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April 22 through April 28, 2024

Mercury will officially turn direct on Thursday, but let's give it a wide berth until May 1st when the shadow period ends and clears out the remnants of its recent retrograde activities. We'll also have a full Moon in Scorpio on Tuesday, which will carry the most influence over water and earth signs. Full Moons are a time of release, and with Mercury retrograde about to end, we'll see a lot of endings this week, as certain things come to a close and we prepare to enter a new cycle of being. The Scorpio Moon rules over the heavens Tuesday through Thursday, calling for us to go within to examine what no longer serves us and what we want to keep in our lives. A more light-hearted energy fills the air under Friday and Saturday's Sagittarius Moon, where we can shift our focus to the joys in our lives. We'll experience a new sense of freedom and a genuine sense of gratitude, which will be apparent for all around us to see. Sunday's Capricorn Moon may call for a time of accounting, whether we're taking stock of our finances or physical health, both of which could use a rebalancing!

10 Experiential Pathways into Meditation, by Murray du Plessis

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

As busy beings with daily chores aplenty, we're quick to rank "intangible" activities like meditation low on our priority list. After all, doesn't meditation require us to stop all activity and sit in silence? More than that, it's difficult, right?

Nope! Meditation is, in fact, a very natural activity, where we engage our inner energy and open our hearts. We start to see the self clearly, and the magnificence inherent in simply. Being. Me.

The beauty of meditation is, of course, that it's not limited to any singular approach; a myriad of paths are out there inviting us to reconnect with our sacred inner space. And once there, seated comfortably at the center of our being, we begin to see, and feel, and grow. In this activated state, insights into our inner world, and the world around us, are quick to follow. We carry this alertness into our day, too, bringing precision and fullness to whatever we do.

Let's look at ten uncomplicated pathways into depth, power, and a world of peace.

1. Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)
Being relaxed is surprisingly underrated as a basic feeling for which we should all strive. Just think about the immediate, tangible benefits relaxation delivers: our bodies feel good and our minds become lucid. We have more confidence in ourselves and our abilities, our personality flows, and our relationships—both with ourselves and others—improve.

PMR, where we gradually move through all the muscle groups in our body, consciously releasing tension, is wonderfully effective in inducing that feel-good, relaxed feeling across the length of our body. And when our body is relaxed, our mind follows suit; before we know it, we're thinking clearly, feeling calm, and ready to take on the world!

I breathe into my toes, and as I breathe out, I release all tension, saying to myself: "My toes are soft and relaxed, warm and full." I feel that softness and warmth in my toes, and notice a buzz of comfort surfacing there. I now gradually move up my body, inch by inch, through my feet, calves, knees, thighs, hips, stomach, hands, arms, shoulders, neck, mouth, cheeks, eyes, forehead and scalp. I'm simply breathing into each area, then releasing tension alongside my breath. I am coaxing my body into feeling relaxed and full. Once done, I observe the totality of my body, and notice how good it feels, how calm and settled it has become.

Scanning the inner space of my mind now, I appreciate the clean atmosphere that has surfaced there, too, observing the serenity and clarity, and feeling the light.

2. Breathing
Breath is life, as they say! Let's experiment with this idea, and observe how conscious breathing can make us feel truly alive.

I become aware of my breath, drawing it gently in through my nose, all the way down my body and into my feet. Exhaling very slowly, through my mouth now, I listen to the swoosh of air exiting my lips. Inhaling again, I appreciate the cool current of oxygen flowing in, down my core, through my legs, into my toes. Exhaling, I feel my body sinking comfortably into stillness, into peace. Inhaling, I become aware of the life-force inherent in this oxygenated air, touching and awakening all parts of my body as it streams in.

Repeating this simple activity—breathing deeply in, slowly out, energy in, tension out—I feel how my vibration rises with each breath. My senses sharpen, my mind lights up. I am focused, in the present, existing in a state of full life.

3. Visualizing
We are creative beings, building our lives every moment of every day. By flexing our creative potential and bringing the power of our imagination into play, we can see, then feel, and live our dreams. Visualization, where we paint beauty on the palette of our mind, then step into that painting, is one such method to create, then access the wonderworld of our dreams.

Go on, paint, then step into the masterpiece that's uniquely yours. Make it as magical and perfect as you wish; it is your creation, after all.

I visualize any natural scene, a landscape soaked with peace. Perhaps I see a still lake surrounded by mountains, or a vast, green meadow, or a forest alive with nature's vibration. Whatever vista appears before me, I notice how the colors, saturated with golden sunshine, sparkle with impossible depth.

Now, stepping into my creation, I stand very quietly in its midst, simply taking it all in. I listen to the sounds, the calm hush, the calls of nature. I smell the freshness, the heady fragrance of the damp grass, or sweet-smelling flowers. Now, as I begin to walk, I feel the spongy grass or rich soil massaging my feet. A cool breeze caresses my skin, and I breathe it in, filling my body with fresh, countryside air.

This is my paradise, existing at the center of my mind. I feel a sense of comfort in knowing it's always here for me to step into, whenever I wish.

4. Letting Go
Consciously stop, and check yourself, asking: "Where am I holding tension?" In your shoulders, lips, or eyes? Focus on that area, breathe into it, and as you exhale, let go. Release the tightness, and watch it evaporate like mist. Now, notice the change, feel how clean and light the area has become. Ah, that feels better!

Our minds, too, can become blocked with tension. Let's lift those mental blockages, now.

Breathing oxygen into the room of my mind, I aerate my inner world. Exhaling, I let go, discharging all the clutter, all the noise, all the waste. Inhaling again, I observe how my mind is opening up, expanding on all sides as it stretches out far into the distance. Inhaling, I invite freshness and light, and with the light, clarity. Exhaling, I cast off all the unwanted, all the excess, and give myself permission to simply be. How good it feels to relax and release, to free myself into being just me.

5. Opening Up My Heart
Our heart is that pure, spiritual space inside us, a soft expanse we tend to neglect in the busy-ness of our lives. By taking a moment to look within, and acknowledge our heart's presence, we ignite the beauty, the energy, the wisdom of this immaculate space. As our heart comes to life, we're given an instant reminder of spirituality, and that infinite world we all carry within.

I turn my vision inward, finding that clean, warm, wholesome space that is my heart. Just by observing this sacred inner space, by acknowledging it, I am giving my heart permission to emerge, to shine and flow. And flow it does! I feel a current of energy rising from my heart, overflowing into my body and caressing me with its glow. As I release this energy across the broad landscape of my inner world, I watch as its radiance finds every nook, every corner of my being, bringing the sparkle of spirit to life. Lit up from within, I surrender to the blaze, to the bliss, to the might rolling out from the space of my heart.

6. Surrendering to Light
Light is a symbol of positivity, of clarity, of strength. And as luck would have it, light is precisely what we carry within! That light, of course, is the soul, pure and powerful, and always shining. Look within right now, and you'll see it, a star both full and bright. Now feel it, as you embrace your very own light.

I turn my gaze inward, to the cool space within, and look for the light. Ah, there it is, shining like a soft, silent star at the center of my being. I edge in closer, toward its warmth, its gentle glow. One more step inward now, and into the very essence of my light I go. Light permeates my vision as I find myself at the source. This shimmer, so uniquely mine, is pure and spiritual, full and powerful.

I offer my light to my body now, saturating my core, my limbs with healing energy. I observe my muscles absorbing its nourishing glow, feel my skin start to tingle. I now release the force of my light into my mind, simply flooding my mental space with radiance, and immediately witness my mood brightening and lifting.

Offering this shimmer outward now, I shower the world with purity and light.

7. Reflecting on Virtues
Our heart is like a treasure chest, replete with all the virtues: peace, love happiness, purity, and strength all exist like jewels within. And though we know each one of these jewels intimately, having experienced them at different times in our lives, we're inclined to wait for outside events to trigger their release.

Let's stop waiting for the stars to align, instead taking the initiative, via meditation, to activate inner beauty and wonderful feelings. Let's emerge the jewels, now.

Glancing inward, into my depths, I look for peace. And I see it, shining calmly at the center of my being. I feel it, too, that serene vibration touching and uplifting every part of my being.

Now, stepping inward, into my own quiet space so saturated with peace, I surrender to the gentle atmosphere, the beauty, the warmth. I now consciously open my inner world up, and emit this peace outward, allowing it to surface across the plains of my skin.

Resting here, within, I observe my glow, appreciating the halo of calm that has spread out warmly around me.

8. Talking Lovingly with Myself
When the subject of relationships emerges, the focus falls largely on our relationships with others. We neglect the most important one: the relationship we have with ourselves. Ask yourself: "What is my relationship like with myself? Am I offering myself warmth and love, right now?"

Let's bring our focus squarely back within, to our hearts, our minds, our souls. Let's nurture this beautiful being that is me, via an encouraging, loving conversation with ourselves, and coax ourselves back to health and wholeness.

I choose to spend time with myself, right now. Looking gently inward, to that quiet, beautiful inner space at the center of my being, I recognize the importance of my relationship with myself. I am deserving of my attention, my energy, my love. And so, very gently, I say to myself: "I'd like to heal myself, right now, to invite wholeness and peace to my inner world. To do so, I simply need to send love inwards. And I do so now, sending a current of warmth toward my center. I fill myself light."

As my inner world begins to sparkle, I see and feel my beauty. Loving myself becomes both natural and easy.

9. Healing through Sound
Auditory vibrations, like the hum of a deep, resonant Om, can ease and energize us. By opening up to vibrations, allowing them to flow first through our body, then into our mind, we can invite an experience of holistic healing.

Besides om, we can use a host of other sounds to induce this therapeutic massage. Singing bowls are great, of course, as is music, the swish of the wind, the gurgling of a stream, or the murmur of people's voices. Each one carries a unique vibration that we can tune in to and absorb, then observe its effect as it rolls through your body and mind, massaging and cleansing all in its wake.

I inhale deeply, then slowly and consciously breathe out an Om. Ommmmm. I feel the vibrations of this sacred syllable thrumming through my bones, into my muscles, across the surface of my skin. I inhale again, then exhaling, hum another long, rumbling Om. It pulses through me, massaging my muscles with its tremors, energizing every part of my body it passes through. Inhaling, then releasing another deep Om, I now direct its rich vibration toward the room of my mind. Waves of peace and strength roll through my mental landscape, healing and uplifting me from within.

10. Sending My Energy Upward
Conversing with God, in whatever form we consider this higher energy to exist, is a powerful way to enter meditative states. By doing so, our attention goes to a dimension of purity and power, and we experience that spiritual atmosphere, first-hand. This dialogue may be in the form of prayer, via an actual expression of words, or simply by us directing of our focus upward, toward the sacred world of spirit.

Let's send our energy out to that higher dimension, then pause and listen for the response. As we wait, with hearts open in anticipation, a critical shift in our energy occurs: we move from a condition of incessant production, to a more receptive, absorptive state. Our senses sharpen, and we're brought into the present. We attune ourselves to subtlety, to the flow of spiritual energy, to those divine whispers directed our way. We begin to truly commune with God.

Sitting quietly, I direct my focus toward God. I may wish to say a silent prayer, or perhaps all I do is offer my energy upward, to this highest light. Now, with my attention focused solely on God, I wait patiently, listening for a response. By opening up my heart and mind to the energy of spirit, I have invited communion with God.

I feel a soft energy entering me now, indeed God's warmth, her strength, her love. It flows into me like a stream of golden light, filling me from the tips of my toes. Absorbing all the goodness so inherent in God's light, I feel myself growing, gaining strength, becoming whole. Connected to the divine, my world fills with radiance and might.</blockquote.

If you found the above pathways rewarding, you might consider Modern Meditations, where 101 guided commentaries are presented in an easy-to-follow, experiential way. Organized into twelve fields—including relaxation, abundance, transformation, and healing—each meditation encourages discovery, growth, and adventure through the power of focused thoughts.

Happy meditating, everyone!

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2021. All rights reserved.

Is it a psychic perception to "feel" someone wanting to be with you, or more of a physical instinct? I have a male friend who has always just been a platonic pal because he is much younger than I am. Lately, however, I swear I can feel him wanting me, almost as if he is laying there wherever he is thinking of me in romantic/sexual ways. When I run into him, he talks to me the same way, but his eyes say something else. Even as friends, there has always been a weird connection between us, as if we were meant to meet. Do you think I'm truly picking up on something psychically here?

Deborah

Dreamchaser:

Every living thing on the planet emits some type of energy. Energy is always moving; it is never stagnant. We pick up energy from every living thing there is.

There are some really clear examples of this in nature. How many times have you heard, "Don't run! Animals can sense your fear?" What the animal senses is our energy. Animals don't use words to communicate; they communicate with other beings via energy. If an animal is hurt or sick, another animal will sense that and pounce on it.

When you see a long lost friend or relative, you walk up and hug that person, often not saying a word. You can feel that person's energy, and it fills your very soul up. When a friend is sad, you go up and rub that friend's back or touch their arm. They feel your energy and smile at you. You don't have to use words.

The same thing is going on here. You can FEEL his energy. His words, however, are saying something completely different. So your logical brain is having trouble putting together what you feel from his energy and what his words are saying.

You are a very logical person. You have always used LOGIC before any other sense. Yet logic will often lead you astray. If you only listened to logic in this case, you would think, "Well, his words say that he is not interested, so he must not be." Then that would be that.

I want you to start using your gut MUCH more than you use logic. You are loaded with gut instincts. Your psychic ability is getting stronger and stronger practically every day. You second-guess what you KNOW to be true in your gut because you tend to value and trust logic more than intuition.

Imagine if an animal ran on logic instead of instincts. A snake might say, "Well that eagle cannot see me, so I don't have to hide," or a hyena might say, "That lion is SO much bigger than I am. I should probably just let him eat me because I don't stand a chance." Humans are the ONLY beings on earth that are hung up on logic. Sometimes I wish the universe had never even provided that as an option for us.

I do think this guy likes you a whole lot. I also think he feels the same way about the age thing as you do. He wonders what a mature, settled, secure and beautiful person like you would want with a person like him. He also has NO idea how you feel about him, so he tends to keep it all under wraps. What are you afraid of? Take a chance and ask him out!

May you learn to honor your instincts above all!

*****

Astrea:

If you want to call the connection you and your male friend are beginning to enjoy psychic, you can. Personally, I think this is what most people call "chemistry." Your feelings for one another have grown and changed since you began your friendship, and now things are moving in a more romantic direction.

You say that you almost feel you were "meant to meet." While I don't buy into that "meant to be" thing, I DO think that the two of you probably shared other incarnations. In some you were brother and sister; in some you were husband and wife; in some you may even have been father and daughter. Your connection is very strong, and it's difficult to form that in only ONE lifetime together. You're too close for your connection to be new or random.

I believe that your close good friend is falling in love with you, and you are falling in love with him too. It happens! If you're open to this relationship moving in a different direction, ask him up front if he realizes his feelings are changing, and tell him that yours are too. Even though it could be all in your imagination that he's looking at you with new love in his eyes, it's better to get your feelings out in the open, just in case there is any kind of misunderstanding going on here.

Remember, the fact that he's younger than you are means nothing in terms of your deeper connection, because chronological age is only a NUMBER, and does not have anything to do with people's feelings for one another, romantic or otherwise.

If you do NOT want this kind of attention from him, use your brain and TALK to him about it before he gets hurt very badly. He's fallen in love with you and you seem to be responsive or open to him. If, however, for any reason you don't want this kind of relationship, it would be best if you brought that out into the open.

You might say, "I'm feeling some different vibrations from you when we're together. Have your feelings for me changed? If they have, I'm flattered, but I'm a lot older than you are, and I wouldn't want you to be in a relationship that would cause you to miss out on anything you want in life. I think we should stay friends, what do you think?"

Even if the two of you aren't on the same page in your feelings for each other at the moment, it's always better to be open and honest, especially with good friends.

Be careful, though - I had a wonderful younger friend like yours once, and he got me to marry him! 🙂

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.