KAJAMA.COM NEWSLETTER

October 24 through October 30, 2022

Monday's Libra Moon will cast an air of balance and harmony around us, while the highlight of this week is the Scorpio new Moon/solar eclipse on Tuesday. The first of two eclipses (the second occurring in Taurus on November 8), this celestial event opens the door to change, calling for us to go internal for a few weeks to look more closely at our feelings, our spiritual beliefs, and our intentions for the future. The Moon will continue to wade through Scorpio on Wednesday, setting the tone for our spiritual transformation. A lighter energy will prevail on Thursday and Friday as the Moon dances through fun-loving Sagittarius, encouraging us to embrace the festivities of Halloween and Samhain, the Celtic festival this holiday is named for. Mercury will move into Scorpio on Saturday, turning our focus to all things spiritual and metaphysical for the next few weeks. On Sunday, Mars, the planet of action and assertiveness, will turn retrograde and travel backward for the next two months. This planet typically only goes retrograde every other year, so this cycle will have us going back and reviewing our movements, actions, and dreams to make sure we are operating in the most effective and authentic ways possible.

by Sam Bennett

You have so many great ideas, and you can’t decide which one(s) to follow through on. Or maybe once you finally settle on one and get into it, you get bored and drop it like a hot potato for something new. I know.

One of the side effects of being a creative genius is that you have a billion great ideas and a lot of skills and talents, so it can be difficult to figure out where to focus. This is so often what happens: You get a brilliant idea. It appears instantly — so full and rich and detailed and vibrant inside your mind — and you just know it’s a truly 
great idea. And then — just as quickly — you feel stuck, overwhelmed, defeated. You have no idea how to move forward. Thinking about the thing in its entirety is just too overwhelming, so you get stuck before you’ve even started.

Here’s the thing: your brain is a beautiful machine especially designed to look for patterns and solve problems. It works like a charm. Pose almost any question to your brain, and it will present you with an answer in no time at all. Genius, I tell you.

But if there are too many unknowns or too many variables, the machine grinds to a halt. Or it gets stuck in a loop, going around the same block over and over again. “I want to do X, but maybe I should do Y first, but I can’t do that until I do Z, so maybe I shouldn’t even try...but I really want to do X, but maybe I should do Y first...” Exhausting, right?

Breaking It Down
Let’s say your big, beautiful idea is “I want to redo the whole house!” And you can see it! Gorgeous and gleaming. A full, rich, detailed vision of your house completely redecorated appears in your mind.

In this situation some people recommend creating a Vision Board, which I think is fun because I love gluing things onto other things. A Vision Board is a fun, artsy, self-actualization project — it’s a collage you can make of images and words, usually cut from magazines, that, posted prominently, serves as a visual reminder of your goals and dreams. You can also make one online, which is fun, too. And if a Vision Board helps or delights or inspire you, then go ahead. But artists usually have no problem articulating a clear vision. Their vision is usually quite detailed and complete and often features sequels, theme parks, and a worldwide grassroots social movement.

As you consider this beautiful vision of your redone home, you feel the gears in your mind begin to grind: Where to begin? How to afford it? Is now the right time? How do I know if a contractor is trustworthy? What if the paint comes out ugly? Where do I find those cool glass tiles? I don’t know how to tile! Ack!

Too many unknowns and too many variables.
So if you can limit the scope of your project — take it bit by bit — you will be doing your brain a big favor. Tackling, say, just the carpeting in the upstairs bedroom will allow your brain to start searching its files for carpet in the same way that your computer can search for and find information easily once you give it the right name or search term. And now that your brain is whirring away on the idea of carpet, it might just remember that there’s a carpet store over by the lunch place you like, and it might remember that your cousin Denise just redid her house — and maybe she’ll have a few ideas for you — and hey, is that an ad for a carpet sale in today’s paper?

If you have some Vision Boards that are just hanging around making you feel bad about not having achieved your goals yet, for crying out loud, get rid of them. Inspirational tools are just that — tools to inspire you. The minute they quit inspiring you, lose ’em.

Breaking your project down into manageable, bite-size bits makes it something you can actually do, as opposed to leaving it a big, overwhelming, untouchable vision that leaves you stuck. Think of it this way: If you find yourself procrastinating, your project is too big!

You can see how you might be able to make some real progress if you break you projects down into smaller chunks and spend a little time on them every day, yes? But this still leaves you with the all-important question, How do you know which project is the right one? For starters, you have to discern which of the projects matter most to you, and ditch the ones that don’t. Here’s a little quiz-type exercise that will help you do that.

We often downplay the importance of desire in our lives, but I have noticed that the things we really want to do pretty much get done. And the things we do not want to do pretty much do not get done. Have you noticed that, too?

Exercise: Five Quick Questions
Call to mind one of the many projects you are procrastinating on. I know you have lots, but for now, pick just one. Whichever one floats to the top of your mind first is fine. Now — working swiftly and without pondering — answer yes, no, or sort of to these five questions:

1. Do you think you will learn from and enjoy working on this project?
2. Will completing this project make a difference in your life?
3. Will completing this project make a difference in the world?
4. Does your soul ache to work on it?
5. Ten years from now, will it matter whether or not you have done it?

Take a minute to muse on your answers, and jot down a few notes about what you notice. You may have noticed that those five questions are really one question, phrased five different ways — five different angles of attack on “Does this project truly matter?”

You may find that while you feel your project would make a big difference in the world, your soul does not ache to do it. That’s okay. And that’s important information for you to have if you decide to move forward: don’t expect this project to make your soul sing. You may need to find some other spiritual sustenance while you’re working on it.

Or perhaps you answered yes to every question but the first — that might be an indication that you need to find someone else, or gather a team, to execute this project.

But if you discovered that the project you were thinking about really doesn’t matter to you, then for crying out loud — cross that project off your list or delegate it or something. There’s no sense agonizing over a project you don’t even care about.

Now think of another possible project, and repeat the exercise. In fact, repeat it until you have five possible projects that definitely matter to you. Feel free to pull projects from various areas of your life; this doesn’t need to all be about your creativity. It’s always a good idea to try it with at least one really crazy-daisy, dumb idea — even something you think is a bad idea. And you may also want to add in some “duty” options (like the voice in your head that says that you really should go back to school and get that advanced degree).

So now you have a list of five front-runner projects. Congratulations!

From the book Get It Done by Sam Bennett. Copyright © 2014 by Samantha Bennett. Reprinted with permission from New World Library. www.NewWorldLibrary.com

Sam Bennett worked at the renowned Second City Theatre in Chicago alongside comics Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert. In addition to her multifaceted writing and performance work, she specializes in personal branding and career strategies. She lives in Los Angeles, CA. Her website is TheOrganizedArtistCompany.com

I have been wondering what the reason is for persistent bad habits that become addictions. They seem to be bad choices for coping strategies. I am a little bit worried about what you will say regarding the repercussions of bad habits and addictions on future lives and whatnot. However, if you have suggestions on ways to overcome them such as beneficial stones or meditations, I would really appreciate it. I have been addicted to clutter and creating what I would now label filth. Any stones or meditations on that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your advice!

Melley

Susyn:

There has been an increase in addictions over the past few decades, as evidenced by the current popularity of 12-step programs and specialized treatment centers.

Metaphysically, all addictions stem from a lack of spiritual connection. When one aspect in our lives becomes more important than anything else, it dampens our spirits, controls our thoughts and limits our effectiveness in the world. Your addiction to clutter and filth keeps you isolated from the world, creates a cloud of depression around you, and cuts you off spiritually and emotionally.

I wouldn't worry about how this habit will affect you in future lives, for what's most important is how it is stealing your life now on a daily basis. While there are stones you can use and meditations you can perform to reconnect with Spirit for help, it is crucial that you ask for assistance from others as well. You may want to check in your area for support groups relevant to this issue. Talking with people who have lived with your problem will remind you that you are not alone and that the situation is not hopeless.

Quartz crystals are wonderful generators of light and clarity, so you'll definitely want to surround yourself with a few to begin the process of clearing out. You can meditate daily and ask for direction on how to restore your world to order, keeping in mind that a return to balance must begin within by rebuilding your relationship with Spirit.

Remember that when you make a request to Spirit for help, action will be required on your part as well. You will have to do your part by following the guidance you receive during your meditations. If you can set up some boundaries and commitments as you talk with Spirit, you'll find it easier to take action.

For example, if during your meditation, you are inspired to clean the kitchen or your bedroom, make a plan. First, decide how much time you will devote to cleaning that day. Even committing 30 minutes or an hour a day will result in tangible changes within the first week. Once you have completed a room, give yourself a reward for your efforts. If you buy something nice for the room, say a new lamp or bedspread, it will change the energy in the room and inspire you to keep it orderly.

Your biggest challenge may be maintaining your home once you have cleared it of clutter. You'll have to keep praying and working on your spiritual connection to remain free of this addiction.

*****

Mata Maya:

I usually see two main issues at work when helping people work through addictions. The first possibility is the least common; this is when an attached entity is driving the addiction.

When people who are addicted to alcohol, drugs, food, sex or any other physical pleasure die, there is a good chance that they will remain earthbound. This is because they aren't really free to move on in the afterlife any more than they were free to pursue a constructive path when they were living. These spirits may then attach to the living and attempt to feed their addiction by influencing the living to drink, use drugs, overeat, etc.

It's important to note that in order to be vulnerable to attachment by such an entity, one must have the same addiction or a predisposition to it. Thus people who drink to excess will attract the earthbound spirits of alcoholics, and people who use drugs may attract spirits addicted to the same substances. This is how addiction in this life can affect our future lives as you say; it can keep us from moving on when we leave this world.

As for why a person becomes addicted in the first place, in my view it is always to avoid emotional pain that is perceived to be greater or more threatening than the problems the addiction itself may cause. People engage in addictive behaviors to avoid dealing with deeper issues.

Past experiences and past lives do sometimes come into play, especially in addictions like the one you are struggling with. For example, if in the past, you got rid of something you desperately needed later or accidentally threw out some treasure, you could develop something of a phobia regarding letting go of unneeded items.

Since the issues a person is avoiding through addictive behaviors are unique to that individual, it's important to seek personal therapy. I don't recommend the use of stones or meditations here; instead, you need someone to guide you in becoming conscious of whatever is driving the addiction so you can work through it and replace any unwanted behaviors with more rewarding, constructive habits.

You are correct that addictive behaviors are poor choices for coping methods. They are attempts by your subconscious to get through the day without having to face painful feelings. A good hypnotherapist will be able to help you to heal and release those painful feelings and reprogram your subconscious mind to cope with uncomfortable feelings in a healthier way.

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.