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October 7 through October 13, 2024

The week starts out on an energizing note under Monday and Tuesday’s Sagittarius Moon, raising our optimism and encouraging an overall sense of well-being. Diligence will be the name of the game when the Moon travels through Capricorn on Wednesday and Thursday, as we’ll find ourselves eager to get some things taken care of. Any projects that have been on hold should clear under this Moon, enabling us to move forward with great progress. Note that Jupiter will turn retrograde on Thursday, traveling backward through the rest of the year and January 2025. This cycle promotes change, and the opportunity to learn new ways of approaching old problems. It can also reveal a faster path to our dreams over this four-month period. The very next day on Friday, Pluto will turn direct, resuming forward motion after a five-month retrograde cycle. Though Pluto’s changes in direction can be somewhat subtle, the global issues we’ve been struggling with can be resolved as it travels forward the rest of the year. With the Moon traveling through Aquarius Friday through Sunday, our focus will be on friendship, unity, and realigning ourselves with the recent changes that have come in over the last three months. Mercury will move into mysterious Scorpio on Sunday, turning our thoughts to the mystical, the spiritual, and the metaphysical energies that surround us.

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.

I bought some green money candles. One is a pyramid with an eye in the middle, and the other three are inscribed for money and luck. I always pray before I light them, visualize abundance, and then pray again afterward. I need extra money so I can buy a house. Do you think this will work for me? Is this a good way to manifest prosperity, or is there something else I should be doing? Thanks!

- Hearts

Dreamchaser:

I personally have never much believed in the power of ritual. I had a good friend who was an Italian Catholic, and we would discuss our different belief systems from time to time. She would wave her hands around and say, You people - you have no RITUAL!

I have always been the sort of girl who just speaks what I want in my head or out loud. Either way CAN work, because the power to create what we want comes from our intention, our belief system, and our true thoughts, not the ritual itself.

That being said, what is your actual belief system regarding the money you need for a house? Do you believe you can actually get it by praying and lighting these candles? Or are you just hoping that this will work?

As many of you know, I'm a firm believer in the movement underway as a result of the book and movie The Secret (www.thesecret.tv). If you haven't seen this movie or read this book yet, I suggest you get to it as soon as possible!

In The Secret, we are shown that the Universe says only one thing to us, and that one thing is basically, Your wish is my command. Therefore we get whatever we think about, every single time.

I know people who were so worried that they were going to get a disease, and focused so much thought on that disease, that of course that disease manifested. The universe doesn't hear I want or I do not want. The Universe only hears that the person is spending most of their time thinking about and sending a lot of energy to this sickness, so the sickness has to show up for them.

Where are you putting the majority of YOUR focus? On the lack of the money you need, or on actually receiving that money? It's imperative that we all pay attention to our habit of thought and how we feel when we focus on what we want.

To use an example directly from The Secret, if we want to get out of debt, we can't constantly be thinking about debt. We have to focus on prosperity and take our mind OFF of the debt. Bob Proctor, one of the men featured on The Secret, suggests setting up an automatic repayment program so we can focus on abundance.

You need to just focus on the house you want and not the fact that you don't have the money for it yet. When you think about it, think of every detail with hope and expectation. Build the house in your head from the flooring to the lighting fixtures you prefer. If you focus only on what you want and stop dwelling on the notion that you need more money to get it, you will move toward the fulfillment of this dream.

*****

Astrea:

The Law of Attraction says that we create what comes into our lives. If using those candles to focus your mind on abundance and prosperity brings those things to you, that's super!

People are unique individuals, so what works for one might not work for another. For me, the path to money and abundance involves work. I think it's wrong for ME to pray or use any kind of spell for money. It's my own personal feeling that it's wrong to ask via prayer or meditation for abundance to just fall into my lap.

I know I'm not going to win the lottery, so I never gamble or play. In my meditations, I focus more on world peace, love and the health and welfare of others. I do, however, have lots of friends and relatives who seem to have a pretty good track record when it comes to acquiring physical assets through all sorts of prayers, spells or wishes.

The effectiveness of any ritualistic practice depends on the intensity, focus, and energy of the person who is performing it. I find that many people manifest success when they accept that abundance is available to them. Acceptance of that premise is difficult for many of us who feel overwhelmed by our daily lives or perhaps undeserving of prosperity. No matter what deity you're asking, the God or Goddess of your choice desires for you to have all you want and need.

Candles work by sending your message, and there are thousands of prayers of this kind. Every one of them uses the energy of at least one of the four basic elements (Earth, Water, Air, or in the case of candles, Fire). The candle, inscriptions, fire, smoke, and even the holder for the candle can be important aspects of your ritual.

These are what will carry your message to the Deity to whom you are praying. Praying before and after and simply giving thanks even before you receive what you desire is always wise. The candles become a concrete point on which to focus your attention and extend your intention. It's also important that you feel you deserve to receive whatever you're asking for.

I don't use candles inside because I'm afraid I'll forget to blow them out and burn the house down, but as long as you're careful with them, I guess this makes as much sense as any other sort of prayer for prosperity you might do.

The candles you have sound pretty, and green IS the color of success. Besides, as long as you're sincere, prayer of any kind will never bring you a negative outcome. It's been my experience that if people BELIEVE something will work for them, it usually will.

Good luck, and may you enjoy TONS of abundance in your life!

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.