Mindfulness – KISS Principle

Astrology, Psychotherapy, and Identity: The new Moon dance with Chiron, a fresh perspective

Some of my readers may be aware that astrology is a tool I use to help me reflect on life, and hopefully make conscious choices as life arises moment to moment. In astrology, the phases of the moon can be powerful times for reflection in different ways. The disclaimer here is that I’m not an astrologer. However my avid interest in Astrology spans nearly 50 years: more recently studying the asteroid Chiron and how I see the wounded/healing processes play out in mine and other people’s life. Without going into something that is out of my depth, this article is to share a way we might work with the current new moon energy and it’s connection to three other heavenly bodies: Sun, Mercury, and Chiron. Together these four archetypal energies are dancing in a powerful way, known in astrology terms as a conjunction. Astrology and psychotherapy have been connected by many famous names in the psychology world for the last century at least. Carl Jung is highly respected for his work on archetypal energies associated with astrology and the synchronicity that plays out in cosmology and earthly experiences.

My interpretation and how I use astrology energy in spiritual, and therapeutic terms follows, and is in no way to be seen as astrology advice, simply one of many ways we can work with growth and energy in a conscious way. It’s always a personal choice. I study the wisdom of astrologers whose teaching I can relate to, and that changes overtime. I will link some items in this article to some current favourites. Astrology for me is more of a psychological and spiritual tool showing me a road map for potential growth, rather than a predictive tool. I find retrospective research of my own astrological chart (Astro.com) connections a way to understand the personal meaning, and a method to understand current life circumstances, and potential future direction.

Astrology King-Jamie Partridge New moon chart. Please see his article for more information. Links in the article.

So new moon energy in broad terms is often seen as way to start something, having cleared somethings away from the previous moon cycle. The moon can often be about our emotional experience, potentially connected to family and close relationships. “Sun conjunct Moon transit puts the focus on the most personal areas of life. You will pay more attention to your home, feelings, emotions, and close relationships, especially with women. The power of the Sun brings these deeper areas of life to the surface so that any problems that have simmered in these areas can be resolved in a positive way.” Astrology King – Jamie Partridge

Here is a link to Astrology King new moon article for April 1, 2022

My understanding of this Aries new moon is that as the first new moon of the astrological year, which begins each year at the March equinox, is that it’s a powerful time to create intention, and new focus for the year ahead. Read more about this here from Astrobutterfly

Mercury is often seen as relating to communication, the mind, and how we use it. “Mercury is the planet of the mind and mouth, guiding the way we think, our communication style, and our level of focus.” (Tarot.com)

The sun shines a light on our personality “The Sun, the giver of life, represents our conscious mind in Astrology. It represents our will to live and our creative life force. Just as the planets revolve around the Sun in our solar system, we derive our life purpose from the Sun” (Café Astrology)

Chiron is the wounded healer who is showing us a way to look at life long themes where we feel wounded in some way. The Chiron placements as it moves around the heavens can be seen as a way to work with healing energy as a process.

For those interested in astrology, knowing your birth time and checking your natal chart will provide a very personal view of these themes when you see which house this conjunction falls in for you. For me it’s in the first house which is rules by Aries themes. TD Jacobs meaning of Chiron in the houses might be something to assist in working out your current Chiron themes related to identity.

So this new start to an astrological year could highlight a time for reflection about identity: Who are you and how do you express that: where and how do you feel wounded about your identity. Mercury is the archetype that could foster some inner communication where you can reflect on where, over your life you feel wounded (Chiron) about your identity, and how it has affected the way you express yourself, throughout your life.

This morning as I reflected I identified (within the limits of my self-awareness) what this theme meant for me. As I wrote in my journal about that which was conscious at the time, I wrote about salient issues and noticed repeating themes which arose as recent as yesterday, then I identified where that overarching theme has played out over time in different ways, and then I wrote a realistic set of affirmations of intention of how I would like to live and express myself, my identity in the year ahead and beyond.

It doesn’t matter what your own personal affinity is with ways to raise awareness about living consciously, it matters more that it feels “growthful” for you. It matters that it helps you connect to your heart. Astrology is a powerful tool for me, and it’s just one of many ways I practice coming back to presence as often as possible in a very challenging world. I also have great curiosity for all things metaphysical, philosophical, and psychological. I listen to many teachers who inspire me. If you’d followed my blog over-time you will see that Tara Brach, Jack Kornfield, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Anthony De Mello, and Thich Nhat Hanh are all people whose teachings I admire greatly. I would add another to the list now: Mark Nepo. I would invite you to read, listen to, watch all the great resources shared by these people, and to also seek out your own current teachers who help bring you back to your heart.

Thought has the power to move internal mountains for better or worse. Attention and intention are directly related to thought experience. Pause… and notice often throughout your day where your attention is. For this new moon energy especially, take some time for reflection and planning: a powerful way to see your thoughts and how you might use thought proactively.

My questions for you are:

What helps you move inner mountains: for worse or better?
What helps bring you back to presence?
What connects you with “true Love”?
What would you like your life to be like in the year ahead?
What do you need to let go of that will allow you to feel comfortable to be yourself?
Who inspires you in positive ways with how they live their life?

I will share a photo of the page of affirmations I wrote in my journal when reflecting this morning. I’m aware I can add to this list anytime, as writing helps me to remember more of my identity and what that means to me.

My journal affirmations for working with identity.

May this article inspire you to remember more and more of who you are.

Blessings for a new year ahead.

Please feel free to add your own “identity” affirmations for the year head that feel powerful for you in the comments below. Sharing may inspire other people to connect more powerfully and uniquely to who they are, and how to share their gifts in community.

Judgment or Discernment – Honestly!

Self-Awareness and internal honesty are powerfully connected. An honest appraisal of who we think we are, and what we bring to the world is a great learning experience. With awareness of how we treat ourselves and how we treat others we can notice the impact we have on our world and make any worthy adjustments to our thoughts and behaviour. Understanding the difference between judgment and discernment, and noticing where we employ either trait takes honesty and courage.

Long nose pinoccio and the critic — Pinocchio’s Judgments…

Judgment of self (and others) promotes defensive and offensive reactions. Discernment promotes a mind open to options and choice-fullness; opportunity for responsive change. The difference between judgment and discernment is loving kindness and compassion. Judgment is aggressive, discernment is assertive. If discernment replaces judgment we are more likely to feel the freedom of honest self appraisal and more proactive self expression. We are more open to expanding on our traits that promote growth, leaving behind that which makes us contract.

When there is room for honesty and discernment within there is greater opportunity to stop relying on other people’s opinions and approval. We can choose more appropriate expectations of self inwardly and externally of other people and events. Whatever we are creating and experiencing out in the world is a reflection of how we feel about ourselves. Look and feel inwards for the truth, practice unlimited friendliness to what is there, and check out with curiosity if you would like to experience something new and different.

How can we recognise judgment and how can we cultivate internal honesty? Questioning is a very useful tool; questioning without attachment to an answer. Asking a specific question creates a powerful intention towards an outcome. As you frame an initial question allow other questions to arise, perhaps becoming more specific and focused, zooming in on finer points. The questions arise out of your expanding awareness. The following questions are some suggestions around this topic of exploring judgment and criticism. Remember to hold an attitude of curiosity and gentleness as you contemplate and process the questions. You may like to hold a specific experience in mind as you ask these questions:

Criticism and judgment about yourself:

How do I recognise self criticism and judgment? (Intention of topic)
What is my internal tone of voice?
Am I chastising myself?
What language am I using?
How would I feel if someone else spoke to me in this tone, with these words?
What body sensations do I notice when I am judging myself?
How do I feel when I treat myself in this manner?
Do I feel expanded and open, or do I feel contracted and shut down?
What things do I do well that expand me and open me to life?

Criticism and judgment about other people:

Am I being critical or discerning?(Intention of topic)
What impact is my tone and language having on the other person?
Am I judging the person or the behaviour?
Am I making the other person wrong so that I can be right?
Do I fear them because I don’t understand their differences?
How are we similar?
I wonder what it’s like for them…
What body sensations do I notice when I am criticising someone?
How would I feel if someone spoke to me the same way?
Is there another way to do this?
What does this person do well?

Pause after you ask your question and feel the sensations and emotions as they arise, still sitting with curiosity and gentleness. Answers are not always available in words. There is amazing wisdom in our body. The more we practice mindfulness in meditation the more we understand our unique internal language. As this aspect of our inner world develops, we can more readily tune in to the reality of our external experience.

The following meditative exercises can be a part of your meditation practice. You could incorporate the questions listed above into your meditation. You can also use the questions as well as mindful being throughout your day, holding them lightly, to be aware of your internal process. You can combine these meditations into one meditation practice, or do them separately as you see fit. Sit comfortably in a position that allows you to be restful and alert. You can close your eyes after reading the guide. (If using the questions, open your eyes to read each new question.) Allow your attention to settle on your breath for a few minutes. Then allow the intention to arise to be aware of how and when judgment and criticism are present.

Mindful exercise 1:

Allowing thoughts to arise about opinions you hold about yourself see if you can catch yourself when in judgment mode. As you do, bring your attention inward and notice how your body feels, notice your mood and emotions. Perhaps thoughts arise connected to this process. Notice them. Feel what is present and sit with the sensations allowing them to be, without judgment of the judgment. Be curious. Then expand your awareness to times you may judge others. Once again notice how your body feels, notice your mood and emotions. Feel what is present and sit with it allowing it to be, without judging yourself. Just notice through the sentient experience of what arises. Return your attention the breath…

Finish with Mindful exercise 3…

Mindful exercise 2:

Bring to mind a situation where you experience judgment from another person. Bring your attention to your body sensations, mood and emotional state. Notice any thoughts that arise. Notice how this judgment impacts you and stay with the sensations with an attitude of curiosity and gentlness. Notice any urges to react to this judgment, either internally or through outward expression. As you notice the urge to react, tune in to your body and emotions noticing the feeling that goes with reaction. Sit with the sensations. Return your attention to the breath…

Finish with Mindful exercise 3…

Mindful exercise 3:

Imagine feeling arms of caring kindness wrapping around you, accepting you as you are, gently loving you for your internal honesty. Know this caring embrace comes from the infinite aspect of you, the part of you that is pure awareness. When you feel this warmth and caring for yourself, you may choose to expand this feeling of kindness out to other people you know who are similarly challenged. Bring your attention back to kindness to yourself. Allow your attention to settle on the breath…

Mindfully engaging in our inner world, external reality, and how we contact life, we can observe our defences and offences. We expand our awareness of the impact we have on our own well-being as well as the well being of our external world when judgment is present. We can make choices about how we want to be treated and how we choose to treat other people and our environment. Looking deeply within I know I have the seeds of every trait and emotion. Looking honestly I own the traits I express that cause harm to myself and others. I see my prejudices, my aggrandisement, my harsh inner critic, my bad choices, and I own it all. It took courage, honesty and kindness to transform my judgments of self and others to discernment and acceptance. It’s an ongoing process.

When I transform my judgment to discernment and make responsive choices, my life takes on a whole new meaning. My sense of peace, purposefulness, and empowerment grows exponentially. My sense of caring in general has expanded, my priorities often shift, I am less concerned with the opinions others have of me, and more concerned with the origins of others opinions. Do I have some responsibility in those origins? Sometimes I do. I do my utmost to remain mindful of the impact I have on myself and other people. When in doubt I ask myself “Is this coming from love or fear?” and then tune in to my body for an answer. I am more courageous and responsible in meeting my needs and following my dreams and desires. AND sometimes I get it wrong. I choose to be honest with myself about my opinions, motivations, aspirations, feelings, and actions. More and more, when appropriate, I share my honesty. Mostly these objects of awareness are just for my internal process. The greatest way I can share my internal process is through my way of being. My life is rich with learning, conscious and unconscious process, and love.

May your journey transform with honesty and discernment.

In love and light

Note: When meditating on my inner processes, I like to have a journal beside me to write about my experiences after the meditation. I allow myself time to sit with my experience first.

KISS Principle of Resilience – from survive to thrive

I have chosen to write my next book on resilience and I can hopefully guide people who are struggling on how they can survive AND thrive. I have decided to share some take away points as I write this book so you don’t have to wait for the end product to gain some immediate benefit. I would love your feedback and comments especially to know what is useful (or not), so the finished book will benefit as many people as possible. I hope you enjoy the snippets I release along the way.

As I face continual challenges with threats of blindness and other issues from autoimmune diseases (Uveitis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and Rheumatoid Arthritis), which I will share in greater detail in my book, I think of the following question. Where am I on the continuum of surviving and thriving? I feel like life is playing me like a slide guitar and the player (life) of said guitar is sliding the entire scale range! Those of you who have read Success is Simply Spiritual will be aware of other life changing challenges I have faced in the past. I will address a less imposing, although seriously impacting, challenge that creates difficulties I need to deal with.

The perfectionist trait I have says “I‘m not good enough if I am experiencing the (merely) surviving end of the spectrum” if I want to teach people how to manage well, and thrive. I “should” be a shining example of positivity and happiness. Well life’s not like that, not for me anyway. I ride the waves and occasionally get dumped head first into the sand or even worse, I feel held down topsy-turvy under the waves drowning and wondering if I’ll ever breathe again! I recently attended the Hay House Australia’s Writers Workshop and a very important point was made by Reid Tracy. He said that we all teach what we need to learn, including Louise Hay; a living icon in the world of personal transformation and founder of Hay House Publishing. It’s so refreshing to know that leaders in this field are honest, vulnerable and humble.

So some of my days are just days, some are filled with pure joy, excitement and happiness. Some however, can be anywhere from challenging, cranky, to scary or devastatingly heartbreaking, leaving me wondering how I will get through whatever is breaking my heart; or more aptly put, breaking my mind. But, the reality is I do at least survive every day or I wouldn’t be here now writing this article. I do more than survive; I eventually find ways to thrive!

KISS Principle of Resilience - from survive to thrive — KISS Principle of Resilience – from survive to thrive

So what does thriving mean? The difference between surviving and thriving is resilience. Recognising my resilience through some pretty difficult events and circumstances in the past has shown me that I have courage, strength, internal support, and social support. The years I have spent learning mindfulness skills is paying off with huge dividends. I have faltered many times and fallen in deep holes, often forgetting that I have been in a hole before. You might say I have spent a lot of time sleep walking. Eventually through practicing awareness I can remind myself of the times I have struggled and have triumphed. The fact that I am still here to be aware of this tells me I have made it through whatever has gone before. This too shall pass. Contemplation of questions like “how did I get through that?” reminds me of the skills and traits within me that I have used successfully before; reminding me that I can do it again. Why do I continue to fall down these holes? Simple really, I am human! Life is an ongoing process.

Definition of process: a series of natural occurrences that produce change or development.

I/we will always be learning and will do so at the perfect pace for each of us. We are continually growing or decaying, not static, as are all things in the material world. It’s only the rate of change that varies.

One example of a challenge (hole that I fall in) is that I often set the bar way to high for myself (and then for other people as well), holding on to unreal expectations, and in doing so create more challenges that usually bring me undone again. There is so much judgment hanging around in my head. I often wonder who died and put me in charge of the universe. That’s a huge load to carry and one responsibility I’d rather relinquish. This particular hole is filled with expectations of work commitments, study achievement, creativity, and relationship dramas. Makes you wonder how there is room for me down there! I end up buried underneath the weight of all of it, and when I do … then what? The ship hits the sand! This is where my resilience skills come into play.

Resilience is also a process and it took some time to bring it to conscious awareness and integrate as a usable skill, so patience with yourself as you navigate the process is helpful. Recognition of my resilience in the past (I take time to remember specific challenges I have moved through) helps me switch gears from my head to my heart. When I’m in my head the mind talk is incredibly critical, pressurised, and all about business and ego. When the gears switch to my heart there is now an automatic physical change and response that I recognise … I smile. The smile arises out of innate kindness that I all but bury when I’m in my head. The smile to, and at, myself changes the nature of my being, opens me to courage and strength, along with love, kindness, and compassion; an intrinsic part of our human nature. Then I remember to take a breath, stop and sit with myself, and rediscover who I am, what I would love to experience, how I would love to be of service, and how to love and be kind to others. Then my mind is free to address the practicalities of my situation.

I think the simplest take away for you/anyone from this article is, if you are troubled – no matter how deeply – remember, somehow you have made it through life this far and you can make it through this too. Find a quiet moment, take a deep breath in and exhale a few times to create some present centred space, and think about the following 7 steps:

Think of a former challenge that you have overcome.
What thoughts and actions got you through your most difficult times in the past?
Who helped and supported you?
What do you need to have or do right now?
Who can help you get it or do it?
Let go of the questions and let the answers come to you at a later time if necessary.
Keep your attention on your breath for a few minutes if you can.

You have what it takes to be resilient – to not only survive, but to thrive!

Reach back to remember how you got through hard times before,

Reach within to your strength and courage,

Reach out for the help you need (especially when in crisis), and

Reach forward into the present and your future knowing you have what it takes to survive and thrive!

Do remember that help is available 24/7 if you feel you need help to cope in a crisis. It’s OK to ask for help when you need it.

If you would like my support please do contact me here.