Forget about Mercury retrograde, this is much bigger news!

     Welcome back to a special posting in 5D times, I am glad you are able to be here today!  I'm writing this post about Jupiter because it is right before us and I don't want you to miss out on catching the great wave of energy that this event will be bringing us in the next 12 months.  If you're as curious as I am, then I am sure you will be glad that you did!

     Currently we are in the midst of a retrograde Mercury period that goes until the end of this month of June 2014, while this is occurring an even more significant event is happening on the 19th of June - namely the transit of Jupiter into Cancer, its place of "exaltation" as they call it in astrology terms.  That means that after it's 12 year trip around the zodiac it is back in the best position energetically for all of us here on Earth.  Now this is going to bring some very big and powerful blessings to many people in the next year, and a few will have less powerful but pivotal experiences as well.  I'll get into that a little later.  Think back 12 years to the period of 2002-2003 and what was going on in your life at that time and you'll get a better idea of what may be in store for you if you allow it and go with the flow.  Remember, it is all about making the best possible choices for yourself as you go forward into these energies.

     Why are we talking about this?  It is because it is important to recognize and consider how our multiverse operates.  Everything is in cycles.  Energy moves in patterns that we can recognize.  These patterns are embedded within our own being down to the actions of our cells, and all the way up to the movements of planets and stars.  We are striving to become more conscious as 5D beings that we can interact with our reality on many levels.   We can influence the health of our cells and we can align harmoniously with the larger energetic cycles of our Solar system as well.  Second, the science of astrology (yes, it is a science in many respects)  has been with us and has been refined over many thousands of years.  It had paramount importance to virtually all ancient pyramid building cultures that we can study, and for good reason.  They knew that changes of the relative motion of planets had an impact on their lives.  It is also important to realize that many millions of people across Earth share in this belief, and the energetic impact of mass consciousness beliefs of so many do establish a strong energetic pattern.  This pattern or mass consciousness belief does have an influencing effect on the reality that we live in.  For these reasons I want to bring to your attention this significant shift which will impact all of our lives.

     This transit of Jupiter into Cancer begins June 19, 2014 and completes July 14, 2015.  As I said earlier, this new position for Jupiter will have generally positive to very positive effects for almost every person.  Jupiter is considered in Vedic astrology to be the planet of gifts, boons, blessings and general expansion in all areas.  It is cautioned, however that this does include the physical body, so we would all be wise to re-commit to a healthy diet and regular exercise!  The color yellow is very significant in this time.  It is said that wearing yellow sapphire during this period will assist in receiving the benefits of this transit.  Gold is also favored during this time.

     Here is some writing on the topic that I think is important to share:  "Specially significant also because it is a Thursday(Guruvaara), Jupiter transit in 2014 in Cancer throughout this year should bring a new angle to the blessings we receive from the guru(Jupiter) who comes in the form of teachers and guides."  Otherwise said any attempts to educate ourselves will go very smoothly during this time.   "While passing through the sign of it's exaltation, Jupiter can summon the faith that moves mountains."  "Jupiter transit is considered as very important in astrology since major events do happen only when ruling planets are favorable.  Jupiter strength is very important to achieve success in life, especially in marriage, birth of a new child, change in job, buying a new home, success in education or career, foreign travel, etc."  As you can imagine, the energy of this upcoming transit will support you in creating larger positive changes in your life.  A very welcome thing for many people, eh?

     We have recently passed through a Mars retrograde which I wrote about a while back, and we also went through a cardinal grand cross in April which is now waning.  These last few months have served to slow us down and re-assess the direction we are taking.  It has caused delays in projects and has not promoted focus or results.  The time we are now entering is quite the opposite.  Much will come about for us personally, the launching of career, relationship, expansion of all kinds comes now.  There will also likely be a speeding up of the appearance of significant world events.  This time period presently bears a strong similarity to the times of the early and mid 1960's as the outer planets of Neptune, Uranus and Pluto have moved into a position that portends large changes.  These effects will continue at least until 2025 and in my view this Jupiter transit will be kick-starting the energies.

     There are two ways to find the more tailored explanation of how this transit might affect you personally.  I prefer the Vedic astrology route, which I believe to be more accurate as it accounts for precession (otherwise known as the movement of the heavens over long periods of time).  The specific descriptions of how this will affect you is determined by what planet you have as your moon sign. Those with their moons in Gemini, Virgo, Scorpio and Capricorn are going to be exceptionally blessed in the next 12 months!  For more in depth information on the Vedic approach go to www.astroved.com 

     The Western astrological approach is nearly equally as strong.  It is based on what planet is ascendant at the time of your birth.  For example, those with ascendants planets in Virgo, Libra or Pisces are going to receive the best benefits from this transit.   For more free information about this track go to www.astro.com.

     I recommend that you pay attention to this upcoming period and choose to make the most of it.  I have found over the years that a careful analysis of one's chart can be very helpful in confirming your own intuition or gut feelings about any significant issue at hand.  These are universal to all of us - love, family, work.  In this sense we are often more similar in our challenges during life than we might think.  I invite you to take a half hour and explore your personal details about this upcoming transit.  I believe that most of us a year from now will be in gratitude for the unexpected blessing or blessings that came to us in this upcoming period.  I am excited for what is coming as it will really assist us personally and as a collective to get things moving forward that are so much needed.  I wish you joyful anticipation of this upcoming period and many happy blessings!


Om Gurave namaha!

-Robert




A final note:  As part of becoming a more conscious, more aware, more loving beings it is important to acknowledge as much as we love present day science, the ancient science of astrology is a powerful tool to use to assist us, do not discount it because the unfamiliar terminology may discourage you in your understanding.  Always trust your own heart and intuition as to whether or not follow or believe in anything that does not resonate with you.  I have chosen to speak of this upcoming event because its overall positive effects for all far outweigh the negative ones.  Please understand that we are only beginning to understand our place in this vast experience of consciousness, and that new understandings and paradigms can only emerge as we challenge the status quo of our day to day life and the things we believe.

Further clarification:  When you study this you will find that many western astrologers say that this movement of Jupiter into Cancer has already happened.  There is a reason for this, and it is precession.  Here is an explanation of why this difference exists that I found from Robert Koch, a Vedic astrologer:

Astronomical Differences between Western and Vedic Astrology

The basic difference between the two systems is that the Vedic zodiac is Sidereal and the Western is Tropical. In Sidereal astrology, the zodiac is aligned with 27 constellations, or fixed star groups. Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, aligns with the first constellation, called Aswini. In the tropical zodiac, the point in space when the Sun crosses the earth’s equator is the beginning point of the zodiac, or Aries.

The earth’s equator shifts backward through the signs of the zodiac at the rate of about 51″ of longitude per year. This is called “precession of the equinoxes.” Because of this phenomenon, the theoretical Aries of the western zodiac drifts further and further from the Aries used by Vedic astrologers — at the rate of about 1 degree every 72 years.

The tropical (Western), and the Vedic Aries were on the same zodiacal plane around 285 AD. Because of the precession of the equinoxes, at present, there is approximately a 23 degree difference. Thus all of the planets in a Vedic horoscope, including the rising sign, will be about 23 zodiacal degrees earlier than they would be in a Western chart.

     

Managing your energy- pt. 2 Know your personal space!

     Welcome back to another posting of 5D Times!  Today we're be focusing on "space" and what that means for us on our journey of evolution in these times.  The reason I have chosen this topic is that it is something each of us deal with every day of our lives.  It is so present to us that we take it for granted, not realizing that we have the opportunity as 5D beings to transform our space for greater personal happiness and joy.  So if that sounds interesting to you, by all means please read on!

     I often describe our total being to people is analogous to an iceberg.  The part we normally see and interact with is the part above the water.  The other 90% is unseen, below the water and it is just as important to us because it is part of us.  This unseen portion is our energy field, something that I will term as our etheric energy.   It is that part of us that healers of all types work with when they are interacting with clients.  It is a place to get to know and understand, so let's have a look at it shall we?

     In the above diagram you can see the stick figure holding her arms out inside of a cylinder of blue.  This is the etheric field that surrounds each of us.  I actuality it is more oval-shaped and it can vary in size from being very close to the body when we're in a stressed state, to being very expansive when we're holding a higher state of love and joy.  When we learn to master and manage our energy we can extend our personal field to a much larger size- many meters away from the body.  That can be very fun in the right kind of circumstances!

     I am sure that most of you have been in public and turned around when no one was there even though it felt like someone was tapping you on the shoulder.  Maybe you saw someone some distance away looking in your direction.  Either intentionally or not, that person had extended their energy to the edge of yours and gave you a little "hello".  Sometimes it is even spirit that do this as well, and it's nothing to be afraid of, it's just a reminder that we're always broadcasting our energy.  You can do this to others as well, you might be staring at someone facing away from you and then you see them suddenly turn around, looking in your direction.  In most cases they are responding to you sending your energy out to "touch" them and they felt it!  Wouldn't it be nice to be able to have more conscious control of this part of you?  The first thing you need to consider is setting your space.

     Setting your space can be as simple as a conscious intention that your energy field be clear and firm.  You can call in light to reinforce it, or you can use something called the Rose technique to clearly set the boundaries of your space.  (Refer to Managing your energy pt. 1 earlier in this blog for instructions.)  It is all about consciously interacting with your energy instead of just letting it be.  Moving into being 5D requires more conscious participation in your energy and this is the place to begin.  When you do this on a regular basis it will become nearly automatic and not require as much effort to set up.  You'll be able to just intend it and it will be so.  What are the benefits?  You will be claiming your personal space as your own and you will be significantly less susceptible to others negative thoughts and feelings from entering your space.  Those things will literally bounce off of your defined boundaries!  You will feel better when you are in groups of people, their discordant and undisciplined energy will again not affect you as much.  By consciously doing this on a regular basis you will be running your energy at a higher vibration.  Those of lower vibration will find it uncomfortable to be around you and will move away, those of like minded vibration will have no problems at all being near you.  In a way it will assist you to create a reality of being with more higher vibrating people and give you the opportunity for many more pleasant encounters!  Please try this and you'll be pleasantly surprised with the results!

     Now there is a caveat to this technique.  Unless you've completely cleared your energy of cords and attachments from others there may still be a "back door" where negative energies can get a foothold in your space.  This most often occurs between loved ones - family members, spouses, lovers or close friends.  These are people who we most often let into our intimate personal space, and sometimes without knowing it we allow them to attach themselves energetically to us in an unhealthy way.  Clearing these attachments can sometimes take a lot of work because they are often tied to old beliefs that we don't want to let go of even though they are no longer in our best interest.  Lets no go on to a discussion of our "internal" space and what we might be able to do to know it better.

     Your internal space is what you carry around with you every day.  Sometimes it feels light and great, and other times it may feel very heavy.  It is our body's nature to be in balance at all times and it works tirelessly to do this, but sometimes it needs more of our conscious assistance to do this.  Why?  A simple answer to this is that often our emotional selves are not in balance with our physical selves.  We literally store unresolved feelings and hurts from long ago within the energetic and cellular structure of our bodies and then it causes us to feel less and less.  It's kind of like a pipe that gets clogged from years of grease accumulating in it, yuck!

     It is said that in the days of Atlantis and Lemuria many thousands of years ago people were much more naturally tuned to their energy and took time every day to work to keep it in balance.  I believe that we as individuals are returning to that state of being.  Again, it takes conscious attention and a willingness to release these stuck energies.  And why do we want to do this if we're already feeling fairly well?  Wouldn't it be nice to feel even better?

     You truly know better than anyone what things you are holding onto that are blocking you.  Some are small and some blocks can seem so large that they affect your happiness to a large degree.  These blocks can only be released by you when you are truly ready to face them energetically through conscious intention, feel them and then release them.  The reason that we need to release blocks is that they take up internal space that limits our ability to bring in the good things we so desperately want to experience.  Blocks are a tool designed to get us to understand there are limits to our energy and that we must work to maintain it before we can work to expand it.  It is part of evolution.  In my own experience I have had to work very hard to release blocks in my life, however as the years have gone on and I've become more confident about the process, it has become much easier.  And it will for you too as you take responsibility for your space.  It is essential as a 5D being to continue to work to take 100% responsibility for what is occurring in your life.  To learn how and when to make new choices and more conscious choices is what this is all about.  If you wish to go through life in an unconscious or semi-conscious manner you have little hope of improving your life situation.  However since you are reading this I am certain that you ARE conscious and wish to be more in control of your life.  So here's a technique or two that will assist you to clear out some of that old stuff in your energetic space so you can make room for all of those new and good things you want, OK?

     The first technique is fairly well known.  Before you begin either of these first get yourself in a quiet place where you won't be disturbed for at least 30 minutes.  Light a candle or bring out your favorite crystals or items that connect you to the spiritual realm.  Ground yourself, imagining you are connected to the center of the Earth like you are a tree growing roots.  Feel that energy.  Now, imagine the branches of that tree you are reaching up to a beautiful sunny sky.  Again, feel that connection and the energy that is supporting you.  This is very important and do not gloss over it.  In the feeling lies the living energy.  It is what is going to assist you and you must open to it for it cannot enter you without invitation.

     Sit or lie down while you are doing this.  Once you've set the space as described, bring up the issue in your feelings so it becomes present to you.  Healing happens in the present, even if something happened 40 years ago or 4000 years ago!  Again get into feeling the situation.  It might be an ex-lover, spouse or friend.  It might be a traumatic incident from childhood.  It could be any number of things, we just know that it doesn't feel good and you want it gone!  Now, you can do one or two things.  I recommend you do them both.   First, call in your spiritual source, your healing guide or whatever you would like to call it.  You can say " I call in the being of only Light and Love that is best able to assist me to remove this issue/block".  Wait a few moments while you are in the midst of still feeling the issue and then imagine it energetically lifting out of your body.  You are doing this part.  Then, imagine this being taking this energetic tangle as you hand it off to them and feel it leaving you.  If you do this with true conviction you will feel yourself much lighter in that moment.  Sit or lay quietly as you might be more emotional than normal.  Once this is done and it can take just a few minutes to a few seconds, imagine yourself being bathed in healing light of whatever color you like.  I prefer gold or rose myself but you can choose whatever comes to mind and it will be perfect for you.  Second, for particularly troublesome attachments your can call in the assistance of Archangel Michael.  Yes, he is real and yes, he has the time to assist you because you're worth it!  Again, while you are in position, think about the issue you want released.  For example, a recent bad break-up with a lover is one where there are often cords and connections that were energetically literally ripped out of you.  Or you might unconsciously still hold a piece of your energy connected to that person.  You'll know either way if you're feeling broken hearted, or if you are thinking of that person when you do not want to anymore.  Remember, you have the right to your personal space and the responsibility to keep it clear.  With great intention and belief, ask Michael to cut the cords that bind you to this person or situation you no longer want in your life.  Imagine him, all regal and confident striding up to you and pulling out his huge sword and in one swoop cutting those cords and attachments!  Once you've successfully done this you may feel emotional or a bit disoriented for a time, but do not worry.  You are doing great work in clearing your space and you will receive assistance!

     As I always like to say, finding a qualified healer who has worked through a lot of their own issues is a great ally to have as a facilitator if you feel that you do not want to do this work alone.  I am saying that you can do it on your own.  Never buy into the idea that someone else will fix you, they won't.  They can help you and often that's some very sweet and touching human interaction of healing, so keep that in mind.   Also, I would like to add that you must be absolutely clear when cutting cords or clearing old issues that you do not want them anymore, otherwise they'll be like a weed that pops back up in your life.  You've got to get the root of it out!   An example I can share is this.  I was getting over a particularly difficult relationship where I was blind-sided and betrayed.  I still felt hope to continue the relationship even though it was clearly over.  I did these techniques several times and they did not work, because I was still holding onto what could have been.  After several long months of processing I finally got to the point where I was ready to release those old stories.  Once I did that and cleared it out of my energetic space a few months later came along a very pleasant new relationship.  Again, clearing old stuff makes room for the new and better to come in.  It takes self-honesty and bravery, and trust me that is much better than suffering long term emotional pain.  There's really no point to being a martyr or a victim in 5D because when we're fully there it is all about love (living only vibrant energy).

     I hope that today's article has got you thinking about your personal space, and considering making an attempt to manage it more consciously.  We are all on a path of healing and having space is elemental and essential for anyone who wishes to heal themselves and move on to the next step in their path of life.  I give thanks to my non-physical friends K, and others who have provided assistance to me in understanding this more deeply so I can share it with all of you.   I wish you well on your path, may you make the effort to clear your space so you can take that next giant step forward in your life to be the unique loving being that you truly are.  


Blessings,


Robert
   

The Eight levels of Personal Truth

     Hello and welcome back once again to another exploration in what it means to be a co-creative human being on planet Earth!  Today we will explore a bit about the concept of truth and what it means.  This information was shared with my by some of my guides a while back and I've been working with it and now am excited to offer insights about it with you to assist you on your path.

     Why truth?  Often people say that the truth is relative, meaning that different people will have different perspectives on something.  For example, if there is an automobile accident that 10 people witnessed, there will be 10 different perspectives about the truth of what occurred.  While that is often the case, it is not the focus of this article.  Instead we are going to delve into our personal truth, that which resonates most deeply inside of us, calling to be acknowledged and expressed in our personal world.
 
     Our truth comes from our beliefs about ourselves and the world around us.  It is subject to a constant evolution as we grow and evolve our consciousness through the experience of life.  I have often said that it is my preference to leave this Earth rich in experiences (hopefully more pleasing to me than not) than rich in material wealth, for the experiences we create for ourselves are the only thing we can truly take with us.  It is like the old saying "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God"  (Matthew 19:24).  There is much wisdom in this saying, as it focuses us on what is of primary importance and what may be of lesser importance.  Let's go a little deeper.

     We have all arrived here in life to be joyous co-creators of our lives.  Sometimes we have moments of experiencing that and often times we feel that we are not meeting our own expectations of what we wish to experience.  Our feelings are guideposts for us on each step of our journey so it is important to recognize and acknowledge what is feeling good and what is not.  This is a basis for self examination of our beliefs to find out what is serving us and what is not, and take steps to release those beliefs that no longer serve us.  This is the task of self-evolution that we are all on, whether we like it or not.  Often we can cling to outmoded beliefs at great cost to our happiness, health and prosperity and that is our choice.  This is the beauty of being on a free-will planet, the opportunity to make choices and experience the outcomes ;).

     In present time we are all immersed in the energies of the 5th dimension, that of vibrant energy, and we are all working to align ourselves with these vibrations of love that are calling out to us from the deepest parts of our being.  In my experience, many of us have or are being pushed out of "comfortable" positions of just cruising through life (myself included), and are being asked by our Higher selves to move to live our truth and co-create from that place rather than "playing it safe".  Many have been relieved of their jobs, homes, relationships, etc. as wake-up calls to pay attention and consider new choices in their lives.  Despite the discomfort of these events, this is a good thing. Better to awaken to the next chapter of life than to fall asleep and not finish the book!  Keep in mind that we are not only reading the book but writing it as well, and who doesn't want to be excited about their own story!

     Living your personal truth as fully as possible is a key element to living a fulfilled life.  Here's why:  When you combine your truth(higher mind) with your passion (heart energy) you activate a clear channel for more energy from your soul via your higher self to flood into your experience as a human which activates all sorts of potentials that didn't exist before.  Keep in mind that as a human being in a body we are just the "tip of the iceberg" of a vast consciousness that we are.  Divine grace can be most easily bestowed upon us if we are willing to reach up to activate it.  Merely hoping and praying or plain hard work are alone not enough to activate this force.  It must be addressed by living your truth in alignment with what you yourself set forth as your life plan or blueprint before you incarnated here.  So now I will describe the eight levels as they were taught to me.

     The first level is 1) You know your truth.  That is, you become aware of your belief about yourself.  The second level is 2) You understand your truth.  On some level it makes sense to you.  The third level is 3) You accept your truth.  That is to say you accept that this is true for you.  It is not a random thought you are having.  That brings it to the fourth level 4) You believe it.  Because you accept it you have opened up to believing it is true.

     Once you get to the point of believing your truth you come to the question :  "Is this enough, or do I wish to change it?"  It might be a negative or positive belief about yourself.  For example, if you are an accountant and you truly believe that you are a talented actor, you must be willing to take steps to create your experience of life away from being the accountant at least for a while, and start taking actions which you associate with being an actor.  This might mean taking acting classes or joining a local theater group all of the way up to auditioning for TV or movie roles.   This brings us to the fifth level of truth.

     The fifth level of truth is that 5) you become passionate about your truth.  This is when you say to yourself "this is what I like".  It gives you a feeling of excitement or perhaps well-being by engaging with it.  For example, an artist might discover a new medium to work in that surpasses all others for them in the way they wish to express themselves.  They become passionate about it and move to create their art in this new medium, and the passion that they feel gives them even more energy to create far beyond what they've previously produced.  In my opinion very few if any great creations have occurred without passion.  Count yourself lucky if you feel passion regularly, for some of us it is a much more difficult road to find that energy of passion.

     The sixth level follows from the fifth and is 6) You act from your truth.  You take action towards your desired end because the feeling of passion beckons you to join with it.  Can you see how it is becoming the connection between the mind and the heart?

     The seventh level of your truth is 7) You are seen by others.  In the case of the artist, the artist exhibits her creations for others to admire and enjoy.  They are known to be the practitioner of this style of art and they become known to others as an expert in this style of art.  This further reinforces the belief to the artist that that is who they are showing up to the world as.  They don the persona of the artist in their unique way.

     The eighth level of truth is 8)Now you create from your truth.  You are seen in it, you are producing whatever it is you've intended through your belief about your truth, and you have opened up a field of possibilities for creation.  For example a local restaurant owner is passionate about their food and so many come to visit that he decides to open a chain of restaurants featuring the same beloved food, or perhaps they create a series of different restaurants based on other ideas they have for food and dining.  Because they are seen as creating food and are seen as successful, others join with him to offer support for his ideas that he could not have dreamed of when he started.  It all began with knowing that he liked food and cooking and wanted to share it with others.

     The world that is slowly emerging will be built by those who seek their personal truth and stand in it and create from it.  We live in a time that is the cusp of major transformation from the old to the new, which is really the old becoming re-discovered once again.  Long ago the people on the Earth operated in a 5th dimensional environment which was all about living on vibrant energy (L.O.V.E.).  Now, once again we have this opportunity to create in this manner, after thousands of years of working our way through a duality paradigm of love vs. fear.  While it still seems that this is the case and it appears that things are becoming more chaotic and less stable it is only because an old way of operating is being uprooted by the stirrings in millions of hearts across the globe.  As I've mentioned in other postings the planet has been upgraded to support a higher vibratory frequency because on a deeper level the collective desires of many have asked for this.  How this will come to pass will be the direct result of each of us acknowledging and honoring our personal truth to the best of our ability and living it to be seen by others.

     I will close this article by saying that each of you has a gift to share with the world, whether it be with your immediate circle of family and friends or a wider audience.  Some of you are already doing it and I applaud you, for you are the models that others will see and be inspired by.  Your gifts are the pathway to joy in your life.  If you find yourself working in an area that doesn't inspire you just to pay the bills or have a certain lifestyle take some time to consider if you are offering yourself your best, for when you engage your truth it will be you first that receives the benefit of all of the energies that your soul wishes to bestow upon you.  I bless each of you with bravery, boldness and fortitude to hear your truth and go forth and live it as best you can.  This is how we will each work to return life here to its rightful majesty.


Blessings,


Robert


   

Isn't Retrograde over? Not quite! A bit about astrological influences

     Today I'd like to speak on the issue of astrological influences.  It's a huge topic and it goes far beyond the basic horoscope one might read in a magazine or newspaper.  Let's explore shall we?
The concept of Mercury Retrograde is becoming more well known and is often written about.  We just finished our first period of this last week, yet to me it seems like things haven't lightened up like they usually do so I did some research and discovered that we've now entered into what is known as Mars retrograde which runs from 1 March to 16 May of this year.  While Mercury retrograde happens 3-4 times a year, Mars retrograde only happens about once every 2 years, but I feel it is important to talk about it.

     What does it mean when a planet retrogrades?  Basically it means that from our perspective on Earth it appears that a planet goes in reverse to its orbit for a period.  This is an optical illusion based on the location of the Earth and Sun relative to the planet in question.  Planets do not reverse there course, they are always moving in the same direction, however it has been noted that when they appear to go in reverse(retrograde) motion that we experience different effects in our lives.

     Some of the things people report experiencing when Mercury turns retrograde is electronics and mechanical items breaking, difficulties in communication, things not working as usual and so on.  Many people believe that it is not a good time to sign contracts or purchase new items during these periods as they will likely not perform satisfactorily.  All of these are significant enough things that many people do find that this is the case!  

     So why astrology?  Astrology is an ancient science that has been used by humankind since before the dawn of written records.  Of the temples and pyramids I've visited in Egypt and Central America it is written in stone on the walls of these buildings.  The buildings themselves are almost always aligned to certain constellations.  Mayan temples for example are designed so that on the Equinox light projects on them showing (what we think) the planting and harvesting times.  Remember back then no one had a watch!

     Even the Catholic church has a strong interest in astronomy.  They have their own observatory in the southwest USA where they conduct ongoing studies of the heavens.  It is rumored by one author that the bathtub in the Pope's residence is inlaid with tiles depicting the zodiac!  Hindu's also are the ancient practitioners of astrological studies and have their own branch of it called Vedic astrology.  It is also part of the Islamic faith as well and has been for a millenia or more.

     Astronomy is the study of the motions of planets and stars, while astrology is the study of the influences of those local to us, namely our own Sun and solar system and even the moon.  Hospitals and police know this well and often have more staff on hand during the times when the moon is full because people are known to behave differently, so again here is more evidence that there is something to this phenomenon.  

     This brings me to the subject at hand.  While yes, we have passed out of Mercury retrograde, we are now this week fully into Mars retrograde.  This period has it's own set of characteristics that I wanted to make you aware.  In my own experience this week it has been like I was reading from a script of Mars effects!   Here's an excerpt from an excellent astrology site that gives a good description of this current energy of the Mars retrograde:

     "When Mars is in its retrograde cycle, we are forced to re-assess our current projects, our approach to getting what we want, and our desire nature.  Rather than directly asserting our desires, we tend towards introspection.  While Mars in direct motion is direct, straightforward, assertive and aggressive, with Mars in retrograde motion, Mars energy is essentially turned inward - it's internalized, intensified, personalized, and perhaps pressurized.  We can be hesitant about taking action, second-guessing our instincts or our natural impulses rather than acting upon them.  The way we react to situations under normal conditions doesn't necessarily work for us now, or we don't exactly trust it.
   
     When anger is internalized, there can be some rather negative byproducts, such as tension, resentment, depression, apathy and even paranoia.  On the other hand, it can also be personalized and made more intimate.  Our goal during a Mars retrograde period should not be to simply sit on our impulses or squelch our enthusiasm.  Rather it should be to better understand our impulses, anger, our sexuality, inner courage and the ways we go about getting what we want from life.  The cosmos are asking us to look before we leap rather than throw ourselves into action, just for the time being."

     A little further on in this description the astrologer goes on to describe the characteristics of Mars being retrograde in the sign of Libra.  When a planet goes retrograde it often does it in different parts of its orbit in relation to the zodiac (depicted at the top of this article).  Here's what she says about it:  "Libra rules one-to-one relationships and negotiations.  During Mars retrograde cycle in Libra we may need to re-assess our approach to these matters.  We might feel some frustration or anxiety about our partnerships."  And further on she writes "We  can experience lowered vitality, health issues, especially associated with areas ruled by Libra (kidneys, adrenal glands, the lower back;  we might also need to watch our sugar intake), and accidents a possibility throughout the Mars retrograde period.  We may be less direct when it comes to satisfying our sexual needs."  She also goes on to say to expect more irrational behaviors and actions during this period, so be on your best behavior right now!

     In my opinion and experience, to be in a higher and more loving state I have to know about the things that are acting upon me.  We all work on cycles and there are many ways to approach an understanding of this.  Besides astrology, there is numerology, biorhythm, I-ching, etc.  I think it is fun and very easy to start with astrology because it is so readily available on the Internet.  The only thing required is an open mind and your birth date, time and place you were born.

     To get started with this I recommend going to cafeastrology.com and printing out your birth(natal) chart and reading it.  Then I would look at the information about this Mars retrograde on the site as there are specific indications depending on what your rising sun is.  As I said, mine was dead on.  A couple of projects I was working to move forward on got stopped dead in their tracks, several people did not return business inquiries and I had a minor spill on my patio, all very much correlated with this current energy.  I have personally decided to go with the flow of this energy and am now working to re-assess and go deeper with my plans before I try them again.  So if you are feeling like Mercury retrograde hasn't gone away, you are not imagining things, it's just Mars.

     Take good care of yourself in the coming weeks.  Continue to do what you can to balance yourself with all of these energies flying around.  Besides Mars we've also had to contend with some very strong solar activity recently which only adds to the mix.  My intuition says that we'll start to have a respite around the time of the Vernal Equinox (March 20), in the meantime if things are working well for you than by all means continue.  If they aren't, consider taking advantage of this time to do a little more internal work.  And don't be hard on yourself, remember you are the one that signed up to be on this mission of being part of the ground crew for the ascension of the people of planet Earth!  Oh what was I thinking?!!

Blessings!

Robert

p.s.  If you want to explore Vedic astrology check out astroved.com.  There's plenty of free charts on their site.  And if you want to take this further I highly recommend finding a competent astrologer and having a personal reading with them.  It is a lot of fun and something you can refer to for many things :).

   

How to bring more love into your life, the 5D way!

                                                           Aphrodite, Pan and Eros


     Once again Valentine's Day is upon us in the Western World and we take time, if we are fortunate, to share that with the ones we love.  Yet it's even better if we make some time for ourselves to connect to the strong energies of love that are swirling around our communities and our planet this day.  So let's dive into it a bit, shall we?

     Above there's a photo of three pieces that the ancient Greeks revered, I'll just focus on Aphrodite.  Aphrodite is the Goddess of Love and Valentine's Day to many is a modern celebration of Romantic love, which actually didn't fully come into regular practice until the 1300's in Europe.  It was brought in songs sung by the Troubadour's who were prominent at that time.  They probably had picked it up in their travels through Greece and Cyprus on their way to the Crusades.  So our current tradition goes back thousands of years!  Even the Greeks borrowed their ideas from the Phoenician's and Mesopotamian's taking it back even further.  Needless to say that as humans, love has been on our mind for Ages, it is hard-wired into us.

     We often confuse love as being as a romantic feeling and a physical act, of course it is so much more.  We quest for this feeling and feeling a pained longing for it if we don't have it.  Love is a powerful energy that we can channel in many creative ways once we have it.  Actually, we always have it, for in our essence it is who we are.  So why is it so seemingly difficult to maintain?

     In the 5th dimension everything is about love, meaning living on vibrant energy.  In the 3rd and 4th dimensions it is the struggle of love vs. fear.  Fear and its derivatives are just illusion, albeit very powerful illusions.  This is why we've had such a struggle.  We often see love as elusive, sometimes there and so sweet and other times apparently gone.  As we move more and more into greater awareness we are more able to hold a higher vibration in our choices which allows us to steadily experience more love(vibrant energy) in each day.

     All love is self-love, period.  It may seem like someone else gives it to us, but in reality it is our choices that bring the people and situations into our experience that give us the reflection of our love, or not.  We are not a victim of our upbringing or any situation.  Holding a 5th dimensional vibration means taking 100% responsibility for ourselves and our energy.  This becomes easier when we can open our heart and listen to ourselves and then allow that spiritual flow from our soul via our Higher Self to speak to us.  This is where we come to the point of inviting the opportunity in to allow more love to come to us.  Love is not bounded by time or space, so we can actually send it anywhere it's needed, so why not send some to ourselves?

     Here's an exercise I learned and found to be very powerful.  Find three candles and a comfortable place to sit.  Purify your space with some sage or favorite crystals.  In your mind or out loud center yourself and call in your Higher Self to be present to assist.  Light the candles.  One will represent your past self, present self and future self.  For the past self imagine you at an earlier time when you wanted more love.  Send energy to that former you and bathe them in your love, giving thanks for what they did to allow you to be here in the present. Take as much time as you need. Then go to your present self and think of this nice expression you're doing for yourself right now.  Imagine yourself bathed in beautiful healing light, whatever color comes to mind first is usually very helpful.  Wish yourself Happy Valentine's day!  Feel the love you have for yourself now.  Express gratitude to yourself for the being you are on this beautiful planet in 2014, a year of great expansion.   Then finally imagine your future self.  Picture yourself in your best possible circumstances.  It can be a year ahead or ten years ahead, whatever you like.  Feel the joy of the experiences you want to have as if you are actually having them.  Again, take as much time to do this, you can't do it wrong.  If you can imagine it, it is possible!  Bathe your future self in love, thanking them for holding your greatest dreams.  When you are done with this you can conclude.  If you like, keep the candles burning for a while before you blow them out.

     What you've done is a very 5D act.  You've used your love and your imagination to create a flow within your life past, present and future.  You've consciously connected to and acknowledged that you are a greater being and a lover of yourself.  You have given yourself a healing that will change things in your life for the better.  After you've done this, just let it go and not think about it too much.  You've initiated a flow of energy that is beyond your thinking mind, your heart energy.

     Another way to heal is with sound.  Singing, toning and chanting are great ways to use sound.  Classical music is another fantastic way to engage and activate one's heart energy.  There is something about the purity of the frequency of classical music that does activate specific chakras in the body.  The main chakra we're working on today is the heart chakra.  I ran across a reference to this in the work of the great healer Ted Stevens.  He indicated that to stimulate the heart chakra an excellent piece of music is the Bach concerto below.  If you have a spare 5 minutes to be quiet, listen to it while keeping your awareness in your heart center.  I hope you enjoy it.

  

Bach :  Brandenburg Concerto no. 2 F major

     I hope you all have a pleasant Valentine's Day on February 14, remembering that love comes every day of the year.  May you all have more love this and every day.   

Blessings,

Robert