Full Moon in Leo: Your Inner Child Needs You

Konkan Coast, South India

Today we greet the full moon in the fixed fire sign of Leo the Lion. Leo rules the fifth house of the horoscope, the home of love affairs and play, drama and romance, gambling and risks, self-expression and creativity, children, and the Inner Child.

In my recent New Year’s and January 20^th Meditation and Messages online meetings, the theme of the Inner Child featured prominently in the transmissions. It is clearly important in 2021 to stay connected to this part of self, no matter what age or condition they are appearing to us.

This lunation is unstable and potentially volatile with Venus conjunct Pluto in Capricorn, and the Sun conjunct Jupiter in Aquarius opposing the Full Moon. There is a clear conflict in the messages we are being given as a society and the messages that Nature is giving to us. The media and popular leadership are telling us to prepare for normalcy again, to start making plans to travel, to run around, to spend money, to get together with folks as quickly as possible. In short, the input we are receiving is “get busy, get back to normal.”

The pressure in our culture is to go back to where you were a year ago, to get busy, stimulated (and spend your stimulus check), make plans (lots of them).

Well…

Intuitively our bodies and inner children are confused as to what that means. The truth is, there is no return to normal, at least if you've shifted into the new paradigm. Many of us are stabilizing in a completely different reality and it is going to create a ton of stress to pretend to revert to pre-2020 activities and modes of living.

Kushinagar, India

Whether you are feeling hopeful, skeptical, or daunted by the idea of “getting back to normal” this year, there is one aspect of the lived human experience that comes along with you every day, integrated or not, and that is the Inner Child – the young part of self.

Check within and see how she is showing herself to you these days. A cheery five-year-old, a sad seven-year-old, a wailing infant, a cranky toddler, a wistful preteen, a rebellious or brokenhearted adolescent?

The Sun - XIX

The flavor of the age you are working with will not necessarily reflect your memory of yourself at said age. What is important is how the Inner Child is presenting itself to you now. You may have more than one age showing up. I often tend to my five-year-old sensitive and magical Little Erin, but my hormonal, misbehaving sixteen-year-old has been known to make an appearance.  A depressed infant pops up on occasion, as does a confused sixth grader.

An easy way to reconnect to your Inner Child is to commit to spending a half or full day only doing that which they need from you. Usually this is away from the computer, phone, adult duties. You might need to read quietly with your Little One envisioned beside you on the sofa. You might let your little one choose the book or magazine to read, or the movie to watch together. (I recently watched Taika Waititi’s The Hunt for the Wilderpeople which I highly recommend as an Inner Child playdate flick; I’m sure you will have fun picking your own!).

Like Leo and the Sun card of the Tarot, the Inner Child needs time to play, to shine, to be seen and acknowledged. And the most important person to revel in your goods is… YOU. Sure, hamming it up with others in your household or community or job is fab, especially for our extroverted aspects and the part of us that likes to put on a show – Leo’s fave. But even when we are uninterested or unable to socialize or perform, or it is not received, remember that we will benefit most by going within. We are the parent. We can celebrate and revel in our little one’s creations or fascinations – and play along.

Performing with the Inner Child, 2007

Inner children often like to draw, paint, collage, sketch or scribble – badly or goodly as it appears. You might try drawing with your non-dominant hand to let them express themself unedited. Perfection, goals, intentions, and getting it right are blocks and bugaboos, so let yourself go. What is most important is to stay present with the body and feelings, pleasant or unpleasant.

A nation of non-recovered Inner Children is a world filled with Walking Wounded. The Child is the squeaky wheel that gets the grease, whether consciously (through tending to their needs) or unconsciously (acting out). Without paying attention and listening, we have an immature, reactive, cranky, needy, upset, confused self leading the show, and we’re left wondering how it could be so.

With the tumultuous energies in the world right now, it is time to hold on to your Inner Child. Remember it is healthy to allow this part of self to be the Center of the Universe – the leonine Sun. Everything rises and sets on the energy of the Inner Child.

Erin Reese performing, 2007

Erin Reese, M.S. is a contemporary non-dual spiritual teacher, author and guide. A modern mystic with over thirty years of experience, Erin Reese offers incisive, practical intuitive readings to her clients worldwide. She is a counselor, guide and mentor to those seeking an alternative to traditional psychotherapy or business coaching. Erin also offers non-dual meetings and retreats on embodied liberation and freedom from suffering. Visit erinreese.com for more information.

  

A few resources and books:

• adultchildren.org
  
• Recovery of Your Inner Child, Linda Capacchione (1991) 
• Sacred Contracts: Awakening Your Divine Potential, Caroline Myss (2001)
• Homecoming: Reclaiming and Championing Your Inner Child, John Bradshaw (1990)

Rebirth, Quarantine, and the Inner Spring

Wherever You Are, Is Perfect

A quote I've long appreciated, oft attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson is, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.”

Yet these days I’ve decided to turn it on its ear. Let’s make it the following:

“The destination is the journey.” Meaning. Wherever you are, it’s perfect. You are perfection. You are that which you seek. You yourself are the destination.

I’ve noticed on the collective consciousness stage that folks are energetically leaving their quarantines even though the shelter in place hasn’t been lifted. People are wanting to travel more in their minds, and bodies, even locally. They are socializing more, trying to find new ways to fill up the space, to bring a sense of what used to be “normal” back into their lives. Perhaps it’s the spring weather; perhaps it’s boredom, a need for distraction. Perhaps it’s simply human nature.

However, many souls are not ready to focus on the outer world yet. You will know that you are in this group if you feel confused or garbled when you’re at the grocery store, when you’re trying to have too many virtual social gatherings, or neighborhood six-to-ten-feet away chit-chats. You might feel like you get clobbered by externalizing your energy. You might get easily fatigued. It might show up in your dreams, imploring you to pay attention.

Last week, I dreamed I was being pulled out of quarantine, and my soul balked. It wasn’t ready. I was attempting to secure a reservation for a weeklong silent retreat, to go back inside. Upon analyzing the dream, it became clear that, even though the earth is laughing in flowers right now, and coyotes are (literally) howling in North Beach SF, for us humans, it is an Inner Spring this year. A deepening connection to the Self, rather than the World, civilization, unnecessary activity. We are springing forth, from the inside first. The destination is us, and we ourselves are the journey.

Sheltering In Place

Time Out of Time

Many of us are in a gestation period, pregnant with something new. It needs a bit more time to cook – that symbolic bun in the oven. Some of us have already birthed a new idea, project, vision during quarantine, and that new baby needs a bit more protection before it is trotted around the neighborhood and exposed to all and sundry outside. Think of a snake that has shed its old skin, a death and rebirth process. It takes time for the new skin to grow, and the animal needs this coat to form before revealing itself to risky elements. Sensitivity is high. 

I find it notable that the animal associated with this pandemic (whether science or symbol) is a bat. In many indigenous traditions, Bat represents Rebirth, and the shamanic, symbolic death of the healer. Jamie Sams and David Carson write of Bat in Medicine Cards: The Discovery of Power Through the Ways of Animals (Bear and Company, 1999), “If Bat has appeared in your cards today, it symbolizes the need for a ritualistic death of some way of life that no longer suits your new growth pattern. This can mean a time of letting go of old habits, and of assuming the position in life that prepares you for rebirth, or in some cases initiation. In every case, Bat signals rebirth of some part of yourself or the death of old patterns...”

 

These processes of rebirth constitute "time out of time," and take time. In the recent newsletter from the ashram of Sri Ramana Maharshi in Tiruvannamalai, India, the writers describe Ramana’s various retreats under massive epidemics of the first half of the 20^th Century, from cholera, typhoid, bubonic plague. The ashram was shut down to the bare minimum of activity during these times. The sage fondly remembers these months as some of the ashram community's happiest, most peaceful times. A time of deepening and lessening of distractions.

I know many of us absolutely need to get back to work in the world, financially and psychologically. I completely support this and hope this does happen as quickly as possible for folks. Yet, we can also keep in mind: This quarantine is going to pass quicker than we think, even if it chronologically and paradoxically lasts longer than initially thought. When we look back on 2020, and these inner months, we’ll realize that it was restful, healing, revealing. It is an opportunity, and it’s moving fast. We can make best use of the time, and not opt-out of the inner journey before the miracle occurs.

Erin Reese, M.S. is a contemporary intuitive, spiritual counselor, author and guide. A modern mystic with over thirty years of experience, Erin offers incisive, practical intuitive readings to her clients worldwide. She is a spiritual counselor, guide and mentor to those seeking an alternative to traditional psychotherapy or business coaching. For more information, visit erinreese.com.

 

erinreese.com

New Moon in Sagittarius: Whatever Spirit Wants

Image: Daniel B. Holeman

Tomorrow, we welcome a New Moon in the mutable fire sign of Sagittarius, the Centaur-Archer. Imbued with the glow of our beautiful and lucky Jupiter-Venus conjunction, hopefully we are feeling a little more chillaxed about the upcoming holiday. Whether you are planning a gala family gathering or escaping into a hermitage to hide out from the whole thing, make the priority what feels good to YOU.

Focusing on self-satisfaction is not selfishness in a derogatory fashion. As we are all coming to learn in the esoteric realms: when we truly practice Self-care, it guarantees the best outcome for all concerned. Old paradigm constructs force us to be self-sacrificing to the point of self-harm. Are we doing for others because of an image? Running on the tapes of, what will my family (mother, partner, kids, friend) think of me if I opt out and do X instead of what has been traditionally expected of me?

Check to be sure you’re not practicing one of the four M’s of misery over the holiday; if you are, catch yourself, and get back to more self-care!

The 4 M’s of Misery:

1.       MOTHERING

2.       MARTYRING

3.       MANAGING

4.       MANIPULATING

Sagittarius energy is spirit taking flight – not in a spacy, ungrounded or nebulous fashion, but in a way that is still connected to others, to the world. Sag is embodied consciousness, soaring high after working through the mucky-muck and paying our dues of transformation. All the pain and frustration you’ve endured (aka CHANGE) is about to pay off. Try to get your optimistic groove on! You may need to stoke the fires of faith. Not that things are going to turn out exactly as you’ve wished for, not that it will be a storybook ending – but let it into your heart that it can be pretty damned GREAT!

For survivors of severe hardship or developmental trauma, whether emotional, mental, financial, or physical, it can be ultra-difficult to trust that:

-          Things can turn out great

-          We can be supported by Life

-          People can give us assistance

-          Life can be less of a struggle

Survivors’ nervous systems received hard-wiring to expect disaster or disappointment. So, we never fully relax, never let down our guard. Or worse, we sabotage the goodness that wants to flow into our lives. We unconsciously built in trap doors, or expectations that can never be met, to reify our world view. This corroborates a survival brain pattern that we are under siege and can never, ever let our guard down.

If this is you, take solace in the fact that healing is possible. Start small: see how you have always been taken care of – even when it’s been beyond painful. You got through it, right? You’re here reading this! Trust that it’s possible to receive that which is good.

At this time of the New Moon in Sagittarius, the Truth burns bright. I invite you to feel the support and love that wants to flow into your heart. Indulge in people, places and situations that light you up. Try to focus on your JOY.

Right now, whatever Spirit wants, Spirit gets.

As for the rest of it? Who cares!

 Wishing you a peaceful and satisfying holiday.

Remember: put your self-care first. 

Ask for help when you need it.

Practice saying no; it gets easier!

Make sure to get outside, get plenty of walks, stretch.

Spend time with animals.

Listen to good music.

Get lots of hugs and healthy physical touch.

Run, don't walk, away from energy drains.

Hydrate, sleep more, dream more.

Trust your Intuition.

Stay close to those you Love and treat you well!

I am incredibly grateful for each of You who have trusted me over the years as your intuitive consultant and spiritual counselor. Thank You!

I celebrate and recognize your indefatigable spirit, your guiding inner wisdom and your courageous heart.

In gratitude always,

Erin

Erin Reese is an author, spiritual guide, astrologer, and modern psychic reader based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She works with clients all over the world. For readings and spiritual counseling by Skype, phone or email, contact her directly. She can be reached at erin@erinreese.com.

New Moon in Scorpio: The Hidden Gift of Resentment

On the horizon, this Sunday we have a New Moon in the fixed water sign of Scorpio, also appearing as the Serpent-Eagle or Phoenix emerging from the ashes. The Scorpion is a potent symbol of magic, transformation and metamorphosis, asking us to dig deep where we would often rather not go. We are reminded that power is often hidden as we experience the darker, shadowy emotions and states of being.

A pop astrology reference to intensity of Scorpio you will often hear is: “Scorpio holds grudges.” “To the day they die!” some folks insist. Now, is this true? Check it out, if you have a Scorpio Moon, Rising, or Sun – or if you have close friends or family in this camp. Certainly, it depends on the amount of work one has asked of themselves, for we know that built-up resentment in the body can lead to health crises, and an encrustation of deep-seated unhappiness.

We’ve all heard how important it is to “let go” of resentment, or to focus on forgiveness. The latter is a pet topic of mine. Forgiving others too quickly can simply be a “spiritual bypass,” in which we try to gloss over the pain to get to a happy ending. The result? The roots of the system are still rotten, and the disease agents continue to wreak havoc on our souls, our psyches.

Resentment feels different than the flash of rage, the rush of blood to the head or the hot immediacy of anger (another important indicator-emotion). Resentment seeps into the bones; some of us ruminate and savor our resentment – like a familiar old frenemy. But what about the gift of resentment?

I have learned to take IMMEDIATE notice when I become aware that I have a resentment toward someone, something, some situation. It doesn’t last too long, because the gift of emotion is a fast-acting one, sort of like ipecac, the substance formerly used to induce immediate vomiting to expel a poison. (The German word for poison is, literally, Gift.) The moment I am clear that I have a resentment, I know it’s time to set pen to paper, to work it through with a trusted advisor, or appeal to Self, to quickly understand where I – not the other – need to make a change.

Did you catch that? It is my own self, not the other – that person that seems to be disrupting our serenity – that needs to make a change.

We come out of victim mode, the “poor me,” the blame game. This may require us to stand up to another, even experience a very uncomfortable conversation, even (for shame!) raise our voice a tiny decibel. Of course, we can try to do it graciously, yet sometimes it gets sloppy. The important thing is this: a resentment is a sign that we need to take immediate steps to change something about our situation.

Let me repeat that:

A resentment is a sign that we need to take immediate steps to change our situation.

We may need to say no, to opt out, to quit something. We may need to request something from another, to ask for help, to speak up. We may need to stop provoking, or stop engaging with the person, or situation, that continues to get our goat.

We may need to cease having expectations about another person’s behavior, and that means letting go of hope that they are going to change. The short terminology for this, of course, is to stop shopping for bread at the hardware store.

Does this mean that we skulk away, and feel bereft, failed, empty, let down once again? No, for we learn to meet those needs in another fashion, perhaps by giving to ourselves what we are wishing for from another. We may start requesting things from another person or situation that is able to give us what we long for. And, it means that we may need to experience a spell of grieving when we are fully honest of the loss, that of another person not being who we hoped they would be. 

Resentment made conscious is so strong, so uncomfortable, that you can’t miss its cue. And it has a close cousin, called bitterness, who also bears gifts.

Bitterness: Resentment’s Tougher Cousin

Bitterness shows up like resentment but slightly colder; we now are on the verge of shutting down, closing the heart. It’s a big clue that we’ve got to go after something, to take a risk, to allow ourselves to be opened again by life. It’s a major toxin, but it doesn’t have to be – let it be a homeopathic to invoke healing. We hear of bitterness often when we hear of people shunted by love, let down by relationships, whether romantic or familial. If you notice that you’re bitter about the prospect of dating, or opening your heart in love, you may need to put yourself out there and allow yourself to go through the initiatory fires all over again – to be opened up again.

Bitterness can be used sparingly. It is a sign that something is OFF, out of kilter, incorrect or incongruent in your life. Use it, not as a resolve to stay stuck in the muck, but rather as a motivator to change your state, and do it as soon as possible. You might be scared, terrified even, but you will most certainly be brought back to life, resurrected like the phoenix, our Scorpio serpent-eagle rising from the ashes once again.

Need Spiritual Support? How to Work with Erin

As most of you know, I am a spiritual counselor, intuitive consultant, and teacher. I currently have space in my practice for two or three new clients. I am open to ongoing work with individuals, or couples, and I work via Zoom or Skype or phone with folks all over the world in several time zones. The rates are affordable when you purchase a 4-pack series of 4 hours at just $450 for 4 sessions. {This will be increasing soon so it’s a good time to get started – you can purchase as many packages as you like.} 

Frequency: I like to work with folks on average every two weeks, sometimes less, sometimes more; clearly, regular sessions seem to have the most benefit. We will usually spend ample time in a spiritual/psychological counseling capacity; I utilize the tool of tarot and intuitive readings as needed. It’s always helpful for me to know when you would like a reading, so let me know and we’ll work that into the session!

If you have any questions about my work, please email me here. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to support and guide my clients, and hope that this work benefits you, strengthens you, reassures and aids you in your blossoming and unfolding. With love, Erin

Erin Reese, M.S. is an author, spiritual guide, teacher, and modern psychic reader based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She works with clients all over the world. For readings and spiritual counseling by Skype, phone or email, contact her directly. She can be reached at erin@erinreese.com.