The Numinous

TURNED ON: LIFE AS A CONSTANT STATE OF AROUSAL

Posted on by Ellie Burrows

In the first of a regular column on sex and spirituality, Ellie Burrows explains how getting really turned on is about allowing your body to open up to the world around you. Portraits: Katie Fischer.

I’m always turned on. I walk the earth in a constant state of arousal. It’s. The. Best.

Everything turns me on: my morning ritual of almond butter and raw honey toast accompanied by black tea with a dash of milk; an episode of Scandal; a conversation about the Universe; a pair of Alaia boots; meditation dance at 5Rhythms; riding the subway listening to Beyoncé; having my hair pulled; cleaning my bedroom; practicing mindfulness; fancy lingerie; a cute puppy on the street and its hot owner holding the leash. Basically, I’m experiencing one big Lifegasm.

Last weekend, I was strolling through Manhattan with the current object of my affection. We stopped at a corner and waited for the crosswalk to change. He let his hand brush up against my ass and I felt an energetic burst in my second chakra. A simple gesture with a massive impact, my vagina actually pulsed, warmed, relaxed, and opened for him. My body sent out a physical invitation hoping for an RSVP marked “Will Attend”. An example of arousal in its most pure form (and for the record, he attended, to it, later).

If we’re most familiar with arousal in a sexual context, most of us associate it with being DTF. And frankly, I’ve come to believe that’s totally limiting. We should really consider all the definitions of “arouse”: to awaken, excite, evoke. The highest level of arousal happens when we’re alert and open to all that’s around us. It’s about the expansion of our sexual energy well beyond the confines of sex.

Turned on from sunrise…
…to sunset

In ancient Taoist traditions, life force energy is called chi and supposedly we can feel this energy moving through us. The subset of this energy that’s specifically sexual or creative is called ching, which is believed to be essential to our health and wellbeing. Well, I can definitely feel my ching moving through me and it’s absolutely vital to my existence. But somewhere along the way, through various forms of cultural conditioning, we were taught that this energy should be strictly reserved for the bedroom. I think the Taoists, Justin Timberlake and I are all agreed that it’s WAY better when we bring sexy back into everything.

So how do we do this? How do we carry that powerful energy beyond the bedroom? How do we decorate every moment with this sexual electricity? Well, firstly we need to allow it to spread beyond our penises and pussies. It needs to evolve and literally “grow up” into our hearts and minds. We need to make like an aroused vagina and feel it pulsing through our entire bodies, warming the cold parts of ourselves, thereby relaxing our insides and creating an opening in our beings.

So let’s try a simple visualization. Imagine you’re staring at a chocolate chip cookie from Levain Bakery on 74th and Amsterdam (if you don’t know what this is I feel mildly sorry for you, and instead invite you to just envision the moistest, most chocolate chocolate chip cookie in the world). How do you feel about this cookie? What does it look like to you? To me it’s a big, dense, delicious, warm pile of goo and I can’t wait to have it in my mouth.

Turned on by cookies…
…and being Buddha

I’m breathing in the intoxicating smell of fresh baked goodness. I can feel the desire for this cookie all over my body. I can feel my deep appreciation for the cookie in my heart. My mind is doing summersaults just thinking about those chocolate chips dancing on my tongue. Holy shit, this cookie is turning me on. I can’t stop smiling at it. But see, I don’t want to actually fuck the cookie. The experience of eating it, appreciating and enjoying just became heightened, elevated and way more awesome.

Sometimes arousal happens to me on a subway when I see someone give up a seat to a pregnant lady or a senior citizen. I feel a pulsating sensation in my chest, a sense of warmth spreading through my being. I can’t help but smile at this display of human kindness and feel a deep connection to the other beings on the train. For a moment, I am in love and energized by the small simple gesture of one human towards another.

The vagina is the mother of all gates and most people think it’s the only doorway to arousal. And yes it’s an arousal superhighway, but for me, arousal is really about accessing the heart and I use my whole being and all my senses to do that. If my heart isn’t activated and engaged, then I can’t be turned on.

Real arousal creates openings in our being. It’s a state of connectedness with the world around us, in which we let it awaken and excite us. It’s the sensation of being genuinely excited about life. This column will touch upon arousal in many different ways. Often sex will be the entry point, but ultimately it’s about elevating our consciousness around our sexual energy to enhance all our experiences. Most sex columns are about getting off. This is an arousal column and it’s going to be all about turning on.

Ellie Burrows is a storyteller, seeker, mystic and guide living in New York City. Discover more at Ellieburrows.com 
@ellieburrows (Instagram)
@_ellieburrows_ (Twitter)

ARIES ARISE: FASHION FOR RAMS

Posted on by Ruby Warrington

Oh yeah, you can imagine how much we heart new fashion label Aries Arise, a line of casual separates from street wear designers Sofia Prantera and Fergus Purcell…Nuff said.

“ARIES 4EVA”
Aries SS14 - 4&5
“Those marijuana leaf motifs you used to get on T-shirts in Ibiza”
“Fergus and I like to have fun with cheap, bad prints”
“It’s almost like going back to the 1990s”
“We had people asking about the theme for the season…er, I don’t really do a theme”

Ariesarise.com

COUPLES THERAPY: DIARY OF A DETOX A DEUX

Posted on by Alexandra Roxo

When Alexandra Roxo decided to embark on a hardcore nine-day Ayurvedic cleanse, she had no idea her girlfriend would decide to come along for the ride. Cue tears, tantrums and an ocean of emotion.

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I was a bit nervous about telling my partner about the detox. We’d only been together five months, after meeting at a karaoke bar in Koreatown where I was instantly drawn to her off key rendition of “Stand By Your Man.”  Since then, we’d been falling in love over wine, croissants, late night snacks, drunken dancing…you know, the general dietary rule breaking that happens when you’re in a state of hormone induced euphoria. So deciding to put the brakes on the fun, so to speak, was a bold move. Especially seeing as we were moving in together a week later.

But I’ve always been one to take risks and do things in extremes, so I went with it. To my surprise, my girlfriend’s response was “I want to do it too.” This caught me very off guard because a) she’s more religious about her nightly cigarettes and wine and her morning coffee than her Jewish heritage, and b) I had been planning spending the week wearing mumus and listening to Enya while journaling, and never imagined doing it in front of my lover. Not to mention the idea of us both of being hungry/grumpy/gassy at the same time! Ew. I was hoping she’d be bringing me tea and holding down the emotional fort while I was the one being “transformed.”

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Okay, so what’s the big deal about a silly cleanse? Well THIS cleanse ain’t for the faint of heart. It’s a full on Ayurvedic experience, which includes rising with the sun, doing daily yoga, meditation and dream journaling, eating only two handful sized portions of vegan food at meal time, drinking your weight in greens, doing a three day juice fast, skin brushing, self oil massage, garlic liver flushes, kidney flushes, oil pulling, salt water colon cocktails. It’s basically its a full time job. But I did it last year and emerged glowing like a baby’s bum and happier than I’d felt in ages, so after this #$%^ing winter it was the medicine I needed. Plus with all the falling in love stuff (loads of white bread, recreational drugs…) I felt like I was in need of a full-on detox to get back on track.

What I wasn’t expecting was the emotional upheaval that occurred. Geez, not only had I stored up a few extra pounds this winter but also like, A LOT, of emotions. Four of my close friends also decided to do the cleanse and we were group texting about it all week. The word “meltdown” came up almost daily. Why were we all crying so much? Were we pms-ing? Nope. Were bad things happening? Not really, except not being able to eat. Shit just comes to the surface when you’re doing a detox, which I guess is why some people opt to take off work or go to a spa to do it. But alas, I’m not Lilo, so the closest I came was steaming up the bathroom and chilling in some epsom salts.

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And of course, the meltdowns melted into my relationship. It began with me announcing I needed to be alone for the week and storming off in tears, and soon I was dividing the green powder and groceries in two as if I was the star in a reality show about cleansing. I also cried pretty much every day as I released fears about all the attempted relationships gone awry in the past year. And I’ve already gone to therapy and done a peyote ceremony to try and work through that shit.

But those past heartbreaks and insecurities came rushing to the surface with a vengeance with every organ flush I did. And all of a sudden my girlfriend was angry at me! I’d “taken away” her freedom and her ability to be herself (i.e. eat when she wanted to). She grew resentful of me as I asked her; “Did you read the cleanse booklet?” and reminded her “wait, you can’t drink out of the faucet!” As she was too embarrassed to admit she was having these feelings, she just got really cold and distant until I broke down and cried into my turmeric stained hands. (As an aside: she said she didn’t cry at all, but later admitted to sobbing while watching a film about low income housing in Israel. I mean…) It’s an emotional thing, this cleansing.

Very dark green juice

In the dark alone time while staring at my garlic olive oil slurpee, I found myself challenging and questioning everything about the relationship. Everything. No stone remained unturned. The cleanse had forced me to get REALLY real with myself, and now there was no turning back and nothing to hide behind. No robust red wines, no morning coffee in bed, no trips to the bakery on the corner holding hands like we were in some 1990’s rom com. No spontaneous nights getting stoned and laughing ‘til you pee your pants and pass out holding a bag of Doritos. None of that!

You’re just raw. Real. Without frill. Looking tired, feeling grumpy, stinking of garlic and coconut oil. And actually, an honest look at yourselves as individuals and as a couple is pretty much the best gift you can give your relationship. Detoxing together as a couple is hard, but worth it. You don’t have to cleanse your colons together or scrape each other’s tongues, but making a goal and seeing each other for who you are without all the other stuff is a risk that – hopefully – will only deepen your bond.

Here are some tips for doing a detox for couples and not fucking up your relationship:

  • If you’re fully addicted, the first few days without coffee are bad. You may get evil, so maybe take this time alone to yourself and try to start on a weekend when you can scream underwater or hide in a closet.
  • Do not micromanage your partner. If you know more about cleansing than them etc, it’s easy to say things like, “wait that apple’s not organic!” before snatching it out of their hand and throwing it across the room. Just don’t.
  • Be gentle on yourself. Be gentle on each other. Ride the emotional ups and downs like a pro surfer and don’t do anything rash. Just breathe and imagine yourself in that exotic spa, staring at an extremely overpriced juice while gazing at a partial ocean view.
  • Resist the urge to send a photo text asking “does your poop look this green?” Just ask Google instead, please.

Alexandra Roxo is a Brooklyn-based filmmaker. She and her business partner Natalia Leite have a company called Purple Milk that makes all kinds of fun stuff. See more here: Drinkpurplemilk.com

Their new web series Be Here Now-ish, which chronicles the spiritual pilgrimage of two girls’ from NY to LA , will be premiering April 10 on Beherenowish.com

TAROTSCOPES: APRIL 2014

Posted on by Louise Androlia

APRIL 2014: INTRO

If you’re interested in these tarotscopes, chances are you’ve probably already clocked that astrologers have been speaking about the coming month for a long time. The Cardinal Grand Cross peaks around April 23rd, and the weeks leading up promise to be a pretty intense period to say the least. Imagine four people in a room, all with wildly different ideas and all trying to shape the world in their image.

When the Grand Cross forms the four planets involved will also all be at 13 degrees, and in the Tarot this is the number of the Death card, representing the sign of Scorpio. So think – change, transformation and reinvention. This energy has been building since December, and I for one have certainly been feeling it, have you?

You should know by now that I’m not one to embrace fear. I like the idea that if we try always to live in our highest and best energy, then we will always be exactly where we should be no matter what’s going on around us. I believe our struggles are in place to lead us to higher ground, and all we need to do is just keep walking. Life isn’t always going to be sparkles and unicorns, and if you are feeling less than 100% remember that we’re all in this together.

Through my coaching practice, I’ve come to discover that we all have the same fears packaged up in unique ways and yet we all feel totally alone some of the time. So share, love and support each other, or as I like to do when I’m feeling the winds of change – open up your arms wide and shout I’M READY!

P.S. If you know your full birth chart, this month read your sun and your rising sign tarotscopes for a double dose of guidance.

Cast by Louise Androlia using the Rider Waite Tarot Deck

ARIES / ARIES RISING – THE KNIGHT OF CUPS
Happy Birthday babe! It doesn’t surprise me to see an action card in place for you this month, because it’s not exactly news that you rarely stand still and just soak up the view. However this is definitely a time to really embrace some of the natural cycles of life, rather than try forcing the forward motion yourself. Get in tune with the flow and synchronicities of your life right now, make notes of how one thing leads to another, and you might just weave a web of action that gets you to the same desired outcome but with a few less puffs and pants.

Emotionally, you are perhaps going to be a bit more in touch with your watery side over the next few weeks, so if the tears start flowing, embrace them and think of yourself as having a birthday soul cleanse. It’s easy to get annoyed when your deepest feelings decide they want to make an appearance, but this is so a chance to dive in and swim around until you reach a deeper sense of personal embodiment. Think of yourself as having arrived at a blank page about to write the intro to your next awesome story, it needs some sentiment.

Externally I get a sense of commitment issues with this card and so I feel that if plans you are keen to see come to fruition get slowed right down it could be purely because you’re finding it hard to pin a certain someone down to the job. It’s amazing how frustrating it can be to feel like your fire-starting ideas are on hold because you’re having to simply wait it out. However every period of waiting can often just mean the space is being energetically held for you. Whenever that contract finally gets signed, then the time will be exactly right. It’s a more peaceful way to look at a limbo situation, right?

So try and embrace a sense of flow within action, after all if we know one thing for sure it’s that worry and anxiety only serve to thieve us of our peace, so don’t even invite those guys to your party!

In partnerships and romantically this is your chance to loosen your grip on any “all talk and no action” kind of connections. If you feel like you are constantly being emotionally let down, or sucked in by that knight in shining armor then it’s time to draw a line. You don’t need to suffer, even if you are locked in that familiar negative comfort zone. What would your biggest hero do right now? Well guess what, YOU are the hero, so bring in the change yourself and sweep out anything that isn’t working for you. Shake it off and treat yourself to a soul system spring clean – out with the old and in with the new. Keep walking, head high, heart open.

Questions? Come and chat with me about how your month is going @louniverse

TAURUS / TAURUS RISING – THE STAR
Take a trip back to this time last year. What was going on in your life? How were you feeling? I pulled this card for you last April, and I feel like you could be immersed in something that was just an idea all those months ago and that you can see how the cycle has passed through all its twists and turns to bring you to this stage. I spoke last month about embracing change and shaking up your foundations to work better for you, and this card follows on SO well from that, bringing in a totally butterfly energy for you. Transformation is such an awesome and empowering thing, it’s a wonder we can be so terrified of the unknown right?

This month I encourage you to celebrate and value your talents, your mind, your body and your spirit. How often do you just stop and pat yourself on the back? Or even look back and notice how things are clicking together. I know you can sometimes feel that you’re tumbling down a dark tube towards a goal, and so I want you to keep expanding your vision in order not to miss any opportunities that are headed your way. I have a sense that you need pushing into your own light and so I want to give you just a little nudge and say go and stand in that spotlight – or at least empower you enough to send an email to get the ball rolling. It’s time to embrace life in a way that works for you, yes you and only you.

Your conversation with the Universe, God, your inner self, Love or whatever energy you might feel connected to also needs a little revamp, and acting on behalf of the Universe, I’m telling you to remember to check back in with your mantras, prayers or gratitude practices. Why? Because those moments of nurture that you give yourself will reflect back on you and the world will feel like a brighter place. You will be able to see clearer and feel more solid, and that light of yours will be just that little bit more luminous.

Also, give yourself a break. Seriously. If there has been a lot of change in your sphere recently then you aren’t supposed to be feeling super stable and strong right now, and this is why it’s even more important to take a break and just be present in your own skin. This will recharge you and give you the energy boost you need in order to be able to withstand any shakeups to your foundations.

Anyway, this month is about Star powered energy, so wrap your arms around everything and everyone that you love. Fly, launch, shine, dream. Share your ideas, gifts, thoughts, talents, words, energy – get it out there in whichever form you feel like you thrive in. We need you!

Questions? Come and chat with me about how your month is going @louniverse

GEMINI / GEMINI RISING – THE KNIGHT OF WANDS
A nice change of pace from last month, which felt a little riddled with “what ifs”, “buts” and moments of worry. I hope you have been recharging and getting more on board with some self-love? Well keep it up as a permanent practice, okay?

This month I am giving you a rather large dose of passion and movement, and a big old jab out of your comfort zone. It’s so easy to get locked into a habit, like watching TV for instance, at the expense of other creative hobbies, and granted all those shows are pretty awesome and sofa time is fully supported. But at the same time, know that there is a higher energy for you to be tapping in to. I love thinking elementally, and what you want to bring in over the next few weeks is a lick of Fire. To immerse yourself in something that pumps up your life force, and reminds you that inspiration is always around you, if you just reach out and grab it.

I have a feeling that a few shifts are coming in your direction that might shove you towards a more action oriented place, and so be ready to embrace them. If you’ve been putting energy into the manifestation process recently then some results may start to roll in (hurrah!) Remember that you don’t have to say “yes” to everything, so step back and think about what might be right for you. Not sure? Ask what FEELS right. Avoid making decisions based on what you “think” you should do and allow passion to rule the show. I dare you to give it a shot! Also remember to allow everything in your life it’s own sense of flow. Know that whatever blooms has it’s rightful place, as you don’t want to even think about wasting your energy crying over spilt milk or stamping your feet if you feel like you haven’t got “your way”.

You may also be experiencing a major case of itchy feet, a desire to travel or meet some new faces. No need to race off to the airport right this second, but planning an adventure for later in the year could certainly bring you in the right kind of expansive energy. Same goes for the people you hang out with, are you clinking glasses and locking lips with those who lift you up and support your A-game? If not then your ability to make a shift in your social circle is something to be aware of. While you don’t need to go ditching pals left right and center, it’s very important to make sure that you feel part of a community that supports you.

A final nugget to ponder – always take a moment to check in which direction you are walking. Are you charging towards your dreams and in the direction of Love, or tiptoeing backwards into old habits and denying yourself the blooming and bright experience that you deserve?

Questions? Come and chat with me about how your month is going @louniverse

CANCER / CANCER RISING – THE SIX OF SWORDS
You’re on such a journey this year Cancer, as if you’re on a sailboat through the seas of change and the weather is a bit unpredictable. Sometimes it rains for days but then it’s bright and blooming! You have faith that there is a point to all this, right? Hold onto this truth, as it’s always what can comfort you when the winds rattle your bones.

So last month I was chatting to you about drama and theatrics and I’m sure you saw some of that in play. Was it around you externally or going on in your own mind? The next few weeks are a chance to really retreat from your own fears (and everyone else’s) and with a battery pack in tow just give yourself a break. It sounds simple and it kind of is, but I know it’s not always enough stop you panicking about when things are going to move forward or when the next job will come in.

Your goal now is to get embodied and empowered, and this means that you have to get clear on what you want the rest of the year and maybe even your life to look like. It’s so easy to just role with it, to feel a bit like life has got you in it’s clutches and you’re just waiting on other people to make decisions so that you can move forward. Granted, plenty of things do involve other people and their decisions but it doesn’t mean that you can’t be a part of it. Take some time this month to really go deep and connect to what might be right for you, not just as another a notch on your ladder or because it’s what you think you should do.

I just feel like laying low will suit you right now – ideally in a hammock, swaying your way through the day as you hone back into your zen zone. But um yeah, the real world…the real world requires subtle action and constant surrender. So keep moving but just in your own space. Be a little selfish, in the positive way, which means taking some time outs to work through annoyances. Sort through your internal life luggage and prepare a few old habits and ideas for the recycling bin, to exchange for a fresh approach.

You won’t get very far unless you start getting unapologetic about putting your own wellness and joy right at the very top of the list, shining bright. Dive into the little things that lift you up – the smile on your child’s face, the in-jokes with your BFF, the words on a page that always make you smile, the quirks of your pet. Mini moments of joy are what will propel you forwards so that instead of feeling lost at sea, you become the captain of the ship.

Questions? Come and chat with me about how your month is going @louniverse

LEO / LEO RISING – STRENGTH
This month is all about getting embodied and embracing the truth. The truth? It’s easy to be afraid of that word and want to run from it, scared of what it might mean – but it’s nothing to be afraid of. I want you to honor what feels right for you in every area of your life, and look at what might need shifting. It’s clear this is a month of spring-cleaning for everyone and as Leo is the sign that matches up to the Strength card, I feel that this is about you returning to your own source and getting really real.

So then, how are you going to dive in? I feel that for a start it’s worth checking in with your ego mind and its “ifs” and “buts” – have you accidentally on purpose been listening a little too much to those “I cant’s” recently? It’s easy to slip into the comforts of some of our favorite fears. I feel that the drama queen in your internal and external environment is a little on high alert right now. Have you noticed a lot of people in your sphere all caught up in idle gossip or low vibe conversation? If so then it’s imperative that you don’t join them, but at the same time it isn’t your job to call people out on their stuff, and definitely don’t lower your vibe to passive aggressive tweeting – such a waste of your time. Be the bright light and allow everyone to move on their own journey at their own speed.

Internally, don’t give the attention to the theatrics of the ego mind either. While the stage of your subconscious might look very exciting and inviting, is it all smoke and mirrors? How about giving peace a chance instead?

The thing is, inner work like this doesn’t have to be catastrophically boring, and it’s not like you have to wave your arms around and claim that you’re going to overhaul your known Universe either. It’s the small shifts we make that often bring about the biggest and brightest changes. Just say a few extra “yes’s” or maybe even a few more “no’s”, and take a moment to consider the direction you’re walking in, as you stop often to pause and breathe.

Remember that joy I asked you to look out for last month? Keep up this practice and know that gratitude will constantly expand your vision if you let it.

Above all, be gentle this month, and compassionate. You won’t overcome your challenges by shouting and screaming at them and punishing yourself when you feel like you’ve slipped up. Instead, operate in a constant state of surrender and forgiveness. The simplest advice for when you feel a little wobbly is to just operate at your highest level – which means your wellness and spiritual practice come first, compassion is a must, and there is no time to indulge drama. Got it?

Questions? Come and chat with me about how your month is going @louniverse

VIRGO / VIRGO RISING – THE LOVERS
Set your intentions for the next few weeks with a lit candle and a positive prayer. The intention itself? Simple, make moves from a place of love for your sweet soul and avoid making your daily planner lists when in a fearful mindset. You’re never too far off your A-game, and if you are feeling swayed right now know that you’re part of a bigger picture and not alone. Call a friend and share some of your stress. Yes I know you’d prefer to always be the “strong” one, but seriously – time to give that game up. You’re awesome and awesome people sometimes feel crap too. It’s fine and it’s valid. Instead of everything to everyone, try just being your own savior – feels good, right?

In the romance zone you might be pondering the concept of soul mates and what that really means. If you have been locked in an unfulfilling (for you) love affair recently then maybe it’s time to sweep the sleep from your eyes, stand up and draw the line. It’s easy to glam up a sad story into something that’s “sooo romantic and dramatic” but actually, maybe it’s just not good for you? Imagine if you could up your game to where the real voodoo lives? Just a couple of energy levels higher into the arena of radical self-love and boundless joy. For those of you already in the swoon zone, then indulge in each other’s needs over the next few weeks, re-tune yourselves to a balanced place and remember not everything is about you – you’re a team, so work it.

I feel like there’s a huge amount of power in your perception this month, and in every given moment consider that you might be able to expand the situation to see it in a way that lifts you up to your highest vibe. It seems that you could be in a period of change – not so much the unexpected, more so that you’ll have to make a bunch of decisions. It’s amazing how complicated we humans make our own process sometimes, with so many fears tied up with the “what if’s”. And yet if we can grasp that we really are just on a journey, then bad choices cease to exist.

Allow yourself to move with confidence, even if it is slowly. Tiptoeing is certainly okay this month, you’ll still get there. Think of it as a gift that you can see the light and dark in each situation, it actually gives you a head start, okay? Just make sure you’re headed in the right direction, yes you know the one. I have no doubt that you will be fine, just try and not question yourself so much. Think about how inspiring and amazing you find all your heroes and mentors, and then remember that they are reflections of you. Bask in your superpowers.

Questions? Come and chat with me about how your month is going @louniverse

LIBRA / LIBRA RISING – THE EIGHT OF PENTACLES
No, you’re not travelling back in time, but perhaps you’ve been feeling like you’ve had to do a lot of back and forth recently, and are a little tired of it? It’s been an odd couple of months – not bad, but there has been a lot of “thinking”, like ideally you’d be on a Caribbean vacation with a coconut cocktail now right. I pulled this card for you last July, so make a note of any familiarities between now and then, as feelings or situations now may be reflective or working together with what was going on then. For instance, you may be experiencing the revival of an old project, or treading familiar territory in a relationship.

You’ve been working on your balance in the last few months, something that comes naturally to you, but this month you’re ready to get head first into something new. I feel you’ve become a bit restless somewhere, that some of you are feeling bored while others are clamoring for change. A need to “expand” is the common ground, so it’s time to immerse yourself in developing or honing a new talent, or to discover something that’s perhaps a little bit out of your comfort zone. It’s amazing how quickly we can shift out of that place of stagnation by inviting something fresh into our lives. So take a scan across every area of your life, love, health, career, spirituality – where is in need of a revamp?

This is where you can do your best work this month. Make it exciting, change doesn’t have to be a hard slog; your aim is to feel enthusiastic about your life again, and to feel like you are working on something that you’re invested in. Can you get behind creating a life that you want to wake up and participate in?

Yes you might be having to comb over current details but while that’s going on, is there something you’ve been shoving to the back of your mind, worrying about whether you’re “good” enough or if it’s a fruitless idea? Give compassion to your desires and dreams, they don’t present themselves for no reason, so how can you honor them?

You are on this adventure right now – don’t ever forget that, even when it seems like a pain in the backside. It’s sometimes hard to accept that we are on a journey when we can’t see the final destination. This is why working with the idea that the present moment is the only thing that’s solid can really help us out. Work with each moment as it comes, and you will avoid a sense of overwhelm or a need to control. Consider yourself as building your pathway and allow yourself time and compassion. You don’t have to race ahead, this month is about nurturing your adventure and starting to carve out new experiences.

Questions? Come and chat with me about how your month is going @louniverse

SCORPIO / SCORPIO – THE PAGE OF CUPS
Faith. Where does yours lie, and in what form? Do you believe in an energy that’s bigger than you? Do you pray to a God or higher power? Are you connected to your own intuition? Do you believe you are the co-creator of your experience, or are you a victim of the Universe? I have no doubt that you can feel things shifting around you and within you right now, which is when it’s easy to be afraid and when old fears come up. But I want you to feel as though you are part of a bigger picture, but also something that resonates with you, that is unique and it’s personal. I can make much more sense of my own challenges when I realign with my belief that I’m on a journey, because I know that everything is a valid part of the puzzle that’s shuffling around to create my story.

This month you will be able to find your peace in the little signs and the tiny shifts, and your only job is to be open to seeing them. Use the word “expand” as a permanent mantra, and when ever you feel stuck or locked in a mindset or a situation make a request to your self or the Universe to open up and create space around you to be able to see your way through. You need every moment of calm that you can create, and I use “create” because it is your own job to support yourself over the next few weeks.

Miracles are circling you all of the time and the synchronicities are there, dancing around waiting for you to tune in. But that tune in will only get locked into place when you just stop and be still. Stillness is always our savior and don’t be overwhelmed by that idea. I‘m not suggesting you lock yourself away to be ‘”alone with your thoughts” for hours on end, how about just one minute breathing steadily with your eyes shut while you’re on the bus? Or a pause on your walk to look up to the sky and down to the earth. Connect.

You’re also still planting seeds that you’ve been scattering for the last few months, and now they are starting to bloom, totally in their own time though and in so many different ways than you expected, right? Choose to remain positive in the face any perceived blockages; perhaps they are in place to make you consider a more relevant and even better direction?

Finally, this week I bumped into an elderly gentleman in the park and we were chatting about his dogs. As I went to leave, he looked at me with a wide smile and said; “Do something exciting this weekend”. The idea of being in the present moment grabbed me. So keep your energy playful, childlike and bright and maybe you can just sail right into the dreams that you desire.

Questions? Come and chat with me about how your month is going @louniverse

SAGITTARIUS / SAGITTARIUS RISING – THE FIVE OF SWORDS
I feel that all the inner work you’re doing at moment is about how you shape your environment. Over the next few weeks you may notice some restructuring going on in your social circle, and with the ways you react to other people. Are you typical of your Fire sign? Are you quick to spark an argument or rush to prove yourself “right”? There is a wonderful delight in learning to pick your battles, or perhaps not even battling at all.

All of our relationships serve as mirrors, and diving into this concept can be an awesome self-help tool. The person that you find so irritating or really struggle with? They’re probably pulling out some of your own fears, or perhaps even reminding you of an aspect of yourself that you don’t like so much. But when you are so quick to form a negative opinion about someone else, this is just the energy you’ve tuned in to, and in turn you may only then see that part of that person.

The easy option for us is to just snap at someone or talk about them behind their back, but does that ever make you feel great? Does it solve the problem or bring help in any way? Not usually. So take a moment and pose those kinds of questions to yourself; Will complaining about this situation help me? Could I extend peace towards these conflicts? This doesn’t mean “backing down” or you being “better than” someone else, it just means honoring that your precious energy is better spent elsewhere.

So, where exactly? In regaining your own personal power of course! When you’re caught up in what others might be thinking then you’ve distracted yourself from honoring your own feelings and journey. Spend as much time as possible in the coming weeks putting attention on the positive feelings you’d like to experience going forward. Remember to envelope yourself with those who uplift you, and also that friendships do shift and change over time. It’s been a busy few months for everyone, so offer your very nearest and dearest a little extra compassion right now. I bet there is one person around you that perhaps wouldn’t ask for help but really needs it – so tune in.

Finally, if you have been feeling a little scattered or worn down then try this visualization. Close your eyes and visualize your solar plexus (the energy center just above the navel and under the ribs) as a large magnet. As you breathe in imagine all of your lost energy being magnetized back to your centre and filling you with warmth. As you breathe out ask to release any energy that is not yours and see dust particles scatter away from you. Do this for as many breath cycles as you like and end with a visualization of a bright white bubble surrounding you. Energy reboot, affirmative!

Questions? Come and chat with me about how your month is going @louniverse

CAPRICORN / CAPRICORN RISING – THE CHARIOT
Let’s talk about the direction in which you’re headed. Your journey is so significant right now, and of course the balance of it. If every aspect of your life right now were the first brick in the foundation of a building, what kind of city would you be creating? Are the foundations solid or shaky? And most of all, would you want to live there?

You don’t always consider putting your own needs first, but I have a feeling that with a bit of practice you might rather like it. When the astro energy is a bit choppy like it is out there this month, you really will ride it out like a pro if you focus on this, even if feels a bit forced to start with. You’re looking at a few weeks that might seem to go quite fast, and it’s essential to grab the reins and steer in the direction that you would like. I feel that you are also aware from the last six months that when things aren’t right they kind of fizzle out pretty fast anyway, and what you are aiming to hone right now is the ability to beat this before it even happens.

If it feels like things are going too fast for you, check that you are feeling fully embodied in your life. I’ve noticed that when we’re experiencing blocks it’s because we have hopped out of our body a little, perhaps into the future or the past. So just stop and just be present with your surroundings. Try using walking as a meditation, put that phone back in your bag and just focus on what’s around you, each person, each object, what the air feels like, what the colors look like. This is such a quick and easy way to pull yourself back into your body and also a very strong exercise to remind yourself that you are part of a bigger picture. You are not alone in your challenges.

You’re maybe thinking a little more long term than usual too, and certainly exploring new territory. It’s easy to be afraid of the unknown, even if it’s feeling good, because we can never see exactly how things are going to end up, we only have our plans. But I encourage you to enjoy every step, because if it feels good and right then you are exactly where you’re supposed to be, and the rest will form as you go.

Finally, shake your own foundations and chuck out what isn’t working for you, because I know you have plenty of rather nice things to fill that space, right? Make room for the LOVE and the FUN and the JOY. Seriously, these are the things that matter, so move in their direction.

Questions? Come and chat with me about how your month is going @louniverse

AQUARIUS / AQUARIUS RISING – THE NINE OF PENTACLES
If last month was about shaking up your foundations, then April is about choosing how you’re going to rebuild them. The chance to settle into new ways and habits can feel a bit odd at first, as it entails getting used to an exciting something/someone, or coping with something that is no longer present. But it’s okay, you’re doing the best job you can. So your whole attitude for this month has to be about staying on your highest energy plane and looking after yourself in an epically wonderful way. Are you ready for that? Of course you are.

First up, rediscover or create what your own miracle saving tactic can be when you feel stuck or stressed out. When I feel blocked when trying to work, I grab my keys and just charge out the door for a walk, even if it’s just around the block – yes this is total a perk of being freelance, but you will find your own way. Breath work, a moving meditation, a song on repeat, a moment of solitude or a mantra. It’s kind of awesome to have a go-to way to calm down, and to know that your “safe place” can be inside you and accessed any time, anywhere.

So now, how about your external environment? This is the place that we really can’t control, as we aren’t at liberty to know what others are going to do around us. But we can hone and help ourselves as much as possible. First up, your home – time to bring in a little feng shui, or just some fresh flowers? Make your bedroom somewhere that you are excited to fall to sleep and wake up! It sounds insanely simple, but there are plenty of us who push nurturing our space to the bottom of the list. The ideal comfort zone is having a precious place in your home where you can practice the above and get a double dose of grounding and reenergizing, all created by you!

I feel like the people around you, at work or in your family or social circle, might be a bit wobbly over the next few weeks, so remember how your energy can often create the scene you’re in. With this in mind, it’s time to bring the light and the encouraging talk to the room. I don’t feel that you need to be very adventurous this month, as it’s a time for really indulging in what you know feels right for you. For instance socially, make time to only hang out with the friends who give you that warm and fuzzy feeling inside and head to the places where you can glide into your favourite seat.

It’s likely that within your happy places, inside and out, you will find exciting guidance, whether your inner voice shouts out quite the epiphany or you spy a career breakthrough right under your nose. Just keep your eyes open.

Questions? Come and chat with me about how your month is going @louniverse

PISCES / PISCES RISING – THE HERMIT
As above, so below. As within, so without. This is a month of plugging yourself in to your personal energy charger and sitting quietly and prepping for action. So take that pressure OFF, right now, seriously, you don’t have to do anything or have to be anywhere. Reshuffle your space so there is plenty of time to be still, even if it’s just a few seemingly tiny moments in what you see as a sea of chaos. Find them.

Your outer environment will mirror what’s inside, so of course you have to start rebuilding your inner soul system in order to rebalance what you see around you. If you are surrounded by drama and theatrics, maybe it’s your own inner push and pull that needs attending to. Does the space feel not quite safe around you? Then keep finding that safe place inside. Whatever you see around you, see if you can find the parallel within, and then commit to doing the work.

Remember your ability to flow and work it, you aren’t a fish for no reason! Dive, search, float – but don’t swim away. This is why the power of recharging is so epic, and you can think of the next few weeks as a period of evolution. Usually when these moments are required it’s because there’s a shift up ahead that will need you to be very present. I feel that any projects that you want to launch, people you want to woo or celebrations you are waiting for will be in your vision towards the end of the month, so you are just quietly prepping.

When faced with this card, it’s always useful to edge away from what you think “Hermit” means – you aren’t about to go and sit in a cave and have no friends for the next ten years (which is what people always think when they see this card!) In fact, you’re just making way for the new and improved you and you need to be silent now in order to shine forth in the months to come.

I always like to remind you of avoiding your own dramatics, especially with a card of retreat like this, so go swim in an expansive, adventurous space, not in your own tears. Got it? If you really tune into what’s around you right now you should be able to pick what can go and what should stay. Remember you are not the victim of the story, more so the master of it, and any situations that feel out of your control can be twisted around so that your personal power comes back into the picture. Sometimes we need to just go in and edit our story and make ourselves the hero, right? Time to remember that you ARE the hero, the good guys come out on top and that, yes, LOVE rules.

Questions? Come and chat with me about how your month is going @louniverse

Cast by Louise Androlia using the Rider Waite Tarot Deck

HOW DO I LOOK? BEFORE YOU GET BOTOX, READ THIS

Posted on by Ruby Warrington

This is the transcript of a conversation with magical energetic aesthetician Maureen Dodd that talked Ruby Warrington down from the Botox ledge. Literally. Until a few weeks later that is…but enlightenment is a work in progress, right?

“Botox is cheating yourself, not anybody else. There’s a way of seeing ourselves where we don’t even notice the little lines that’s completely different to what we’ve been taught. That’s what energy is. That’s what this new wave of consciousness that’s coming in is all about.

Beauty is different now. It’s not about how porcelain your skin is, it’s about seeing beyond the obvious to the true depths of beauty. We really are mystical creatures, and yet we keep defining ourselves by a three-dimensional image.

Do you ever meet people who are completely free of that, and who are just shockingly beautiful? Because in their presence you feel free of any external expectations. We all want our mother, husband or boyfriend to tell us we’re beautiful, and if you can see the divine beauty in everything, then everybody IS beautiful.

People who’ve had work look distorted – and it becomes addictive. It’s like drinking a cocktail to make you feel better, but what is the drinking fixing? Before you get Botox consider this – the fix has to come from within. If somebody feels beautiful, I guarantee they’ll look beautiful. That’s when it becomes a spiritual thing.

We limit our thinking about healing all the time, by not considering how it works on the grander, infinite scale. Do we really believe in our full potentiality? And it’s the same with beauty. Why would you judge yourself, or deflate yourself at any age? Where does that come from? The biggest evil in the world is how we belittle ourselves.

I think this hyper visual world we’re in is a phase, at some point we will all be asked to forget about these petty concerns and think about how we can come in with our full essence. Like what does it really mean to embody LOVE? It won’t be about how good you look in a selfie.

That’s all I’m interested in, the idea that we all realize we are all as valuable and beautiful as each other. Soon somebody will take it to the next level and end that conversation. In the meantime, it’s a total test. And glamour is also huge business. But it’s not reality, and a very small facet of humanity.

Fear of ageing is because mostly people are afraid of getting unhealthy and dying, because we all know that beauty comes from how you see yourself and not caring any more about what men, or other women, think. But embodying that really is a precarious little platform.

But just like you create any other success in life, you create it on the inside. I think the soul shines through regardless of what procedures you’ve had – it’s the soul that’s luminous and larger than the physical body, and somebody’s who’s really radiating light, body and soul, they’re ridiculously beautiful.

If you’re truly in love with yourself and your life, and God or whatever, you couldn’t possibly think you were anything less than beautiful. I’ve never once looked at my daughter and thought; “yuk!” – so why are we so hard on ourselves?

Sure it’s about eating right every day, relaxing, being purgative of all toxins. But essentially it’s about the relationship with yourself – there’s no escaping your face. Natural healing is always about a belief in something that’s untangible, surrendering to the idea that your body knows what to do if you can just get out of the way.

Our bodies can heal from open heart surgery, yet we don’t we believe we can get rid of a few little lines organically and deeply from inside…what’s wrong with us?

Botox is a little poisonous Band-Aid. It’s like being bitten by a snake. Beauty beyond Botox is about a complete shift, and lifting your consciousness to where everybody is beautiful. It’s about dropping narcissism, the self-obsession that goes beyond ordinary awareness and becomes distortion. Can’t you do something better with that energy?

Stop thinking about the way you look all the time and just actualize yourself beautiful. It’s like dressing up for Hallowe’en – just do it, just be it.

The whole Botox question become so silly when you think about just how magnificent we are – like, who cares about some lines on our face? Honest to God, what is wrong with us? What is that? Maybe it’s a calling to a higher level of consciousness. After all, life is full of initiations.”

Maureen Dodd is Director at Spiritual Wellness and Energy Therapies at The Ash Center.

SIMPLY ME: REDEFINING SUCCESS THROUGH SELF-KNOWLEDGE

Posted on by Ruby Warrington

What does “successful” look like to you? Redefining success on your own terms can only be done by going within, says Ruby Warrington.

The SUCCESS bracelet by Melissa Curry

What does “success” mean for me? It’s a question that’s been circling my very being since last summer when I interviewed Arianna Huffington about The Third Metric – her campaign to encourage us all to consider “success” beyond the relentless pursuit of money, accolades and power. And this week, I met a woman who has helped put into words the journey I’ve found myself on.

Melissa Curry is an Irish jewellery designer whose SUCCESS collection features a motivational amulet, designed to be gifted to the woman in your life you want to encourage to be the best she can be. A delicate rose-gold bracelet or necklace features an 18 carat gold bar inscribed with the word “Success.” And if, “the bar represents our inner strength, success can mean…everything,” she told me.

For Curry, whose personal journey has taken her from glittering career in Paris to destitute, single-mother of one, meaning some radical shifts in her own perception of success over the past decade; “it’s not about external power, and, for a woman, it’s certainly not about competing with men. It’s about being you, knowing what makes you tick, what makes your heart work, what makes your mind work, and embodying that.”

YES. Success for me is simply about being true to being me. At work, in my relationships and in my physical body. And this is when I realized that so much of what we cover on The Numinous is about tapping into exactly that.

From learning how to read and work with what the Astro Twins call your “factory settings” in your own astrological chart, to developing your intuition or “psychic powers” or embarking on a transcendental juice fast, isn’t so much of modern new age (what I like to call “now age”) thinking, about seeking to develop a more intimate and comfortable understanding of who we really are on the inside – and, therefore, what we really want?

For me, stepping off the media merry-go-round and leaving a high-profile magazine job to launch my own Internet project last year was the beginning of this journey. Creating something from my heart, working in my own environment, to my own hours and with the people of my own choosing has made me feel successful in ways that far eclipse the glamour, status and influence of my old life.

Of course, the fact that I can also structure my day to include a guided meditation to meet my spirit power animal is by no means going to tick the success box for everybody – but that’s the whole point. There is no one-size-fits-all definition of success.

And the fact I get emails every week thanking me for creating The Numinous is the icing on the cake. It’s also an illustration of how stepping into a definition of success that means something to me personally, I find myself giving something back and having a positive impact on the world around me almost by default.

My friend Jennifer Kass, a happiness coach and self-described “love pioneer” put a brilliant post up on Facebook the other day. In it, she described “The 3 Stages of Human Evolution (from my perspective, of course),” with step one, “Sleeping,” defined as; “Being stuck in a job and/or relationship that is toxic, causing physical mental and emotional ailments, denial, addiction, living in fear, anxiety, suffering, doubt, lack and limitation.”

Step two, “Waking up,” involves using all the Numinous tools – “meditation, self-love, healing, a return to wholeness, freedom, self-knowledge, joy” – to engender step three – “Action.” And here’s where the rubber really meets the road; “We take full responsibility for choices that will change our lives, and we let go of what is no longer serving us by taking courageous action.”

Further, she argues, “Now that we know who we are and what we’re here for, we go out into the world, sharing the gifts and passions we came here to, which in turn perfectly align with ending suffering on the planet in various forms.” A lofty ambition, maybe, but why not? Human suffering – and what alleviates it – comes in many forms too.

I’m not a big one for a motivational quote (quality over quantity, people), but I saw this, from Howard Thurman, at a Lululemon event recently; “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” And knowing your SELF – that is, being in direct conversation with the spirit being piloting your human form on a daily basis – is the only way to answer that question too.

Each piece in Melissa Curry’s collection comes with a little card, where you can write your definition of success. So what does it mean to you?

Melissacurry.com

SXSW SPIRIT GUIDE: 36-HOURS IN AUSTIN

Posted on by Ruby Warrington

Yee-haw, here comes the annual music and culture mash-up that is Austin’s SXSW festival. But there’s a whole other side to the town that’s more hippie than hipster (in a good way). Here’s our recipe for a weekend of self-discovery  and spiritual hi-jinx in the Portland of the South…

SATURDAY

9AM BLACK SWAN YOGA

The girls who run this donation based studio ($10-$15 suggested, $7 minimum) made a grainy, black and white freaking yogic music video as the intro to their website. All classes – Beginner, Power, Sweaty and Flow – take place in a 90-degree heated room, and if you can’t get to one of the four Austin locations there are even online classes to do. We suggest kicking off your Austin tour with the 9am Power class taught by Adam M at the Downtown studio. Set to a soundtrack of hip-hop, reggae, and, um, tango; “The idea is that we’re working ‘towards’ being the best version of ourselves and having some fun doing it,” he says.

Blackswanyoga.com

11AM JUICELAND

rbz-Juiceland-Cleanse-01

Now it’s obviously juice o’clock, and with seven locations dotted throughout Austin this is the place to get your greens on. We say go straight for the hard stuff and make your selection from the “Next Level” menu. How about a Cold Shower (cucumber, parsley, mint, watermelon, lime, salt) to cool you down after that hot yoga session? Or if you really need waking up, the Xtra Holla Pain Yo! (jalepeno, garlic, carrot, orange, cilantro, lime, salt) should do the trick. They also do smoothies and soups, and there’s a vegan, gluten free “Functionally Good Food” menu too.

Juiceland.com

12 NOON THE HERB BAR

You’re invited to switch off your mobile phone before you enter this magical mystery emporium, which, open since 1986, looks like Bilbo Baggins hobbit cave with its little red door almost buried behind the ivy bush that covers the front of the building. Inside, you’ll find everything from herbal tea blends and massage oils to locally produced natural beauty products and remedies, astro paraphernalia, crystals, prayer flags and wind chimes, all served up by super-friendly owner Twila Dawn Willis. Yep, it’s basically Numi retail heaven.

Theherbbar.com

1PM UNCOMMON OBJECTS

 

 

There’s plenty more magic to be found at this Austin stalwart, but rather than try to describe the kind of treasures a root around this sprawling space might uncover, we repeat for you their manifesto; “We relish the time worn and well loved. We are crazy about genuine patina. We cherish folk arts and parlor crafts from around the world. We reflect the melting pot that is the American experience. We adore ingenious repair. We honor beauty found in unexpected places. We are inspired by the joy found in serendipity.” And seriously, where else are you going to find a skate board that doubles up as a ouija?

Uncommonobjects.com

2PM MR NATURAL

There’s A LOT of amazing vegetarian food in Austin, but we’re sending you to this meat-free take on a traditional Tex Mex joint for a couple of reasons. 1) It comes highly recommended from Twila at the Herb Bar. 2) They do an ENTIRE GLUTEN FREE MENU. 3) There’s an yoga studio attached where they offer a ‘spiritual Hatha’ practise. And, maybe most importantly, 4) They produce a huge assortment of insane wheat / sugar / dairy / etc free cakes and pastries out of the on-site bakery.

MrNatural-austin.com

5PM SPARTAN

This ridiculously hip lifestyle boutique is essentially what the Numinous would be if we had a store (now there’s an idea…) Owner Currie Person has curated THE chicest collection of spiritually aware fashion, jewellery and homewares, while some new arrivals for spring include a crazy cool tie-dye leather bag from Creatures of Comfort, a selection of vintage Andean blanket rugs, this set of Bing Bang skull studs and the great felt hat by Janessa Leone pictured here.

Spartan-shop.com 

8PM CHEER-UP CHARLIE’S

With kombucha on tap and the MOST delicious vegan food truck parked out back, this indoor-outdoor bar / live music venue is a one-stop healthy hedonism shop. They also serve fresh pressed juice cocktails, while a parachute canopy covering the patio creates an other-worldly, that-bar-from-Star Wars kinda vibe. Oh, and check out the rad décor on the dance floor! Who needs ‘shrooms with all this trippy black light s*** going on?

Cheerupcharlies.com

12.30AM STARRY EYES

If you can drag yourself away from the fun times at Charlie’s (see above), Starry Eyes – described as “an occult tale of ambition, possession and the true cost of fame,” is being screened as part of the official SXSW schedule. Following the (mis)fortunes of a wannabe actress in Hollywood, after a series of strange auditions she lands the lead in a new film from a mysterious production company. “But with this opportunity comes bizarre ramifications that will transform her both mentally and physically…” Yikes!

SXSW.com

SUNDAY

10AM BARTON SPRINGS POOL

This man-made pool in Austin’s Zilker Park is filled from the water of the Main Barton Spring, the fourth largest natural spring in Texas. Open for year ‘round outdoor swimming, long before the pool was built the springs were considered sacred and were used for purification rituals by tribesmen of the local Tonkawa tribe. So where better to refresh your Sunday morning head?

Austintex.gov

11am JYOTISH ASTROLOGY WITH ANNE BEVERSDORF 

This renowned Austin astrologer goes back and forth between traditional Western and Vedic astrological systems during a reading, cross-checking information to give a totally in-depth, 360-reading. Coming to astrology as a healing modality, “My goal is to open doors for a deep flowering of your innermost Self in relation to the world. My peace is in hearing that YOU have found meaning in both joys and sorrows,” she says.

Stariel.com

1PM WHOLE FOODS RAW VEGAN FOOD BAR

Not only does Austin have one of the biggest Whole Foods in the world (or at least what feels like it, this is the home of their HQ after all), there’s also a WHOLE counter of the infamous salad bar dedicated to vegan (and mainly raw) cuisine. Well, hello broccoli cashew crunch, chickpea chix salad, pumpkin seed cheese, and raw German chocolate cake. Oh, or how about a raw flax seed tortilla was topped with kale and avocado, spicy cashew cheese, mock sour cream, cilantro and pico de gallo? Yes please.

Wholefoodsmarket.com

3PM GARDEN OF THE ANCIENTS

A 15-minute drive out of town, this “herb emporium and nursery” carries over 300 medicinal and culinary herbs, while the store itself is set among the creeping vines of a sprawling working herb and vegetable garden. They also grown a large selection of “ethnobotanical”, or medicinal, plants, including Daturas and Morning Glories, Wild Dagga, Baby Hawaiian Woodrose, Wormwood, Skullcap, Wild Lettuce, Wild Tobacco and the legendary San Pedro cactus. Properly witchy stuff.

Gardenoftheancients.com

5PM CUSTOM CRYSTAL DESIGN SESSION WITH FORREST LEE

Fort Worth native Forrest Lee has been creating his beautiful Healing Vortex Crystal Wraps since 2009, when he was gifted his first crystal – “with intense compassion from a dear brother in a hard time” – with life changing results. Now, “my goal is to spread healing and compassion by igniting that heart flame in each human. The crystals help remind us of our divinity,” he says, and a custom design session with Forrest is the best way to find the crystal that will work the hardest for YOU.

Facebook.com/healingvortex.crystalwraps

7PM BANGERS

Time to balance today’s air and water energy activities with some low down and earthy SAUSAGE. Bangers is Austin’s famous “sausage house & beer garden” – and, yes, their veggie options (beet and goat cheese or veggie BLT) get a huge thumbs up from us. The veggie ranchero brunch and sides (jalepeno cream corn with onion gratin anyone?) are also ridiculous, and all washed down with libations from the gluten free beer menu (yep, you read that right!)

Bangersaustin.com

9PM SOUND HEALING WITH TINA RODRIGUEZ

This incredible local healing artist, who works with crystal bowls as well as the sound of her own sweet voice, hosts regular group sessions and is available for one-to-one healing. As the rest of the SXSW revellers rock out to the closing sets of the festival, send your spirit soaring high on her beautiful cosmic vibes.

Facebook.com/tinalasirena

For full listings of what’s up at SXSW go to the festival website.

@SXSW

With thanks to Caleb Campaigne.

TAROTSCOPES: MARCH 2014

Posted on by Louise Androlia

PISCES – QUEEN OF PENTACLES

Happy Birthday sweet swimmer! As the two bookends of the Zodiac, you and Aries both have the same cards come up as last month. To say February will merge it’s energy with March is obvious, but whatever you were working on last month will follow through too and I feel that much of the mood is a continuing search for stability.

It can be easy for you to swim against your own tide or, dare I even say it, flee from the idea of being ‘tied down’.

Yet you are always searching for something that feels like home. What does the steady flow that you desire look and feel like to you? It’s good to work with this to remind yourself that your journey isn’t a prescription laid out with no fluidity – instead it’s quite the opposite. If you desire a partnership but don’t want to feel like your wings have been clipped, then know that it’s completely possible to find someone who rides the same wave as you and gives you the space you want. Instead of running from people who express interest in you, allow everyone else the option to be unique and different – don’t try and label or pin people down to what you think they are. This will limit your opportunities to bring in the right kinds of friends, lovers, partners and work mates to expand your experience.

Along with this search for solid ground, know that there is a balance between the material and spiritual and that it’s ok to be in both worlds. I feel that this month you may be working with that balance and occasionally questioning which is the ‘right’ way to be. Remove this pressure and again, allow yourself to expand in all directions. There is no need in this day and age to separate the two. You can be practical with your intuition and be spiritual in your day to day.

This month allows you to stop and re-shuffle priorities, feelings and plans. The joy lies in your ability to create an environment that works for you. I feel that you may also be considering the ground you walk on; some of you feeling like putting down roots and committing to new homes, classes and jobs, while others are experiencing the opposite – purely because these foundation may not feel right. In this case, you will maybe even relocate.

The main thing I’d like you to work on though is a steadiness. The fact that this very earthy card has come up twice makes me want to let you know it’s okay to slow down. You don’t need to make hasty decisions and a little going over of matters and thoughts will not do you any harm. Maybe during last month’s Mercury retrograde it already felt like your brakes were being pulled (or plans thwarted) – so allow this and take time to go over plans. It’s so easy to be impatient, but what if the only thing you are really supposed to do this month is stop, look and learn?

Chat with Louise Androlia about how your month is going @louniverse

 

ARIES – TWO OF SWORDS

Like Pisces you have the same card come up as last month. I know you are always ready to race from the starting blocks and again this month there is still a cause for stillness. In February I mentioned decision-making, and how hard it can be when you feel impatient. You might notice that theme continuing over the next few weeks. Although Mercury is no longer retrograde, Mars (your ruler, planet of motivation) has taken over the retrograde throne so it’s perhaps still a point of slow down. Again, no need to fear this, but use it to your advantage.

When I look at the card this time around I feel quite a strong sense of peace. I feel that you know there is a lot of potential change around you and upcoming and that you are ok with it. It’s always more important to put your energy on being excited about the future and what it might bring, rather than the fear of what might happen. I love the idea of making your ‘will’ bigger in your mind than your ‘won’t’. So let this month ease you into the changes you have planned.

I feel a certain amount of the next few weeks might also be about succumbing to working with other people, something you love doing but which can easily stress you out when all decisions aren’t ‘yours’ to make. Any time you feel that your sense of personal control is tested this is a chance to grown and expand within your journey. Make the surrender practice your mantra this March – and know that maybe letting someone else lead you a little is like actually giving you space somewhere inside that melting pot of ideas to rest. The main thing though is just to allow flow, in as many ways as possible. That way, if things do become frustrating you will just laugh it off – knowing that you are ahead of the game and you love all the twists and turns your adventure brings.

I also feel that dreams might be significant for you this month (who knows, maybe you might give lucid dreaming a shot?) and possibly time to start up a journal to write out what your subconscious throws out – you may find some of the answers you seek are packaged up in unusual ways, so be on the look out for hidden messages and sly synchronicities.

What I feel you might discover is that right towards the end of the month you notice opportunities blooming and answers arriving in new forms. I feel that by April there also could be someone new arriving into your career space. It could be collaboration, business coach or even an awesome new accountant – either way, someone that might take your work life up a notch in your desired direction.

Chat with Louise Androlia about how your month is going @louniverse

 

TAURUS – DEATH

Ch-ch-ch-ch-chaaanggeees. You know change is all around you, right? I feel quite confident that none of you reading this is unaware that plans are a-foot, things are a-coming and horizons are expanding. Right. The main question though is how are you approaching this? Are you full of fear or standing with arms wide open ready to embrace the new like a long lost BFF?

Last month I spoke about new work opportunities so this card may be bringing in your desire to get prepped for the launch of a new project. Don’t worry too much if the change you had already anticipated doesn’t swoop in as soon as you hoped, this month still has a sense of slowness to it. But remember slow and stead wins the race. This is the chance to elegantly move in the direction you desire, and not panic or obsess about when the outcome is coming. It IS coming, so just let yourself breathe. For instance if you are waiting for a few technical details to come through, it doesn’t mean you can’t still be out and about sharing your plans with others. Talking about the new is also an on the down low manifestation exercise. Talk as if it what you want is already happening and you bring in that energy. Before you know it BOOM – it has.

This month I also want you to keep working with the possibilities that life can bring when you move positively with a sense of flow. Admittedly you aren’t the first one to shake up your foundations, yet you’re often surprisingly (to yourself) good at coping when the ground shakes. I don’t feel this is a time of unexpected change, It feels too upbeat for that, I would rather you think of how you can invite change in to make your life better and brighter for you.

How to do this? Well an easy way is to give a scan of your environment and take note of anything that you feel needs a shake up. Perhaps you’re desperate to get out of a job that’s no longer working or even just revamp your schedule to make it work better for you. Maybe you have a relationship that needs to finally be kicked to the curb. OR, on the contrary, one that needs more love and nurture. Do you need a major mind-body-spirit reconnect?  Is it time to change your schedule so you have more time for yourself?

This month might not bring all the action, but it should bring in the ideas and certainly the intentions. So settle and make plans and baby steps. There are a million possibilities and you are the one with all the answers. I’m not going to tell you what you need to shift – you know exactly what it is babe. Arms open wide.

Chat with Louise Androlia about how your month is going @louniverse

 

GEMINI – NINE OF SWORDS

What have you got to worry about? I feel a major sense of anxiety, but it doesn’t feel so present – did last month dredge up a bunch of old fears and niggling irritations? If you are feeling sleepless at night and restless in the day because of worries and too much chatter in your own mind – it’s okay. We all have times like these, and really it’s always a swift shout out for nurture and self-care. It is really easy to feel bound up by your own thoughts, especially as an Air sign, but it’s equally important to learn to sift through them and consider what is real and what is a fear based illusion.

I have a real sense that there is less to be stressed about than you think, and actually if you open your eyes and look around you it’s likely you will find that all those around you have been feeling the hard push recently too. While it’s not good to indulge in a ‘misery loves company’ vibe, it’s super important and essential that you know that you are not alone. Talk it out with your nearest and dearest, ask for help if you need it, check in with your therapist or coach for a boost of advice, and print out some of your favorite quotes. There are a myriad of resources around you that might just give you the pick me up that you need.

Also remember that your challenges are only ever in place to lead you to higher ground. Even that slightly annoying work colleague is an assignment for you to take on. Everything always makes a little more sense in retrospect so just keep moving.

Meanwhile make time to be kind to yourself this month. Even if you don’t feel you are held up with fears you could, like many of us, have just been really overworked recently and need to tap in to the slower moving astro energy that is around due to energizing Mars taking over the retrograde motion (thought Mercury is now direct woo-hoo!)

With this in mind, approach your own wellness with the kiss of kindness – this is not the time to set yourself a punishing regime, no way! Instead just think about raising your energy by nourishing your body with whole foods and gentle exercise. Get outside; there is something to be said for simply brushing off the cobwebs. If you feel stuck or frustrated, stop and take even just five minutes to march round the block – it’s amazing what that burst of movement and fresh air can do.

Of course you can also go the full on self-love route and book yourself in for spa treatments, blowouts and private meditation classes – do what you feel and feel what you do. Anything you do this month that is for your own sense of well-being will propel you out of any fear funks.

Chat with Louise Androlia about how your month is going @louniverse

 

CANCER – FIVE OF WANDS

Drama only exists if you participate in it. I live by these words as often as possible, even when tempted out of them by the bells and whistles of my ego or the world around me. Now I know that you aren’t the gossip of the group, so you are on a right footing, but what do you do when commotion is all around you? I’m diving right in here, but it may be that you know exactly what I’m on about. Family dramas, friends in blabbermouth mode or some major nitpicking happening in the workspace? Of course all you want to do is batten down the hatches and go underground, but of course it’s not always that easy.

The best thing you can do is not indulge any of these things that are rattling your inner being. Sure you might not be able to stop others waving their egos around the room, but you don’t have to join in or encourage it. It’s really okay to just stand back. I always press the idea of being the fly on the wall in your own life. There is an amazing clarity you can get when you stop to view your own situation as an outsider. Of course this is exactly why a life coach or therapist can be so helpful as they start out with a third person point of access. However it’s a great personal practice so get buzzing and fly to the corner of the room. What exactly is happening here? Is there a real drama or is it self-made? Is everyone actually fighting for the same cause? Maybe you might just need to leave everyone to it and stay in safe mode – you know that behaving in a way that isn’t true to yourself never gets you anywhere anyway.

Meanwhile as always make a point of being kind to yourself this month, especially if anything in your sphere feels chaotic – just enjoy your own time. There is a juice of fun creativity to be squeezed from this month if you manage to choose you time over theatrics. In fact, isn’t creativity your best therapeutic tool? Why not paint it all out, draw, dance, explore? Plan your adventures for the rest of the year, encourage and support your best self to bring in a boost of confidence.

Don’t pin yourself down to having to ‘achieve’ things this month, just set your intentions and tackle each day as it comes. You may also find that friends come running to you with their issues, after all you are one of the best empathetic advice givers they know! This is all and well, but just be sure not to let your energy take a dive in consequence. Recharge your inner soul system with taking a moment to check in with your inner guide – especially if you have been a little out of touch recently.

Chat with Louise Androlia about how your month is going @louniverse

 

LEO – THE SUN

A little nod back to October for you my lion, as again this card pops up. And as the Sun is your ruling planet too, of course it’s never a bad one to reacquaint yourself with. So what has been happening the last few months? It’s been a hard slog for many people recently, you too? Feels like you’ve been over working and under appreciating yourself. If that rings true then you know the answer already and with this card it’s pretty simple. Make some time for joy.

Why is this so hard sometimes? It is such a human mindset to believe in a ‘no pain, no gain’ mentality, to trudge up the hill and believe that there will be no let up until you are total beaten down. It really doesn’t have to be like that.

What does happiness mean to you? It’s a question that can stump us. Where is it? But happiness and joy are not destinations, which means you have to open up to seeing something good in any given moment. It can be a challenge but it’s actually a fun game to play. What is outside your front door tomorrow morning will be different depending on the way you perceive it. I really believe that positive energy is something that you can tune into and that you can tweak your sight to see things in a more expansive way.

So this month practice that tune in. Recognize that relief from stress might be found in five quiet minutes alone if you stop to be in the moment. If you find that your mind is running in all sorts of directions apart from the present then try a writing practice. Make a list of all the fears, thoughts, what if’s and plans that are on your mind. Then give them recognition and choose to focus on one thing that is in your present moment – it might be drinking from your glass, taking a bite of food, connecting with nature or reading from a book. Every time you feel a scatter of mind, try this and just go back to whatever is with you in the minute. Your energy will benefit from this and reboot your system to connect mind and body to a more conscious state.

Combine the above with a gratitude practice to up your state of positive awareness. You can write what you are grateful for down as an evening journaling practice or try a site like happyrambles.com that will email you at the time of your choosing asking ‘What are you grateful for?’ You have a free pass to take a break and enjoy life this month, and if you really must look to the future, make it be about the vacation you are planning!

Chat with Louise Androlia about how your month is going @louniverse

 

VIRGO – ACE OF WANDS

Raring to share? With this card in play you are no doubt feeling ready to get something out into the open and whether that is a personal announcement or a business launch the time feels right. I turned over a lot of strugglesome cards this month, as energetic Mars takes the retrograde flag from Mercury, but I have a feeling you are going to breeze through with a little fire on your side and in your heart.

This is a month of prepping for a new start, and you have the passion. This doesn’t feel like a boring, got to get things done kind of a vibe, more so that you can’t keep your new in. I feel one of our big missions in life is to share, in fact I’m sure it’s why we have all of our experiences – in order to help others with what we have learned. This is something to always keep in mind when you are having a challenge, to recognize that you are being lead to higher ground and that the moment has purpose, even if the reason is clouded in mist right now. So if now does happen to have a foggy overtone you will get to the clear skies by honing in on what you are passionate about and participating in it unapologetically!

Yes I did say that, you have a green light to go for your own gold. I know you are working hard and deserve some loving payback. So start by giving that love directly to the source, aka YOU.

Anyway, back to those ideas, I feel you have a cauldron bubbling up, in fact it’s likely you even feel overwhelmed with the potential you can see for the next few months or year and are wondering where to start. Back to the moment and just start by taking one step or making one move – by putting your faith in and taking the starting action you bring in trust that the direction will become clearer ahead. If you always send out your projects with solid integrity and love then it’s hard to go wrong and allow things to be different to what you perhaps expect. It could be that the big success this month is something you hadn’t put in the forefront – but surprises are awesome right?

I feel that you are also going to want to spend some time with fellow trail blazers, in fact you’ll probably feel high in the company of those who inspire you. It’s likely that some pals may need your advice over the next few weeks too and teamwork will be an all ‘round win. Anyway, I know you have it in the bag, just know that you are allowed to be confident in your ability to be out living your life and doing your do. There is no other you, remember?

Chat with Louise Androlia about how your month is going @louniverse

 

LIBRA – JUSTICE

This is a month of getting things done and dusted and I feel participating in something system oriented will probably bring in some calm. The last few months may have flown by in a whirlwind of emotions and feelings and so stopping to check in and do some material world prep might rather suit you.

So what do you want to start with? Prepping early for your taxes? Some spring cleaning? I feel that it’s likely you are quite aware of where the balance has tipped and will know what to do. This isn’t about turning into a control freak and setting totally unmanageable targets though, quite the opposite. I want you to feel happy about just being present and getting through some tasks, there is no deadline here. I laugh saying that, because it’s easy to be unharmonious on purpose right? Always seeking grace yet ever so slyly tipping the barrel?

This is a slow moving energy and so don’t panic if you feel like you are waiting on results for something – this is why I say just focus on the clean up at your end. It’s easy to get really attached to the outcome of a project, an idea or a dream – we all do it. However you need to allow fluidity to what it is you are hoping for and the best way you can do that is just do one action based thing today. Some of you may even be dealing with legal matters, whether it’s committing to new work contracts or even just having to research into the system of something, and it could feel a little boring. Remind yourself that logistics and stuff that just ‘needs to be done’ is only in place to lead you to an easier road ahead and I know you’ll get a lot of satisfaction from a clean filing cabinet or a rearranged closet.

Meanwhile this energy can also be used for you to reshuffle and check in with your own list of do’s and don’ts. Feeling moralistic? Avoid going on a judgmental rampage and giving yourself permission to decide what you think about everyone else’s lives – this is just a form of procrastination. Instead hone in on how you are feeling right now in regards to your attitude and approach to life, maybe you need a little tune back in to the positive? It’s not as simple as an on/off switch but stepping up and deciding you would like to participate in your experience is a good start. Life is never happening at you, but it is happening with you.

Meanwhile for any of you having control issues, If you want to get focused about anything then get set on your own health and wellness, especially if you’ve neglected it recently. Turn over a new leaf and bring in some passion for a new system – whether it’s splashing out on the juicer you’ve been dying to get or signing up to a different type of yoga class – make it fun.

Chat with Louise Androlia about how your month is going @louniverse

 

SCORPIO – THE TWO OF WANDS

It’s funny, because I feel that you have been under as much stress as everyone else recently, but you have your eyes on a prize and it’s keeping you afloat. Last month I spoke about making time to allow yourself some joy and I want you to keep honoring that as we move into the next few weeks. I feel that you are really looking ahead right now, and it’s not a bad thing – that carrot dangling in front of you is certainly appealing.

It’s important that you don’t step into fears of not knowing the outcome over the next few months. You might be launching a new project, at the start of a relationship or waiting on some important news and would kind of appreciate a look into the crystal ball right now. You know I’m not going to do that, but I feel that the answer is going to be in enjoying the anticipation – really? Yep. Make it fun. A forced surrender can actually be a pretty healing time. You are in place where your powers of manifestation are heightened – so throw your ideas out and trust that the return is going to be great. Maybe it will be different to your prediction, but it will be exactly as it should be.

I feel inspiration is also running high, while you have many new plans for your life waiting to get started you also have a million new light bulbs going off each moment. This is a good thing, but can also feel just as confusing as it can productive, so no need to get overwhelmed. Of course the answer is always going to be to try and stay in the moment. Treat each day as a possibility for something new to bloom that will be added to shape the experience ahead, who knows what might come into play in the next day let alone month.

I also feel travel is ahoy, or that you’re are planning it, because you do seem to have itchy feet. Satisfying the need to get out of town doesn’t have to mean booking an expensive around the world trip. Even just leaving the town you are in can give you a change of pace and attitude. There’s a lot to be said for exploring your own surroundings and your country. That said, if you are planning a move or big adventure then this month supports that and it might be fun getting creative with travel plans – vision board anyone?

Finally you are in a collaborative mood and following on from last month you still need to be connecting with those who support your cause and boost your soul system. So keep in touch – whether it be chatting via facetime or making some time for real face time. Oh and p.s. Learning a new skill could be a surprise success over the next few months so check out your local collages and get out of your comfort zone.

Chat with Louise Androlia about how your month is going @louniverse

 

SAGITTARIUS – THE FIVE OF CUPS

A nod back to November this month as this card comes back in to play, so you may see a link to how you felt at the end of last year. Even better, look for any lessons you learned then and pull them out to be your super power over the next few weeks. Last month I spoke about getting a little more in tune with your life and participating in shaping your destiny. With Mercury now direct I feel you may have dredged up some old fears, habits and maybe even faces recently and are wondering what to do in the face of the new and the old combined.

Well the hot news is that our guidance is always a lot more simple than we expect it to be, and as this is a slow and steady month and your main task is just to carry on sitting at that wheel and allow things to play out. Of course the action is to put your eyes on the positive and not those spilt cups of milk. I feel that you’ve been whipped into a frenzy of busy busy busy recently and it’s all been good, but oh boy are you wiped out. It feels like you might have a combination of social and career tiredness. It’s not that you are having a bad time but you wouldn’t mind a time warp that allowed you to climb into a still space for a month and then return to your overloaded diary.

You can manage it all though, by making sure to put space in your diary for nothing. Yes, schedule in a big gap here and there and forbid yourself to fill it up with activity. If you get in the moment then even five minutes sat down and acknowledged can be enough to boost your system.

So what do you do about the dance of nostalgia that flared up? You like to analyze, but beware of its paralyzing effect on you, or your ego’s desire to come out on top. Maybe that person that you need to let go of can just be freed, there is no benefit to ‘having the last word’ – in fact it often remains as an energetic hook to keep you connected to the situation. Forgive and forget is kind of an annoying phrase, but it’s sentiment is strong. Sending love in the direction of your annoyances is surprisingly freeing and creates a nice space for new opportunities and connections to swoop in.

Finally I feel that you might notice any career craziness calm down into a schedule that actually makes sense. Any contacts and contracts that suddenly slip away are doing so in order to give space to what is really going to work for you, so don’t even bother entertaining any sense of perceived failure. If you give everything in your life room to breathe this month it will definitely work in your favor.

Chat with Louise Androlia about how your month is going @louniverse

 

CAPRICORN – THE KNIGHT OF SWORDS

Last month I encouraged you to reconnect with some of your passions and remind yourself that you get to shape your own experience. As March arrives you probably feel a little more connected to what you do and don’t want to have in your life. Of course this reshuffle can be frustrating when you are dying to get that dream life on the go – just rest assured that your intentions are enough of a good start.

Anyway, back to business. You do have a green light to make some moves – in fact you are one of the signs this month that is feeling less static. The key is in moving in the direction that you want and not rushing ahead like a wild fire. We all know that you can be a workaholic but spreading yourself too thin on projects that aren’t even your life and soul – what is the point? You have time to pick and choose what is going to work for you, but you also have to trust that it’s ok to be the boss of your own life. This is a great few weeks to stop and breakdown projects that you are working on and piece them together in a way that works for you.

You also have a good communicative energy this month and so let your talk give you your walk. You may in fact be bursting with pioneering ideas and so it’s good to share – even if it’s just in your journal for now.

Energetically, for an earthbound sign you could be feeling quite scattered over the next few weeks, possibly due to with your mind buzzing with so much information and ideas. When we’re ungrounded it can express via our health with feelings of anxiety or even dizziness. You know that feeling when you don’t feel quite connected, because you are thinking in too many places at once? To bring back in some of your earth energy try a perma visualization of strong roots growing out of your feet and into the earth – connecting you back to the present moment. Other great ways to get your earth on are stocking up on whole foods – eat items that you could grow yourself and stay away from too much sugar (a classic spacey brain inducing product).

You may notice that there is a touch of chaos in your external environment, maybe some age old dramas in your friendship group or people you know going through their own challenges. It’s likely that they will call on you for advice and opinions and while you love to be the support rod (and are a guardian angel to many) it can be a big energy sapper for you. Being of service doesn’t mean draining your own supply, so be on guard to make sure you are on the receiving end in equal measure. You know the drill… BE KIND TO YOURSELF!

Chat with Louise Androlia about how your month is going @louniverse

 

AQUARIUS – THE TOWER

And lightning strikes! People often want to run a mile when they see this card but it carries a wealth of useful guidance and also, adventure. It’s likely that things have really shaken up recently, and in all sorts of weird and wild ways. I feel that this month may just be cementing that ‘out of the blue’ mood and it’s nothing to be afraid of. Have you been surprised by things that have happened recently? It could be in your external environment or even that you had a strange change of mind or opinion. There are shifts at play and I feel you might only be aware of the effects. I also think this could be a fun opportunity to embrace and new and unusual – and be less scared of it than you used to.

I kind of want you to embrace every possible positive approach to this card, are you up for it? Okay let’s go.

Accept people into your life that you perhaps would never have given a chance before – who knows what you might learn! Feel brave enough to say a final N.O. to something you’ve been dying to let go of for a long time. Feel brave enough to try everything and anything new. Shake up your own foundations in order to get ahead of the Universe – bring in any change you need, and welcome it with open arms. Be the support system for someone who has helped you in the past – they might not be asking for help but you may feel a silent call. Switch up your attitude to everything that fears you.

Is it money? Shock yourself by getting super passionate about your finances, because you deserve the abundant life you want you know. Is it relationship issues? Shock yourself into a new cycle by giving commitment a shot, sure you don’t know the outcome – we never do, but if it feels right then recognize it’s part of your journey. Give your body a boost too, by experimenting with eating for your symptoms and your unique self and enjoy a whole new mind-body connection. Take down your own ego by choosing to become BFFs with your intuition instead, it’s time to check back in and say ‘hello me’! Leave the job that you hate so much. Apply for the dream job that scares you.

Then write a letter to yourself aged 15 and tell them everything is going to be ok. Be the change you want to see in the world, right? Forget about obsessing over dramas, just shine as bright as you can and let others absorb that vibe. And don’t indulge chaos – if you don’t participate in theatrics then they rarely explode. Be the lover. Start that book, write that proposal, forgive yourself and be willing to forgive your challenges. Step up to the adventure that is your life and check yourself in.

Chat with Louise Androlia about how your month is going @louniverse

Cast by Louise using the Rider Waite Tarot Deck

WAHE LITTLE GURU: MEET THE KUNDALINI KIDS

Posted on by Ruby Warrington

Yoga being taught in schools has become a controversial topic. But as more and more kids gravitate towards the mat – embracing Kundalini yoga in particular – what will this mean for future generations, asks Emma Patterson? Little Guru Yoga images: Dan Collopy. 

Amalee attended her first yoga class aged just five months

LIVING in L.A. you quickly learn not to get too fazed by trends and fads. Sure, I know a handful of dogs that do yoga, and change the world they will not. But kids? Kids doing yoga – and Kundalini in particular – is another trick. I’ve met children as young as two who are already deeply into their practise, and change the world they might.

Leslie Nuesca runs Little Guru Yoga, a thriving children’s yoga studio in Venice Beach, where she teaches yoga, meditation and brain gym exercises to children from Kindergarten up. As she puts it, “It’s so touching to me that these little souls are learning to find their breath, and understand there are tools they can use to calm themselves down and feel happy. It’s said that Kundalini is here for you when you’re ready to find it, and certain kids turn up here and keep coming back.”

11-year old Myles asked if he could start attending a Kundalini class with his mother, simply because he was intrigued. “Mom always seemed to have a better day when she went to yoga compared to the days she didn’t, so I tried it and felt a lot calmer and happier afterwards.”

And I’m fascinated. This cool Beverly Hills kid, on the brink of his teens, is regularly taking Kundalini classes before school – and he still has friends? “My friends are pretty curious and some want to try it too. I find it helps me concentrate on my school work better, and I can even tolerate my eight-year-old brother more!”

A class in session at Little Guru Yoga

Guru Tej Kaur Khalsa, the founder of Nine Treasures Yoga in Los Angeles, believes today’s children are seeking out Kundalini for their own inner growth because their souls are coming in from a much higher realm. “We’re living in a special time and space right now, and seeing more elevated souls come in through our children,” she explains.

A longtime teacher of Kundalini, Tej studied under Yogi Bhajan for over three decades. Her classes attract A-list stars including Demi Moore, all hooked on her teachings, and she thinks young yogis have a head start. She told me: “We’re educating children using values already within them. It’s about helping them find their own inner depth and grow into their egos, all while keeping a clear perspective of who they are and what they are supposed to do on the earth to make the world a better place.”

Yogi Bhajan brought Kundalini to L.A. in 1968 to create “Teachers of Consciousness” who would help higher souls thrive – now arriving in our children. Guru Tej sees a bright future in our young: “A lot of kids now are overly wise and angelic by nature, and a lot of them have made a commitment on another realm to come here and help.”

Five-year-old Amalee with her mother Lisa

Chatting to five-year-old Amalee, who I met when she was aged just two, I know instinctively that she is one of the kundalini kids Tej is referring to. Even her mother, Lisa, has told me; “She has this sort of all-knowingness about her. We’ve been told this by a number of people and friends are often amazed at how engaging she is.”

When Lisa first brought her to my house, she blew my mind with her ability to take herself into a room and sit alone, in silence, peacefully meditating. It was astonishing to see such a vibrant, excitable child sit cross-legged, close her eyes and center herself for five long minutes. When she finally emerged from her spot, she seemed to almost float back into the room, and when I asked her whether she felt better, she shot me a surprised look and chirped: “Oh yes! I feel very happy now.”

Amalee attended her first yoga class when she was just five weeks old. “She was a yoga baby from the start,” says Lisa. “You could take her to any class and she’d just merge in with everything – she even took her first steps during a class.” And already her daughter’s visions for the future are clear – she would like to be a yoga teacher.

When I ask her why, she explains: “Because that’s how I grew up and I would be healing people by helping them stretch their bodies and stay strong.” And, asked how Kundalini in particular makes her feel, she tells me: “It helps my mind stay healthy and I have happier thoughts.”

Lesley Nuesca’s Little Gurus

On paying a visit to one of Leslie’s Little Guru classes, it is moving to watch the children practise. “Let’s all do downward wolf!” chirped one eight year old girl, who proudly tells me she’s been attending Leslie’s class since she was three. They become a line of balancing trees, with their branches spread out wide, breathing intently as they do so. Little Guru picture cards dictate what pose will follow; A castle, a fox, a unicorn, a mountain – because it’s ‘tall and sturdy’.

But, “it’s not about them finding the perfect pose,” says Leslie, “it’s about getting them to focus on their breath through a series of movements.” They finish with “Sat Nam Wahe Guru”, a meditation known for it’s deep healing powers. Then, yawning, they collapse onto their mats to become “calm and peaceful logs, filling their hearts with love and peace.”

And watching these otherwise regular kids, it seems so clear that it’s never too young to bring your individual difficulties, life challenges and personal goals to the mat. Because here they all are, just trying to make sense of the world we live in through simple breath and movement.

As Leslie’s soothing voice brings them back into the room, they sit cross-legged to sing “The Long Time Sun” – a beautiful hymn that traditionally closes a Kundalini class, and I start to well-up. Maybe with the future in their hands, these little souls could one day save us all.

Posted on by Madeline Giles

Taylor EyeWalker is a scent alchemist who crafts moon and crystal-charged botanical perfumes from her magical lair in Topanga Canyon, California. With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, Madeline Giles shares her experience of receiving a custom-made Love Potion.

Driving up the desolate dirt road to Taylor EyeWalker’s mountain home on a warm California day, I have no idea what to expect. There’s no manual on how you’re supposed to feel prior to meeting a scent alchemist for a consultation for a personalized Love Potion – but weaving through the enchanted forests of Topanga Canyon, perhaps I am Cinderella (pre-Prince Charming) about to meet her fairy godmother for the first time.

Having come across her page on Facebook, I had contacted Taylor first and foremost because I wanted to create a loving experience for myself. The magical vibe of her site totally resonated with me, and, having just moved from Brooklyn to Venice Beach, I felt receiving a custom scent might help ground me. For the record yes, I am single – and while I’m comfortable with this right now, I’m definitely open to receiving all the help I can get. Especially when it involves Earth magic.

After parking on an uphill driveway, Taylor, who is tall, blonde and beautiful (this is LA after all, where even the witches look like movie stars), greets me warmly with her adorable French bulldog, Monkey. She then leads me upstairs onto a dreamlike outdoor terrace, where a Navajo-themed straw mat lies adorned with meditation cushions, a Buddha statue, incense, earthen bowls, and a teakettle. As we sit in comfortable silence, Taylor begins preparing a pre-consultation tea ritual.

The consultation “room”
Making magic

“I like to serve tea first so we can authentically connect to the now,” she muses. I take a sip, and immediately feel pulled into a deeper part of myself. “Whoa,” I share. “What’s in this?” Taylor tells me we are drinking Living Tea, which comes from the high mountains and valleys of China and Taiwan from trees that are hundreds of years old. “The veins of a tealeaf resemble the veins of our bodies,” she says. “Connecting with the plant spirit allows us to more deeply connect with the energies of the earth.”

It only takes three cups of magic tea for me to feel completely at ease. When I arrived I was slightly anxious and unsure what would be expected of me, as I knew I was going to have to reveal deep aspects of myself. But thankfully, post-tea, my nervous monkey-mind is silenced. I feel entirely safe – and even eager – to share it ALL. Taylor asks if I’m ready to commence, so I take a deep breath and, pen and paper in hand, she begins.

Do you smoke? Have you ever smoked?

Is there a place in your life where you desire deeper love and connection?

Is there anything in your life you’d like to change?

What is your intention for this creation, this alchemy?

Are you ready for a relationship?

The list goes on, and I find myself sharing things I wasn’t consciously aware were even there. Like the fact that my deepest desire is to be in a soul-centered, romantic relationship, yet at this point in time I don’t feel ready for it. Question after question, I dive deeper into my heart. Before I know it, almost an hour has passed, and the consultation is over.

I ask Taylor to take me through what happens from here. “When you leave, I go into my realm and really create for you,” she explains. “Every alchemy is different, and generally I go up into the ninth plane of existence to be sure I’m not bringing any of my own projections in.”

Though Taylor has sustained an intuitive relationship with plants all her life (even as a child she crafted plant potions in a cauldron on her parents’ land in South Carolina), in recent years she further developed her abilities by studying plant medicine with indigenous tribes in South America.

“I still hold very true to the shamans of the Amazon,” she says. “I really appreciate what they can create – especially Pusangas, which are Amazonian Love Potions made specifically for individuals by connecting with plant spirits. The potion becomes a divination tool that you use in ceremony or ritual. It’s something that you keep sacred.”

A few days later, I receive my custom potion in a tiny glass bottle with a hand-written card that shares channeled messages Taylor received during the creation. I read the card first, and my eyes immediately well with tears. Several of the messages she shares are things I’ve intuitively been feeling for months. This is such a powerful, whimsical, feminine potion…it reminds me of Quan Yin, she writes.  I went very, very deep in a cosmic wave, and I did many Theta downloads on this creation, ones you have requested in your life.

The downloads included things like dancing to eating more beets (who knew?), to wearing pearls on my body (as an incarnated mermaid, I deeply connect with them). I haven’t even smelled my Love Potion yet, and I already feel so seen, loved and understood. “This is really a self love potion,” Taylor had said during our consultation. “If we don’t have love within our hearts, if we don’t have love for ourselves, if we don’t feel whole, if our cup is not full, we will not attract the love we deserve.”

The author
Madeline’s Love Potion

Something I feel I’ve literally heard said a million times, yet coming from Taylor, I receive the message differently. I feel, for the first time ever, like I could literally hold the love of my own heart in the palm of my hand, thanks to this magical little bottle. Keeping this in mind, I carefully open my Love Potion and gently inhale. All I can say is…oh my God! Lavender, cedar, oak moss, rose, white lotus, jasmine, tiger’s eye, and many more familiar and unfamiliar scents rush to embrace every cell of my body. I feel like I am literally smelling my essence in liquid form, and this makes me smile. A lot.

I immediately decide I need to go for a walk and so I head out and hop in my building’s elevator. A man is waiting there. I’ve never seen him before, and yes he’s pretty cute. I’m smiling. He’s smiling. Then the elevator door opens, and as I walk outside I hear his pace quicken behind me. “Hey!” he says. “Are you wearing perfume?” I nod awkwardly – but then I remember I’m not, exactly. He looks into my eyes, brows raised, and grins; “It smells so good.”

Taylor Eyewalker also teaches kundalini yoga, offers theta healing, leads retreats, reads tarot and conducts rituals. Discover more at Eyewalkerelements.com

Connect with Madeline Giles at Mermadeline.com
@Mer_Madeline

THE FASHION WEEK ZODIAC WHEEL: DESIGNERS BY SIGN

Posted on by Ruby Warrington

The creations of our most iconic fashion designers always reflect the traits of their sign – so what part of the Fashion Week Zodiac Wheel speaks to the fashionista in you?

ARIES: MARC JACOBS

**DARING ** SELF-CONFIDENT ** TREND-SETTING ** EGOTISTICAL ** ATHLETIC ** STRONG **
One of fashion’s true thought leaders, with the show that closes New York Fashion Week Marc Jacobs is pretty much the only designer out of NYC with the power to set trends (not just capitalise massively on them). He also turned high fashion on its head when he invented grunge, and famously spends two hours a day in the gym honing that athletic Aries physique.

TAURUS: DONATELLA VERSACE

Atelier Versace Couture 2014

**SENSUOUS ** AESTHETIC ** MATERIALISTIC ** LOYAL ** LUXURY-LOVING ** RELIABLE  **
The ultimate material girl, Donatella’s vision never wavers – women have red carpets to walk down, and damnit she’s going to give them the glamazon gowns to do it in. When her brother Gianni (a flamboyant Sagittarius) was brutally gunned down in 1997, the Versace family knew they could rely on determined Taurus Donatella to follow in his diamante-studded, gold leaf inlaid footsteps.

GEMINI: HENRY HOLLAND

House of Holland AW07

**ORIGINAL ** COMMUNICATIVE ** QUICK-WITTED ** VERSATILE ** IMITATIVE **
As the sign that rules communication, is it any wonder that Gemini Henry Holland launched his House of Holland label with a line of cheeky slogan t-shirts? This set the tone for a playful streak that runs through every collection – the “House” in question also including his legion celebrity friends / fans always crowding out the frow at his shows.

CANCER: VERA WANG

Vera Wang Bridal SS14

**DEVOTIONAL ** DOMESTIC ** EMOTIONAL ** TRADITIONAL ** NOSTALGIC ** FAMILIAL**
Who else but Cancer Vera Wang could have cornered the market for high fashion bridal gowns? Wang’s name has become synonymous with the kind of wedding that fairy tales are made of – having dressed everyone from Mariah Carey to Victoria Beckham for their big day. As Cancer also rules the home (and by default, wedding gift lists?),  it makes sense that she expanded into homeware in 2002.

LEO: JEREMY SCOTT

Jeremy Scott SS14

** PLAYFUL ** CHILDLIKE ** ENTERTAINING ** DRAMATIC ** HUMOROUS ** FUN-LOVING **
The eternal club-kid, Leo Jeremy Scott refuses to grow up and get serious. This is the man who invented a pair of sneakers with a teddy bear’s head where the tongue should be, FFS. And he walks the walk. His own outfits are as outrageous as his you-cannot-be-serious creations, while in his case the lion’s mane is his signature (sometimes peroxide blonde) quiff / mohawk.

VIRGO: STELLA MCCARTNEY

Stella McCartney SS14

** PERFECTIONIST ** RESERVED ** INTELLIGENT ** PRACTICAL ** DETAIL-ORIENTED ** NEAT **
Smart women love Stella’s less-is-more, demure-yet-doin’ it approach, and, as a health-conscious, righteous Virgo, she’s as  known for her staunch vegetarianism as her catwalk prowess. Hello seriously discerning women paying astronomical sums for pleather bags and shoes. Consistently hailed as a designer who serves the needs of “real women,” she also has a penchant for virginal white.

LIBRA: DONNA KARAN

Donna Karan Urban Zen

** BALANCED ** SOCIALLY AWARE ** GRACEFUL ** REFINED ** RELATIONSHIP-ORIENTED **
Before Donna Karan came along with her ‘Essentials’ line in 1985 – seven easy pieces that could be mixed and matched to create the perfectly balanced work-life wardrobe – there were suits and there were leisure suits and there wasn’t much in between.  She was also being true to her Libra roots when she launched her Urban Zen foundation, selling thousand dollar shirts to aid indigenous cultures and support holistic wellness studies.

SCORPIO: RICK OWENS

Rick Owens menswear FW09

**INTENSE ** SEXUAL ** MYSTERIOUS ** AGGRESSIVE ** TRANSFORMATIVE ** FORCEFUL **
Who else but Rick Ownes would you wear to a high fashion sex party in the backstreets of Berlin? Not only is his all-black aesthetic directly out of some futuristic occult situation (I mean, he has a diffusion line called DRKSHDW), his bondage-inspired creations have the power to totally transform the body of the wearer. And, openly bi, you just know he and his wife Michele Lamy are into some kinky shiz.

SAGITTARIUS: JOHN GALLIANO

** OUTGOING ** EXPANSIVE ** BLUNT ** FORTUNATE ** PROFESSOR ** MORAL **
Outspoken to, ahem, a fault, it’s still unclear where disgraced designer John Galliano will settle following the antisemitic outburst that got him sacked from the top spot at Dior in 2011. After a guest slot at Oscar de le Renta (brokered by none other than Anna Wintour, hello resourceful Scorpio fashion fairy godmother) for AW13, rumors are circulating that he make take up a teaching post at Parsons.

CAPRICORN: DIANE VON FURSTENBURG

** PRACTICAL ** BUSINESSLIKE ** AMBITIOUS ** AUTHORITATIVE ** FOCUSSED ** REALISTIC **
Where would working women the world over be without Capricorn DVF and her iconic wrap dress?? The consummate fashion mogul, when she launched her company in 1970 her decision to “be someone of my own, and not just a plain little girl who got married” made her a figurehead for fashionable feminists. A walking talking brand in her own right she was even named President of the CFDA in 2006.

AQUARIUS: MARY QUANT

** INNOVATIVE ** REBELLIOUS ** INDIVIDUAL ** LIBERAL ** AWAKENING ** FREE **
Nobody but Aquarius Mary Quant could have invented the mini-skirt, and in doing so single-handedly created a uniform for the 1960s women’s lib movement. Although she always handed the credit to her customers; “It was the girls on the King’s Road who invented the mini. I was making easy, youthful, simple clothes, in which you could move, in which you could run and jump, and we would make them the length the customer wanted. I wore them very short and the customers would say, ‘Shorter, shorter.'”

PISCES: ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

**IMAGINATIVE ** FANTASTICAL ** CREATIVE ** VISIONARY ** OTHERWORLDLY ** MYSTIC **
May we all bow down to the memory of Pisces Alexander McQueen, a true fashion visionary whose beautiful, fantastical creations seemed like they were beamed onto the catwalk from another dimension. Taking skulls and religious iconography as his motifs, his work was entirely impractical, darkend by an obsession with the realm beyond the veil, and utterly, achingly, beautiful.

TAROTSCOPES: FEBRUARY 2014

Posted on by Louise Androlia

AQUARIUS – SIX OF WANDS

There is a sense of subtle triumph around you this month, with some little victories due after notable points of stress. My message is to make sure to tune into them – you are quite capable of being a drama queen and focusing your energy on what’s twitching your nerves instead of the sun shining above. I feel that you are in a space of achievement and working your way towards or past a milestone, seeing some calm after the storm. You should be aware by now that you are the one who has created the success you see, and that participating in your life (rather than throwing your hands up and shouting at the Universe) is actually something that creates the change you desire. The mantra that I wrote for your year ahead Tarotscope is ‘Magic surrounds me’ and I feel this is really fitting for now – a call for you to delicately remain in the present moment. Wake up every morning and say this out loud to remind yourself that you are part of a bigger energy that is yours to work with. You love movement to be swift and it’s easy for you to get frustrated when things seem out of your control or, equally, when things feels static. You will always benefit from a ‘surrender’ mindset – purely so you can acknowledge the present moment. It being your birthday month also makes this the perfect time to express gratitude, and I know that you have much to be thankful for. However gratitude isn’t a practice that we should only bring up when we feel abundant, in fact the opposite is most relevant – take on a practice of being thankful when you are within a challenge. This might sound totally crazy, but by always being respectful of your journey you allow the flow to keep on flowing. You are smart enough to know that you will receive the knowledge you desire one day when you look back in retrospect – so do the same thing right now, knowing that any stress you feel is meaningful as part of your bigger journey. There are so many ways that RIGHT NOW can be your teacher. You might be facing a difficult relationship or friendship and thinking ‘who oh why? – and sometimes a person can be in your life just to show you what you won’t be seeking again. Or perhaps their actions has highlighted one of your own fears? Take it all in and continue your own healing from within rather than focusing on passing judgment on the other person. If you feel that your environment is testing you at work, shift your perception by lifting yourself upwards to view the situation as an outsider might. Mercury is soon to go retrograde for most of the month, so don’t sweat the little annoyances in communication breakdowns. Be proud of what you have achieved, and remember that sometimes you have to pat your own self on the back. You’re doing an awesome job, keep on keeping on. Happy Birthday babe.

Have you picked up your year ahead Tarotscope yet?

PISCES – QUEEN OF PENTACLES

How are all the mind expanding experiences going? In January I wanted you to open up to the idea of the world being your own personal playground, but to fulfill our dreams we need to bring them back down to earth. This month, how can your merge the spiritual with the material? While it’s nice to live the among the unicorns and fairies, you are still in a human suit – so how about making the most of this adventure? This is a nurturing journey and I feel excited for you to begin to work in a different way. It might be as simple as taking on a new attitude around your finances – like one that doesn’t involve being afraid of money. We aren’t supposed to be marvelous at everything, so where you feel tested, ask for help. Surprisingly it’s more simple than struggling alone, and whether the advice comes in book or person form, make a shout out and be ready to receive. The beautiful energy surrounding you this month is actually all intuitive and warm, so use this to infuse compassion into every part of life. You have a finely tuned compass in your gut Pisces, so keep listening in and working from that place. A sense of service is always important to you as you like to feel loved and of use, but make sure you don’t over do it and drain that ‘mothering energy’ to the bone. Practice some grounding exercises and overdose a little on sleep. It’s not being lazy, you are recharging – you’ll need the extra energy for your exciting birthday month next month. Organization and a sense of diplomacy are also your best friends this February, and I don’t mean a ‘no pain no gain’ situation, you are purely making your life more awesome by dealing with the details. This isn’t a bore fest either, you are putting some serious L O V E into your life’s work, and you have to love every aspect of your plan for it to be fulfilled. Think SLOW AND STEADY, no need to race off into the wilderness. Even if you get one piece of paperwork filed this month that will be good enough. But do it before Mercury dives into a retrograde next week for most of the rest of this month. Once this happens, I like the idea that you going within. No need to dive into suspicions around others, you know that this kind of thought pattern just sends you to Luna town. How about maintaining that all is as it should be and simply allowing your life to flow. It is possible to take things with a pinch of salt whilst still being active in creating the life you want. Something to think about.

Have you picked up your year ahead Tarotscope yet?

ARIES – TWO OF SWORDS

With a super powered charge into the year you are possibly still caught up in the chaos of a mind that’s been working overtime, and now there’s a need for you to wind down a little in the coming weeks. I will always remind you about not feeling afraid of stillness Aries – you are so used to getting things done your way (i.e. the fast way) that whenever you have to wait for other people to catch up, you feel fire burning the soles of your feet. This month you may encounter a few crossroads, and so allowing yourself to release into the moment is going to really help you out. You may have recently been calling on help from many other people, doing a lot of networking or even starting a new relationship. It’s got to the point where you might be getting confused about which direction to go, or even just trying to work out what you ‘should’ prioritize in that bulging diary. Know that you never need to fear your own decision making process – if you respect that you are always moving forward on a journey, then there are no ‘wrong’ choices. Your only intention has to be to make your foundations as solid as possible so you know that you have a safe place to direct your life from. With Mercury the communicator going retrograde in a few days make sure that you don’t turn minor bumps in the road into a source of drama. If you don’t get a reply to your email instantly – chill! It doesn’t mean that your friend has suddenly ‘gone off’ you or someone hates your idea. Allow everyone – and mainly yourself – some space over the next few weeks and know that that’s okay. If you are feeling impatient with yourself then you must go within and find your unique calm place. You know how to get there, and yes it may be in a yoga class but it equally may be allowing yourself time for dinner with your best girlfriends. You can also look forward to enjoying some relaxation of the sleepy sort. I just have a feeling that all these decisions that seem SO stressful right now will untangle if you allow them to breathe. Step aside from your usual controlling attitude, and have some faith – things are always going to pan out differently than you think in the end. So instead of worrying about the what, why, who and where, get excited about what opportunities there might be outside the ecosystem that you have created. Someone may pleasantly surprise you, so be ready!

Have you picked up your year ahead Tarotscope yet?

TAURUS – ACE OF PENTACLES

All hands back on deck my love; you have big career moves to make this month! You may see some reflection back to October 2013, when you last had this card crop up. I feel the link might bring some action from an idea or intention you planted back then or some return on your investment. January may have been fairly un-eventful, with you shifting priorities and working out what your most pressing needs and desires actually are. Now you have your eyes on the prize you are eager to zoom off to the land of dreams (and money trees). Now, you are going to need to be a bit more flexible with your attitude, but don’t worry this is totally a good thing. If you picked up your 2014 Tarotscope I taught you a lesson on intention, action and surrender. The main point being that you must hand over all your ideas so the Universe can help you shape them. It’s brilliant to make a plan, but if we don’t allow it to expand we can actually be worse off. You have your own sense of flow, but so does everything else, including other people, places and projects. Mercury takes a few weeks of retrograde this month which essentially means that your finely tuned plan could suddenly be all upside down and inside out anyway. Your goal if this happens is to not freak out and instead be psyched about your potential. You have emerged into an energy where you actually know what is needed for you to feel more fulfilled, so trust that this is the truth and keep on moving. This retrograde may also bring you some second chances, which could be another shot at working with that one person you so wanted to, or even just finding an open space to share your ideas, and give them a second chance to take off. Timing is often everything and if there was something that got sidelined at the end of 2013, don’t be afraid of pulling it back out of the bag now. Meanwhile think of this month as a fresh start. You might have got on board with celebrating the Chinese New Year and making NOW the time to bring in change. This card always has a little of the Midas touch and I feel you are supported in more ways than you might realize. Stay at the drawing board, merge magic with the material and always leave space on that canvas for a surprise!

Have you picked up your year ahead Tarotscope yet?

GEMINI – FOUR OF WANDS 

A sharp contrast to last month where you may have been dealt a few harsh lessons from your ego or faced a few of your biggest fears – some in actual physical form. Now you can breathe a sigh of relief, as this month sees a very refreshing energy of expansion and celebration swooping in. Of course you have to go and participate in it though, fun doesn’t always come knocking on our front door (if only it was that easy!) You are feeling creative and will benefit from expressing all of your flitting energy via an artistic outlet, whether it’s actually putting paint to paper or doing some party planning, you’ll enjoy expressing your free spirit. It’s a great month for connecting with people and with Mercury retrograding for most of the month you may find that some of your socializing brings in faces from the past. When peeking behind you just be careful that you aren’t inviting the unhealthy aspects of the past onto your dance card – in contrast be uplifted by faces that you wish you saw a little more often. Same goes for lovers, it’s not time to delve back into a sad, trodden upon affair. Be smart. The energy of this card is carries a high and fresh vibe, and so your health will also benefit from a little shake up of your routine. But don’t try and put some strict, limiting schedule in place, be flexible. Looking after yourself shouldn’t be a source of self-punishment, it should be fun, and tailor made to suit your style. How about experimenting with some different types of exercise? No big deal if you don’t love all of them but it will at least pull you out of any static and restless energy. Same with your diet. Start loosening your grip on that winter carb fest and pull in some high vibe foods – if you’ve had your eye on a juicer for your kitchen at home, then now is the time to invest! The main advice is to just get out of that front door, as staying hidden away at home isn’t going to bring you the opportunities that you desire. This card is social so keep a sense of collaboration in mind – what idea have you got brewing that requires a team, or at least another opinion? Call in the troops and brainstorm it up – but then have a fun dinner together after, always maintaining a sense of balance. If you go into workaholic mode, you’ll burn out very quickly. A final thought – what isn’t working right now? And how can you get in there and bring back some order and balance? It is possible, promise.

Have you picked up your year ahead Tarotscope yet?

CANCER – JUSTICE

In January I asked you to click the reset button and get up and tackle your world with new eyes, and as we merge into a new month you are back to redressing the balance in your life. This could find you going back inwards for a little while, but with intention. I’m not championing that you hide away. Instead, use this time to regain a sense of order. The Justice card can be pretty stern and pull out all sorts of uncomfortable feelings from within, but don’t be afraid of your emotions – what comes up will be for you to release or heal from, and as a water sign you must learn to be at home with the element. Feelings and intuition are actually yours to use as your superpowers, if you wish. There is a little karmic vibe going on this month too – bearing in mind I like to use the word karma loosely. I feel it’s too often used as a way of being passive aggressive, as in ‘they’ll get what’s coming to them’ – instead think of it as a subtle balancing of the scales, a process you can actively participate in. Don’t be a victim – choose to address areas that feel lacking by remembering your own personal power and getting back in the driving seat. Occasionally the Universe can be a tough teacher, so never forget that your ride is taking you somewhere. You can also think of this energy as the time to plant positive seeds and I feel you have some master plans about ready to take off, so getting the paperwork in order is encouraged. Mercury goes retro on February 6th until the 28th so perhaps avoid any major moves in that time, but there’s no reason you can’t fluff up your feathers and get the show ready for the road right? How about making some plans that you can put into action come March? I feel that this is a positive month for you and that there’s plenty of strength is behind you, so don’t be afraid of perhaps a slightly unusual ‘ball busting’ energy coming in – it’s good for you to find your centre. It’s no time to go scuba diving into the depths of worry and anxiety, just take a subtle retreat into your shell any time that you need to tune back in. Of course when discussing balance it’s always worth checking in with your health and routines, and as much as you must make time to look after yourself it’s also worth checking that you have an equal amount of what I like to call ‘human fun’ – get out and be light, laugh, smile, love.

Have you picked up your year ahead Tarotscope yet?

LEO – PRINCE OF SWORDS

Hold off on charging into the unknown just yet. Though you feel happy to have a little confidence back after a quiver at the start of the year, you will benefit from taking advice from your earth bound friends this month – step by step. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not questioning your action plan, it’s great! And this card is active, but there is a difference between being moving forward and being reckless. You might be so excited about sharing something that you just want to blurt it all out or press send like, right NOW. Take a breather and think about how much better it will be if you pause for a moment and actually do some constructive planning. Your ideas will also be so much more appreciated delivered with some extra depth. Mercury the communicator is retrograde starting on the 6th for a few weeks, so again it’s a time where signing contracts isn’t advised, mainly due to the chance for mistakes and changes needing to be made. Instead, use the finer aspects of this card to your advantage – it is gifting you the ability to reflect and gain insights. This may come up regarding our love life where you are trying to make sense of recent affairs or situations – what do they mean? You’re actually the one with the answers – never forget that – even if you do have to shove your ego into the background and face your loving intuition along with some home truths, in the best way of course. Take an honest look at yourself and see what works and doesn’t work for you, as well as how you want to better the tools you have. You have a healing energy at your fingertips this month so use it for some self development. It certainly wouldn’t be a bad time to have a coaching session or check in for a heart-to-heart with a trusted friend. It’s a thoughtful month ahead, and possibly quite intense, but I know you aren’t afraid of that. Feeling bored? Get that energy out in a positive way, rather than with a sense of chaos. Moving – running, boxing, dancing – always helps calm your nerves in a health boosting way, and even journaling might appeal to you this month. Try letting the contents of your mind flow out onto paper and see what comes up. It’s entirely possible that you might surprise yourself with a stream of unexpected insights – even more fuel to put into your passions. Finally, and only once you feel honed and tuned, you’ll know when it’s time to move ahead.

Have you picked up your year ahead Tarotscope yet?

VIRGO – TEN OF CUPS

Hey love bug, you can go all out on the gratitude this month as you are basically a walking Valentine to the Universe! I suggested you start off the year by easing your way in as I know it’s going to be a big one and you can still be chill this month – far from static though. Don’t worry, you can still focus, organize and do all that Virgo stuff you love to do. The aim of the game is to make LOVE be your biggest mentor, and the thing you call upon in any sticky situations. Mercury goes retrograde this week for most of the month and that’s an even bigger reason to be in the love zone rather than reverting to outdated dramatic thought processes. We really can’t complain with this card though, you might feel like you’re bursting with joy at times, so it’s always the right time to overflow on gratitude. You might feel that you only have one person in your life that makes the days less dull, but that’s enough – thank and celebrate them. Send sweet love notes to all your favourite friends – or even your dog or you cat! Sorry I’m on soppy love overdrive, you can be sweet in your own cool way of course 😉 It’s also a great month for dating, of course, and you may even find an old flame comes back and that this time it actually works out. Go with your gut though, a red flag is a red flag ok – you know what I mean! Even better get out and about and socialize, meet new people – but think high vibe interactions only! Also, while the Universe has got your back like this, dig out that huge list of wishes you crafted out for 2014. Now is the time to set sail to them, and then just get on with your day. With this backing from spirit you can also fall a little deeper into your spiritual practice. You might want to seek a coach or healer to help you break through an old habit that is so out of date that it’s become boring – just one more shift could be all it takes to excavate it forever. Or else let your friends be your healers, as you gather together for a release and strengthen ritual and think Power Posse. Finally thread all this advice into your health and wellness zone too, boost up on your super foods and vitamin regime, especially if you have any travelling coming up. It’s as simple as thinking ahead, and then feeling smug whilst riding high on a revamped energy buzz.

Have you picked up your year ahead Tarotscope yet?

LIBRA – NINE OF CUPS

I’m happy to let you lap up some water energy this month and hopefully enjoy the fruits of your recent labors. Widely known as the ‘wish card’ the Nine of Cups shows you in a prime spot for manifesting all you desire – so let’s get to it! The biggest tip I can give you is to not be controlling about your goals, you do not have to think up everything you want and then pop a jar over it and stand there staring. That’s like clipping the wings of a butterfly. You must allow fluidity into all that you wish for and accept that it will very likely arrive in a different form to what you expected. With this energy though, watch your thoughts and be careful what you wish for. Don’t fixate on wanting what someone else wants, which is a redundant way of thinking. Keep your eyes on your prize and avoid them turning green. What do you really want and what are your ultimate dreams? It’s okay to be thinking big this month (actually I always support big thinking) but think unique, celebrate all that is you and you alone. Your purpose will always be illuminated by celebrating your passion, so go ahead and dive in. With Mercury going retrograde for a few weeks this month you may see changes and what you perceive to be ‘blockages’ cropping up. However if you go with the fluidity I mentioned, this energy should totally work in your favour! Embrace the twists and turns and get excited about the unknown. In other words, dive deep. You also have a sweet support from loved ones this month, so if you don’t feel it then get out there and say hello to your tribe. No one will know that you need them if you don’t pop up and utter a little ‘help’ now and then. Grab some friends and work on your vision boards, then say a little prayer to give up your wishes to a bigger energy, handing it up to the stars above. Meanwhile, embrace this watery and intuitive vibe by going with the good times, think expansion and fun – get out into the world and enjoy it, especially anything that feels a little unusual for you. Don’t worry about creating a new routine, your destiny is yours to carve after all. Design your own energy in order to see the world through a filter that works to support your dreams. Run free, baby!

Have you picked up your year ahead Tarotscope yet?

SCORPIO – THE SUN

Oh hey there roadrunner! You may actually be feeling run ragged from having all eyes on those stars, and it certainly wasn’t a bad start to the year – quite the opposite in fact – but oh boy, are you ready for a break. I loved turning over this card (and whispering a silent ‘yes’ to myself as if it was giving me the green light to a month long break in the Caribbean) because it’s such a swift kick in the ass from the Universe to say – “it’s okay to have some fun babe”. Seriously, this is the joy card, representing the mega burning bright shining inner child of love and sweetness. So give yourself a pat on the back for the fact you’ve done about three months work in three weeks…and pause. Remember that joy can be found within a single moment and, like happiness, is not a destination. So find your surrender in every moment, and remember  you don’t have to take an actual vacation to just breathe. You probably do have your eyes on the sun though, and all that is warm – especially if you are locked up in a freeze zone right now. For now though focus on the warmth that you can create yourself (and stock up on vitamin D as an added bonus). Gather with your nearest and dearest and celebrate your connection to those who always lift your spirits. If you are feeling a little burned out then it might just be one person that you need to call for a boost, even a simple ‘It’s ok, I love you’ will do the trick, and never forget that beyond the walls of chez Scorpio there is an army of support for you. Mercury is retrograde most of this month, and as much as I know you are above falling for it’s bells and whistles, as a tip, just remember not to be freaked out if plans insist on changing. Instead, embrace their flow and enjoy the surprising winks from the Universe. Since it’s not the greatest time for contract signing, just keep on with your planning and scheduling. How about taking meetings out of your office to your favourite restaurants or to a park you love? If you open up the physical space around your ideas, then your projects will have more energy to grow and expand. Finally, keep at it with your current health plan, or get tuned back into what your body needs if you aren’t feeling great. You know better than anyone what works for your mind-body-spirit, so keep honoring it and know that it is a unique journey. I love you.

Have you picked up your year ahead Tarotscope yet?

SAGITTARIUS – WHEEL OF FORTUNE

When I wrote the 2014 mantra for Sagittarius it was absolutely about everything that this card brings. “Destiny is your partner in crime” – in other words, your life is yours to work with, so don’t fall by the wayside. It’s always good for you to remember a surrender practice, especially this month with Mercury going retrograde and threatening to chop and change all of your precious plans. Oh what the heck, who cares, you love the ride! Dive in. The wheel is turning, and so you may as well join the party. Life may well go on without you, but yours may be a little gloomy if you don’t sidle up to the roulette table. So, what IS the plan? Well I feel that you really just need get involved and be curious with all that you have. To start with, a little bit of shuffling and rejigging of your own inner guidance system can’t serve you wrong. We all need a little retune now and again in order to be able to make that list of ‘what do I really want’. You may have found that the last couple of weeks felt quite speedy, and so it makes sense that there are things to pick apart. I don’t want to be all ‘mysterious’ with you, I just want you to be the one who decides which patterns you are going to break. If today – and every day – was the start of a new cycle, then what’s going and what’s staying? I want you to give yourself a boost of courage and self-confidence to realize that you can use your inner drama queen to craft you out a no-fail plan for success. You have the keys to the prize, where are they? Health wise it’s a great time for a cleanse and clean up, whether that’s a night in a swanky spa, a one day juice cleanse or even just being more mindful about what goes in your shopping basket. Be kind to your body. I spoke last month about how the Sag energy is still pretty watery, to be aware that a few added ‘feelings’ are probably always going to be in the background, and that it’s going to be a work in progress to dealing with them. With the Mercury retro in action just make sure to calm the fire-spitting – no need to throw out fireballs when you have a moment of sensitivity. It’s okay to be vulnerable. Oh yes, it February and I haven’t mentioned anything about love. Okay, one piece of advice – don’t turn that wheel of fortune backwards, old, overdone affairs are so last year. Onwards and upwards.

Have you picked up your year ahead Tarotscope yet?

CAPRICORN – TWO OF WANDS

I said you had some healing to do in January, but I bet you went and over worked didn’t you? At least this month’s energy is a little more mellow, so that hard taskmaster you’ve been dealing with can give you a break to stabilize a little. This month shouldn’t feel quite so much like climbing a hill with no grips on your soles. I don’t exactly want to tear you away from your desk, because you’re still on top form with all sorts to achieve, but I do want you to expand your thoughts and loosen your grip a little. It’s a prime time for collaborating and merging your ideas with another, so it could be a fun time to get creative and share some brainstorming or dream casting with a friend or trusted colleague. Remind yourself of your ‘ideal day’ and allow yourself to get back into manifestation mode. The energy is all about honing your passions, and with this month’s Mercury retrograde period perhaps you could use it to help you out, by setting sail to a project you abandoned during the chaos at the end of last year? I’d rather talk about the fun aspect of this month though, as this is a lovely energy for romance and friendship. You will benefit from going back to basics and enjoying your loved ones for the intelligent conversation you share and those things you have in common. Date nights should all be about expanding together, learning and sharing ideas, even getting out of your comfort zone – after all, isn’t this what the best relationships are about? This goes for friendships too – you want your energy to be uplifted by others not cramped, so make sure you do a shuffle and only hang out with those on your wavelength. It’s a waste to give your time to situations that turn you moody and make you feel static. Finally, this is a wonderfully energizing energy so get back to your favorite spin class or take regular hikes, you will definitely feel alive when in the outdoors or working up a sweat. Equally, it could be a great month for cleansing – think cayenne pepper and lemon juice to kick start your day. I want you to keep your attitude positive, even if you’re so tired from the last few months. It’s just a question of diligently tapping away to hone your life to how you want it to be. Contemplate, plan and surrender. Your positive mantra to work with this month – ‘My World is what I make it.’

Have you picked up your year ahead Tarotscope yet?

Cast by Louise Androlia using the Cosmic Tarot Deck.
@Louniverse

2014: THE HORSE VS. THE SEVEN UNIVERSAL YEAR

Posted on by Felicia Bender

Today’s Aquarius new moon marks the Chinese New Year of the Horse. What kind of energy will this usher in for 2014? And how will this vibe with the numerological Seven Universal Year? Astro Style’s Ophira Edut and Practical Numerologist Felicia Bender weigh in…

Image: Truong Buugiam’s Seven Horses

Saddle up! The lively Chinese Year of the Horse is upon us, and the message from the cosmos is to get ready for ACTION. Energetic and frenetic, the Horse year is a big departure from 2013′s internal, and sometimes insidious, Year of the Snake (think about Sagittarius versus Scorpio energy).

Last year was all about transformation and exploring the inner landscape. And now that we’ve shed all that skin and shape-shifted into wiser, worldlier versions of ourselves, it’s time to share this with the world, loud and proud.

This year brings us the Wood Horse, which is said to be the tamest of the five elemental Horses (the others are fire, earth water and metal). While there may be an overall vibe of stubborn determination in the air, it will be milder than in other Horse years (think back to 2002, year of the sociable water Horse, and what was going on for you then). The last Wood Horse year was 1954, while anybody born in Horse years 1966, 1978, 1990 and 2002, can look forward to a twelve months of good fortune and new beginnings. The Horse year is also said to be good for travel, the global economy and romance.

Here, a few tips for staying in the saddle in the months to come:

EMBRACE FREEDOM
Throughout 2013, ‘control’ was a dominant theme with the cunning Snake at the helm. Now, the unbridled Horse year invites us into wide-open spaces and new terrains. Explore as widely as you can, and extricate yourself from arrangements that feel too confining. Couples or business partners dealing with jealousy, trust issues and possessiveness will need to overhaul the relationship to survive this cycle. During a Horse year, we are especially sensitive to people crushing our spirits and trying to rein us in. Let creativity be your compass.

KEEP YOUR HOOVES MOVING
If you sat lotus or played armchair philosopher all the way through 2013′s serene Snake year, you may be all the more enlightened for it. But now it’s time to emerge from that sheltering cocoon and DO something. Apply all your newfound insights to a tangible project. Put your talents on display. Spread the word about what you’re up to instead of jealously guarding every idea. In a Horse year, you need to act quickly and decisively. However, you’ll have to walk a fine line not to act rashly. When in doubt, feel it out—a little crowdsourcing or opinion never hurts. Horses are collaborative animals, and teamwork makes the dream work.

KNOW WHEN TO SAY “NAY” AND WHEN TO MAKE HAY
It can be easy to feel scattered during a Horse year. Yes, we just told you to keep moving, but you don’t want to gallop too far off the trail either. With so many ideas and exciting offers, it’s tempting to race off at the sound of every starting gun. During a feisty and restless Horse year, we need to pay extra attention to the due diligence that we’d rather just skip over. The Year of the Horse may be great for getting us into action…but what are we acting on, exactly? Discipline yourself to plan, research and prepare. Work with an expert. Hire a coach or a mentor, especially if you’ve got flashy ideas but your skills are a little rusty. Behind every winning horse, after all, is a masterful trainer. Before the big event, you must practice, practice, practice, and learn to trot before you can gallop.

GROOM THYSELF
Vanity is a hallmark of the proud horse, so pay extra attention to your appearance and don’t be shy about spending a little extra in the salon. With Jupiter moving into theatrical Leo for a whole year on July 16, the second half of the Horse year should produce some interesting looks on the SS15 runways. The 1990 Horse year was the year we discovered Kate Moss, when she appeared for this amazing shoot in cult Style magazine The Face, and the year grunge culture spawned a whole new way of looking at fashion. If you’re decorating or entertaining, aim for cheerful and bright colors, minimal clutter and an arrangement conducive to spirited conversation. Oh, and make sure the sofas can be pushed aside for an impromptu dance party. Your gatherings could also give way to a few love matches or serendipitous business connections, and whenever you attend a party, always dress well and have your business cards at the ready.

DON’T GET FOOLED BY THE “SHOW PONIES”
While the Snake year was an introvert’s paradise, the Year of the Horse is tailor-made for extroverts. This means we can expect lively conversations but also a lot of big talkers and inflated promises (or “sparkle ponies,” as we like to call them). Enjoy these characters for their entertainment value, but know that they might not be able to deliver much more than a good show. On the flipside, check your own ego at the door. Pride can be a stumbling block during the Year of the Horse. People will insist that they’re right even when it’s obvious they’re actually digging themselves deeper into a pile of horses**t. Others will insist on doing things THEIR way, even when it’s the hard way. If you catch yourself caught up in such an act, pull in the reins and check yourself before you stampede over your own success.

Get the scoop on 2014 with The AstroTwins’ 2014 Planetary Planner, an extensive ebook with predictions for every zodiac sign. Enter the code ‘numinous’ for an exclusive 30% discount.
@AstroTwins

THE HORSE VS THE UNIVERSAL SEVEN YEAR 

Now look before you leap… Image: Ryan McGinley

As we often find in life, the Year of the Horse and the Seven Universal Year appear to offer us a clash of energies in 2014. And yes, these energies have the power to both compliment and complicate our lives this year.  How so?  If the Year of the Horse is a “gitty-up” year, full of action-oriented energies, then the Seven Universal Year allows us the space for introspection which will help us assimilate all that’s taking place on a soul level.

This will involve some “parallel play” – meaning your focus will shift from outside influences (the rip-roaring, get-out-there-and-DO-IT energy of the Horse) to what’s going on inside (the energy of the Seven Personal Year).  As long as you’re aware of this duality, you can really tap into the power of this dichotomy.

Also understand that while the Seven Universal Year indicates a more reserved and contemplative energy, it doesn’t mean that you’ll suddenly find yourself dropping everything and crawling into a cave.  Your world will move at its usual pace – and yet on the inside you’ll be able to process what’s going on at a deep and profound level. The Year of the Horse will provide you with ample opportunity to truly question who you are in a raw and authentic way.

Let’s say you land a new job offer (active, Horse energy). This year you actually get to decide if it’s speaking to your true self, the passionate you. Is it reflective of your authentic life purpose?  You might be more likely to decline the offer on these grounds this year, rather than jump on it because it’s offering you a hefty raise. Just one example of how these two seemingly conflicting energies will work in tandem with each other to make 2014 a red-letter year for your personal evolution, both in the material and spiritual worlds.

For the full lowdown on what the Seven Universal Year means for YOU click here.

But how can we all optimize our successes and find satisfaction in this Seven year?

Some DOs and DON’Ts for 2014:

DO understand that this is a year that you get a Free Pass to contemplate your own navel.

DO anything that relates to spiritual growth, including (but not limited to) taking a retreat, reading (and reading some more), taking classes that are job related or spiritually minded (or both), and saying yes any opportunity to expand your sense of your authentic self.

DO take the extra time and energy to take care of your health. This can mean scheduling an outstanding surgery, going to the dentist for the first time in hoever long, or starting a new exercise routine or nutritional program. It’s a great year to practice meditation.

DON’T hit the ground running and think that 2014 is the year to launch your new business or take on lots of extra hours at the office. If you do, you’ll feel as though you’re hitting your head against a brick wall. Wait until next year (2015) to pump up your business life. This year: gathering knowledge. Next year: implementation.

DON’T ignore anything emotional that comes up for you this year. If you face down your feelings in a fume of denial, you’ll have missed out on exponential personal growth.

DON’T dig your heels in and resist the call to expand yourself. If you do, you’ll win a Victim of the Year Award for 2014. And you’ll deserve it.

Felicia Bender is The Practical Numeroligist.
@FeliciaBender1

NEW YEAR, NU YOU: FENG SHUI YOUR FRIDGE

Posted on by The Numinous

Embroiled in a love-hate relationship with your refrigerator? Time to set some boundaries, show some respect and radically shift the negative vibes, says Feng Shui expert Elana Kilkenny.

Chances are you’ve already spent a lot of time this year making (and breaking?) resolutions around your relationship with food. What if I told you that the state of your refrigerator plays a contributing role to your goals? Here’s how to Feng Shui your fridge, aka “where your food spends most of its time hanging out,” to powerfully shift the energy around it and bring you closer to your 2014 vision.

LAY DOWN THE LAW (AND ORDER)
Cluttered refrigerator = cluttered relationship to food. So mindfully clear out your refrigerator and freezer by making a habit of throwing out what is no longer fresh and what no longer gets you closer to your desired feelings about how you are feeding your body.

IT’S NOT JUST WHAT’S IN YOU FRIDGE
Take a symbolic look at what’s on your refrigerator door.  Does it look chaotic, filled with things from the past, stressing you with to-dos? Take off anything that is not fully inspiring to you and re-invent this space as a vision board for how you want to feel.

TAKE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Caution note: before you put up a picture of a perfectly toned actress or yourself when you were at a “better weight” ask if these images inspire you or depress you. Reinforcing negative feelings about your current weight will only push you further away from your positive intentions and deeper into self-sabotage. Choose instead to put up pictures, words or quotes that remind you of how you want to feel about your health, food and body. Sexy, vital, satiated, luscious…

CREATE GOOD CHI FOR YOUR CHIA SEED PUDDING
Most trainers suggest stocking your refrigerator with cut-up vegetables and washed fruit, so that you have a healthy choice at your fingertips. Elevate the mundane into a feast for your senses by storing these items in beautiful vessels and containers. This further raises the chi of not only your refrigerator but also your energy around food.

LOOK AWAY FROM THE REFRIGERATOR
If your refrigerator is the first thing you see when you enter your kitchen, it could condition you to eat more. Don’t roll your eyes thinking I’m going to tell you to embark on a costly renovation. Create a pretty distraction to draw your energy away from the refrigerator. Decorate the surrounding area with art, a funky chandelier, or a bold kitchen rug. Be creative.

GO JEDI ON BEN & JERRY’S ASS
Practise going into your kitchen with laser focus on what you DO want, with the use of a positive affirmation about food. “I desire to wake up feeling energized,” “I desire to feel beautiful in my jeans,” “I desire to love myself and trust my food choices.” Eventually your desired feelings will be so potent that they might just be a stronger draw than that pint of Ben & Jerry’s.

Elana Kilkenny is a Feng Shui Designer, Intuitive Counselor, Empowerment Psychic and Healer. To book a session please contact [email protected] or 877-858-2100.

www.elanakilkenny.blogspot.com
@elanakilkenny

NEW YEAR, NU YOU: DESIGN YOUR OWN YOGA SEQUENCE

Posted on by The Numinous

Over six years of teaching yoga, Erica Jago has developed her own practical yet deeply intuitive methodology for designing a sequence that will heal the body, open the mind and touch the soul. She shares her process here – which can be used to design a group class, or a solo sequence just for you.


YOGA BY DESIGN: STEP-BY-STEP

sankalpa – Begin by writing three to five sentences in the form of a sankalpa that can be used at the opening of your sequence to set to the mood.

anatomical focus – Next, define the anatomical focus in a short bulleted list. For example, if I want my class to land in the heart, I would instruct this: “Lengthen the sides of your waist upward,” “Fearlessly move the heads of your arm bones back,” “Bring the tips of your shoulder blades to the back of your heart,” “Expand your collarbones.” This becomes the alignment you will cue in every pose.

sequence – Next comes the sequence. By drawing out the sequence using Asanaglyphs you can record the progression of poses you want to flow through over the course of the class.

three wave grid – That progression of poses is mapped out over a three-way grid that 1) warms you up, 2) takes you to the peak pose and 3) winds you down for shavasana.

peak pose – consider what you want to be the point of highest activity.

talking points – Lastly, I further develop the theme by writing down bite-sized talking points that can be used sporadically to help deepen the meaning of the poses.

DO YOU USE THE SAME PROCESS WHEN YOU’RE DESIGNING A SEQUENCE FOR YOUR PERSONAL ‘USE’?
Yes. I don’t teach a sequence unless I’ve fully embodied the language of those truths within myself. This has taught me how to listen to the tone of my voice, remix inspirations and to choose themes based on what has momentum in my current situation. The themes I choose come from a deep desire to master a concept more fully.

DO YOU SPEAK THE ORAL CUES TO YOURSELF WHILE PRACTISING THE SEQUENCE?
Hilariously, yes. And I’ve even filmed myself, which was horrifying! But this methodology ensures a sense of clarity for me, even before I step into the classroom, because I’ve contemplated it, practiced it, and experienced it first hand.

WHAT IS A ‘SANKALPA’ AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO BEGIN WITH THIS?
A Sankalpa is the  mood you want the experience to be infused with. This feeling and intention is what you return to again and again as you design your own yoga sequence, to reiterate the teachings at the cellular level.

WHAT’S A GOOD WAY TO GUAGE WHAT KIND OF THEME IS GOING TO BE MOST USEFUL FOR YOU AT ANY GIVEN TIME? 
The chakras. Feeling for what’s happening at these energy centers in our bodies that will bring about magic every time. Concentrate on one of these channels at the start of your sequence and continue to tune into that frequency, pose after pose, and you’ll find that you are opened up to deep seated memories and even spiritual experiences.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GO ABOUT DEFINING THE ANATOMICAL FOCUS YOU WANT TO WORK WITH?
I believe setting an anatomical focus is a methodical and logical way to learn how to serve and nourish our own hearts. Using a series of arm balances or backbends, for example, with simple, relevant cues, grants us access to those areas of the body that can otherwise be merely esoteric. The clichéd concept of “love yourself” is more easily grasped when you align the architecture of your body and attention of your mind with the latitude of the body that’s known for generating and broadcasting love.

DO YOU HAVE TO BE AN EXPERT ARTIST TO DRAW THE ASANAGLYPHS?
Absolutely not. If you can draw a straight line you can draw them, while grid paper will help with the scaling. The Asanaglyphs are scaled three squares wide by four squares high. Most yoga poses are set at 90°angles, and I’ve learned over time that the figures look better when you keep the heads small (no pun intended!)

HOW MANY POSES SHOULD YOU AIM FOR IN A 30-MINUTE SEQUENCE?
That depends on the style of yoga you’re practising. Vinyasa will include more poses, with cues to “pulsate” between them, while Restorative or Yin will feature less. I’ve begun to study and value a slower, more cooling practice. A 30-minute flow that I do before bed includes forward and backbends that stimulate and nourish the kidneys and adrenal glands. Sphinx pose, Saddle pose, Seal, Butterfly, Half Butterfly, Caterpillar, Reclining Twist.

IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO DECIDE YOUR ‘PEAK POSE’ BEFORE YOU BEGIN? 
Occasionally, if this is what inspired you to design the sequence. The peak pose traditionally happens in Wave Two and gives you a starting point to work backwards from to create Wave One. Think; what needs to be open in order for you to come into the full expression of the peak pose? And with Wave Three; how can I counter the peak pose and gradually bring myself back down? After some thought and contemplation, notice if these series of expansions and contractions change your perception of the pose and how you practise it.

IS THE PEAK POSE THE MOST DIFFICULT OR CHALLENGING POSE, OR THE POSE THAT GETS DEEPEST INTO YOUR THEME? 
Traditionally, Peak Pose means the most challenging, but I would love to think that by using this creative process, it would allow for both options to be true.

IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO PRACTISE THE SEQUENCE AS IT DEVELOPS TO HELP IT EVOLVE MORE NATURALLY?
That is the only way to do it! Spread your mat on the floor, grab a cup of water, your Jambox, your timer, your source of inspiration, a pen and two sheets of 8.5 x 11 grid paper. On one sheet sketch out the three wave grid and keep the other sheet for writing out your talking points. Begin by moving your body and breath, stopping to take notes as you go, and recording the poses with Asanaglyphs. Give yourself one hour of uninterrupted time, meaning no getting up to check your mail or do dishes, but staying close to the earth, candle lit, and letting the design of your sequence be an intertwined act of creativity and spirituality.

The best part is that by recording it this way, your sequence becomes a work of art. I can come back to the sequences I’ve designed again and again, and so eventually each one becomes part of my DNA. You can find some of these drawings on my Pinterest and Instagram accounts: @Jagoyoga.

Contemporary Yoga Sequencing will be held at Noelani’s Studio in Haleiwa, Oahu on January 31. Erica Jago will be speaking at Wanderlust Oahu on Feb 27th.

Jagoyoga.com

@NUMINOUS_BOOKS