


{Chakra LINK for more info.}

Challenge: 30 Days of Evolving Through Writing

Al at Penwasser Place inspired me to take part in an alphabetically-inspired blog writing challenge coming up in April. 

I love a good challenge and thought it would be a great time for me to get more involved in posting here about my Revolution of Evolution.

Who knows, perhaps it will even encourage me to Evolve more. 

I recently watched this video on TED Talks:

  Matt Cutts' "Try Something New For 30 Days"

 which sparked my intellectual interest, but I did not actually start a 30 day challenge. 

  The website has a selection of fun banners to choose from.  

  I liked that.  

I LOVE writing. 

I Love growing. 

Why not do both?

Being a HUGE fan of signs in my life, I knew this blog challenge would be my challenge. 

Stay tuned all one of you, my dear evolving readers, for in April I will deliver 26 more blogs here at Revolution ~ Evolution!

INTERESTED in learning more or even Joining ME?

CLICK HERE

Heart's Gentle Compass

A loving, nomadic friend has a blog called Honeyriot Love and Peace* where he posts quotes and musings in the Buddhist vein. On occasion, I check in there to see what's on his mind or inspiring his awesomeness. He posted the following quote this week: 

 “ Whatever your difficulties—a devastated heart, financial loss, feeling assaulted by the conflicts around you, or a seemingly hopeless illness—you can always remember that you are free in every moment to set the compass of your heart to your highest intentions. In fact, the two things that you are always free to do—despite your circumstances—are to be present and to be willing to love." 

 ~ Jack Kornfield 

Perfect, that was just what I needed to read. 

Do I set my heart's compass to my highest intention? Why and when or why not?

Yes and No.

There are certain times or ways when I am open, willing and actively operating in and with Love. Those times, life literally opens up for me and the right people and opportunities flow to me like water down a hill. It is incredibly powerful. 

Yet, when fear-based issues challenge me and my faith is shaken, I easily fall into a deep depression and become immobilized. Stopping it is like asking an ant to stop a runaway train. Useless and silly, yet maybe not as impossible as we may think. 

When I am in negative mode, racing thoughts and intense physical reactions take over, as I willingly let them or even encourage them to by wallowing in the panic and feeding the monkey. I have been given a wealth of tools for survival and even excellence, yet struggle with my sense of value related to a perceived goal resulting from false lack of worthiness. 

Not so Zen, huh? 

It is true that our foundations and upbringing effect us, but inspiring stories about Amma* or even Oprah remind me that our pasts guide us yet do not define us. We possess the power to turn the compass arrow towards beautiful, loving, successful lives where we enrich others and therefor the world at large. 

My highest intention.

My friends have been my lifeline recently. For the most part, it has been a nurturing experience. One amazing woman friend keeps reminding me to be gentle with myself. I can be rough on myself [surprise, surprise, surprise... we have a perfectionist in the room!] and she knows just how damaging this can be. Aside from the havoc I can do in my own life, roughness causes me to be harsh in my viewing of others' lives. Owch x2! 

"V, be gentle with yourself " 

she says to me every time we talk. 

"Gosh, I could use that suggestion as a sign wherever I go." 

She suggested I actually make a sign to hang up in my room. 

So I did just that- right now:

My little origami paper reminder.

My Heart's Compass is pointing inward to a new space, a gentle landscape including emotions. There it is okay to feel feelings and know I am safe and loved, no matter what. Life indeed can be robust with harsh realities. 

This is the best time to Be Gentle.

* LINKS.