Sun in Taurus: Time Out to Tune Up

How's your nervous system?

We’ve just come off a radical jolt of a Full Moon in Scorpio week where themes of death and regeneration, purging and transmogrification shook most everyone up internally – if you are paying attention. Shedding, morphing, regenerating through shamanic experiences, radical release, and strange illnesses have arisen for folks to help us evolve, release, surrender to the collective evolution. The Sun in Taurus conjoined radical change agent Uranus to surprise and shift us all – a sci fi movie that is not fiction at all – these changes are happening, and our body-minds are along for the ride, like it or not.

What’s a body to “do”? Ride the ride, and take care of your self best you can while the Cosmos goes through this quickening dance. The Sun continues his sojourn through the fixed sign of Taurus, the Bull, for another two-and-a-half weeks. For myself, I turn to All Things Taurean to make myself feel better. The springtime sign of the earthy four-footed Bull is best honored with the five senses: smell, sight, taste, and touch.

Staying glued to a device, whether phone, laptop, TV screen would not be healthy these days. Our eyes need a break – they need to see things far off in the distance. They need dimensionality, perspective, varying hues of color, especially green, and movement that is not programmed bytes of zeroes and ones.

Snow melt in the canyon

Our noses need the smells of the forests, of chocolate chip cookies baking, of our lover’s neck in a nuzzle, of the blossoms on a walk.

Our bodies need to feel, to be massaged, to stretch and strengthen.

Our ears need breaks from headsets and Bluetooth. Many folks have had tinnitus lately, and it seems to clear up a great deal by stopping the use of constant headphones, especially Bluetooth. Another way to take care of the ears is to sit quietly in a room or out of doors, just letting the energy purge off the ears. I also love ayurvedic ear oil (nose oil, too!) as a way to care for the ears.

And taste – try new recipes, even if we don’t know how they’ll turn out. I love Google recipe searches for this reason – just put in “tilapia” and “instant pot” and few hours later I’m smelling a fish curry wafting through the house, waiting for rice at dinner time.

But most of all, most of all… in time of Taurus… do get outside.

This past weekend, my Beloved and I went for a three-day backpacking stretch along the Pacific Crest Trail. A shorter trek, we wanted to slip it in before the crowds head up to the mountains. Incredibly healing, I could barely stomach turning my phone on again once we reentered civilization.

Was it the best night’s sleep? Was I cozy and warm all the time? Was it easy hauling straight up a mountain face with a pack for 8.5 miles?  No, it isn’t the Ritz. But it’s got a much larger return on investment, believe you me.

High Sierra Salamander

I saw a beautiful salamander on the trail, many American dippers (aka water ouzel, the only true aquatic songbird!) in the river, at least eight snakes (luckily not rattlers), a deer bounding away up ahead. We ate cheesy potatoes for breakfast, took a freezing cold bath in a raging snow-melt stream, and watched the campfire dance at night, a beautiful nod to Beltane (May Day) fires.  I savored Nescafe, instant oatmeal, beans 'n rice, and maxed out on trail mix.

My Beloved and I pondered doing the entire Pacific Crest Trail in chunks – he might do it solo with me joining in for certain stretches. I feel ready now to get out there solo myself, albeit for shorter periods at a time.

Another great thing about hiking for a few days in uncrowded trails is that it is a natural walking meditation retreat. It’s wonderful, if you’re with another, to allow at least a long distance between your pacing. No talking, texting, looking anything up on Google. It’s just you and the trail. And you have to pay laser sharp attention, or you might step on a snake. For reals.

Rattlesnake Spring

While walking and looking for snakes, thoughts often turned to the current World Changes, and how I am embodying this in my work and personally. I keep a lot of this to myself, though am hopeful that I can start to share this with others in private sessions. Having moved up to the High Sierra this past year, I have more time and space and access to a direct line of what is happening cosmically. The information I get is definitely far outside the norm (when have I ever been of the norm?) and it takes courage to admit even to myself what I am downloading. I am grateful for the few individuals that I am able to speak about this with. Talking to the trees and the sky and the mountains is a gift; they simply know.

Being in the woods for even a few days – absolutely no one around, early in the season, far away from restrooms, cell towers, and highways – is a blessing. It may sound hard, but perhaps you yourself can find a way to go for it, alone or with others. You may be uncomfortable, but the rivers will cleanse your bloodstream and the cold mountain air can clear your mind faster than any meditation practice.

Blessings to you in time of Taurus and always!

Heading Out on the PCT

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.  

Sun Enters Aries: Spring and the Super-Powered Seed

Jet Martinez, Te Quiero Tantito (2016)

Tomorrow in the wee hours of March 20, the Sun enters fiery Aries, the sign of “I AM.” We celebrate the vernal equinox with its full potential of springtime, and all that is new. Our hearts and minds, at least in the Northern Hemisphere, are prickling with fresh energy.

At this point, however, we know not exactly how this potential energy will take shape. It is tempting to force it into being, to have a plan, to make up a story with your ideas of how this, that, and the other thing are going to unfold this season and into summer. We immediately impose a mental framework onto this new baby potential of springtime. When this happens, we are in great danger of missing the magic.

I am about to launch my second book, Truth Seeker: A Spiritual Adventure of Love, Loss, and Liberation, into the world. It’s a matter of days now before the paperback and Kindle version go live on Amazon. I’m relieved, and thrilled, that this seed is going to burst onto the scene – finally! People will be able to read this spiritual memoir that I’ve toiled with for over ten years. Finally!

Now, have I any firm intention as to how this book is going to find its way in the world? How and when it will start walking and talking? To find its way to a bookstore virtual reading, an interview, a top-book-pick list? Nope. Do I have an agenda as to what it’s going to result in – more recognition, more students, more money, more, more, more…?

Nope. When I think of imposing a limited collection of thoughtforms – ideas of how it should be – onto this book baby, I lose all the magic, all the wonder, all the faith in Existence to show the way.

Of course, I absolutely hope that people enjoy the book and benefit from it, are inspired by it, or even transformed. But is that up to me? Not a chance.

I’ve done my part. I’ve fertilized the soil, I’ve weeded and tilled and toiled. I’ve been pregnant for years, had many false labors, premature contractions. I was in the delivery room for eons, it seemed, without epidural. Without drugs. A raw, natural childbirth that had both mother and emerging babe screaming and wailing in fits and starts. So many breach moments, so many crownings, fantasizing about forceps, asking for help, and more help, and more help.

Until finally, the little truth-seeking infant lands on the scene. Just about ready to be shown to the world. Packed chock-full with all its DNA ready at the helm, a life stored within from start to finish, a blessed star is born.

And of course, I have heard, seen, and felt pressure within and without to do a book launch the right way, the correct way. To get Facebook ads, more advance reviewers, a larger mailing list. To which I say, let’s see what happens! Let’s let the baby herself have a moment to show me the way.

At this time of Spring Equinox, when the potential energy within and without is throbbing, pulsing, ready to burst forth, see if you can take a moment to let it reveal itself to you, rather than imposing an idea of what should happen next.

We are coming off a year of being isolated, limited in movement, and more turned inward than ever before. We are ourselves blessed new seeds. Rumblings of reentry back into the bustling world are being heard across the globe. They are real rumblings, and surely we will reengage in a new way. Yet, let Life lead the way, try not to push too quickly or too hard. Lest you miss the magic.

Art by Casey Weldon

Equinox 2021

 

Reenter the world

come out gently but slowly

like a tiny bud at the tip of a branch

barely quivering at first sun.

A babe is borne, really raw

very tender and fragile.

 

What have you learned this past year?

Must you pick up all the old crap?

Can you leave those old patterns,

dust motes, habits, compulsions,

convictions aside?

Salvador Dali, Rosa Papilio

Can you accept the spaciousness

of a raw, empty palate-palette?

 

This is the opportunity you have been

waiting for.

The unknown, the void

with pure potential.

A seed with all life force energy

packed inside.

 

Release the need to control the outcome.

Trust the unfoldment of life.

 

Allow the sun, the rain, the

rainbow to feed the seed.

No need to know.

All by itself, life will grow.

~ Erin Reese

 

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. 

 

 

Cosmic Update: Love and War in the time of Aries

Aries/The Rebel, Osho Zen Tarot

This week, we have experienced two potent astro-whammies: the Sun entered fiery Aries on the Vernal Equinox, and we had a 0 degree Full Moon in Libra, the cardinal air sign of justice, contracts, partnerships. Both of these events continue to reverberate through our systems and will continue to permeate the next weeks.

The Sun in Aries, ruled by Mars (war) and Moon in Libra, ruled by Venus (love), have had a face-off. All is fair in Love and War, so the saying goes. Sometimes it gets bloody before it gets better. Meaning, a final nail must go in the coffin. A culmination, ending something outdated. A personal or professional contract that has become harmful to our souls.

Burning Old Contracts

The stronger the bond, the harder it can be to break it. But what happens when our relationship with a depleting career path, a narcissistic parent, unconscious ex, or abusive boss/coworker has been clearly exposed as toxic and dangerous to our well-being? We must come out of denial. The scales must begin to fall from our eyes, one-by-one. It can be a long, slow, painful process that takes years. Or, it can happen in one radical swoop of revelation and vivid knowing.

 Venus-ruled Libra tends to focus on the Other: what does he want/need? How may I serve her? Will they be okay, happy, pleased? No. The poles are shifting. Keep the focus on yourself, it is Aries' time. Are you afraid of being selfish? If you are asking yourself that question, more than likely you’re not in danger of being a narcissist.

What is more likely is that you are a creative, sensitive, empathic human being who tends to over-give, over-love, and over-extend. (Yes, there are some exceptions. Hard-wired narcissism can hijack any situation to make it suit his or her self-interest! You can survey your trusted long-term friends to check yourself. Ask if you’re being unreasonable or are actually taking good care of self. Make sure they’re honest and not scared of you or pleasing you!)

  

No More: Cutting Cords

 

A simple exercise: Get a new candle. Surround with symbols and allies: stones, deities, power objects, feathers, pictures, oils, potions, natural items – you will know. Burn sage, incense, palo santo, or ring a bell, to cleanse the space and your own energy field. Write down what you need to remove from your energy field, whether that is a person, situation, contract, or fear.

Take a symbolic cord – piece of string, yarn, thread – whatever you have. Hold it taut by tying it or weighing it down with something strong enough, and holding the other end in your hand. Visualize that “Other” at the other end. Use a lighter, match, or scissors to sever the cord. Lay the remnants at your altar. Let the candle burn down over a period of hours or days. Let the Divine take it, handle it, transform it. So that You May Be Free.

In order to plunge into the fierce, positive potential of this beautiful spring Aries rebirth, filled with creativity and abundance, we must do the final cut. Will there be tears? Likely. Will it be painful? Possibly.

What’s the anesthetic? Courage. And prayer. And support from those who love YOU and support YOU and believe in YOU. In order to flourish, to establish new bonds with healthy partners and creative allies and nourishing dreams, we must be willing to kill, destroy, let whimper and die the draining, parasitic demon that has been feeding off of your soul for too long.

At this time of the Spring Equinox, as the Sun bursts fresh and awake over the Aries line, we are asked to face some difficult truths about our relationships with persons, places, situations. Burn up the outdated contracts. This is because Life wants us to step into the Truth of our Existence, which is not suffering, not indebtedness, and not being controlled by others who are harmful to us, mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually.

Aries is the Warrior/Warrioress. The Amazon Goddess, like Wonder Woman. When necessary: Ares, god of war comes forth and She channels the battle energy with the power of Love. And in this case, we must LOVE OURSELVES enough to cut the cords.

 

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.

Pop Postscript: The Two-Letter Magic Word

Remember the B word. Boundaries.

Followed by the two-letter magic word: NO.

Think of Meghan Trainor, in all her pop-wisdom glory, belting her song, "NO." Listen here.

“NO”

 My name is no

 My sign is no

 My number is no

 You need to let it go You need to let it go

 Need to let it go

 Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no

Happy Winter Solstice ~ celebrate the return of the Light!

Happy Winter Solstice, everyone.

Yuletide greetings!

We welcome the return of the light.

The Sun enters earthy Capricorn today.

Set your prayers for spring and summer renewal. 

Light your candles, offer your intentions. 

Allow Grace and Healing into your Life.

Let it be so.

May all be loved, 

Erin

Video clip:

Saxophone busker in Central Park - first snow of the year!

Musical holiday greetings and cheer.

(support your local musicians!)

 

Connect to Nature, Mother Earth.

Feel Her support and care!

Alice in Wonderland - Central Park NYC, December 2017

Erin Reese is an author, spiritual teacher, counselor, 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 at erin@erinreese.com.