Tag: Thought for Today

Your Daily Horoscopes for Friday, October 25th

We are in tune with our feelings today, even if we don’t say anything about them. The cautious Cancer Moon raises concerns about placing someone else in an awkward position with our disclosure. Or, we may be worried about being rejected for saying too much. Fortunately, the radiant Sun’s sweet trine to imaginative Neptune replaces fear with optimism. Hopeful fantasy rules over harsh reality now and trusting our dreams leads to spiritual growth.

Aries Horoscope

(Mar 21 – Apr 19)

Speaking with authority doesn’t make your message true, but you might still try this ploy as a defensive strategy today. You may actually think you can talk someone into seeing the world through your eyes. But overpowering others by insisting you are right only makes you sound foolish, since your rationalizations are probably more transparent than you realize. Don’t pretend to be in control when you’re not. Those who know you love you simply for being yourself.

Taurus Horoscope

(Apr 20 – May 20)

Your future looks bright today, but you may not be heading in exactly the right direction to realize your dreams. It’s not your goals are unrealistic; rather, it’s that you might underestimate the resources needed to reach your destination. Thankfully, you can see possibilities that others miss if you let your imagination wander. Just remember to separate fact from fancy or you could be rudely surprised by the outcome.

Gemini Horoscope

(May 21 – Jun 20)

Your most vivid dreams are ripe for harvesting now, but don’t let your confidence run away with the show. Although you may think that you can be successful without working harder, this false illusion will dissipate as circumstances continue to change. If an unrealistic fantasy fades as you approach it, it’s probably best to let it go and move on to another idea. But don’t give up; your imagination holds the keys to your success.

Cancer Horoscope

(Jun 21 – Jul 22)

It may seem as if you can describe your hopeful feelings today, but it’s still challenging to start a conversation about your future dreams. Instead of wasting energy by being self-critical now, keep your visions to yourself until you have a good reason to share them. It isn’t useful to reveal your plans prematurely or you could create an awkward impasse. Be patient and remain quiet just a little bit longer. Trust your intuition to tell you when it’s time to open up.

Leo Horoscope

(Jul 23 – Aug 22)

You may feel as if you’re in an ideal social environment today because everyone seems to enthusiastically support your decisions. You don’t even have to think about what to do next; you’re part of the flow and everything seems to happen naturally. Unfortunately, your current spontaneity doesn’t play well with your desire to establish deeper connections. Thankfully, you can have the best of both worlds by letting others participate in your success.

Virgo Horoscope

(Aug 23 – Sep 22)

Relaxing is a challenge today because you’re afraid of what may occur if you don’t resist the prevailing emotional currents. You prefer rational behavior and like to be in control all of the time — but unfortunately you’re not. Therefore, your most logical strategy now is to avoid getting hooked by your own desires. Nevertheless, attempting to ignore your needs just gives power to whatever you fear most. Escape your regular routine by leading with your creative imagination rather than your analytical thoughts.

Libra Horoscope

(Sep 23 – Oct 22)

Beginning your daily tasks at work early in the day might sound like a smart idea, but nothing seems to go quite as planned. Your unflappable positive attitude is the most significant factor today in deciding whether or not you can put your schedule back on track. Don’t be overly rigid in your thinking if you run into an obstacle; being flexible now actually enables you to regain control later on.

Scorpio Horoscope

(Oct 23 – Nov 21)

You might be willing to take the easy way out of a problem today. Typically, your determination inspires you to achieve your goals, even if your non-negotiable approach complicates your life. But keeping your dreams alive may be more important now than accomplishing anything specific. Although your current productivity could suffer, you’re likely to be happier in the long run by following your heart’s desire.

Sagittarius Horoscope

(Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Your imagination is extremely vivid today, encouraging you to mix up your daydreams with reality. You might even believe that you can accomplish more than is possible because everything flows effortlessly in your mind. Unfortunately, each task you begin takes more time to complete than you expect. You may create trouble for yourself if you race through a chore, assuming you will make up for lost time. Instead, promise less and deliver more.

Capricorn Horoscope

(Dec 22 – Jan 19)

You can fool your workmates today by appearing to be busier than you actually are. However, if you want to be fully recognized for your contribution to a project, don’t try so hard to steal the spotlight. If you take your little song and dance too far, you might inadvertently overstep your bounds. You are better off if you just work hard and then let the chips fall where they may. Ultimately, your efforts won’t go unnoticed or unappreciated.

Aquarius Horoscope

(Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Your current lack of a concrete plan won’t necessarily get in your way today. Ironically, making it up as you go might just be your key to success now. Expressing your creativity brings recognition, and can even lead to some extra income. However, you could feel as if you’re wasting time managing unexpected interruptions, but it’s wise to simply handle them as they occur. Paradoxically, the current distractions may even inspire you to reach greater heights.

Pisces Horoscope

(Feb 19 – Mar 20)

It’s tempting to shut out your problems by withdrawing into your imagination today. But escaping into your own personal fantasyland works best only for brief moments of time. Sooner or later you must return to the real world issues you tried to leave behind. Working on tangible solutions preemptively, rather than after the fact, is the most productive strategy now, even if you would prefer to take a less ambitious path.

Daily Motivator for Oct. 24th – Vast abundance

Vast abundance

You have much more than you can ever possibly realize. Life is a process of  connecting with deeper and deeper levels of value that have always been there,  and always will.

Does it ever seem that the world has passed you by, or that there are just no  opportunities for you? Then it’s time to move to a more profound and fulfilling  level.

You are capable of much more than you have yet attempted. Fill your heart  with goodness, make the commitment to express that goodness, and there will be a  way.

The reason you get stuck is not because you have too little. It is because  you expect too little.

The way to expect more, at your deepest level, is to make the commitment to  give more goodness to life. Make that commitment, and suddenly new, exciting  possibilities come into view.

Think for a moment, and realize that always, there is something good you can  give. In that simple thought you know without a doubt that life’s vast abundance  is always available to you.

— Ralph Marston

 The Daily Motivator

The Daily OM for October 24th – Emerging from the Grey

Emerging from the Grey

Ways We Numb Ourselves

by Madisyn Taylor

Numbing yourself prevents you from confronting your issues and keeps you from ever finding resolution or peace.

We are born equipped to experience a complex array of diverse emotions. Many of us, however, are uncomfortable confronting our most powerful emotions. We may shy away from delight and despair and deny life’s colors by retreating into a world of monotone grey. We may numb ourselves to what we are truly feeling. It’s easier to suppress our emotions than to deal with them, so we may momentarily turn to pleasures such as alcohol, food, sugar, shopping and too much television. We may even numb our hearts. While it’s normal to temporarily seek distractions as a means of coping with intense emotions, numbing yourself prevents you from confronting your issues and keeps you from ever finding resolution or peace. When you are numb, there is no pain or powerlessness, but there can also be no joy or healing.

The activities that numb you may seem harmless or pleasurable, but using them to numb yourself diminishes the quality of your life. Numbing yourself so that you don’t have to feel intense emotions can often satisfy a surface need while blocking your awareness of a deeper need. You may find solace in food or shopping when what you really need is spiritual nourishment. The less you feel, the less alive you feel. Your feelings add vividness to your experiences and serve to connect you to the world around you. It is possible to disavow yourself of numbing behaviors a little at a time and once again taste life’s rich flavors. When you sense that you are engaging in a particular behavior simply to deaden your emotions, stop and ask yourself why. Examining the feelings that drive you to numb yourself can help you understand what is triggering your desire to emotionally fade out.

With each numbing activity that you cut out of your life, you’ll find yourself being more aware and experiencing a greater emotionally acuity. Senses once shrouded by the fog of numbness become sharp and acute. Traumas and pain long hidden will emerge to the forefront of your consciousness and reveal themselves so that you can heal them. You’ll discover a deeper you—a self that is comfortable experiencing and working through intense emotions with courage and grace.

The Daily OM

THINK on THESE THINGS for October 23

THINK on THESE THINGS
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler

When there’s thinking to be done, a person does well to have a little private retreat….a place where there’s no worry that any minute someone will interrupt. And the very ease of knowing that here is a little time to do nothing but just think.

Except that I must carefully direct those thoughts so never to let them roam to things that serve only to disturb. But where does one find a place these days that affords a time alone?

It doesn’t take much room to think. Some have little special places hidden from view….a hillside maybe….a sunny spot along a path….a closet not so large…..a park bench…..or they may even take a drive.

But that place that is always available to us is that place within our own selves. This is the secret place within the heart where desires are stored. And no matter what we do, where we go, thoughts are productive.

Here is where thankfulness is stored….here is where love is born….here is where the very life of life is built and rebuilt. This is our retreat when there’s thinking to be done.

________________________________

Available online! ‘Cherokee Feast of Days’
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler.

Visit her web site to purchase the wonderful books by Joyce as gifts for yourself or for loved ones……and also for those who don’t have access to the Internet: http://www.hifler.com
Click Here to Buy her books at Amazon.com

Elder’s Meditation of the Day
By White Bison, Inc., an American Indian-owned nonprofit organization. Order their many products from their web site: http://www.whitebison.org

Daily OM for October 18th – Quiet Please!

Quiet Please!

Taming Monkey Mind in Meditation

by Madisyn Taylor

We all have the endless chattering and noise in our head often referred to as the monkey mind.

It’s been called the monkey mind – the endless chattering in your head as you jump in your mind from thought to thought while you daydream, analyze your relationships, or worry over the future. Eventually, you start to feel like your thoughts are spinning in circles and you’re left totally confused.

One way to tame this wild creature in your head is through meditation – although the paradox is that when you clear your mind for meditation you actually invite the monkey in your mind to play. This is when you are given the opportunity to tame this mental beast by moving beyond thought – to become aware of a thought rather than thinking a thought. The difference is subtle, but significant. When you are aware of your thoughts, you can let your thoughts rise and float away without letting them pull you in different directions. Being able to concentrate is one of the tools that allows you to slow down your thought process and focus on observing your thoughts.

To develop your concentration, you may want to start by focusing on the breath while you meditate. Whenever your monkey mind starts acting up, observe your thoughts and then return your focus to your breath. Some breathing meditations call on you to focus on the rise and fall of the breath through the abdomen, while others have you concentrate on the sound of the breath. Fire can also be mesmerizing, and focusing on a candle flame is another useful tool for harnessing the mind. Keep the gaze soft and unfocused while observing the color, shape, and movement of the flame, and try not to blink. Close your eyes when you feel the need and continue watching the flame in your head. Chanting, devotional singing, and mantras also still the mind. However you choose to tame the monkey mind, do so with firm kindness. The next time the chattering arises, notice it and then allow it to go away. With practice, your monkey mind will become quiet and so will you.

The Daily OM

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – October 15

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – October 15

“All of us begin to rethink what is good about ourselves – put the past where it belongs – and get on with the possibilities of the present!”

–Howard Rainer, TAOS PUEBLO-CREEK

There is a saying, you move toward and become that which you think about. So the question for today is, what are you thinking about? Are you thinking bad things about yourself or are you thinking good things about yourself? Are you thinking about a worldly life? Are you thinking good things about people or are you gossiping about people? Are you focusing on past things or are you living in the future? We need to bring our thoughts into the NOW, right here.

Great Spirit, let me experience living in the present moment.

Daily OM for October 15th – Surrender Box

Surrender Box

A Place for Worries and Fears

by Madisyn Taylor

 

A surrender box is a tool to let go of our burdens so the universe can take care of them for us.

There are times when our minds become too full. Our to-do lists, worries, plans, and dreams may be so crowded together in our heads that we don’t have room to think. We may believe that we are somehow taking care of our desires and concerns by keeping them at the forefront of our minds. In maintaining our mental hold on every detail, however, we may actually delay the realization of our dreams and the resolution of our worries because we won’t let them go. At times such as these, we may want to use a surrender box.

A surrender box allows us to let go of our worries and desires so the universe can take care of them for us. We write down what we want or need to happen and then place the note into a box. By writing and placing our thoughts in the box, we are taking action and letting the universe know we need help and are willing to surrender our feelings. We give ourselves permission to not concern ourselves with that problem any longer and trust that the universe is taking care of it. You may even want to decorate your box and place it in a special place. Your surrender box is a sacred container for your worries. Not only do you free up space in your mind by letting go of our worries and desires and dropping them into your surrender box, but you are giving your burden over to a higher power. Once we drop our worries and desires into the surrender box, we free our minds so we can be fully present in each moment.

Surrendering our worries and concerns and placing them in the hands of the universe doesn’t mean that we’ve given up or have been defeated. Instead, we are releasing the realization of our desires and the resolution of our worries and no longer concerning ourselves with their outcomes. It’s always fun to go back and pull the slips of paper out of the box once your requests have been granted. And it’s amazing how quickly problems go away and dreams come true when we finally let go and allow a higher power to help us.

Daily OM

Daily OM for October 14th – Staying Conscious

Staying Conscious

Staying Grounded in a Big City or Busy World

by Madisyn Taylor

For a more grounded life, choose not to get caught up in the fast-paced world around you.

1. Live simply and live deliberately. By choosing not to get caught up in the details of this fast-paced world, you are doing your part to slow down the . You will also discover that you have more time to enjoy being alive.

2. Stay in touch with yourself. Soul searching, meditation, and journaling are just a few of the many activities you can take part in to stay aware and learn as much as you can about your emotions, reactions, likes, dislikes, dreams, and fears. Having a solid sense of self gives you a firm foundation for living in this world.

3. Support or teach others as often as you can. This can help you form connections with people while also giving you an opportunity to make the world a better place.

4. Consciously choose what you will allow into your being. The media bombards us with visions of hate, war, and pain. Be judicious about what you read, watch, and listen to.

5. Acknowledge the beauty that resides around you. Whether you live in a sprawling metropolis or a stereotypical suburb, there are natural and man-made wonders just waiting to be discovered by you.

6. Nurture your ties to your tribe. If you don’t have one, create a community that you can belong to. Modern life can be isolating. When you have a tribe, you have a circle that you are a part of. Its members – loved ones, friends, or neighbors – can be a source of support, caring, guidance, and companionship.

7. See the larger picture. Remember that the way that you choose to live is not the only way to live. Widen your perspective by exploring other modes of being through research, travel, and discussion.

8. Embrace the challenges that life presents to you, and challenge yourself often. After a time, even the most exciting jobs or lifestyles can seem routine. Never stop assimilating new knowledge about whatever you are doing, and your life will never seem dull.

9. Move your body. In this busy world, it can be easy to live a sedentary life. Movement reacquaints us with our bodies and connects us to the earth in a visceral way. It also restores our vitality.

10. Make time for stillness, silence, and solitude. The world can be noisy, and we are subject to all kinds of noises nearly every waking hour. We are also often “on the go“ and unable to relax. Being alone in a peaceful place and making time for quiet can help you stay in touch with yourself.

Meditation Techniques

MEDITATION TECHNIQUES

In order to let ourselves relax, it is useful to start from a place of peace, a
center, a point of stability, so the first step, will be to take ourselves to
that place.
Relax and sit back.. Close your eyes, and let your mind start to drift..
Breathe slowly, and deeply, breath from your diaphragm, from your center.. And
as you breathe, sit straight, but remain comfortable.. As you straighten, so
does your spine, and like a pole, it connects you between the ground below and
the airy sky above.. Feel the energy tingle at both ends of the pole that is
your spine, and let the energy flow from the earth, up your spine, and out the
top of your head, dispersing back into the glorious star-filled universe above..
As this energy flows, let it carry with it all the negative emotions, pain,
frustrations, bothers, and tensions that you have built up.. Let it carry those
tensions up through you, and out of you, and let new energy, and a peaceful
state of relaxation fade in slowly..
Now, let yourself relax, and if you want, let yourself sink backwards until you
are lying flat on the ground.. Let your mind drift, and let any thoughts that
surface just surface and float away, like bubbles on a calm day. You can and
will remember them later if you want, but for now, just let them go, and let
yourself float. Breathe deeper, and slow your breathing down with every
breath.. And with every breath, relax your body and your mind even further, and
the more relaxed you get, let your breath slow even more.. (repeat this a few
times, then pause)
Now as you relax, feel yourself enveloped in a cool, comforting red mist.. It’s
neither hot nor cold, and you can just barely feel it against your skin.. Let
it swirl around you, and relax. Feel yourself lying on a cloud, solid enough to
support you, but very very cushioned, very very comfortable. Every part of your
body is supported by this cloud, your feet.. your legs.. your arms.. your back..
your neck.. your head.. all cushioned, all supported, all very very
comfortable.. Now the cloud slowly starts to sink through the red mist, carrying
you along with it.. very, very slowly, and very very comfortably you are carried
deeper and deeper into relaxation.. The mist around you slowly begins to change
from the deep lustrous red, to the beautiful orange of a fall sunset.. slowly,
slowly.. The orange lightens, and the mist changes color to a soothing lemon
yellow.. and as the color lightens, so does your body, you float on the cloud
that carries you barely touching it.. and slowly, the yellow darkens to the
verdant hue of a summer lawn, a green so beautiful, you can almost hear the wind
blowing through grass stalks.. and slowly, the green deepens to the blue of a
summer sky, beautiful and brilliant, an azure heaven surrounding you, and you
still float downward on the cloud.. resting lightly, relaxed and comfortable..
Now the blue darkens and deepens to the midnight purple blue of the moonless
night, dark and peaceful, quiet.. and you feel the cloud you have been riding
touch down gently..
And the mist fades away, and you are lying on your back, on a patch of grass.
The wind blows lightly over you, a very full moon pours down light onto the
field, and you can hear ever so faintly, the crickets and other night insects
chirping in the distance..
Wherever you are now, there will be something that draws you towards it..it
might be a path, it might be a place, it might be another person in the field
with you.. There can be anything here that you desire, because this is your
sacred space, your heart of dreams.. In this place, anything can change, but it
can only change as you let it.. Since you have built this place, you have
furnished it, you have populated it.. It is a place for you to go to explore
yourself, and your connections to the world around you.. Go now, and explore
this area for a time, taking note of what interests you, speaking to whomever
you encounter and wish to.. (LONG pause)
Very slowly, you come to realize that it is time for you to bid farewell for now
to this place. Say farewell to whatever creatures you have conversed with.. bid
farewell for now to any things that you wanted to look at, but have not yet had
time to examine.. They shall be here if you ever choose to return.. Know that
you can return here if you wish to, just by willing it, and bid this place
farewell.. Let yourself lie down again in any small clearing in the place..
Feel the mist, comfortable and relaxing, close in over you again, dark as the
midnight moonless sky, and feel the comfortable cloud form again under your
feet.. your legs.. your arms.. your back.. your neck.. your head.. feel it
support you, and begin to rise, very very slowly, very very comfortably..
breathe deeply, and relax, and rise upwards, and let the dark sky of midnight
fade to the azure blue of noon.. slowly, slowly, rising.. the blue deepens to
the verdant green of a summer lawn, and the cloud keeps rising slowly.. slowly
the green lightens and is replaced by the soothing lemon yellow.. and slowly,
slowly, you keep rising.. and the yellow deepens to the beautiful orange of the
summer sunset, and you rise again slowly, slowly, until the orange fades, and is
replaced by the deep soothing red..
Let your mind still float, and your body remain relaxed, but very very slowly
start to ease back into the feeling of the floor under your back, the sense of
people around you in the room..(long pause to let everyone recenter)
okay. (said, makes sure everyone breaks the trance if they are still in one).

I Want To Be 6 Again…..

I Want To Be 6 Again…..

 

To Whom It May Concern:

I hereby officially tender my resignation as an adult. I have decided I would like to accept the responsibilities of a 6 year old again. I want to go to McDonald’s and think that it’s a four star restaurant. I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and make ripples with rocks. I want to think M&Ms are better than money, because you can eat them. I want to play kickball during recess and paint with watercolors in art. I want to lie under a big Oak tree and run a lemonade stand with my friends on a hot summers’ day.

I want to return to a time when life was simple. When all you knew were colors, addition tables and simple nursery rhymes, but that didn’t bother you, because you didn’t know what you didn’t know and you didn’t care. When all you knew was to be happy because you didn’t know all the things that should make you worried and upset.

I want to think that the world is in my youth… I matured and I learned too much. I learned of nuclear weapons, war, prejudice, starvation and abused children. I learned of lies, unhappy marriages, suffering, illness, pain and death I learned of a world where men left their families to go and fight for our country, and returned only to end up living on the streets…begging for their next meal. I learned of a world where children knew how to kill … and did!!

What happened to the time when we thought that everyone would live forever, because we didn’t grasp the concept of death, when we thought the worst thing in the world was if someone took the jump rope from you or picked you last for kickball?

I want to be oblivious to the complexity of life and be overly excited by little things once again. I want to return to the days when reading was fun and music was clean. When television was used to report the news or for family entertainment and not to promote sex, violence and deceit. I remember being naive and thinking that everyone was happy because I was. I would walk on the beach and only think of the sand between my toes and the prettiest seashell I could find. I would spend my afternoons climbing trees and riding my bike. I didn’t worry about time, bills or where I was going to find the money to fix my car. I used to wonder what I was going to do or be when I grew up, not worry about what I’ll do i this doesn’t work out. I want to live simple again I don’t want my day to consist of computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news, how to survive more days in the month than there is money in the bank, doctor bills, gossip, illness and loss of loved ones. I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind word, truth, justice, peace, dreams, the imagination, mankind and making angels in the snow.

I want to be 6 again.

 

Author Unknown

Elder's Meditation of the Day – August 23

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – August 23

“They also learned, and perhaps this was the most important thing, how to look at things through the eyes of the Higher Powers.”

–Fools Crow, LAKOTA

Our eyes can only see our beliefs. Our beliefs cause us to make assumptions, draw conclusions and cause confusion. Our five senses are very limiting. The Creator has a way of allowing us to see or know in the spiritual world. This is called the Sixth Sense. The Sixth Sense is like a radar system; our personal radar system. It will help us “see” opportunities and help us avoid disaster. This Sixth Sense is controlled by God. We must learn to listen to it. We must learn to trust it. We must learn to act on it even if our head says differently. We must learn to look at things through the eyes of God.

My Creator, guide me today. If my eyes cause confusion, let me close them and see through Your eyes. If my ears
Hear confusion, let me listen to my heart. Let me let You guide me.

Daily Motivator for Aug. 23 – Your awareness

Your awareness

Life can wear you down, or life can lift you up. It all depends on how you  choose to see it and live it.

The primary component of weariness is not age or infirmity or circumstance.  It is attitude.

The main ingredient of enthusiasm is not youth or comfort or good fortune. It  is your attitude, based on your awareness.

What do you look for, think about, focus on and expect? That is what you will  experience.

Focus the bulk of your awareness not on transient trivialities, but on what  truly matters to you, to your dreams, and to your values. Pay much less  attention to the fears and frustrations, and much more attention to the positive  possibilities and opportunities.

Sincerely see life as beautiful and fulfilling, and you will make life  beautiful and fulfilling. Your awareness has awesome power, so use it wisely and  lovingly.

— Ralph Marston

The Daily Motivator

Your Daily Horoscopes for Thursday, Aug. 22nd

Our dreams supply the fuel to turn fantasies into reality as today’s imaginative Pisces Moon aligns with ambitious Saturn. On the other hand, logical Mercury forms anxious aspects with rebellious Uranus and opportunistic Jupiter, encouraging us to break free from routine. However, once the Sun shifts into thoughtful Virgo at 7:01 pm EDT, we are more likely to analyze a situation until we know all the facts than to gamble our future on a whim.

Aries Horoscope

(Mar 21 – Apr 19)

Your fantasy world is expanding now as you run each possibility through your imagination. However, no one realizes what you are experiencing because your appearance may remain calm and collected. These little daydreams are yours and yours alone. Stay aware of your feelings while you continue to communicate in a restrained and logical manner. Keep up your normal routine, and you should be able to get away with your inner journeying without anyone getting on your case.

Taurus Horoscope

(Apr 20 – May 20)

Although important people may enter your life now and energize you, they might also bring a bit of disruption. Stay present when responding to others, for your common sense could actually save the day. Don’t be afraid to say no; trust your instincts even if you have to stir up some muddy waters in the process. Going against the flow today can prevent a relationship from becoming stagnant.

Gemini Horoscope

(May 21 – Jun 20)

It’s challenging to get your head and your heart working in sync toward the same goals today. Somehow, it seemed simpler in the past to align with your higher self. However, you can benefit by going back and reassessing your priorities because your careful analysis falls apart in light of strong emotions now coming to the surface. Don’t be so afraid of letting others see who you really are — even with your current eccentricities. Following your dreams allows others to do the same.

Cancer Horoscope

(Jun 21 – Jul 22)

You might be overwhelmed by an odd situation today when brainy Mercury aligns with crazy Uranus. You’re tempted to sink into your feelings and nurture someone with all your heart while another voice in your head just wants to break free from all emotional attachments. Although making your escape sounds enticing now, your practical sense of loyalty will likely win out. Find ways to express your wild side without turning your relationships upside down.

Leo Horoscope

(Jul 23 – Aug 22)

You have something on your mind and need to get it out into the open; however, you may not be ready to deal with the consequences of your message today. Nevertheless, it could feel as if you’re running out of time to speak your peace. Starting the conversation isn’t easy, but it will only grow more difficult as the day progresses. Don’t wait for a better moment to initiate the discussion. Believe it or not, the time is now.

Virgo Horoscope

(Aug 23 – Sep 22)

Your key planet Mercury is being rattled by unstable Uranus and opinionated Jupiter now, aggravating a difficult situation in a relationship. Your partner or friend may grow a bit irritable today, which in turn makes your life more complicated. Your best strategy is to allow the people in your life enough room so they can find out what works best for them without worrying about your expectations. Supporting the dreams of others ultimately works in your favor.

Libra Horoscope

(Sep 23 – Oct 22)

A little extra concentration prevents your week from deviating too far off track. Fortunately, you can see how over-committed you are as long as you logically think about your activities. But as soon as you step away from your detached approach, you could fall into the deep well of feelings. Stand back a little bit to get a fresh perspective while reconsidering a new direction.

Scorpio Horoscope

(Oct 23 – Nov 21)

It seems as if everything at work is about to change and you aren’t sure how to prioritize your goals today. It may feel as if you’re on a roller coaster ride; you’re exhilarated one moment and craving stability the next. But attempts to end the uncertainty will only lead to higher anxiety. Stop resisting that which you cannot control. Thankfully, your path straightens out over the next few days, bringing more structure to your life and paving the way to your future.

Sagittarius Horoscope

(Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Your current emotional dilemma is pulling you between home and career. On one hand, you really want to put in the required time to sustain a loving relationship. But, on the other hand, there’s a part of you that only wants to focus on getting ahead at work. Although you might think that you must choose one direction now, an extreme reaction won’t serve you well. There’s no need to panic; thankfully, balancing your personal and professional goals is possible if you budget your time wisely.

Capricorn Horoscope

(Dec 22 – Jan 19)

It’s time for you Mountain Goats to take a calculated risk. Normally, you exhibit conservative behavior as your sure-footedness prevents you from making too many mistakes. Paradoxically, a small misjudgment today may actually help you reach your goal. You’re unlikely to request assistance if you think that you have all the answers. However, you’re more likely to ask for what you need if you run into a problem. Listen to the advice you receive; it could make the difference between failure and success.

Aquarius Horoscope

(Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Last week may have been filled with sudden unplanned changes. Fortunately, you secretly enjoy it when the lightning strikes and things get turned upside down. As if you haven’t been through enough recently, today is a crash course in your learning process. Engage others in intelligent discussions, even if your opinions differ. Encountering new ideas can validate what’s most important to you.

Pisces Horoscope

(Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Your life seems to be more hectic today because your moods are changing so quickly. The biggest challenges now may come from your personal relationships. Even if your partner seems to be sensible and rational, you might be ready to toss the whole thing out and start over. Don’t move so fast; there’s good stuff to be found beneath the surface. It will just take a while to sort through the noise that is the loudest so you can tune into the sweet music that’s singing your song.

What A Blessed Tuesday It Is! Good Morning dear family!

Witchy Cat Graphics & Comments
Good morning my sweets! How are you doing today? I am sorry for running late but I have been goofing off look at other witchcraft sites. You know you have to keep up with the competition, lol!

 

We have several replies to the question of the day yesterday. Where is everybody else at? The question was……If you could go back in history and change any event from happening what would it be? We have some excellent answers and great discussion openers. Check it out here….https://witchesofthecraft.com/2013/08/12/question-of-the-day-please-participate-if-you-like/

 

I know my answer was to stop Booth from shooting Lincoln. Everybody else agreed that they wouldn’t change a thing. Simply because our mistakes and past make us who we are today. I agree with them. But if you thought what you did would benefit mankind and make this world a better place would you then?

 

I have to stop and think about the Burning Times. I cry every time I think about what our ancestors went through. Would I have loved to stop it? Would I like to have prevented it? Yes, I would. But deep down, I know preventing the Burning Times would have been wrong. Sounds funny coming from me doesn’t it. If it wasn’t for our ancestors and knowing what they went through, I don’t believe we would hold our Religion as dear as we do. I don’t believe we would be the fighters we are. The Burning Times made us who we are, as terrible as that might sound. Sadly, it had to happen. I know just thinking about it makes me angry and upset. But it has burned into my soul that I can never let my ancestors die in vain. NEVER! None of us can.

 

Witchcraft is now more widely accepted. The truth is getting out about what we are really about. We have a long way to go still but I am sure we will eventually get there. Our ancestors died for something they believed very precious and that was our Religion. We can never let our Religion or their memory fall by the wayside. We must continue the fight. It won’t be easy because it never is. But one day we will be able to say we put Witchcraft back into its’ rightful place in mainstream Religion.

 

Remember dear family, the fight goes on. But it is the good fight we are fighting and  we have the Goddess on our side.

8 Ways Meditation Can Change Your Life

8 Ways Meditation Can Change Your Life

We can’t imagine what life would be like without meditation. It has seen us through tough times and many life  changes, keeping us sane and grounded and real. Life is challenging enough; we  can never know what will arise next and only when our minds are clear and  focused can we make the best decisions.

How are you able to deal with the madness and chaos that occurs daily? How do you deal with the challenges  of life? Meditation is highly misunderstood and often under-rated yet is perhaps  what it takes to be a truly sane person. How does meditation affect us? How does  it shift our priorities, enable us to make friends with ourselves, to find  answers to our questions?

Here are eight ways meditation can make your life more meaningful and  enjoyable!

1. Living With Kindness

No one deserves your kindness and compassion more than yourself. Every time you  see or feel suffering, every time you make a mistake or say something stupid and  are just about to put yourself down, every time you think of someone you are  having a hard time with, every time you encounter the confusion and difficulty  of being human, every time you see someone else struggling, upset, or irritated,  you can stop and bring loving kindness and compassion. Breathing gently,  silently repeat: May I be well, may I be happy, May I be filled with loving  kindness.

2. Lightening the Load

In a stressed state, it is easy to lose touch with inner peace, compassion  and kindness; in a relaxed state, your mind is clear and you can connect with a  deeper sense of purpose and altruism. Meditation and  medication are derived from the Latin word medicus, to care or  to cure. A time of quiet calmness is, therefore, the most effective remedy for a  busy and overworked mind. Anytime you feel stress rising, heart closing, mind going into overwhelm,  just bring your focus to your breathing and quietly repeat with each in- and  out-breath: Breathing in, I calm the body and mind; breathing out, I  smile.

3. Letting Go of Me

Stillness is always there between the thoughts, behind the story, beneath the  noise. What keeps us from experiencing our natural state of being is the  habitual and ego-dominated monkey mind. Meditation enables us to see clearly, to  witness our thoughts and behavior and reduce self-involvement. Without such a  practice of self-reflection there is no way of putting a brake on the ego’s  demands. From being self-centered, we can become other-centered, concerned about  the welfare of all.

4. Dissolving Anger and Fear

We do not accept or release our negative feelings so easily; we are more likely to repress  or disown them. But when denied they cause shame, depression, anger, and  anxiety. Meditation invites you to openly meet these places, and to see how  selfishness, aversion and ignorance create endless dramas and fears. Beneath  these is a quiet stillness where you can get to know yourself; this is a  wondrous and beautiful experience. Whether you practice for just ten minutes a  day or longer does not matter. You are releasing your limitations, while opening  to self-acceptance and awareness.

5. Awakening Forgiveness

Forgiveness is the greatest gift you can give yourself and  others. As you sit in meditation and watch your thoughts and feelings moving  through you, so you can observe that who you are now is not who you were just a  moment ago, let alone a day, a week, or a month ago. Who you, or someone else,  was when pain was caused is not who you are now. When you experience your  essential interconnectedness you see how the ignorance of this creates  separation and suffering, so that forgiveness for such ignorance arises  spontaneously.

6. Generating Harmlessness

Simply through the intent to cause less pain you can bring greater dignity to  your world, so that harm is replaced with harmlessness and disrespect with  respect. Harm is usually caused unintentionally, whether by ignoring someone’s  feelings, putting yourself down, reaffirming your hopelessness, disliking your  appearance, or seeing yourself as incompetent or unworthy. How much resentment,  guilt, or shame are you holding on to, thus perpetuating harmfulness? Meditation  enables you transform this through recognizing your essential goodness and the  preciousness of all life.

7. Appreciating Appreciation

Take a moment to appreciate the chair you are sitting on. Consider how the  chair was made: the wood, cotton, wool, or other fibers, the trees and plants  that were used, the earth that grew the trees, the sun and rain, the animals  that maybe gave their lives, the people who prepared the materials, the factory  where the chair was made, the designer and carpenter and seamstress, the shop  that sold it—all this just so you could be sitting here, now. Then extend that  deep appreciation to everything and everyone in your life.

8. Being Aware

Awareness is the key to awakening. Through awareness you can see your monkey  mind and all its mischief. Almost everything we do is to achieve something: if  we do this, then we will get that; if we do that, then this will happen. But in  meditation you do it just to do it. There is no ulterior purpose other than to  be here, in the present moment, without trying to get anywhere or achieve  anything. You are just aware of whatever is happening, whether pleasant or  unpleasant. No judgment, no right or wrong. Simply being aware. Enjoy!

Live and learn, learn to live

Celtic & British Isles Graphics

Live and learn, learn to live

I strive to get what life can give

Send to me the lessons true

And help me know just what to do

Amid the mess and chaos fierce

Shine a light to darkness pierce

Show the way to knowledge deep

Which to let go and which to keep

Clear the way so I might heed

The lessons that I truly need

Show me what I need to learn

As life’s pages I do turn.

The Daily Horoscopes for Thursday, August 8th

Communication intensifies as we tell secrets and use language to work our way out of our protective shells. Chatty Mercury shifts into courageous Leo at 8:12 am EDT, giving us a cosmic push to say what’s on our minds. We can make the most of this highly creative time by keeping our interactions centered on personal needs. Meanwhile, a tough Venus-Saturn aspect and an analytical Virgo Moon require us to overcome our fears and address the issues.

Aries Horoscope

(Mar 21 – Apr 19)

You are ready to shout your story from the top of any mountain once mischievous Mercury fires into dramatic Leo, inspiring you to take center stage. A more playful side of your nature begins to emerge today, but your erratic behavior is part of the package. Others won’t quite know what to make of your actions now, so it’s best to explain yourself as clearly as possible while continuing to cultivate all facets of your personality.

Taurus Horoscope

(Apr 20 – May 20)

It’s difficult to make decisions now when your reactions are so extreme, and your alternating swings between emotion and logic can become exhausting. Mercury in expressive Leo is at odds with your stoic Taurus demeanor, so you may find yourself in situations that motivate you to stand up for your beliefs. However, first make certain that your ideas are valid enough to defend. If you’re fighting for something that really matters, don’t back down until you get your message across.

Gemini Horoscope

(May 21 – Jun 20)

The pace of your daily life picks up speed and you can almost feel the excitement in your world as clever Mercury moves through your 3rd House of Communication for the next couple of weeks. You should expect the ambient noise of your daily routines to increase as additional information finds its way into your life in the form of telephone calls, emails and visits from friends. This is life as you like it, so enjoy the ride as long as it lasts.

Cancer Horoscope

(Jun 21 – Jul 22)

Your thoughts turn to your finances now, which are of increasing concern over the next two weeks. This is your chance to get back on track if you have lost focus and need to regroup in the money department. Your life is temporarily shifting away from emotional overwhelm and into the practical realm of action. Stabilizing your fiscal situation proactively enables you to build a more solid foundation for the future

Leo Horoscope

(Jul 23 – Aug 22)

Your proud lion-like roar is heard all across the land as the winged messenger Mercury flies into your sign today. Your convincing style packs a punch these days and you would be wise to keep turning your volume down as quickly as reality turns it up. Even if you think you are whispering, you may still be quite loud. Use this time to effectively communicate what’s in your heart in a way that others can hear. But make sure you listen just as much as you talk if you really want to establish a solid connection.

Virgo Horoscope

(Aug 23 – Sep 22)

You derive your logical and analytical powers from the discriminating faculties of interactive Mercury. As your key planet enters Leo today, you must make up for lost time if needed by finishing business from the previous round so you can start the next cycle. Take charge of your dreams through the use of guided meditation or active daydreaming. Use this time to discover what inspires you and, if necessary, to change the way you think in order to create the future you imagine.

Libra Horoscope

(Sep 23 – Oct 22)

You’re increasingly aware that you’re standing at a crossroad, even if the stress around you continues to ease. You must choose what is next in your life and circumstances continue to pressure you to take a stand. However, you don’t need to actively pick your path by trying one alternative after another. Instead, your current thought patterns will create your new reality over the next few months, so practice guiding your mental meanderings in the direction you desire the most.

Scorpio Horoscope

(Oct 23 – Nov 21)

Your emotional intensity is high as your rational mind charges into new territory today. You are striving to create a positive impact in your outer world, but may feel somewhat lost as to which way to turn. Thankfully, the confusion will pass in just a few days. Authentic communication takes on a greater role over the weeks ahead as you reevaluate the lessons you have learned and execute your plans with confidence. You are what you think.

Sagittarius Horoscope

(Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Mercury prances into proud Leo today, encouraging you to talk about your most exciting dreams. You are very optimistic about your future now, even if there are obstacles that still need to be sorted out. Although you are impatient to reach your destination, you’re on a journey that cannot be rushed. Nevertheless, you can see an opening at the end of the tunnel and it’s wise to continue aiming at the light with all your might.

Capricorn Horoscope

(Dec 22 – Jan 19)

You can still feel the instability of your internal emotional weather and it affects your closest relationships today. However, you are considering more practical solutions now, rather than just idle philosophies. Your best bet is to adapt to the circumstances, even if they continue to change. If you are tempted to push for your way, save your energy for when it can have greater impact. Ironically, you will maintain more control over your destiny by being flexible in your approach.

Aquarius Horoscope

(Jan 20 – Feb 18)

You are highly observant of those you love and may often accurately guess the needs of your friends and acquaintances. Something unusual is happening today, since people around you are sharing the very same things that were being kept secret only a few days ago. Others may come to you with their stories now that Mercury is occupying your 7th House of Partnerships, giving you reason to leap into action. Happily, you are at your best when your passions are aroused and you engage others with heartfelt enthusiasm.

Pisces Horoscope

(Feb 19 – Mar 20)

You may realize that you need additional focus to follow through with the daily routines of your job today. However, the best way to improve your concentration now might be through engaging in strenuous exercise rather than just working harder. Cerebral Mercury is traveling through your 6th House of Work and Health for the next couple of weeks, linking your physical and mental performance. Remember, it’s the little things which will add up to create the desired positive impact on your overall health and happiness.

Indications of What Type of Magic You Should Practice

Indications of What Type of Magic You Should Practice

Indications of White Magic:

  • Your practice uses White Light energies.
  • There is a tendency for self-purification before and/or during a spell.
  • You have an affinity to cleanse your area, target, and self.

Indications of Black Magic:

  • Dark essences are being used, primarily.
  • You find power in the emotional negativity of yourself and others.

Indications of Magecraft:

  • Your primary concern is in social politics or what people think.
  • You are constantly trying to understand what people think and feel.

Indications of Nature Magic:

  • Your practice tends to beckon you to nature and the use of natural forces.
  • You can feel a higher presence in things that most would call inanimate.
  • Your magic is an extension of the natural world, not a conflict with it.
  • You feel a different kind of power in nature and feel prone to harness it.

Indications of Necromancy:

  • Your practice centres around degrading health and physical well-being.
  • You find power in the physical suffering of yourself or others.
  • You use servitors but totally control all of their actions at all times.
  • You can sense if a person will die or if they are becoming ill/diseased.

Indications of Healing:

  • You can feel your own internal energies.
  • You can realign your internal energies if injured.
  • You can feel the aura of others and can realign it as well.

Indications of Celestial Magic:

  • You put your situations in the hands of a higher being.
  • You believe in a god or gods and want to, or know how to, communicate with them.
  • Your mystic practices incorporate the use of higher intelligences.

Indications of Satanic Magic:

  • Your power comes from yourself.
  • You are not interested in ever letting power out of your own control.
  • Your methods often include blessing/enchanting yourself.

Indications of Elemental Magic:

  • You are primarily concerned with physical manifestations.
  • Your art works heavily with controlling the environment.
  • It seems natural to you if you change the weather through mystic exertion.

Indications of Enchanting:

  • You are interested in the mystic potential of items.
  • You can sense mana in items that have been handled by another magician.
  • You try to magnify or nullify the powers put into objects.
  • You have skill in imbuing normal things with special powers.

Indications of Summoning:

  • You do not want to use higher powers to control summoned spirits.
  • Your power focusses on calling out to spirits, but not gods.
  • You see or work with demons, yet do not feel afraid.
  • You want servitors but also want to let them think on their own.
  • You can talk to spirits of the dead by feeling their thoughts.

Indications of Divination:

  • You frequently experience Deja Vu.
  • You see hidden meanings in atypical events.
  • You can predict events spontaneously with a high degree of accuracy.

Indications of Wizardry:

  • You tend to see “the big picture” where everyone else is worried about trifles.
  • You have the ability to move outside your body.
  • You use magic to change small things which drastically effect larger things by “domino effect”.
  • Your can project yourself or thoughts of your own design to manifest on this level.
  • Your art seems like a “pure” sorcery.

Indications of Sorcery:

  • You tend to see even mundane things from a mystic standpoint.
  • Your practices are fervent and full of emotion.
  • You step into a dark plane to practice your most potent skills.
  • Your art seems like a “dark” wizardry, or some form of “shadow magic”.

INDICATIONS YOU DO NOT YET FIT INTO A SINGLE ART:

  • You rely on a variety of mystic abilities.
  • You do not have a desire to commit to one path.
  • You feel confined rather than empowered by using a single discipline.
  • You see no need for devotion to extreme mystic abilities.

Note: This is not necessarily a reason to panic. There are times when the practitioner is legitimately not prepared to take on the discipline strains of studying through a single caste. At first, in fact, it is recommended that things be taken slowly and that all paths are given a fair trial to ensure that there is no reminiscing or regret in the future. This is not a problem, nor a sign of weakness. It is a reality that many casters face. Using whatever seems appropriate for a situation and recording it in a journal (Book of Shadows) will eventually reveal trends in your casting that will allow you to see where your talent or need lies.

INDICATIONS YOU DO NOT NEED MAGIC AT ALL:

  • There is a physical solution to your problems.
  • You couldn’t be bothered to study if there’s no immediately achievable results.
  • You already know of a few normal solutions to a problem without resorting to the occult.

Luna’s Grimoire

You Are Being Guided

You Are Being Guided

We human beings are instinctively being guided to evolve. As with all creatures, we must adapt to changes in our environment to survive and flourish. We can see evidence of this evolutionary trend in our physiology, our society, and in our technology. Our brains continue to develop, an increasingly large percentage of humanity is becoming literate and educated, and technology has provided immediate access to billions of people’s minds through phone cells and chip sets. Satellite and Internet infrastructure is providing a “global mind” where we see and think the same thing at the same time, as one consciousness. The critical mass of what we think shifts the consciousness of individuals on a global scale. How we think affects the quality of our life, and even our survival.

Each day of your life you are provided experiences where you have to make choices in how you think and behave. The more conscious you are the more those choices bring greater happiness and peace into your life. You have learned from your life experiences what brings greater pleasure or pain into your existence, and have adapted your ways of thinking, feeling and behaving to increase the pleasure in your life and reduce the pain. The more conscious you have become, the greater clarity, happiness and peace you have gained by evolving your conscious awareness.

Your instinct has guided you to learn, and grow, and evolve to your highest potential, and it still is. You have been guided to these words to reflect on them. The more conscious you become of how you are being guided, the more you will see how you are being guided. The more conscious you become of the consciousness that is guiding you, the more conscious you become. Your consciousness evolves the more conscious you become of your consciousness. As you become more conscious you gain greater clarity, happiness and peace. It is only when we become unconscious that we think, say or do things that hurt ourselves or others. Only unconscious people hurt others, lie, cheat, steel, abuse or hate. Only an unconscious society disrespect others rights, destroy its natural resources, overpopulates or wages war.

We evolve through the tests and trials of daily living, both individually and collectively as a society. Lessons learned help to evolve us, but when we are not conscious of what we are being tested in we fail the test and get tested again and again until we learn and either further evolve, or perish. You have been guided to this moment of introspection in order to reflect upon your own place in the evolution of your own consciousness, and the role you might play in awakening the collective consciousness of humanity so that we might all live together in happiness and peace. You are part of a rapidly growing segment of the population that is awakening to full consciousness. Your individual awakening is contributing to the critical mass that is shifting the consciousness of the planet; you are preparing the way for an evolutionary leap in human consciousness. You are building the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

From the heart, Steven S. Sadleir

The Daily Motivator for Feb. 17th – Think the best

Doubt is a thought you can let go of. Confidence is a thought you can choose  to hold and to expand upon.

If you think something is too difficult or out of reach, your thoughts do  indeed put it out of reach. Alternately, when you think you’re capable and  deserving, you’ll find a way to make it happen.

Your thoughts most certainly do control you. Yet, before your thoughts  control you, you have the opportunity to select and control them.

Your perspective is built upon the thoughts you most consistently choose. The  most powerful perspective comes from the most positive thoughts.

Just because life is full of problems does not mean you must choose to be  full of negative thoughts. Focus your thoughts not on where you and others have  stumbled, but on the most positive, desirable way forward.

You always have a choice of what to think, so choose consistently to think  the best of life.  That puts you well on the way to making it happen.

— Ralph Marston

The Daily Motivator

http://greatday.com/