Affordable, Reliable
Web Hosting SolutionsWeb Hosting – courtesy of www.bluehost.com
©2012 Bluehost.com. All rights reserved.
I don’t like using the term superfood, though it could certainly be applied to Spirulina (and is sometimes used for coconut oil). Surprisingly, you may know this amazing compound by its common name…
Pond scum:
This nutrient rich substance is actually a cyanobacteria and it boasts its fair share of health promoting properties. It is rich in Chlorophyll, and like plants, gets its energy from the sun. It does have many benefits, (though contrary to some health claims, I’ve seen no evidence that it cures cancer or HIV).
What is Spirulina?
Spirulina is a natural “algae” (cyanbacteria) powder that is incredibly high in protein and a good source of antioxidants, B-vitamins and other nutrients. When harvested correctly from non-contaminated ponds and bodies of water, it is one of the most potent nutrient sources available.
It is largely made up of protein and essential amino acids, and is typically recommended to vegetarians due to its high natural iron content.
The high concentration of protein and iron also makes it ideal during pregnancy, after surgery, or anytime the immune system needs a boost.
Benefits of Spirulina
Though it does taste like pond scum, Spirulina has some great health-boosting qualities:
1. Most Nutrient Dense Food On the Planet
The concentration of protein and vitamins in Spirulina has led many to classify it as the “most nutrient dense food on the planet.” Compared to other foods gram for gram, it lives up to this reputation and is a great source of:
- Protein: It is considered a complete source of high-quality protein and is often compared to eggs for the amount of protein per gram. The protein in Spirulina is highly usable and has a net protein utilization rate of between 50-61%
- Vitamin B1: Also called Thiamin, this vitamin is necessary for the digestion of fats and proteins. It is often taken for increased energy, eye health, brain function and for improving nerve functioning.
- Iron: Spirulina is a favorite food for vegetarians and vegans because it is one of the best plant sources of iron. Even for those who consume meat, it has a highly absorbable form of iron that is gentle on the digestive system.
- Calcium: Spirulina is also incredibly high in calcium with over 26 times the calcium in milk.
It also contains (per Tablespoon):
Spirulina is a great source of other nutrients including (according to Wikipedia): “It contains vitamins B-1(thiamine), B-2 (riboflavin), B-3(nicotinamide), B-6 (pyridoxine), B-9 (folic acid), vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin A and vitamin E. It is also a source of potassium, calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, sodium and zinc. Spirulina contains many pigments which may be beneficial and bioavailable”.
Important Note: Contrary to many claims, Spirulina is not a good source of Vitamin B12 for humans. While it does contain a form of B12, it is pseudovitamin B12 which is not absorbable or effective in humans according to studies.
2. Contains Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) & Omega-3s
Spirulina is 65% protein and amino acids including the essential fatty acid gamma linolenic acid (GLA) which has gotten a lot of attention for its anti-inflammatory properties, especially when taken with other quality Omega-3 supplements.
GLA is difficult to find in a food source and normally has to be created by the body. Spirulina is one of the few foods with a natural GLA content.
I suspect that the benefits of GLA in Spirulina are even more than what the studies have found since these studies often use vegetable oils for their GLA source, and the other inflammatory compounds in vegetable oils can interfere with the anti-inflammatory ability.
Besides GLA, Spirulina also contains Omega 3-,6 and 9s and is especially high in Omega-3s.
3. May Help Balance Blood Sugar
Studies show that spirulina may be especially helpful in balancing blood sugar, and may even be as effective as diabetes medication in some instances. Other studies show that it not only lowers blood sugar but may also lower HbA1c, which is a long term marker of blood sugar levels.
4. Powerful Antioxidants
Antioxidants are powerful substances that protect our cells from damage. Thanks to decades of research, many of us understand the importance of consuming enough antioxidants from natural sources, and spirulina is a great choice.
The antioxidant that makes spirulina unique is called phycocyanin, which is a potent anti-inflammatory.
This Spirulina was tested by an independent laboratory and found to have an ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) of over 24,000 which is 4x the ORAC score of blueberries. The ORAC score is generally used to measure antioxidant ability and concentration in different foods.
5. May Help Those with Allergies
Some research has suggested that Spirulina may be helpful for those with allergies and allergic reactions. (source)
This is likely because it reduces inflammation that leads to nasal congestion and other issues. In studies, those who took spirulina noticed a reduction in nasal congestion, itching, and sneezing.
6. Helps Remove Heavy Metals
Spirulina can bind with heavy metals in the body and help remove them.
It is also extremely high in Chlorophyll, which helps remove toxins from the blood and boost the immune system. In fact, one study found that 5 grams of spirulina daily combined with zinc supplementation was enough to reduce arsenic toxicity by almost half!
Emerging evidence also suggests that it binds with radioactive isotopes and may be useful for radioactivity exposure or radiation therapy.
7. Muscle and Endurance Benefits
Spirulina is known to increase fat burning during exercise. Its high antioxidant content makes it beneficial in reducing exercise induced oxidation which leads to muscle fatigue and inability to gain muscle.
In fact studies found that it:
How to Consume Spirulina
When choosing Spirulina, make sure to choose one that is organic, as others can be contaminated or have nitrate compounds as additives. The one I’m currently using can be purchased here and it is also the cheapest organic Spirulina I’ve seen.
It does taste like pond water though, so many people prefer supplements like this high quality spirulina capsule.
You can also mix into water and drink straight, though many people have trouble with this. The phosphorous makes it useful for the tooth remineralizing regimen, and it is best taken with an Omega-3 source. It’s anti-inflammatory properties have been helpful to some with joint pain or other types of inflammation.
Cautions About Spirulina
Those with PKU should consult with a doctor before taking, as it does contain that amino acid. Those on any type of anti-coagulation medicine should consult with a doctor before beginning (or stopping) taking Spirulina. Some people with autoimmune disease do not do well with this supplement. If you are pregnant, nursing or have any medical condition, check with your doctor first as it is often not recommended for pregnant or nursing women.
Downsides of Spirulina
As I mentioned above, this beneficial algae is gram for gram one of the most nutritious foods on the planet. It is also probably one of the most expensive when compared gram for gram. Many articles about its benefits focus show the nutrition data per ounce. The problem is that one ounce contains about 28 grams and is MUCH higher than normal (or safe) daily intake would be.
It costs up to 30x as much as dairy or meat protein per gram and is not a viable primary protein source for this reason.
Is it the Same as Chlorella?
Short answer: No, though they share some similarities.
Both are types of algae but there are some key differences:
- Structure: Chlorella is a single-cell algae with a nucleus, while Spirulina is a multi-celled plant with no nucleus. For this reason, chlorella is much smaller and acts differently in the body.
- Color: Spirulina is a cyanobacteria, a blue-green type of algae, while Chlorella is a green algae.
- Amount of Nucleic Acids: Both are a good source of nucleic acids, though Chlorella has almost twice as much per gram. Nucleic acids are important factors for DNA and RNA in the body.
- Digestibility: Chlorella has to go through a process to break its cell walls before it is bioavailable and usable by the body.
- Chlorophyll Content: Chlorella is higher in Chlorophyll, with almost double the amount.
- Iron, Protein and GLA: Chlorella is not a great source of Iron, protein and beneficial Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA).
- Heavy Metals: Chlorella has unique properties in its cell walls that make it bind to heavy metals and other contaminants
Sources:
University of Maryland Medical Center Report on Spirulina
P. D. Karkos, S. C. Leong, C. D. Karkos, N. Sivaji, and D. A. Assimakopoulos, “Spirulina in Clinical Practice: Evidence-Based Human Applications,” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2011, Article ID 531053, 4 pages, 2011. doi:10.1093/ecam/nen058
The Medical Research of Spirulina – Cyanotech Corporation
Park, Hee Jung;Lee, Yun Jung;Ryu, Han Kyoung;Kim, Mi Hyun;Chung, Hye Won;Kim, Wha Young, “A randomized double blind, placebo controlled study to establish the effects of spirulina in elderly Koreans,” Annals of nutrition & metabolism. 2008.
Blog by WellnessMaMa
Photo by freedompt.com
Breathe.
If you feel overwhelmed, breathe. It will calm you and release the tensions.
If you are worried about something coming up, or caught up in something that already happened, breathe. It will bring you back to the present.
If you are moving too fast, breathe. It will remind you to slow down, and enjoy life more.
Breathe, and enjoy each moment of this life. They’re too fleeting and few to waste.
By Leo Babauta
Costa Rica is an amazing country of spectacularly beautiful forests, volcanoes and beaches and something to please everyone, from adventure activities, wildlife encounters, surfing, yoga retreats to bird watching. It’s also safe, friendly and easy to travel in. What more could you want from a destination?
Here are my top 10 reasons to put Costa Rica at the top of your travel wishlist.
1. To find happiness
Meeting friendly locals in Costa Rica
Costa Rica has been ranked as one of the happiest countries in the world, based on its high quality of life, good life expectancy rate and small ecological footprint. The country abolished its army in 1949, and it’s been one of the most peaceful countries in Latin America for the past five decades. The main saying in Costa Rica is “Pura vida” which means the good life – something that people say all the time, with big smiles on their faces. Often when you ask people how they are, they respond with “Pura vida”. It’s inspiring, infectious and incredibly heart warming to spend time in a country that has so much invested in being joyful. The rest of the world could definitely learn a thing or two from Costa Ricans’ approach to life.
2. Eco tourism
Cruising the canals of Tortuguero National Park
I’ve never been to a country that wears its green credentials on its sleeve as proudly as Costa Rica does. The country is one of the top eco-tourism destinations in the world, and it’s easy to see why: over a quarter of Costa Rica is protected land, the government is very active in conservation efforts and the country plans to become the first carbon neutral nation by 2021. Costa Rica’s eco commitment doesn’t seem like tokenism: the local people and guides we met were genuinely enthusiastic about conservation, most hotels have watercoolers to encourage guests not to buy plastic water bottles, and there are recycling bins almost everywhere you go.
3. Birds
Birding in Tortuguero National Park
Costa Rica has a whopping 900 species of birds, from the incredibly beautiful green-and-red resplendent quetzal (which I was lucky enough to see while zip lining through Monteverde Cloud Forest) to glorious scarlet macaws and 54 species of jewel-coloured hummingbirds. In just over a week of travelling through Costa Rica we saw dozens of species, including the elusive great potoo, the pretty northern jacana and four species of herons. I’ve been teetering on the edge of becoming a birder, but Costa Rica was the trip that took me to the other side: I’m now a committed twitcher.
4. Wildlife
Sloth spotting in Manuel Antonio National Park
Costa Rica is staggeringly diverse when it comes to wildlife. With half a million species, it’s home to 4% of the world’s total species, which is quite something for a relatively small country. In fact, it’s considered to be one of the planet’s most biodiverse nations. Expect to see butterflies, frogs, (incredibly cute) sloths, snakes, loads of monkeys, anteaters, caimans, bats and iguanas. More rare are the cats: jaguars, ocelots and pumas.
All over Costa Rica there are opportunities to encounter the country’s wildlife, whether it’s going on a canal cruise in Tortuguero National Park under tunnels of trees (which felt like being in the Amazon), or a catamaran cruise with dolphins in Manuel Antonio National Park, or walking through the misty Monteverde Cloud Forest. The best thing is that Costa Rica’s amazing animals are everywhere: monkeys hanging out in the trees outside your room (or even inside your room), sloths sleeping in trees next to the highway and crossing the path next to the park entrance and raccoons coming to watch you eat a post-hike snack in the car park.
5. Forests
One of Costa Rica’s beautiful cloud forests: Monteverde
What I loved most about Costa Rica was its magical forests, where time seemed to stand still the air was alive with the sound of insects and birds and everything smelled like green. Much of the country is forested with either humid, tropical rainforests and misty, cool cloud forests, which you can explore on guided hikes and by walking on shaky suspension bridges.
6. Zip lining (and other adventures)
Zip lining through Monteverde Cloud Forest
Costa Rica is an adventure lover’s dream destination. Just about everywhere you go in the country there seems to be some kind of adrenaline-inducing adventure on offer, from white water rafting to zip lining through forests. My favourite adventure was cayoneering in the Lost Canyon near Arenal volcano, which involved abseiling down sheer rock faces and scrambling through the canyon and jumping into cold pools under a cover of huge trees.
7. Beaches
Beach days in Manuel Antonio National Park
Costa Rica has two coasts – the Pacific on the west and the Caribbean on the east – lined with over 1500 kilometres of beautiful beaches, with sand ranging from cappuccino to icing sugar, flanked by palm trees and rainforests. My favourite beach was in Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific side. Not only was it a perfect beach, with a long stretch of white sand and palm trees for shade, but to get there you have to walk through a forest where you can spot sloths, birds, lizards and monkeys – so you get a wildlife walk and beach bumming in one.
8. Turtles
The beach in Tortuguero National Park where you can spot turtles nesting
Tortuguero National Park, on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, is the Western hemisphere’s main nesting site for green turtles: during the nesting season (April to October) there are as many as 700 turtles laying their eggs on a 30-kilometre stretch of protected beach. You can hire a certified guide to take you to the beach at night to watch turtles nesting – a truly magical wildlife experience which feels like watching a dinosaur in action. (Read more about my turtle nesting experience here.)
9. Volcanoes
A view of Arenal volcano
Costa Rica sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire (almost a Johnny Cash song) – an area of high volcanic activity. The country has 122 volcanoes, of which four of active. The most famous of Costa Rica’s volcanoes is Arenal, which was active up until 2010: it hasn’t spewed lava since then, but it does smoke constantly (which makes for great photos). Around Arenal and some of Costa Rica’s other volcanoes you can go hiking and mountain biking on lush hilly slopes and (my favourite) soak in hot springs. There are hot springs all over the place in the area around Arenal, and many hotels have their own hot springs, or you can go to a hot spring resort and spend an evening swimming around in pools as warm as a bath, drinking pina coladas (highly recommended).
10. Surfing
Beach days in Manuel Antonio National Park
Surfers love Costa Rica: the swells and breaks are great, water is warm year-round and the surf is good on both the Caribbean and Pacific sides. There are plenty of surfing schools and retreats lining the coasts, especially on the Pacific (where you can find the best waves during the rainy season fromMay to November.
This blog post was originally published on Duff’s Suitcase.
The United Nations has declared that June 21 will be celebrated every year as International Yoga Day. The resolution was co-sponsored by 175 of the 193 member nations, and was so popular that it did not have to go for a vote and was adopted by an acclamation.
Here is Sadhguru’s message on this important event.
Photo by Isha Foundation
Yoga is the exploration of the very mechanics of life. It predates all religion and opened the possibility of raising a human being beyond limitations set by nature, if willing to strive. Making the science of Yoga available in the purest form is the responsibility of this generation. This science of inner development, wellbeing and liberation is the greatest gift for future generations. Congratulations to the Prime Minister for having initiated the process for declaring June 21 International Yoga Day.
International Yoga Day is Crucial
The word “yoga” literally means union. Yoga does not mean twisting of body, tying limbs into knots, holding of breath or doing some other circus. The word “yoga” means, in one’s experience, everything has become one. It is a system of raising human ability to perceive, to enhance individual human beings to realise their ultimate nature. Yoga is the most profound exploration of the very mechanics of life.
International Yoga Day is coming at a crucial time. The yogic science is of utmost significance now, like never before. Today we have tremendous tools of science and technology, enough to make or break the world. It is very important that we have an inner sense and awareness of life, that we experience every other being as a part of ourselves. Otherwise, our pursuit of wellbeing will destroy all.
If a certain population in the world experiences this, if a certain percentage of the world truly becomes meditative, definitely the quality of the world will change. Particularly if the leadership in the world experiences the unity or the yoga of life, there will be a dramatic change in the way the world will function. For all the problems of humanity, the solution is in enlarging one’s perception of life, from individuality to universality. The declaration of International Yoga Day is a significant step in this direction, and can have a ripple-effect across the planet.
Acknowledging yoga in this way will be immensely beneficial, particularly for the youth. Nowadays, a lot of young people are taking to yoga because it is usually the youth in the world who have a passion for truth. Youth is humanity in the making. Because they are in the making, they can shape themselves in whichever manner they want. If only youth are taught to handle themselves with a little more consciousness, then they are a great possibility. Otherwise, youth can be very compulsive. If they become a little more conscious, we have a great future for humanity and also the environment around us.
International Yoga Day & June 21
Ecology and human consciousness cannot be separated. The first fundamental fact of looking inward is always to see that you are naturally very much a part of everything around you. But now the problem is we are always trying to look at life in pieces – and that will never work. Only because human beings have become insensitive, we have to talk today about saving the world, which is a silly idea because it is we who are protected by Mother Earth, not the other way round! None of this would be necessary if human beings understood that, whether we like it or not, we are reverberating as a part of this existence.
Yoga is an essential science to bring this understanding and experience. This knowledge was transmitted thousands of years ago by the first yogi or Adiyogi. On the day of the summer solstice, Adiyogi turned south and first set his eyes on the Saptarishis or Seven Sages, who were his first disciples to carry the science of yoga to many parts of the world. It is wonderful that June 21 marks this momentous event in the history of humanity.
The effort to bring the spiritual process to the world, and particularly to those individuals who have a big influence upon the rest of the world, has been on for a long time. Ashtavakra enlightened Janaka around eight thousand years ago. Krishna’s whole life’s mission was to marry the spiritual process and the political process. Krishna not only worked with kings, he also established over a thousand ashrams across the northern plains of India.
International Yoga Day: Looking Inwards
Yoga essentially means that in search of wellbeing, you don’t look up. Because if you look up, you will hallucinate, you will start imagining things which are not in your experience. And above all, you do not know which is up and which is down. In the last hundred and fifty years, most of humanity looked up, and a small segment looked out – gathering wealth and building palaces. But today, a large part of humanity is looking out instead of up. If we look out for human wellbeing, we will destroy the very basis of our existence, which is what we are doing. We have different names for this – ecological problems, global warming, climate change – but human beings are just looking out in pursuit of wellbeing. That is all it is. The only ultimate solution, and the only way human beings will truly know wellbeing, is by turning inward. This is what yoga means. Not up, not out, but in. The only way out is in.
For some time, we have been working with political, economic and academic leaders because they have a certain amount of influence over the wellbeing and lives of others. About eleven years ago, in our Wholeness Program, somebody said, “Sadhguru, all this is great but what about the country? What about the nation?” So I said, “We have a list of two thousand people who can make a difference for this country. You get me these two thousand people, you will see that a wonderful change will happen.” During these years, I think we have touched around forty percent of these two thousand people. They are making a quiet change.
And now, a situation has come where the leaders of nations are speaking about yoga. Not just in India, but in the highest international body – the United Nations. Two minutes of our Prime Minister’s speech at the UN was about yoga. Seven minutes of his interaction with the President of the United States was about yoga. This has never happened before. One hundred and seventy-five out of one hundred and ninety-three countries pitched behind the resolution to be passed for International Yoga Day on June 21.
International Yoga Day: Making an Impact
We definitely want to do something for International Yoga Day that will make a big impact on the planet. We want to offer simple yoga to the world that every human being can do. Something that gets people in tune immediately and brings a certain harmony to the system. From there, we can offer more and more elaborate forms of yoga. We are looking at about one hundred locations where large-scale yoga programs will happen from morning until evening. You can volunteer at these locations or you can do your own thing somewhere else. And if do your own thing, we will equip you with a simple video. You can at least make sure ten different people learn some form of simple yoga on that day – after one, five or seven minutes of yoga, a subtle transformative process will begin.
International Yoga Day means the whole world should do some type of yoga. Let us make it happen!
Written by the Isha Foundation
The juicing industry is becoming one of rising popularity. Juice bars are popping up like coffee shops and people are jumping on “juice cleanses” like they’re the new burger joint in town. This may sound fantastic, but there are some significant dangers to watch out for.
More and more people are craving the outcome of energy, vitality, longevity, and reduction of symptoms through their food choices. There is surely evidence that the intake of fresh pressed vegetable juices will provide the body with our greatly lacking phytonutrients but like any industry, money is also a factor and many of these new juice companies are cutting costs that may be taking a cut in your health.
The benefits of juicing and even taking several days to drink only juice, on a “cleanse” can certainly be beneficial. It’s like the 21st century version of “fasting”. Practiced for centuries in almost every religious and spiritual practice, from Christianity, Muslim, Buddhist and Islamic traditions to name a few. Giving the body a break from digestion and allowing the immune system to kick in and clean house. “When we fast… the body becomes lighter, more flexible; the mind becomes clearer and more creative. Greater intuitive powers may develop and deep spiritual insights may be experienced….” –Kripalu Center
Many of our current ailments are said to be remedied by fasting. From minor allergies, to colds and flus, aches and pains, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and even emotional instability. It is important to check with your naturopathic practitioner before attempting any juicing or fasting regiment. Adding juices to the mix provides your body with a boost of nourishing support to help along the journey, minimizing symptoms that commonly occur such as headaches or hunger pains.
The purpose of fasting or “juicing” or “juice cleansing”, or typically what I have helped coach people through, “juice feasting” is to break free of addictive behavior, tune into your body, and move forwards with more healthful habits. Taste buds shift from desiring the typical sugars, breads, even coffee for many and gravitate back towards whole foods, including more fruits and vegetables, which leave most feeling liberated from the fatiguing symptoms that plague society as “the norm”.
Before you jump onto the juice bandwagon… be sure to know your juice! You want to avoid juices that have been pasteurized of course, as this defeats the purpose of consuming any live enzymes and actually getting the majority of the vitamins and minerals, but also watch out for “fresh pressed” juices and their sugar content. Remember, in juicing, the fiber of the produce has been removed and therefore the sugars go directly into your blood stream. Blood sugar spikes are a causative factor behind diabetes, inflammation, emotional instability, and energy crashes. So watch out for juices that have too many sweet fruits! You want to stick to as many of the darker leafy green, lower glycemic juices to get the most benefit. You also want “cold pressed”. This ensures the produce has not been masticated and therefore prone to oxidation within an hour or two, leaving it rancid. Cold pressed keeps the nutrition in tact for up to 3 days in the refrigerator unopened. And finally, the most important of all is: organic.
Juices are essentially high concentrations of fruits and vegetables, so when consuming non organic produce in high concentrations you are also consuming a higher concentration of pesticides! You may end up paying a few more dollars a juice, but well worth the price. Some juices have the equivalent of 1.5kg of produce in one bottle. Many companies are cutting this corner based on cost and it’s not one you want to accept into your body. The National Cancer Institute demonstrates a link between exposure to pesticides and cancers including lymphoma, lung, bladder, colon, brain and prostate cancer to name a few. A Harvard Study released in March of this year in the journal, Human Reproduction demonstrated “the first report to link consumption of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables, a primary exposure route for most people, to an adverse reproductive health outcome in humans” – Jorge Chavarro, assistant professor of nutrition and epidemiology and the study’s senior author. As a health consumer, it’s your duty and right to understand what is going in the food and beverages you consume, including all of these “health products”. As much as I am an advocate for cold pressed, organic, low glycemic juices they are few and far between in this market. So choose wisely. Stick to the juice companies that hold this value across the board and beware of “pesticide cocktails” being marketed as health promoting juice.
Written by Kristin Fraser of Inner Glow Nutrition
Join Kristin (Chef) and Sarah Zanbeek (Yoga Teacher) in Nicaragua in March of 2016 for a Live Food and Yoga Retreat!
It is time for the resets, committed choices and greater intentions to ignite, take flight and move into action. We have great support this month for these themes with two eclipses and a powerful equinox time, events that always support great change. Much of the transformation and change so far has been internal and personal. This month inspires the internal changes to collect some much-needed fuel, fire up, and move towards outward manifestation.
The potential for great movement this month can bring up two fears. The first one is being out of control with how quickly and powerfully things are happening in your life. The attempt to control the energy out of this fear may bring anxiety, panic and irrational or overly aggressive behavior.
The second fear is the fear of letting go of your small safety zone or the fear that nothing positive will happen because it never does in your life. This brings about depression, despair, unworthiness and a general feeling of being stuck.
Wherever you are in this spectrum, you will be challenged and triggered as there is no escaping the natural trend towards ignition and the tremendous energy that wants nothing more than to get behind your intentions and commitments and fire them up.
We have become used to being held back by our fears and we have practiced energetic procrastination in many areas of our lives. This month comes with the responsibility to let those fears go, to follow through with details and to embrace the timing of how things are showing up in your life. After all this is what you asked for, so trust spirit in its delivery.
We have windows this month of higher centered potential where synchronicity of action and ideas are possible providing us with an experience of all the missing pieces of the puzzle finally coming together in ways that will produce the greatest movement in our lives. This is an exciting and welcoming thought but you have to be ready for it. And that readiness requires confidence, certainty, commitment, perseverance, focus, courage, decisiveness and a willingness to take a risk.
The risk is about truth, faith and going after what you know in your heart to be right from a place of integrity and spirit. This will affect all areas of your life including business, relationships, how you show up in the world, your health and well-being, and whom you choose to be around and what you choose to complete or eliminate from your life.
We are not saying this will be an easy or fun month, but it can be a dynamic and exciting one, as you allow yourself to be fired up and inspired about your ideas, intentions and committed choices of last month. And just like being in a large rapid on a river, you can either be frozen in terror or you can be exhilarated by the power and the thrill of navigating some very big energy.
March comes with big energy. It also comes with an aspect of the masculine that is crucial to manifesting but can also bring up old fears from the past of being on both sides of the out of control and overly aggressive expression of this energy. There is work to do on balancing and clearing what is in the way of using the aggression mode of the year positively and effectively by healing the old fear patterns we hold around the masculine in the solar plexus, the third chakra.
The biggest challenge this month will be to keep away from the distractions that want to derail us from truly being as powerful as we can. The distractions are our addictions, fears, bad behaviors, energy leaks and self-doubt. Giving into the distractions causes procrastination, lethargy, avoidance, and acting out badly through negative aggressive behavior or withdrawing into the despair of giving up.
The distractions of the false personality are like adding water to high-octane fuel. The engine of your desires will not fire or power up. It will instead sputter and die before it ever gets going. So how do you keep your fuel clean and your engine ready? By committing to your practices, asking spirit and your allies for help, allowing what needs to be healed and balanced to be healed and balanced, and trusting that life will unfold with power if you just get out of your own way.
How the month shows up
YOU PERSONALLY
Miracles can happen this month related to how differently you feel about or experience something or someone overnight. Things you never thought possible can suddenly materialize in front of you and your reaction can be to either disregard them as not possible and therefore not true, or you can embrace the magical impossible as a new reference point of what you can have.
Those of you who have struggled in the area of personal growth can experience great breakthroughs. If you embrace these breakthroughs as true, they can become permanent. If you judge them as anomalies in your life, you will miss out on a great opportunity for permanent change. Watch for reactions such as “this is too good to be true” and “nothing great ever happens to me” and “others have all the luck” and “this is just a coincidence, it won’t happen again”. Trust that what you do se happening around you is real and a manifestation of these times.
The higher-octane fuel we mentioned is the higher centered energy that is available right now to power up your personal engine. The “water” that is not good to mix with it is your own feelings of self-doubt, and all the negative emotions that come with it. So pay attention this month to where your thoughts and feeling are and to what comes out of your mouth. Keep it positive and keep yourself open to all possibilities.
RELATIONSHIPS
For those who have been waiting for the “right” relationship to come into their lives, now could be the time. If it does happen, don’t let it trigger fear and uncertainty, but believe that it is really possible. Connection, magnetism, the need for exchange and new agreements get fired up this month and the mood is definitely more social, outgoing and available.
Long time romantic relationships and intimate partnerships also have an opportunity to rekindle their spark and fire up new aspects in a positive way. However if a relationship is past or needs to be let go, those sparks may incinerate the relationship itself.
It is easier this month to notice and become aware of potential compatibility between people and to be more accepting and intrigued with the unique qualities of others. We are finally anchoring the relationship aspect of these times and moving towards our connections and agreements with more intimacy. The higher centered influence makes it possible to experience the essence of others more easily and we crave that as a global community.
With these times comes a greater understanding of our relationship with ourselves and it is possible to be fired up about our own personal accomplishments, dreams and intentions. Self esteem and self worth issues can take giant leaps towards being healed as we find our own inner talents, passion, strength and beauty. It is a good month to be available for community gatherings and connecting with others around a variety of reasons.
HEALTH AND THE PHYSICAL BODY
The body is ready to be fired-up. More energy, stamina and physical enthusiasm are all possible this month. Physical disciplines will bring about great results. This is also a good month to put your trust into new healing modalities and support systems for the body. Because of the big energy and the higher centered times, you could have trouble with sleep, liver, spleen and skin. Support these the best you can and make sure the body gets plenty of exercise and movement daily. This will keep the mental and emotional energies more balanced.
This is a good month to go back and complete and eliminate from your current belief system all the stories you have told yourself about the limitations of your own body. This is a new time of big transformation where it is possible to bring in a new energy not connected with the past. Miracles can happen if you believe in them and are disciplined about truly releasing the past story of limitation.
Especially around the eclipse time it would be helpful to set new intentions, priorities and goals for the health and well-being of your physical body.
ENVIRONMENT
Since we are working with big energy this month, the environment and the power behind each element should be used as part of our “fuel”. The power in the environment can help us to fire up our action if we embrace it. The different qualities and medicines in the environment will enhance and accelerate what is needed in your life. If you need cleansing use the wind or water. If you need grounding use the earth. If you need to transform or complete something use fire.
The eclipses this month add to the power and intensity and should also be used as catalysts and fuel for what you wish to fire up in your life. It is a good month to really work with the environment instead of against it. It is also a good time to practice noticing and acknowledging the great power behind each aspect of nature and to power up your relationship with those aspects. Every blade of grass and every grain of sand has a spirit behind it that is far more powerful that the mechanics of your false personality. Because of the higher emotional center of the year, your connection with the spirit behind all things will serve to empower you in ways you cannot imagine.
On a climate and weather front, big energy brings big, passionate and aggressive phenomena. Look for big storms, winds, swells, tides, possible volcanic activity and unexpected weather patterns. Be flexible and work with the power of change if you need to adjust your plans so you stay open to new and better possibilities.
BUSINESS/PARTNERSHIPS/PROJECTS
This is a good month to finally fire-up or power-up aspects of a business that have been in the planning stages for a while just waiting for right timing. Timing is everything and this month brings with it possibilities for synchronicity, new agreements and support. You could witness all the puzzle pieces coming together, perhaps in new ways, to finally accomplish something that has been collecting momentum for some time.
It is a good month for taking some risk especially around dreams and intentions that truly come from the heart. It is also a good month to expand and business, project or partnership. If you expand, make sure your container has all the elements it needs to successfully power up. These elements should always include the support of allies, nature and the power of spirit behind it all. If you receive a sudden windfall of support, make sure you spend time in gratitude for your good fortune.
On the other hand if a business or partnership or project is not “right” or no longer viable or the karma facilitated is complete, then it is time to use this potent energy for ending and completion. Just remember that the material left behind has its own power and can be included in starting something new. Always look forward, as that is where evolution is taking us all.
Again we are not saying this will necessarily be an easy month but it will certainly be rich in opportunities but you have to take them, to fire them up and the follow through with the details.
DATES AND TIME FRAMES
March 1-7:
We feel the surge of the higher emotional center landing in our consciousness and prompting us to lift our heads up out of our narrow focus and look around at a bigger picture. For some that bigger picture could include clearing some old emotional debris and for some it may be huge waves of inspiration that threaten to be too overwhelming to be practical.
This time frame requires balance. It is best to spend some time in stretching the imagination, being inspired and being receptive to the power that is available, and then some time in handling and managing the details of your physical environment. When stretching your container of experience, the wider you open yourself up to the big energy available the narrower and more grounded you need to get in order to bring that energy down into your physical manifestation.
This can feel very much like a rubber band and cause symptoms of depletion and depression one day and more energy than you know what to do with on the next. Work with the physical body and make sure you get enough movement and exercise to help with the balance. If emotional debris comes up, know that it is on its way out. If you get stuck, move your body and get some help.
March 8: New Moon with a Solar Eclipse is Tuesday March 8 at 6:54 PM Mountain Daylight Time (MDT). This is the first of two eclipses this month and an excellent time to revisit your committed choices of last month and to set intentions to fire them up. Spend a bit of time contemplating what may have changed with regards to your choices, commitments and intentions.
As the higher emotional center begins to influence and inspire us, adjustments and refinements may need to be made to original intentions. Chances are they will need to expand into a bigger picture and bigger dream. If an opportunity comes your way that “feels” right, do not hesitate to take it even though you may think it is too soon or too much. There is big power and big support this month for stepping up and firing up something new.
March 8-15: In the aftermath of the new moon and first eclipse, this is a time of sorting, doubting, expanding, trials, bursting forth, false starts, too much fuel, too little fuel, frustration, exhilaration, ups and downs, questioning, jumping in, pulling back etc. In other words, this is a time that is emotionally and reactionary all over the map.
It is best during this time not to judge which way anything is going but rather to keep opening yourself up to receiving the power and inspiration that you will need to fire up and power up the most important situations in your life. If you lack clarity, be patient, it will come. If you feel stuck, just keep to the simple tasks of moving your body and doing your practices. If you feel overwhelmed, do the same. Simplify when necessary without compromising some wonderful expanded exciting thing that might be trying to drop into your field.
March 13: Daylight Savings Time ends for those in Daylight Time zones. Set your clocks ahead by one hour.
March 16-22: We are still in the time frame between the two eclipses and therefore still in a time of possible change and transformation. This is the most potent time frame that can bring about weather phenomena and earth events. Be prepared to change your plans if need be.
This is also a time when something radical can happen either in the local political arena or the global political or economic platform. This radical event or set of events may be seen by some as positive and by some as devastating. The bigger picture is that we are being fueled by the higher emotional center and that everything that happens is leading to a more evolved state.
Think of the radical event as being also a personal one. It could be a great insight leading to permanent and deep transformation. It could be a bid for power that you step into that leads to more responsibility and a bigger way of showing up in the world. It could be that the universe gives you a gift that is so out of your realm of reference that it throws you off and all of a sudden you have to learn to manage a huge new energy.
Structure is important during this time as a way to organize and ground as long as it does not interfere with a natural expansion.
March 19: Spring Equinox is Saturday, March 19 at 10:30PM Mountain Standard Time. (MST) Honor this transition by completing something that needs it and by consciously intending for the birth of something new. What wants to be fired up right now? What needs a bit more power? What are you finished with?
Acknowledge this time as well as your own process with a ceremony using the elements of fire, water, air and earth.
March 23: Full Moon with a Lunar Eclipse is Wednesday, March 23 at 6:01 AM Mountain Standard Time. (MST)
Right on the heels of the Spring Equinox where we honor new beginnings and birth, comes the full moon with the second eclipse to inspire and energize us with fullness and power. This is a good time to reflect on anything new that has come into your life, relationships, partnerships, good fortune, big choices, business, projects, health, healers, challenges of any kind, new environments, and ask what it is that they need at this time as energies of support.
The full moon is always a time for gratitude and to see your life as full. If anything you are doing or experiencing feels less than full of what it needs, this is a good time to ask spirit for help. Whether it is love, support, health, stamina, energy, knowledge, direction, rest, inspiration, intimacy, excitement, trust or peace, ask and you shall receive.
March 24-31: The pieces fall into place during this time and your life unfolds with its own momentum. Those aspects that have been fired up collect support and move forward with ease and synchronicity. This is a time frame where community is important and friendships, partnerships and intimate relationships solidify in a new way. You should be feeling a sense of both contentment and excitement about parts of your life and where they are headed.
The parts of you that are not feeling that way still have work to do. Perhaps there are aspects of growth that have been fired up this month that have a ways to go before they are completed and integrated. Be patient with the process and focus instead on what does feel to be moving in right timing, synchronicity and flow. It is never too late to ask spirit for help and we strongly suggest that you continue to call in your own inspiration and to work with your allies and the power you have all around you all the time.
Have a great month,
Lena
Forecast via www.thepowerpath.com
As summer draws to a close, the warmer weather, longer days, and time spent outdoors begins to fade. The start of school (or work), cooler temps, and shorter days signify the end of summer and, for many, disappointment and depression can creep in.
Saying goodbye to summer—and the swimming, barbecues, and vacations that tend to dominate the season—might not be easy. However, the last few weeks before fall can be fruitful. It can be a time to hit the reset button; to take stock of your life, set new goals, and get organized for the upcoming season.
To help you transition more smoothly from the summer season, here are nine ways you can get into the fall groove, including a few activities to help give summer a proper send-off.
1. Journal About Your 10 Best Summer Memories
Gratitude or happiness journals can help retrain your mind to focus on the positive. Put a new spin on the gratitude journal and spend 20 to 30 minutes (or longer, if you like) writing about each of your top 10 favorite memories from summer.
The act of writing accesses your left brain, which is analytical and rational. While your left brain is occupied, your right brain is free to create, intuit, and feel. Journaling about positive memories from your summer can evoke a state of mindfulness as you close the chapter on summer and focus on the present.
2. Preserve Your Memories in a Photo Collage
Photos are one of the best ways to induce positive memories. Think about how happy you are when you look back on pictures of yourself and your loved ones enjoying the summer season. Surround yourself with fun photographs that will keep you in happy spirits for months to come. They’re also a great conversation piece when friends and family come to visit.
Put together a collage of photos from the summer that you can put in your home or office. Perhaps you can select one photo from each of the fun times you spent time journaling about to represent your “Summer 2015” memories.
Another fun project is to make photo books (you can do this through online photo galleries like Snapfishor iPhoto) to put on your coffee table, or calendars that you can send as gifts.
3. Organize and Pack Away Your Summer Gear
Set aside time to wash and purge this season’s supplies. Now is a good time to wash all summer clothing and determine what you want to hold on to for another season and what can be donated, or given to younger relatives as hand-me-downs.
Do the same with your outdoor supplies like tents, tablecloths, grilling supplies, pool toys, and other items you collected over the summer. Box everything up and store them for next year.
4. Find Your New Flow
Our routines tend to shift with the seasons. For many families, fall is when kids begin a new school year and join extracurricular activities. For others, it may be a time to focus on work, whether it’s at an office or starting new projects around the house.
Going back to school or work doesn’t have to be a bummer. It can be an exciting new chapter in your life, if you place your intention on setting new goals and having fun.
As you set your new routine, consider your responsibilities, health and wellness as well as your favorite leisure activities. Make a list of what is most important to you and your family. Your list might include exercise, sleep, proper nutrition, setting new goals, scheduling down time, beginning (or getting back into) a meditation practice, organizing activities, making time for fun and leisure, and establishing a new hobby.
Get the whole family involved to ensure everyone is on ready and excited for the fall routine.
5. Create a New Meal Plan
Fall means new seasonal fruits and vegetables will hit store shelves and your local farmers’ market. Revisit your meal plan and design one that includes fresh seasonal veggies and fruits, and explore new recipes for more grounding foods as you move into the cooler months.
Remember to shop around the outside perimeter of the grocery store, where all the fresh foods can be found. Minimize processed foods that are frozen, come in a box or a can; do your best to get all the colors of the rainbow in your diet each day.
Make it fun and involve the whole family when preparing your meals. Cooking together can be a lot of fun.
Plan and prep your snacks and meals for school or work in advance. Pack smaller containers with seeds, nuts, fresh-cut veggies, and fruits to keep you healthy when you’re on the go. Having healthy snack-size portions to munch on between meals will keep you satisfied and away from the vending machine or cookie jar. The key is to get creative and have fun, while keeping it healthy.
6. Get Daily Exercise or Movement
An active body is an important component to physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise or movement every day. Do your best to make sure you’re doing some form of cardio to get your circulation moving, strength-building exercises to develop strong bones and muscle, and stretching to loosen and lengthen your muscles. Whether you’re hitting the hiking trails, taking a yoga class, cycling, or swimming, choose an activity that you enjoy. If it’s fun, you’ll keep doing it!
*Remember to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program, especially if you haven’t exercised for a long time or have chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, or arthritis.
7. Get Social
Research shows that individuals who lack social connections or report frequent feelings of loneliness tend to suffer higher rates of infection, depression, and cognitive decline, according to an article published in Journal of Health and Social Behavior.
Plan fun get-togethers with friends regularly. Whether it’s a weekend getaway, lunch, dinner, a social gathering with friends, or an event in your community, be sure to take time to stay connected with others and have fun. When we maintain a social connection with friends we tend to laugh more, have engaging conversations, and feel more supported through life’s challenges.
8. Find an Activity for Shorter Days
Hobbies or activities that keep us mentally stimulated and bring us joy are a great way to pass the time indoors when the temperature falls and the days get shorter. Many people take on various creative projects such as expressive writing, arts and crafts, reading, and re-arranging interior spaces to keep them actively engaged during the fall and winter seasons when outdoor activities aren’t as accessible.
You might find that this is a good time to explore taking an online course in an area that you want to learn more about. Coursera is a resource for free online courses offered by top universities and organizations worldwide. Here you can find more than 1,000 options for different topics to study at your own pace. Whatever you choose, find a class that inspires you to learn and keep growing, or one that brings you happiness, joy, and fulfillment.
9. Take Some Down Time
The Western world has trained us to be intently focused on the frenzy of doing, accomplishing, and acquiring. We spend the majority of our days outwardly focused. Unless we’re able to balance our lives with down time, we may find ourselves overloaded or exhausted. Many people think of down time as watching television, running errands, or scrolling through their social media feeds.
For Dr. Deepak Chopra, down time means doing no mental work and just letting the mind and brain simply be. Taking a hot bath, gazing at a fire in the hearth, meditating, or cozying up on the couch with a good book can be incredibly nourishing down-time activities. Down time allows you to rest and reboot, which should give you the focus and stamina to take on work or other challenges.
“The space and quiet that idleness provides is a necessary condition for standing back from life and seeing it whole, for making unexpected connections and waiting for the wild summer lightning strikes of inspiration—it is, paradoxically, necessary to getting any work done,” essayist Tim Kreider wrote in The New York Times.
Transitioning gracefully from free-spirited, rule-breaking, and fun-loving summer back into fall routines can be fun, if that is your intention. A smooth transition to fall comes down to identifying how you want to spend your time and creating healthy new habits for the next six months. A small shift in perspective and a bit of self-discipline will help get you into a great new routine in no time at all.
Remember to design your routine with balance in mind and you’ll set yourself up for success as you transition into the fall season.
Blog by Tris Thorp from chopra.com
Jainism is one of the worlds oldest, if not the oldest religion. The guru of Gandhi was a Jain monk and this beautiful religion has greatly influenced many other world leaders and influential people. It teaches that all living beings, from microbes and insects to humans and animals, have equal right to thrive in complete peace free of violence and suffering. The concept of ‘ahimsa’, meaning non-violence, is well known in the world of yoga. It is one of the 8 main principles and teaches that we should be mindful with our thoughts, words and actions to not cause any pain to other living beings. To yogis this means taking a diet and lifestyle free of animal product and working to avoid speaking or thinking poorly of others. To followers of Jainism this is only the beginning!
Jain monks take very extreme measures to ensure that their existence does not cause any suffering whatsoever to other beings. Some refuse to shower or brush their teeth for fear of killing the living bacteria and germs in their mouths and on their bodies. They wear a mask at all times to avoid inhaling any small insects. Walking at night is forbidden as they may step on bugs or other small creatures. In the daytime they carry an “ogho”, a soft broom used to gently sweep the ground in front of them clearing any living things which may not be visible to the naked eye. Often they will not wear any clothes so they are fully aware of anything crawling on their bodies or in their bed, and if they find any beings they gently move them somewhere safe. Even root vegetables are not allowed as picking them is thought to disturb the homes of underground creatures.
Non violence is just one aspect of the extremely devout spiritual quest of these people. In India you may find them walking by the side of the road, sometimes completely naked, roaming their entire lives from one village to the next. They never stay in one place for longer than a couple of months so that they do not develop any attachments to their surroundings. Over a lifetime a roaming Jain monk will walk tens of thousands of miles, spreading their teachings and philosophies of love and compassion. Jains also preserve all resources they need to use, recycling water whenever possible and only setting fires when absolutely necessary. They strongly advocate the respect and preservation of our planet itself in addition to all beings.
The teachings of Jainism obviously can not be practiced by everyone. But by simply seeing how they live and what they live for, surely in our own lives we can be inspired to be a little more compassionate, and a little less attached.
Written by Jordan Dore
The main theme for April is UNSETTLED!
This month we are acutely aware that we are in transition. We have mental anxiety about what we might be forgetting or not keeping track of or not keeping up with. Our sleep is interrupted and light at best and non-existent at worst. We feel we might be missing something. It is hard to settle down and easy to get distracted. Even if we manage to cross everything off our to do list, there is a nagging feeling that something has been left undone.
This is the current state of affairs, necessary for change and evolution but extremely uncomfortable for many, especially for those with the “need to know” and a need for security. The Spring Equinox and the eclipses of March have left us in an unsettled place of asking, “what happens next?” We know it is not business as usual but we also cannot see around the bend or trust that what is showing up today will be the same as what shows up tomorrow.
Think of a puzzle. There are pieces coming together, some that are still missing, and the final picture has not yet emerged. This month requires a great deal of trust and flexibility. Anything can happen. To be proactive with the month you will need to be very clear in your intentions and have good solid practices to keep you grounded. You will also need to be comfortable with, and accepting of sudden changes that come as a result of these unsettled times.
Attachments will be a big lesson this month. The less attached you are to how things are or ought to be, and the more you can practice flexibility, the better. When energy is unsettled there are more opportunities to make personal changes and to restructure many aspects of your life. This is the advantage. When energy is fixed and stable this is harder to do. So use the month’s unsettled energy to proactively restructure what is needed in your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual life.
Action cures fear. Fear will come up this month especially for those of you with a security need. Instead of withdrawing from actively engaging in life, ask how you can actively work with the unsettled energy in a way that supports your own desire to evolve into a new place in your life. This is an excellent month to reset your intentions, dream bigger and harness some inspiration, excitement and enthusiasm for the magic, eccentricity and miracles of life.
The challenge this month will be around dealing with attachment, stubbornness and fear for some of you, and impatience, irritability and anger for others. These are two different reactions to the same unsettled situation. One reaction blocks the energy flow and ends up in withdrawal, causing an experience of being truly stuck. The other, impatient one, may cause conflict and out of control expression leading to poor choices and rash behaviors. Neither reaction is a good one and both stem from a fear that things are not OK and that nothing will work out. Remember to stay proactive instead of reactive and to practice trust.
If you are in the impatient aggressive camp, you need to watch the aggression. Remember that we have aggression as the mode for the year and it is important to learn to use it wisely. Using it wisely is to stop and think before you say or do something you will later regret or that will push people away. Using it wisely means learning to project focus and discipline into your intentions without wavering or being scattered and ambivalent.
A poor use of aggression will only serve to heighten your sense of being unsettled and cause unnecessary anxiety not to mention the consequences of potential conflict that may come of it.
If you are in the stubborn, fearful, dependent camp, you will have to motivate yourself to take a few risks and to say yes to opportunities that come your way even if they come with unknown factors. Remember to put some fuel into your own intentions so that when the pieces of the new puzzle start coming together you have had some say in what the new picture looks like. Otherwise you may end up with something you don’t want.
The great opportunity this month is to harness this unsettled energy and to use it to propel your own growth and evolution. If there is a bit of chaos, celebrate it. If your carefully organized plans suddenly fall apart, be flexible and embrace the opportunity for a restart, creating an even better plan. Rely on yourself and your daily practices to give yourself stability and stay grounded as much as possible. (Monthly Mp3 is helpful here)
How the month shows up
YOU PERSONALLY
This month is uncomfortable for the personality that wants to feel supported, instructed, successful, accomplished and knowledgeable about where things are headed. The instinctive center is on alert and we are hyper vigilant and anxious about what we don’t know. This month trains us to be more comfortable with and accepting of the things we do not know and cannot control. Building flexibility and acceptance into your life will only help you harness the opportunities that come out of this time of unsettled and unstable energy.
This is a great time to make personal changes. After years of doing the same negative behavior or acting out of the same dysfunctional pattern, you have an opportunity to make some very deep and permanent changes. It will take discipline and determination and focus as well as being somewhat unattached to the outcome. You may go through time periods this month of feeling like you don’t really know who you are any more or what you want any more. This is actually a good place to be as it means you have some potential to revisit what is important to you and to recreate your life in a better way using the unstable aspects of the unsettled energy.
Be spontaneous when you have the opportunity to, be flexible when you need to be and rely more on your inner stability than anything from the outside.
RELATIONSHIPS
Stay out of conflict!
Relationships will be touchy, vulnerable and on the edge of conflict, blame and projection. In unstable and unsettled times, relationships always take the hit, as relationships hold most of our dependencies, expectations and attachments. Watch aggression and don’t take things personally.
On the other hand, there is great potential for rearranging some relationship platforms to support better communication and more harmony. Especially with intimates, families or close partnerships, whatever you can do to take on the unsettled aspect of the month together as an adventure in change, will end up strengthening the relationship instead of breaking it down.
Look for some relationships that have never been settled to break apart and some relationships that have been overly settled and stuck to go through some kind of change. It is a good month to put your relationship with yourself first and to pay attention to what could use a restructure, reset or even more stability.
Watch for the unexpected. Someone new could suddenly come into your life, or you could just as suddenly lose someone close to you. Anything is possible.
HEALTH AND THE PHYSICAL BODY
Health takes on the unsettled energy in the form of challenges around digestion, fatigue, sleep issues, weight fluctuation, vertigo and balance. Just because you may fell one way today does not mean you will feel the same way tomorrow. If you have a routine or practice that keeps your body healthy and exercised, be even more disciplined this month to keep up the schedule. This is especially important for those of you who have trouble being motivated to act and your tendency is more towards stagnation and stubbornness than impatience and aggression.
Your relationship to your body can shift in a positive way this month with more attention given to self care and putting yourself first. Because of the unsettled quality of the month, the quantum field where all possibilities exist is more accessible. Magic and miracles can happen around your health as well as around your general well being and positivity about the future.
ENVIRONMENT
The environment is unstable and unsettled. Look for earth movement around the planet as a result of air, water or quakes.
But more than the actual land, living and social environments are unstable and unsettled. It is hard to be grounded in a sense of home unless that home is also a spiritual home for you. It is also hard to find your “place” in a social environment that does not fit who you are inside.
As these things become clear, there may be transition and migration from one environment to another whether it is in work, home or community. The unsettled energy will in fact create opportunities for change. If it happens suddenly, welcome it and stay flexible.
BUSINESS/PARTNERSHIPS/PROJECTS
Everything is unsettled and it is best to be comfortable with not knowing. We will see the financial markets go up and down. We will see businesses move to the edge of collapse and suddenly restructure in a new a better way. We will see sudden shut downs and disappearances of what we thought were stable and settled enterprises.
The saying: “When one door closes, another opens” is very true this month. Because things can disappear suddenly, they can also appear suddenly and you have to be ready and present in order to take advantage of these opportunities. If you are asleep or still attached to an old form, you may not notice the new open door until it is too late.
Don’t be afraid to dissolve, restructure or start a project or partnership during this time. There is great support for innovation, new ideas, and the inspiration of the higher mind. Remember that anything can happen! Intend for it to be fantastic.
DATES AND TIME FRAMES
April 1-7: This week we experience all the ups and downs of the unsettled energies of the month. It is a good time to set up well for dealing with the different aspects of instability. Notice when you are irritable or aggressively looking for trouble. Notice when you feel lethargic, foggy and unfocused. Notice when you seem aimless with regards to your goals and intentions. Notice the doors that are closing and the ones that are opening.
There is always something you can do. Set up a good routine of practices. Be disciplined about putting your needs and self care first. Have a way to motivate yourself to action if this does not come naturally to you. Think before you speak or act and consider approaching everything with patience commitment and trust.
Include humor and community connections whenever possible.
April 7: New Moon is Thursday, April 7 at 5:25 AM Mountain Daylight Time (MDT). A good time to launch just about anything as the energy of this moon is one with a great deal of power. Watch the aggression. If it comes from another, do not take it personally. Things could be a bit unstable and unsettled today so take some time to ground and center yourselves as well as to set some clear intentions.
April 8-15: This is the greatest window of things dissolving and coming back together in new ways. Don’t resist if something you have relied upon is beginning to crumble and no longer the support you thought it was. This is a good week to look at your attachments and see just how flexible you are.
When something releases it discharges energy. When it happens suddenly, the energy discharge can sometimes end up without a proper channel to move through and this can be more unsettling and even destructive. Pay attention. You can harness any energy discharge and use it to fuel your own intentions but beware of the fine line between appropriate directed aggression and the negative destructive aspects of it.
April 16-21: This is the week to focus on your clarity, commitment, intentions and self-care. No one is going to do it for you. Watch the tendency to blame others for feeling unstable and unsettled. Focus on moving your attention to your inner life and building your own trust and inner stability, which is something no one can away from you.
As we move towards the full moon, the emotional center is activated and old wounds may surface, some of them surprising you. This is another layer, a deep one, and probably something that needs clearing before you can bring all the pieces of the puzzle together for the new picture of your life. The good news is that this process may be short lived and you may get through your unsettled emotions much quicker than you thought possible.
April 21: Full Moon is Thursday, April 21 at 11:25PM Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) Reach out to community today and have some fun. Put yourself first. Do a ceremony. Give yourself a gift. Unplug for a few hours and send some time in beauty, inspiration exploring the higher mind and new ideas.
April 22-30: This is a time frame where paying attention to the details that are showing up to support any new project, partnership or business is important. Despite feeling foggy at times or unfocused, there are certain disciplines and details that are claiming your attention. Things may still feel unsettled but they are definitely moving in a direction of more clarity and stability.
Work with what you have and with what is showing up. If you are one of the lethargic ones, this would be a good time to take a risk and take some action. If you are one of the impatient impulsive ones, paying attention to the details will be especially important at this time. Remember to “keep don’t know mind” and “only go straight!”
Have a great month,
Lena
Forecast via www.thepowerpath.com