December 2016: Tune into Your Inner Knowing

December coaxes us to go deep within, connect to our intuition, and trust and follow its guidance. We're reminded that all of the answers we need already lie within us. Sensitivity and emotions continue to be heightened all month long; extra diligence in our spiritual practice (particularly meditation and prayer) will be required. We're going to need to be extra gentle and patient with ourselves. 

The need for rest and retreat that was felt in the later half of November carries over well into this month, and is particularly strong in the first half. But the overall themes of reflection and contemplation will be with us all month long. Keep your eyes on the long-term prize—this is a time for preparation, laying the groundwork, and making feasible plans towards our ultimate, long-term goals and dreams. The task we're being asked to step up to is no simple one—to align our minds, hearts and actions with our inner truth.

Watch out for attachment issues that may flare up this month. Whether it's the impulse to control everything, or the tendency to become overly wrapped up in the concerns of the material world, the solution is to turn within. This month will not let us get away with seeking anything outside us to fulfill us. 

Regardless of whatever challenges or uncertainties we may face, we are urged to not get caught in worry and fear. We are reassured that we are taken care of and can trust in the universe. Some new information or revelations will arrive in the second half of the month—whether this news is of a positive or negative nature, the importance of choosing trust over fear cannot be overstated. The potential for inner healing is tremendous this month, so make the most if it! 

All that we seek is already within us. 

September 2016: Embracing a New Chapter with an Open Heart

How can I bring blessings to others using my natural, unique talents and passions? This is the question to stay centered upon throughout September. From this heart center, we can then take loving, guided action towards our desires. The new moon in service-oriented Virgo on the very first day of this month (plus the sun in Virgo for most of the month) can really help us stay focused on how we can serve. The importance of keeping our hearts open and operating from a place of love can't be stressed enough this month. It's a great time to do some heart chakra-opening exercises, visualizations and meditations. 

Major transitions that got underway recently will continue to be in the foreground for quite some time to come. Moving on to a higher plateau may feel intimidating, but the universe continues to reassure us that we are ready. Open your heart to the abundance of encouraging energy this month offers, letting it pour over you.

This is birthing time for all things new. It's a time of breaking free from our old shells and moving forward to wonderful, new ways of being and living. While this is certainly an exciting time, change is almost always accompanied by fear, discomfort and sometimes even pain. Try to see any difficulties with these transitions as labor pains, which will be more than worth it when all is said and done.

We are being pushed to fully let go of old patterns that we know are holding us back. This will likely require forgiveness of ourselves and others. Energetic and physical detoxification may be necessary, particularly in the beginning of the month. 

Don't settle for negativity—negative people, situations, or, most importantly, your own personal attitude. It will be important to really pay attention to our thoughts and make sure they are aligned with love and peace, continually releasing all fear-based thoughts and feelings to the universe. Also be sure to pay attention to any recurrent thoughts or feelings, as these could very well be prompts to take steps in a certain direction. 

In order to remain in this state of awareness, it's essential to be grounded and centered in the present moment. But remember, beating yourself up is never the answer. Being patient with ourselves and taking good, loving care of ourselves is the only way to make lasting positive changes in our thinking and behavior.

The middle of the month will be a time of creativity, experimentation and collaboration, ushered in by the full moon in creative, free-flowing Pisces on the 16th. Try new experiences, venture outside of your comfort zone, and explore new ways of thinking and being—perhaps it may even be time to examine and reconsider some long-held beliefs or the current path you're on. This promises to be an enlightening, exciting time, so long as we approach the new with an open and curious mind. 

Many of us who are entrepreneurial-minded will see some real forward progress or experience epiphanies related to our current or future businesses this month. Again, the importance of acting from a place of loving service and abundance will come heavily into play. The universe reassures you that you have what it takes to make your dreams come true, there is no need to worry, and that you are worthy of all the wonderful gifts coming your way. Remember, accepting help and blessings isn't selfish or just about you—when you allow yourself to be helped, you can better help others.

Open your heart to joyfully giving and receiving wonderful new blessings. 

8/28/2016--9/4/2016: (Let) Go With the Flow

This week brings with a great deal of lovely, delightful energy. It's time to have some fun! And with the full moon in magical, mystical Pisces on Thursday, this will be a time of heightened synchronicity, so be sure to pay close attention to any "coincidences" or repetitive signs you're receiving. 

This week calls us to adopt a carefree, relaxed and accepting attitude. Many of us have been working hard (too hard, in fact) lately and it's time to set work aside and have some fun; treat yourself, spend time with friends and family, laugh, relax and just focus on enjoying yourself. You've earned it! In fact, most of us won't be able to afford not to take a break...unless we want to burn out. Plus, play awakens our creativity and allows us to return to our responsibilities with lifted energy and a renewed outlook. This is also a great time to explore new experiences, so keep an open mind and heart, and be willing to maybe even venture outside of your comfort zone. 

This week will be filled with hidden gems. Many of us will stumble upon blessings and pleasant surprises in unexpected places. They may show up in the form of money, opportunities, ideas, or more time. So again, pay attention and be willing to explore and experiment. And remember, gratitude ensures the continuous flow of abundance in our lives. 

While this can certainly be a time of fun and excitement, it's also crucial to continue consciously choosing to let go of the old that no longer serves us. The more we let go of the past, the more room we can make for the fresh, new energy available to us now. And good news: we don't need to strive, scheme or worry about how we'll let go. We must simply make the commitment to do so and then put our energy into having faith and praying for assistance when we need it. 

In fact, for many of us, the tendency to try to "make it happen" is a big part of what we're being called to release. We are asked to stay lovingly detached from our old situations and practice loving and accepting ourselves unconditionally. Only then can we extend that kind of love, acceptance and non-judgment to others.

8/21/2016--8/28/2016: Moving ON and UP with Love as Our Guide

It's time to level up. Things are lightening up and beautiful, higher frequency energy is readily accessible to us right now. In order to make the most of this energy and allow it to flow freely through us and transform us, some purification of thoughts, habits and even diet may be required. Trust that you ARE indeed ready to move to the next level, spiritually. 

There is an undeniable shift occurring. It's been in the works for some time and is primarily due to our willingness to open our hearts to love, healing and divine guidance. Certain people, places and activities that we used to be drawn to may no longer appeal to us. For some of us, this may mean making some difficult and even painful (but necessary) changes in our friendships and lifestyle. Trust that the universe is guiding you through these transitions. We are in a healing, shedding process. We let go of the old to make room for the new. 

We are indeed moving into a better place in our relationships, circumstances and lives in general, even if it may seem scary or uncomfortable right now. Since we're embarking on a new phase, getting clear on what we truly desire continues to be crucial. Romantic relationships will be spotlighted for many this week—what do you want for your love life? Whether single or attached, this is a good time to get clear on the answer to that question.  

This week, we are called to fully release any painful emotions and attachments that we're still hanging onto. Remember, attracting true love is an inside job; the most important relationship you have is the one with yourself. We must first feel loved and safe within before our relationships with others can flourish. Falling in love with life itself will naturally attract the kind of loving relationships we want. I know—sometimes the advice to "just fall in love with life" can sound like the epitome of "easier said than done." If this is the case, simply pray for help or set the intention to awaken this love within you.

You're ready to move forward onto better things—the waves of love and healing that are so readily available right now will help you.

8/14/2016-8/21/2016: Receiving Our Good

Open your arms wide because this week is all about receiving! :) And it's no coincidence this receptive theme corresponds with a full moon week, as full moons are optimal times, energetically, for reaping what we've sown and for manifestation. Tying back to the overall theme of this month, we are reminded to stay in the flow of giving and receiving; recognize if you've been giving a lot of yourself lately. If so (which is more than likely), accept this week's loving invitation to re-fill and receive. 

We must open up to accept gifts not only from the universe and other people, but from ourselves as well—it may be high time you reward yourself for all the hard work you've done. Some inner child and/or family issues spotlighted two weeks ago may resurface once again for additional healing; notice how your inner child comes alive and rejoices when you give yourself some loving attention and a much-deserved treat or two...or more :)

Let yourself receive without guilt or fear. The universe/your higher power wants to help you learn to create and accept abundance, especially if this is something that doesn't come easily to you. All you need to do is be willing to receive and to release fears of loss or lack (financially or otherwise). It's the perfect time to leap in and follow our heart's desires. And it can't be reiterated enough—don't let fear hold you back. Trust that following your heart will lead to more abundance in the long run, even if it means taking a brave leap of faith right now. 

But first, you may need to ask yourself—what is it that I truly want? Get clear on it. Meditate on it. Once we're clear about what our heart truly desires, we can dive in and embrace that vision. You have the power to write the script for your life—what kind of a life do you want? 

Know that you are deserving of all good.

8/7/2016-8/14/2016: Walking the Path of Least Resistance

It's been an intense few months and it's finally starting to feel like we're emerging "out of the woods." Although we're entering a lighter, more harmonious phase, we may need to hang on just a little while longer. As with this entire month, keeping the faith continues to be of special importance this week.

An abundance of creative inspiration is available for us so long as we remain anchored in a relaxed, receptive and trusting state. Dream big! And let go of any limiting beliefs you may have about yourself. The energy of the week is more conducive to dabbling and playing around with a few inspiring projects than it is to making a solid commitment to any one venture...yet. Loving, engaged detachment is the name of the game this week.

Although we're enjoying a gentler energy, we may still run into some struggles or be recovering from some lingering ones. But what may appear to be a problem right now is likely part of an answered prayer or intention. What appears to have been lost likely needed to fall away in order to be replaced by something better. Trust that the reasons behind your current situation will be revealed to you in due time—remember, hang in there a little while longer. 

This week reminds us to manifest our desires through the laws of least resistance and least effort—we do not need to push and force to make our dreams come true. All we need to do is have faith, listen to our inner guidance, and take action where we're guided. Deepak Chopra's teachings on the Law of Least Effort and the Law of Detachment may come in extra handy for some this week:

The Law of Least Effort
The Law of Detachment

These days, our thoughts seem to be manifesting faster than usual, so choose them wisely! Remember, our thoughts create our reality.

Take it easy and have faith.

August 2016: Staying in the Flow of Love & Trust

Many of us will start August on a hopeful, if not exciting, note, with new ideas or projects that we are excited to jump right into! And how fitting for the new moon in the exuberant sign of of Leo on Tuesday, August 2nd. One important thing to keep in mind is to make sure any action we take is from a mindset of abundance, rather than scarcity; in other words, from a place of love, rather than fear. Don't get sidetracked by worries about your life purpose or fixate on how you'll make money doing what you love. Instead, trust that the universe supports you fully. Ask, how can I serve? How can my natural talents and passions be used in the loving service of others? 

Being gentle with ourselves continues to be of particular importance these days. Take a moment to reflect—where have you been straining and striving? Where have you been harsh with yourself? This month invites us to prioritize self-love. It's time to make a commitment to see everything—ourselves, other people, all situations—through the lens of love. And in order to stay centered in love, we need to trust. We must trust that we, ourselves, are loved unconditionally and that all is happening for our highest good. We must trust that it is safe to love and to be loved. We must trust ourselves.

The interplay between action and rest, giving and receiving, contraction and expansion, will be at the forefront this month. It will be important to routinely check in with ourselves to discern what is being required of us in any given circumstance. If we're out of sync with "the flow," we'll know. We can count on resistance if we're swimming upstream.

There's the feeling that we're finally turning a corner, but the details of what's ahead aren't exactly clear yet. There may be a compulsion to rush ahead, taking action for action's sake. It’s important to distinguish between inspired action and compulsive action. Don’t be hasty—again, you can trust your intuition and your gut to let you know when it’s time to move forward.

The second half of August, in particular, will be a time for reaping what we have sown and collecting the fruits of our hard labor—so open your arms wide to receive, trusting that wonderful things are in store for you. In the coming days, connecting with nature and spending time outside will be especially restorative for us, so get out there as much as you can. It’s a great time to air things out—both literally and figuratively—clearing out the old to make room for the new and improved.

Stay in the flow of life.

7/31/2016-8/7/2016: Healing Our Inner Child

There is potential for great healing and breakthrough this week...if we are willing to do the inner work. It's a time to embrace and pour love over the child within, which Tuesday's new moon in Leo, a sign associated strongly with children, can help with. Please, be extra gentle with yourself; take good care of yourself and honor your needs. If you need to rest, rest. If you need to cry, cry. If you need to have some fun, do what you feel will bring you the most joy, without guilt or apology.

If we have any remaining mother or father issues, we can expect them to come to the surface for healing this week. This may require forgiveness or a willingness to let go of any negative energies relating to our parents. This doesn't have to be a daunting task—we must simply be willing to let go and give the situation to the universe for healing.

It's going to be especially important to stay grounded and present as well. Take it easy. Do one thing at a time. Breathe. We need to be gentle, but also honest with ourselves about what comes up this week—being present and grounded will help us to honestly face and accept what we see. We cannot let go of what we will not fully own. 

In conjunction with healing any mother or father issues we may still harbor, balancing our inner masculine and feminine will be another theme this week (and this entire month, for that matter). As we balance our feminine energy and/or heal any mother issues, we'll be better able to open up to and receive the universe's gifts. And as we balance our masculine energy and/or heal any father issues, life will be more generous to us, and we'll be better equipped to act on our inspirations and manifest our desires. 

In fact, at some point this week, many of us may find the timing to be perfect to finally take some serious strides towards our desires. But we must first be open, receptive and trusting—like a child—in order for these perfect opportunities to come about.

Love yourself into wholeness.