Message for February 2017

In many ways, life is a blank canvas waiting to be brought to life by strokes of the brush, splashes of colour and a willingness to breathe energy into possibility. Although the canvas is blank, and we have the freedom to create something unique, many of us choose to paint by numbers as it gives us boundaries and a safety net. Maybe it’s an inherent part of being human to want to fit in and follow the ‘guidelines’ even though we intuitively know there are no guidelines? Maybe the freedom of a blank canvas is simply too frightening for many of us to contemplate as it takes us out of our comfort zones and into unchartered terrain? Even when our comfort zones are full of pain or struggle, we still cling to them as it’s what we know as the fear in uncertainty can feel too much.

Being human is a complex, complicated and confusing existence. We are not like washing machines or flat-packed furniture as we don’t come with an instruction booklet. Even if that instruction booklet is written in a different language or full of nonsensical clap trap, we try to find one and follow it all the same as it’s what we do, isn’t it?  As ridiculous as it sounds, so many of us do this as we need something to help us to make sense of the lives we live and we want reasons to understand why things are the way they are. Yet, can an instruction book really do this for us? Are we clutching at straws? Maybe our tendency to cling to instruction manuals is less about living consciously and more about living unconsciously, being a part of the treadmill of life and never really having to think beyond the four walls of everyday life?

It’s important for each of us to realise that the pathway to bringing that blank canvas to life is in letting go of the caveats and conditions we place upon our own existence. We need to stop hovering over the edge of life waiting for a better moment to live and we need to stop feeling we need to be more, do more or achieve more in order to be happy. We each need to find our own ways of working out how to live with life and we need to start having the confidence to pick up the paintbrush and let our intuitions lead the way.

It’s so easy to define ourselves by everything we are not. We see the faults and imperfections far more easily than we see the brilliance. Yet, what we are is not the same as what we are not. We are not the sum of what we haven’t achieved nor are we the sum of our failures; our parts are so much more. We often define ourselves by what we are not as we feel we need to do more in order to attain peace, joy and happiness. We rarely, if ever, entertain the possibility that we are the way we are because that’s the way we are. Perfection is found in imperfection, wisdom is found in struggle and happiness can be found in the here and now. If we spend our lives looking for happiness and seeking out joy, we can lose sight of the present moment. Surely we need to stop chasing happiness as some state of being sat high up on a pedestal on the horizon and instead learn how to live vibrantly in the here and now?

Life may not be as we want it to be; we may have pain, struggle, unhappiness and challenges, but these are always a part of life. We can no more eradicate these than we can stop the day turning into night. Equally, if we believe happiness will come once we have eradicated or fixed all of our problems, then we are denying ourselves the opportunity to be happy as happiness is not a default setting nor is it a result of being ‘fixed’, it’s a force to be cultivated and nurtured. We also have to believe that happiness is possible if we are ever going to experience it! Life’s tough and sometimes it’s downright mean, but we can find strength and wisdom from our struggles, and it’s often during such times that we find insight into our true selves as the light shines brightly within and illuminates the soul. Often, as a result of this, we find the courage to pick up the paintbrush and let our hearts and souls find joy in the freedom of expression.

It’s understandable to want to live life in the relative safety of painting by numbers and to seek out the light, yet light casts shadows. Are the shadows and the darkness any less important than the light? Surely we need dark and light to be whole? So many push away the darkness in order to find peace without realising true peace can only come from accepting the bigger picture. In this fleeting moment we call life, we need to learn how to breathe into it, how to live consciously and to stop frantically trying to make sense of it all. Living wholeheartedly is an art, and living authentically and with passion are the brushstrokes of living intuitively…

With love,

Sarah-Jane

Aries

♈

As you continue to work towards capturing the essence and the energy of the bigger picture of your life, there is a sense you are beginning to feel more in touch with your inner glow and creative spark. Although you can feel this inner warmth, there is a sense of some confusion as to what exactly you are supposed to do with it! You thrive on clarity and purpose, and using your inner glow as a guidance system feels rather too woolly and vague for your liking. However, you are overthinking things as there is no instruction manual to follow, this is simply allowing your own formidable intuition to lead the way. At the same time, your inner glow has always been your guidance system, it’s just that you have found ways to ignore it! Listen to your heart and soul, and when you feel the warmth rising up from within, you intuitively know you are heading in the right direction. It really is as simple as that! Okay, well maybe not that simple, as life has a habit of throwing in the odd curve ball, but it doesn’t have to be complicated unless you make it so.

February looks set to be a month of re-igniting the passion within as you let go of your frustration and impatience, and begin to allow your free-spirited self to thrive and flourish. Whilst you will always want to do more, be more and achieve more, particularly when it comes to those close to you, you are reaching a stage of your personal evolution where acknowledging your own needs no longer feels selfish or greedy. You are ready to reach more deeply into your heart and soul in order to reach more deeply into life whilst, at the same time, allowing life to reach more deeply into you. Your mantra for February: don’t overthink, keep it simple…

Taurus

♉

Living wholeheartedly continues to shape and define your path in life as you begin to walk, talk and breathe more consciously than ever before. In a way, you have awoken from a long slumber of being stuck on the hamster wheel of life, but, at the same time, you haven’t really changed much, you have simply become more aware of how you live and how you want to live as this has inspired you to create ripples of change. Of course, part of you is not keen to rock the boat, particularly if it means disturbing the equilibrium of those you hold dear, but there is also a part of you longing to up-anchor and do something completely different. Living with two ends of the extreme can create some disharmony and disequilibrium so it’s important for you to find your middle ground: that place where you feel centred and able to walk ahead with confidence and a strong sense of self.

This is easier said than done, particularly when you spend so much of your time giving to others, but you are a strong, courageous and intuitive soul, so if anyone can find a way through then it’s you. Don’t underestimate yourself and don’t give up when confusion sometimes sweeps in as this is not meant to deter you, it is designed to re-shape and re-hone your path so you can define a truer and richer way of living and being you. You can’t eradicate confusion, so try to embrace it and see it as a tool to help you thrive. Living wholeheartedly takes courage, self-belief and passion, and you have all three by the bucket load. It’s time to stop doubting yourself and it’s time to start honouring yourself as you are ready now to embark on a new adventure towards living the life you were born to live…

Gemini

♊

The concept of inner balance looks set to take centre stage throughout February as you begin to realise the correlation between inner balance and outer harmony. It’s similar to having a clean and tidy desk to help facilitate clarity and clear thought, as maintaining inner balance can help you to see yourself and your life far more clearly. Of course, achieving inner balance takes patience and determination, but it’s important not to push yourself too hard as frustration can be counter-productive and leave you feeling less balanced than ever. Inner balance is more a way of being than something to ‘do’; it’s a state of existence, an allowing. It’s hard to describe or articulate as there are few words that could truly facilitate an understanding of ‘inner balance’ as there are no words to describe the indescribable.

Inner balance is a feeling, and you know it when you feel it, not before. This is likely to irk you somewhat as you thrive on understanding and feel you need clarity to fully understand a concept but there are times when this holds you back as you cannot always have the answers before you begin the process of asking questions! Sometimes you have to stop digging and analysing in order to live more consciously in the present moment instead. Asking questions can keep you locked in a cycle of waiting for a better moment before you act as you tend to want the answers before you move forward, this is understandable but rarely possible! Intuitively you already know this, but knowing it and accepting it are quite different things. The stubborn side of you may want to dig his/her heels in but it’s time to let go a little as inner balance comes from surrender, open-heartedness and a willingness to trust in the process…

Cancer

♋

February looks set to be a month of inspired thought and creative vision as you begin to look at the bigger picture of your life and see new ways of living and being which can enhance and enrich your life greatly. You are quite a visionary at heart and even though you are also practical and a bit of a realist, you never give up on dreams as you know they feed your heart and soul, and give you hope even when life feels uphill and overwhelming. Dreams motivate and inspire you, and they encourage you to keep on keeping on even when you are moving against the flow. Yet, what is your dream? In a few words, explain it: give it shape and form. In a clear and succinct way, declare your dream to the universe. Well? What are you waiting for?

Whilst you are full of ideas and encouraged by the concept of having a dream, when it comes to the finer detail, and perhaps even the bigger picture, there is a sense that you haven’t really given your dream a great deal of thought recently. It’s there because it’s always been there, but it’s a little bit dusty sitting on the shelf. Perhaps it’s time to lift it down, dust it off and reconnect with it? Maybe it’s no longer your dream? Maybe you have evolved and moved on? Maybe it still warms your soul? Yet, until you look how can you know? This is a pivotal time for you to re-connect to your dream as the fires in your belly are re-igniting and sparking into life; capture the essence of this and channel it towards creating a clearer and more defined vision of your path ahead. Let the passion and energy of your dreams expand your consciousness and inspire you to soar…

Leo

♌

‘Be more lion’ continues to be your mantra throughout February as you re-connect to your inner roar and feel your creative courage rising up from deep within. You have spent a long time trying to be everything to everyone else but forgetting to be everything to yourself. You have given so much of yourself to others, trying to do the right thing and trying to do more, be more and achieve more, and whilst you have achieved a great deal, you can’t help but feel a bit empty and shallow as you are lacking an inner sense of fulfilment. So, what does ‘be more lion’ actually mean? Well, there aren’t really the words to describe it as it’s a state of being that only a true Leo soul can comprehend. Breathe in the words and feel them reaching deeply into your heart and soul; let the energy become one with you as you feel your true nature rising up and embracing you like an old friend.

You may feel as though you’ve lost your way over recent months (even years) as you’ve edged away from your true path and gradually eroded your creative spark, but you intuitively know nothing is lost, it’s just been tucked away, out of sight. In a way, being more lion has, until recently, simply got in the way of life as you haven’t had the time or the inclination to even consider the concept, let alone embrace it. However, the tides are turning and you are now beginning to reach more deeply into that inner longing to live a more enriching and fulfilling life. This has triggered off a chain reaction within you and your fiery, creative, passionate lion is slowly re-energising and inspiring you to thrive. So, embrace this energy and ‘be more lion’…

Virgo

♍

The wheels on the big bus of your life have been going round and round for quite some time. You have successfully managed to keep the bus going (carrying a wide array of family, friends and passengers) uphill, off-road and in unchartered terrain. Your tenacity and determination has kept the bus moving, and you have learned more about vehicle mechanics than you ever thought possible (or indeed ever really wanted to know). Your life has become ‘project bus’ as your focus has remained fixed on keeping the bus going and you have lost sight of the reasons why you’re on the bus in the first place. ‘Project bus’ has, on the whole, been a successful project as you have pushed on even when you have felt overwhelmed and your gritty resolve has seen you do so much for so many.

Your generosity extends far and wide so there are many random passengers who get on and off the bus as you love to help others and this has seen you meeting a wide range of different people and opened up unexpected doorways and opportunities. Yet, there is a sense that with your focus on keeping the bus going, you have lost sight of the destination and spent a great deal of time meandering and zigzagging. In short, you have misplaced your sense of personal purpose and it’s time to grab hold of the great big map of your life in order to re-connect to your destiny and dreams. This doesn’t mean you’ll stop taking on passengers, but it does suggest a need for you to be far more aware of your own needs and wishes. February looks set to be a month for re-inventing the wheel, or at least pumping up the tyres, changing the oil, grabbing hold of the steering wheel and setting off of your own personal road trip…

Libra

♎

Being you continues to take centre stage throughout February as you begin to seek out new ways to express yourself and to share your wisdom, creativity and sparkle. It may be hard for you to acknowledge you even have a sparkle as life has been tough for you over recent months as you have spent a long time trying to ‘fire fight’ in order to keep on keeping on, leaving you little time for much needed contemplation, creative thought and breathing space. Although your head is always very busy, you are often misunderstood as others fail to see your layers and your complexity. This can sometimes make it hard for you to find that all important ‘quiet’ space as others assume you can’t possibly need it as your head is whirring all of the time. Of course, this couldn’t be further from the truth but you do a good job of hiding your inner depths so you should try to forgive others if they struggle to ‘get’ you.

February is time for you to open up the doorway to your inner world a little more in order to allow others to see the real you. Whilst you like to keep the real you private, sometimes you need to let it breathe in the fresh air in order to re-centre once again. It’s hard trying to hold it all together on the surface when underneath the veneer the cracks are showing. The main reason for this is an incongruence between your head and your heart as well as the one between your inner and outer self. The time has come for you to bring all of this back together again into a more harmonious whole in order to find a truer sense of peace and balance. Do it your way, trust your intuition and don’t forget to breathe…

Scorpio

♏

February looks set to be a month of inspired vision and innovative thought as you begin to feel a growing sense of momentum gathering pace within your heart and soul. This momentum is connected to a shift in perspective as you’ve found the wisdom in focusing on the things you can change and having more trust in the process of tender, wholehearted surrender with the things you can’t. This isn’t giving up; it’s facing life with courage and acceptance, and allowing your wisdom and intuition to guide you forward. In many ways, this is about the concept of ‘letting go’ as there’s a need for you to realise the futility in trying to push against dead ends and brick walls. Whilst there’s a chance you could break through, often the best option is to find another way. Once again, this isn’t ‘giving up’ it’s simply being wise.

This can be hard for you to see though as your stubborn nature can obscure your view and leave you feeling ‘less than’ if you don’t manage to make the progress you believe you need to achieve in order to ‘succeed’. You are your own harshest judge and this needs to stop if you are going to break this cycle and move forward in life with more confidence and a stronger sense of self. Whilst your dogged determination has seen you make progress in life, it has also tripped you up and left you feeling frustrated and downhearted as you have, at times, felt so powerless and out of control when life hasn’t panned out as you hoped. You may have fought hard to change the outcome in such situations, but there’s great strength to be found in finding another way and it’s time to shift your perspective in order to find a more life affirming, enriching and positive path ahead…

Sagittarius

♐

As you continue to gather together your dreams, goals and opportunities from across time and space, there is a sense you are beginning to see the need to trim down the plethora of things to do, people to see and places to go, as well as re-focusing on your true priorities and goals. Although you are acutely aware of the need to do this, knowing it and doing it are very different things as it’s so hard for you to trim away anything much as you can see the potential and possibility in almost everything. You have a ‘just in case’ kind of attitude and like to keep hold of ideas or projects ‘just in case’ they will bear fruit or serve you well. This is an understandable approach to life, after all, it’s never easy to know exactly where the next opportunity will take you, however, there is a sense that having too much ‘just in case’ can undermine you as it weighs you down and becomes more of a burden than anything else as you end up buried beneath a huge great pile of ‘just in case’ ideas and then you cannot see the wood for the trees.

Of course, knowing exactly what to trim down and what to keep isn’t always straightforward, but when you go within and listen to your intuition, you know what you need to do. Sadly, too much ‘just in case’ can also thwart your intuition as it creates a heavy mist in your soul, clouding your view and preventing you from connecting effortlessly to your intuitive side. So, it seems clear you need to take a little step back from your everyday in order to see the beginnings of your true priorities so you can grab hold of them like the end of a ball of string in order to get to the core of what really matters in your life…

Capricorn

♑

Trying to find a key word for you for February is a bit like trying to find a needle in a haystack as there are so many words which would be appropriate for you as your life is like a kaleidoscope of thoughts, pathways and opportunities. However, one word seems apt, so one word it is. Happiness. There’s a word for you! That took you by surprise. Some call you a realist, others think you see the glass half empty a little too easily but you have had your fair share of challenges in life to not expect an easy ride. However, this can mean you expect life to be harder than it has to be. Happiness may not be top of your mind as you manage your everyday but it’s no less important. You may be busy keeping on keeping on and trying to deal with the humdrum pedestrian-ness of daily life, but there is still room for happiness. Perhaps you have stopped allowing for the possibility?

So, what does happiness mean? What makes you happy? Is happiness a result of what you do or how you feel? Is happiness the lack of unhappiness or is it something more? Is happiness a default setting that emerges when all the challenges and unhappiness has been eradicated? Is happiness possible? So many questions but frustratingly for you a distinct lack of answers. You hate fluffy, vagueness and this forecast really isn’t giving you much meat on the bone to grab hold of. Yet, maybe that’s the point? Perhaps giving you food for thought is better than serving it up on a plate so it gives you the freedom to shape and define what happens next? Happiness is a flavour, it’s a taste of a state of being, an energy which is both within and around you. The time has come for you to embrace the concept and see where it takes you…

Aquarius

♒

There can be no denying that life has been something of a challenge for you over recent weeks and months. Perhaps one of the biggest challenges has been in trying to hold together the many different facets and components of your everyday world even though they have veered off in many different directions, often at the same time. You do your best to keep on keeping on, trying to do the right thing and often to your own detriment as you push yourself hard and expect to maintain those very high standards you set for yourself. Of course, high standards are a good thing, but when the expectation to continually achieve these comes at the cost of your creativity, ingenuity and intuition, then you know things are out of kilter. Yet, with you being you, even though you can sense this, you still push on as your drive towards getting life right is so strong. It’s not easy being you!

You are a complex soul with a complex perspective on the world, your beliefs are deeply engrained and even though you are a fluid, free-thinking soul, you can find it so hard to break free from the beliefs you know are holding you back. February looks set to be a month for you to turn to face these beliefs in order to find a new way of living and being. You are a vibrant, passionate and compassionate soul and it’s time for you to turn towards these gifts and focus them inwards in order to find a more enriching way to live your life. This isn’t selfish, it’s vital if you are to re-establish equilibrium and balance. You may feel you have to keep pushing hard and keeping on keeping on, but intuitively you know there are better ways to live and this is your time to fly high and soar…

Pisces

♓

As you continue to contemplate your true destination in life, there is a sense you are beginning to acknowledge the idea that you have been more like driftwood than a mighty tall ship over recent weeks and months. You have lost the self-belief that you have mastery of the waves and you cannot see your own majesty and beauty. Of course, even in a ship, the tide can still carry you off course, but driftwood just drifts and that really isn’t your true and natural state of being; you are mighty, passionate and wholehearted! You often feel awash with the watery depths of Pisces, feeling overwhelmed, lost or confused with the enormity of life, however, you can struggle to see the power hidden within these depths and instead of channelling your formidable energy to thrive, you end up trying to survive instead. There is a big difference between surviving and thriving, and using your time, energy and focus on keeping your head above water really isn’t doing you any justice.

It’s time now for you to explore why you feel more akin to driftwood as it’s important to understand your motivations and beliefs. It’s possible you have bought into the driftwood belief as others see you as slightly vague and nebulous so you have started to think it’s true, or it’s possible you have embraced the driftwood concept as it means never really having to take hold of the helm and make some big decisions. Acknowledging the driftwood state of mind is a big first step but it’s important for you to move beyond the passive and back towards feeling your own majesty, strength and power. Drifting never has, and never will, be natural for you as you know the waves, ebbs and flows so well as your intuition is formidable; see this of yourself now, own it and allow your power to rise up as it’s your time to thrive once again…