All is Well but It's Time to Get Centered

Part of counseling and healing is reassuring people that all is well. Recently, naturally, people have been worried, in fear, saying in one form or another, "What in the world is happening!? I need to know!"

But there are times, such as these now, when the ultimate outcome is in the balance. I can "see" the positive result of what we are going through. I can "feel" the higher energies coming in and landing. I know the fantastic upleveling of consciousness. But how do I tell this to someone whose retirement savings or financial investments are at risk?

From a Buddhist perspective, I would advise to simply observe your feelings, knowing they will pass. Knowing that everything passes, eventually. Impermanence. This probably won't fly. We are talking people's money.

From an astrological perspective, I could say, "Well, Uranus, you know, opposing Saturn, and Jupiter squaring Neptune, and Mercury retrograde..." Reassuring to astrologers, for certain. But to mainstream, Main Street? Hardly.

Americans want answers. They want to know that things are going to improve. They want to not suffer. After all, that's what we've been promised. We expect it.

So I took a moment last week to meditate and be sure I was pointed in the best direction. I asked, "What is the best way for me to advise people who are in fear over the current events?" I did not get that I am to reassure people about their world remaining as it is. Instead, what came is this: there is a way to live through any moment of your life.

I know what this means, and so do you. This is a time to let go of the need to know, to release your insistence on knowing. It is a time for living the not- knowing, and for accepting what cannot be changed. The way to live through any moment of your life is to center yourself. Those of you who have worked with me know I emphasize this, and it works. But it requires your participation. Here are a few of the basics. Begin them now. There is no better time.

Root your energy into the earth. Breathe into and soften your heart center. Be aware of the speed of your breath. Slow it down and lengthen it. Relax your shoulders. Soften your tummy. Feel your feet. Go outside and be in nature. Pet an animal. Breathe into your heart center, again. Repeat after me, "All shall be well. All shall be well. And all manner of all thing shall be well." quote by Julian of Norwich - 14th century English mystic

Ride the bucking bronco, maybe, if you are already on it. But run out into traffic with the panicking masses? No.

There is no substitute for learning how to center and calm yourself at any given moment. Let's do it.

Growth Spurt

We remain in the very middle of a growth spurt. Remember junior high when everyone was becoming, growing, surging, turning inward, looking outward, despairing?

This is where we find ourselves again. Moving through an awkward stage where the past is gone and the new, more mature self is not yet formed. We are caught in that squirm-filled space of no longer and not yet.

As a result, many people are experiencing fear and anxiety. Not necessarily because they, or even you, wise old soul, feel afraid, but because everyone around you speaks with a sense of foreboding. This talk grips a tiny part of the ego (the less wise, but more amusing self) and yells into your ear that you might lose something.

Lose something we might, but for each of us, the best bet is to come into a place of balance. To once again take steps to be centered, calm the mind, and live in the present moment.

Today, because you are a beacon of light and what you do and feel affects us all, I call on you to access your wise old soul and put the sage back at the head of the table.

I vote we practice higher consciousness

"You are searching for the magic key that will unlock the door to the source of power; and yet you have the key in your own hands, and you may make use of it the moment you learn to control your thoughts." Napoleon Hill

I have been more interested in this presidential election than any other because I feel its outcome has the real potential to raise our consciousness as a whole. Chanting "drill-baby-drill" seems silly in the face of what this election could mean.

Ideas to volunteer and promote my choice for president has crossed my mind, but I know my best contribution is to focus my attention on what I would like to see. And to simultaneously keep my attention away from that which I don't want to see.

We all could keep our thoughts and words focused on what we want to see happen in our future. We could keep our minds off of the negative things or persons we don't want to see more of. Even with negative focus, energy is given to the object of our attention, thereby enhancing its ability to gain power.

So why don't we focus more on the positive? Because we are trained to focus on what we don't want. We are too attached to talking about who is wrong, bad, or at odds with our own beliefs. People get something from their low-quality thoughts and words. You know what I think people get? A sense of being right or, even more addictive, being a victim. They give up responsibility for their own feelings and attempt to place responsibility on someone else.

If we all took responsibility for our own thoughts, words, beliefs, and actions, (and unresolved issues) there would be no blame. Without blame, what kind of war could start? None.

Election Time: Change or Chaos?

In Greek mythology, chaos refers to the original state of things, "the gaping void" of space before the gods arrived on the scene. It seems that in any time of change there is at least a momentary "gaping void" whereby the new order of things is uncertain - not yet fully formed.

Expect more changes and surprises in the coming weeks. More revelations and discoveries. We are in a time when it is getting more difficult for our leaders to hide things from the public eye.

In our skies currently, the planet of sudden, unexpected change heralding the new (Uranus) opposes the planet of old-school, conservative, tradition (Saturn). This means that these two energies are facing off, having sword play, and it is uncertain who will win.

Because we are in such a state of rapid evolutionary growth and change anyway, it makes sense that the new and improved would trump the old establishment. Enter the new VP running mate who came in suddenly, unexpectedly, now representing change. Saturn (McCain) pulled in Uranus (Palin) to help him succeed. But on the other side Uranus (Obama) had already pulled in Saturn (Biden) to help him succeed. Do you see how that works? Too much new (change) is unsettling to the public. Too much conservative tradition will lose this time.

Watch these energies play out over the next couple of months. We will see more unexpected things happening as we move into October. We have chaos and change. We have entered the dark void. No turning back. Can you discern what is truly new and what is an illusion of new?

In October, Saturn and Uranus face off more directly. On election day, the two will be in exact aspect (direct opposition) for the first time since the mid-60's. That era produced the Beatles lyrics, "You say you want a revolution, well, you know, we all want to change the world." But the world will change for us, and that is what it is doing now.

"I give thanks to all those who caused me stress and upset as they showed me the parts of myself that needed healing and brought these unhealed parts to the surface to deepen my practice of forgiveness and advance my healing. I give thanks to those who shared their love and kindness and reminded me of my true nature. Each moment I have life and awareness I give thanks for the blessings of my creation."

Brian Sheen