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An Excerpt from Sun Signs, Houses and Healing by Carmen Turner Schott

Everyone can benefit from healing and transforming themselves. Each of the twelve signs of the zodiac can utilize their personality traits to accomplish three things: transformation, healing, and resiliency. Let’s begin by talking about self-care and why healing is so important.

What Is Self-Care?
Self-care is making a conscious effort to take care of the body, mind, and spirit. It is not something that is done only once; it’s a routine that needs to be developed in everyday life. Self-care helps prevent burnout, reduces the effects of stress, and helps us reflect on what is important in our lives. Examples of self-care are taking breaks, healthy eating, exercising, asking for help, spending time alone, putting yourself first, setting boundaries, forgiving yourself, and enjoying hobbies.

The reason self-care techniques do not work the same way for everyone is because of the unique way the elements in our birth chart affect our ability to react to stress, heal, relax, and recharge. Self-care tips work differently for each sun sign. Those with similar elements will benefit from similar activities. Gaining a deeper understanding of yourself and thinking about what activities help you recharge are important parts of self-care.

The Benefits of Healing
We all heal in different ways, and it takes some of us longer to fully heal from past experiences. Learning to balance the body, mind, and spirit is a key factor in the healing process. Everyone has different abilities and strengths that help them bounce back after a crisis.

There are many benefits to focusing on healing. Healing helps us grow stronger by letting go of negative emotions and experiences. Healing allows us to redefine ourselves and reclaim our power. Addressing past wounds helps us transform and find greater happiness. Many of us carry unhealed trauma and emotions within our bodies that can manifest as physical illness, stress, or anxiety if unaddressed for too long.

The greatest thing about healing is that when we address our own pain, we can become role models for others on their healing journey. Greater insight occurs when we are able to identify our emotional issues, problem-solve, and discuss our experiences with those we care about. Sometimes it can take longer than expected to truly move forward from past experiences. Everyone heals at their own pace. Be patient with yourself.

Sun Signs and Healing
Each sun sign experiences change and stress, so implementing self-care techniques will benefit you regardless of your sign. With that being said, understanding your basic sun sign traits is a powerful tool for healing many areas of life. Sun Signs, Houses and Healing will shed light on your overall personality and discuss ways to overcome challenges.

In my book, I explain the basic personality traits of each sun sign. I discuss each sun sign’s challenging attributes, positive attributes, and how they approach relationships. These chapters are great tools for learning more about yourself and your loved ones. If you want to learn more about your family, friends, or coworkers, read their sun sign’s chapter.

In each chapter, I include reflection questions, affirmations, and self-care ideas tailored to that specific sign. You can use these on your healing journey. I then discuss which house that sun sign rules and how placements in that house impact us.

What Are the Twelve Zodiac Signs?
There are twelve signs in the zodiac. They are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. One of these signs will be your sun sign, calculated by the month and day of your birth. This is the only planetary placement that shifts with our traditional calendar, making it easy to determine. This is why so many people are familiar with their sun sign. An important note: If your birth took place on a date when the sun is in between zodiac signs or was very close to switching signs, astrologers call this being born on the cusp. If you were born on a cusp, you might resonate with traits of both signs. For instance, if you were born on January 19, then you might have personality traits of both Capricorns and Aquarians. Typically, the sign the sun is moving into shows dominance and strength. If you’re unsure of your sun sign, your birth chart can confirm that for you.

Each astrological sign has many components that make it unique: the sign’s element, modality, ruler, and symbol.

Each sign is ruled by a certain natural element. The four elements that exist in nature are fire, air, earth, and water. Fire signs are full of energy and passion; they are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. Air signs—Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius—are intellectual and emotionally detached. Earth signs are practical and cautious; they are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. Water signs are emotional and imaginative; Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces are water signs.

Carmen Turner-Schott, MSW, LISW, is a practicing clinical social worker, writer and astrologer with national and international clientele. She currently works as a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program Manager and has worked with victims of trauma for over 25 years.
 Carmen began her astrological work at the age of sixteen, after an experience with a glowing ball of light in her doorway. She began studying religion, astrology and metaphysics at that time. She has lectured, presented astrology workshops and eGroups for the Association of Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E) and she enjoys teaching a variety of spiritual development classes.

She has been researching astrology, transformation and healing for the past 25 years. She founded the Astrological Self Awareness Center in 2005 and later changed the name to Deep Soul Divers Astrology. She has a passion for researching astrology, specializing in the eighth and twelfth astrological houses and their effect on trauma, healing and resiliency. She has self-published five astrology books, “The Mysteries of the Eighth Astrological House: Phoenix Rising,” “A Deeper Look at the Sun Signs,” “A Practical Look at the Planets in the Houses,” “Astrology from a Christian Perspective,” and “Astrology Awareness: A Compilation of Articles.” Visit her online at www.8and12houses.com.

I have just returned from seeing a psychic. I shuffled the tarot cards and he started to deal. He picked up on some correct things but asked if I was very skeptical. He told me he couldn't read me because he was blocked. I had been rushing all morning, and he said I needed to calm down as things were flying everywhere. I did not pay a fee, and have booked to see him again on a day I know I will be calmer, but he may say the same thing. My sister went in after me and he couldn't read her either. I think she is more skeptical than me. We never said we were sisters but this may be why he couldn't read her. What do you think?

Alexandra

Susyn:

I have had off days and been unable to read for a number of clients in a row. While it's possible your energy was too scattered for the psychic to read you, it's interesting that he was also unable to read your sister. It sounds like perhaps he was the one who was having an off day - not you.

In my many years as a psychic reader, I've found that skepticism is not necessarily a block to reading someone. Once a client sits down and gets absorbed in the tarot cards, their walls usually come down. This is what I love about tarot: the cards provide plenty of focus for the reading process.

If the problem is actually coming from the client because they are skeptical or closed up, I'll try a different approach to get them to relax and allow the information they're looking for to emerge.

When a psychic does a reading, the information they receive comes from the client; the psychic is merely a channeler who is tapping into the truths the client carries within. Psychics know that if they're unable to connect with an individual on a spiritual level, the reading will be poor. Because people come to psychics seeking important information, it's essential that they are open to and interactive in this process.

Another thing to consider is that it may have not been the right time for a reading. Even the best psychics can be blocked from information if the time isn't right. This is the Universe's way of protecting people who aren't ready to hear certain things or know too much about the future.

Before you visit this psychic again, there are a few things you can do to align with a positive experience. First, be sure you have thoroughly researched his credentials. Hopefully, you were recommended to him by a trusted friend, for it's best to choose psychics based on word of mouth and reputation.

Second, make a list of questions you want to address with him. This will clarify your concerns and help the psychic access the answers you most need.

Since most of us live busy lives, most of my clients show up harried and rushed. A reading is best done in a calm, peaceful atmosphere, so arrive a few minutes early and practice a brief meditation or sit quietly before you enter.

Finally, do not be afraid to be interactive during your reading by offering feedback or affirming what he's telling you; this will help you get clearer direction. I often tell my clients, Think of me as a doctor: tell me where it hurts and we can get down to business!

Using these guidelines should make your next reading a more fulfilling experience.

*****

Oceania:

I know I will be calmer but he may say the same thing. There's that skepticism! It's difficult, if not impossible, to read for people who are skeptical, closed, arrogant or not present in the now. A helpful reading requires a client to be trusting, open, humble and aware. You won't be ready for Spirit's message unless you surrender your agenda beforehand. The reader needs a place for channeled information to go, and that would be your open heart and receptive mind.

It was not sisterhood but rather shared skepticism that got in the way of the readings that day. Since you ARE siblings, you and your sister might join forces and examine your upbringing. I suspect one of your parents was skeptical, fearful or mistrusting, and the two of you absorbed that outlook on life as a means of protecting yourselves from hurt.

I have a client who fears things will be taken from her, so she hoards. Shoring up against loss has left her imprisoned, unable to move around freely or entertain visitors. (There's no place to sit down!) Every surface area is covered with things she thinks she might need someday, for she does not trust that the universe will provide for her as she goes along.

This client also hoards money. In her mind, it should travel down a one-way street into her bank account and stay there. She reminds me of a dragon perched atop a treasure trove. Since money unspent is nothing more than potential energy, a more useful vision is to see money moving along a circular route. We offer something of value to the world, receive money, and then redirect it towards goods and services that enhance our lives.

We each have an energy gate. When we're skeptical, the gate is closed and it's difficult for energy in any form (information, money, love) to get in or out. When we're gullible, the gate is wide open; we let too much in and too much out. The ideal is to balance between those two extremes by using our best judgment to decide when to open the gate and how much.

Skeptics who never give love a chance have their gates locked. Those who dive in to each new encounter as if it will be forever are gullible. (There's an old joke about that type of person and how they show up for first dates in a U-haul truck!)

Your skepticism is valuable, but only when balanced with a willingness to be open to new experiences. Suspend your skepticism and replace it with trust for your next reading. If the reading isn't useful, you may not choose to return to that reader, but at least the reading will have been able to take place!

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.