Here's a head scratcher: I firmly believe that the Universe has placed me in certain situations, jobs and residences for specific reasons. I also know that I have met various people who have helped me or "hurt" me for specific reasons. A few years ago I went through a depression. I curled into a shell for a period until I was strong and well enough to deal with life again. Since then, I've steadily grown more excited and ready to welcome new people into my life. I've learned so much about myself, and I know I can be a better friend than I ever was before. (I wasn't so great). The thing is, I can't seem to connect with anyone now. In fact, I seem to be repelling people. This has happened with people I meet as well as with people I've chatted with on the internet. I can assure you it's not that I come on too strong. I am pretty reserved, but I love to joke and laugh and can be as charming as the next person. I am also a great listener! Because I truly believe from experience (and instinct) that the Universe protects me from those who are "unhealthy" for me (and vice versa), I have to accept that the Universe is somehow behind this absence of real connections. I even had one reader tell me that a couple of benign spirits were keeping others away from me because they wanted me all to themselves. (?!) That seemed ridiculous, but then again, I really can't wrap my head around why it has been so hard for me. Before the depression and the self-imposed exile, I had very little problem meeting people. What do you think is going on? Many thanks! (Virgo Sun/Leo Moon/Cap rising)
Dreamchaser:
I am very glad that you have told your story in this forum. I cannot tell you the number of people who just "go to sleep for a little while." Fortunately, during that sleep time you evolved and grew spiritually. When you got up, you were a new person. You are now enlightened.
One of the side effects of being an enlightened human being is a tendency toward a more solitary lifestyle. The reason for this is a) "mortals" (people who are not enlightened or do not want to be) cannot relate to you and think you are strange and b) you cannot relate to most human beings anymore either. You find dealing with most humans draining and unfulfilling.
Before your "exile," as you call it, you were more willing to accept ANY treatment and to allow any type of human around you just to have someone there. You felt that your worth as a person was reflected by the number of people who knew you. You are starting to see, as difficult as this lesson may be, that it is better to be alone than to have an "energy vampire" or someone you cannot relate to or trust around.
I found myself in much the same place you are in, and "oddly enough," I too am a recovering Virgo. We Virgos tend to live relatively solitary lives; when you add spiritual evolvement into the equation, we become almost reclusive. You can find like-minded people. You just have to be ready for them. I feel that for the time being, you are still learning how to live your new life, and you are still in the process of evolvement. I feel that you will stay rather solitary for some time. If you have a Unity (not Unitarian) Church nearby, you should look into going. It is a church that thinks like you do, and you would feel so blessed there. You would also receive guidance on how to live in your new self.
You are being taught to find what you need on the inside of yourself. You are being taught to be a fully self-sufficient human. Your gut gives you all the answers you need, and you do enjoy being alone and spending time by yourself. We crave human companionship for a number of reasons, but one is to prevent loneliness. If we can find contentment in aloneness and in ourselves, then our relationships with others take on a whole new meaning.
You are correct in saying that the Universe is working in your life. Who you need and should have will come into your life. Just work on "being here now," and allow the Universe to do the rest. Buddha did not sit under the tree with 50 friends. He sat under the tree alone.
I wish you self fulfillment.
*****
Astrea:
After going through the kind of depression you describe, many people find themselves starting a whole new life. This means that new friends, new people and new GOALS present themselves. You're going through that difficult transition, and you are going to have to learn to be very self-reliant. Yes, the Universe and your Angels are still around to help out, but you've got to make your own choices and decisions now.
Your Sun, Moon, and Ascendant are all working for you in your quest for new friends and experiences now. Your Leo Moon would make you more sociable than most people, so that is probably the part of your personality that craves the attention of others. The Capricorn in your chart will help focus and center your Virgo drive. You have so much going for you astrologically that it will become easier as time goes on to find the right people to share your life.
I agree that the suggestion that SPIRITS are interfering in your search for new people to welcome into your life is pretty ridiculous. I really doubt that Angels and Spirits find us as interesting as all that. I'm sure it's flattering to fantasize about being "held captive" from relating to others by Celestial Beings, but I don't see how any rational person could believe in that for long. That sounds like an easy answer given to you by someone who didn't really know what else to say.
If you want to believe that the UNIVERSE was behind every move you've made up to this point, that's fine, but you should also accept that you had Free Will and Free Choice - even during the times you were depressed. Sure, it was easy to meet people when they felt that you were weak and vulnerable, but now that you're strong and whole, people who would have come into your life to USE you before will steer clear of you now. You're having a much harder time meeting the kind of people you want, because, sadly, there aren't too many of the nice ones out there these days. It takes a lot longer to make friends when you're looking for high quality, mutually beneficial relationships.
Take the time to listen. You ARE indeed a good listener, but you must make sure you're listening to your OWN Inner Voice as you meet, greet and welcome new things and new people into your NEW life. Now that you're all better, YOU are the force behind your choices and decisions. Take that as a GIFT and use it wisely. The Universe doesn't owe us a thing, and doesn't hand things out, either. We have to ask for what we want and do the necessary work to create and keep it.
Astrea:
Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.
Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!
While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!
I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!
As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.
I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.
You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!
Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.
A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.
You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.