Grab the gift of Grace!

Summer kissed

This morning I wake with joy in my heart because Father Summer has made his entrance in the Northern Hemisphere. It's official, the Sun has returned once again. The solstice began Friday June 20th at approximately 10:42pm EST in the Northern Hemisphere.  It is the official start of the summer, but it is more than a mere seasonal shift. And yes, the days may be hotter and we will perspire, but the trade off of sun, warmth, and blue skies is all worth the bit of sweat that may come my way.  Most importantly, we have entered yet another season during this year and that means another opportunity to set longer, more structured spiritual goals for ourselves.

Let light lead

The Summer Solstice represents the time of year when all things are growing, blooming, and stretching out in their  own way. With the extra light we will have access to stretch and grow ourselves. I believe summer comes to illuminate (with all of that extra light) the unseen, help us focus on the harder aspects of ourselves, and celebrate the milestones we have reached unknowingly. The fires of summer awaits us all.

Grace is giving

With all of this added humph I suggest we harness that sun-kissed energy and boldly burst through our own barriers by accepting the grace that awaits. And grace is not just going easy on ourselves or others, but true grace which forces us all to dig deep to see what we are denying or refusing to accept from the spirit world, be it a new attitude, new look, opportunity or way of seeing ourselves. But yes grace does require courage for once we truly accept it, we will be forever changed and that is the beauty of grace. With grace we become something totally new and different. This task during summer will be easier for some than others, but it's not a competition, it's a chance for true change. Take the time, find your GRACE!

Jump from here

Below are a few tools that can help in accessing and processing your Grace this summer.  Take this totem, this concept and this affirmation and use them as a jumping off point for your works.  Oftentimes we wonder how we start, here is a starting point.  Take time over the next few days to meditate, write, dream and ponder. As always answers are there, we just have to recognize them.

Summer Animal Totem - Swan

Concept - Grace

credit: nativeamericantotems.com

Surrender my being to the Power of Spirit

Relationship between Grace & Illusion

Accept the Future

The State of Grace

Summer Concept - Healing and Transformation

Trust Spirit’s Protection

Lean into my Faith & Acceptance

Acceptance of Healing is a Verb

I will be Changed

Summer Mantra

I stand ready to accept the transformative healing that awaits me this season.

Bless me and my path as I walk further, closer to my truest self.

--Andrea

Push, pull, and prodding from Pluto

Often times I am quite amazed at how things turn out, you see I sometimes have my own ideas and then the universe takes over and what is to be occurs.  This blog post is testament to just that fact.  Already into this Scorpio Lunar Cycle I am being pushed to design new paradigms, something that at times can be quite difficult.  Out of the New Moon time the moon is Waxing which means this is perfect the time to build towards short term goals or objectives.  This Scorpion time can be flowered with thoughts of subtlety, severance, and a desire to journey towards the true self.  Hold tight to those thoughts, they are significant, but more prevalent and overriding is the Pluto energy that rules the sign of Scorpio.

Yes, it is that time again to think of rebirth and times of complete alteration.  Now do any of us really want to dwell on these concepts? Maybe not, but I tell you what when these come into play in our lives and we do nothing, only chaos and turmoil follow.  Bad decisions, hurt feelings, lost energy, and all around ickiness will abound.  Basically, at this point we are either moving closer or farther away from our actualized selves and only we each know which way the weather vane is blowing.  Our days and nights may be cooler, but it is my wish that all of us are warming to the idea of moving towards who we really are.  Guess what, either we do or we don't, it's simply up to us.  Now for each of us these changes will be different, some may be large and others may happen in that still, quiet, inner place, regardless it all represents our conscious effort to evolve.

For me this Scorpio Cycle has been about achieving, measuring, and maintaining the balance I need in my life.  So my short term goal is to continue with that.  What I am trying to do is pay closer attention to the signs earlier in the game and intercepting possible snags or setbacks.  I am sure there is more to come but with conscious effort I can surely transform and rebirth the way I understand and balance's relevance to my personal evolution.  As lofty as these all sound trust and believe I get it right sometimes and wrong other times, but one thing is for sure, I am quickly becoming my biggest cheerleader and my compassion for self is ever expanding my humanity.  Okay this was so much more than I thought I would share, but you know how it is once you get started.

As stated above, we are Waxing so focus can be on short termed goals and objectives that will help you as we move closer to that Full Moon time that is coming in a few days.  Below are general areas that can gleen results when worked upon when the moon floats through the sign of Scorpio, which is Pluto ruled.

Work in Pluto

Complete Alteration

Regeneration or Degeneration

Transformation

Transmutation

Scorpio Lunar Cycle Totem-Frog

Concept-Cleansing

Importance of Water and Sound

Abundance and Fertility

Duality in Life

Herbs and Essences for Scorpio Lunar Cycle

Elder-Emotional Healing

Dragon's Blood-Power

Sandalwood-Protection

Scorpio Lunar Cycle Affirmation

As I undergo purposeful changes

I ask for honesty, understanding, and patience

knowing on the other side of this I will be forever better and

evolved 

--Andrea/DaughterofWaters 

    

Summer is burning to Bless US!

credit: flickr.com

Summer is back in town

At about 7:09pm EST today we welcome back the wonder known as the Summer Solstice.  This phenomenon, celebrated throughout the world in many ways, is the official beginning of summertime.  Summer has been away for about one year and now he has returned with gifts for us all.  I refer to Summer as him because the solstice is the longest amount of sunlight we have during the entire year (in the Northern Hemisphere) and the Sun is definitely a masculine energy for all of us.

Female and Male right there 

This year the solstice will peak just as the Sun (a feminine energy) moves into Cancer, which is also Moon ruled. So what we have for ourselves is nice balance of the male and female principles.  Now, what are we going to do with all of this information? Well, I would like to think we are going to be out the gate making moves, spreading love, and doing the MOST, but I know, it does take us time to first reflect, then act, there are always better results when that happens, (SMILE).

Know the now for the then

Take stock of where you are? Also, think about what focus will glean you the most beneficial improvements of self and things you are working towards.  For me I always have to grasp myself up to not be too shortsighted or surface.  Although there is joy, laughter, and good times when the Sun is strong, remember the Sun is our ultimate illumination tool when trying to see things we have hidden from ourselves.  Don't know about you, but I am good at hiding things from myself that may lead to some uncomfortable-ness.

 Ready for an uproarious ride

For me this Summer is about opening to the transformation that is occurring before my very eyes.  It is difficult for me to see myself, my true, whole, holistic self, but my mothers (physical and ancestral) know just how to get the message to me that there is a difference between what I think and what really is.  So, I say to them, balance out my perception of my transformation and what my transformation is.  I am open to seeing this cycle of me differently knowing that they are taking my being, loving, living, seeing, growing, doing, and experiencing to a whole other level.  I thank them and I get ready for a roller coaster (which I love by the way) of a Summer.

 Pick your joy, only you can

How about you? What portions of you will you take a stab at this Summer? Also, maybe you can dig to that deep place you have been trying to avoid like the big pink elephant in the room, look at that part of the self, it's okay, it's YOU!  Below are areas that can really soar during Summer.  I also dropped a few symbols to keep a look out for or even make a part of our Summer days.

credit: article.wn.com

Work for the Summer Solstice

Personal Enlightenment

Fertility

Communication with Nature

Handfastings & Weddings

Summer Solstice Elements

Fire

Sunflowers

Community Gatherings

Flower Wreaths 

Summer Solstice Oils

Frankincense

Juniper

Orange

Rosemary

credit: weedwrench.com

--Andrea, DaughterofWaters