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Putting it Together – The Daily, June 22, 2020

Enjoy the scenery. By sitting quietly and doing nothing, you are accomplishing everything

“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” 
― Confucius

“Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it.” 
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

It’s not about how hard you work, it’s about the enthusiasm, joy and persistence you bring to the project. If it is something you enjoy doing, it will never feel like work. That is the secret to a life well-lived.

Today is the beginning of a brand new week, full of possibilities and newness. Nothing needs to be the same as it was if you don’t want it to be. You could start a new business, redecorate the house, begin a healthy diet and exercise routine, or learn a new language. By devising a plan and then putting one action in front of another, mountains can be moved. It’s exciting to think that with consistent effort, one year from now, you could be in a completely different world than the one you are in now.

Were They Crazy? – It’s fun to look back in history sometimes and see what was going on. On June 22, 1941, three million German troops marched into Russia because Hitler was paranoid about losing his oil supply after Russia had invaded Romania, or something like that. They actually did quite well, catching the Russians off guard and destroying more than 1000 Soviet aircraft and penetrating 300 miles. Exactly 129 years and one day before that, Napoleon and the French invaded Russia and made it all the way to the capital. Something about Russia must be lovely at this time of year to attract such interest.

Thought of the Day – As Neptune now joins the other planets in retrograde, bringing the total up to six for the next three days, continue to reflect on what is important to you and what life is really about. You will take nothing with you when you leave this physical plane, so don’t worry so much about accumulating stuff. Experiences and feelings will travel with you forever. Love is eternal, cars and houses are not. That means one is real and the others are just illusions. Always choose to focus on what is real.

Have a magnificent day.

“Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone’s soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd.” 
― Rumi

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June Moon – The Daily, June 21, 2020

Look up to the skies or down to the ground – all around there are miracles in full bloom

“With freedom, flowers, books, and the moon, who could not be perfectly happy?” 
― Oscar Wilde

“There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” 
― Patrick Rothfuss

New moon, or really no moon. Every 29 1/2 days the reflection of light from the sun on the moon ceases to be seen and the sky goes dark for a couple of nights. Then a tiny crescent of light will appear on the right side as the waxing moon phase begins. Now is the time to finalize plans, to have everything in order before taking massive, sustained action towards the realization of your dreams.

Ask yourself, if I were to be here only to the end of this year, what haven’t I accomplished yet that I must? Then begin that very thing, for it is the reason that you are here. Go forward without fear and do what needs to be done. Whatever fills you with joy and love, do that.

Solar Eclipse – This day couldn’t get more perfect. The Solar Eclipse is the second eclipse of the season and occurs just hours after the Summer Solstice, intensifying its effect. The annular eclipse will begin at 12:47 a.m. ET. It will be visible over central Africa, the southern Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, Northern India and South Central China, and a partial eclipse will be seen over most of Asia, Africa, South and East Europe, northern Australia and parts of the Pacific and Indian Ocean. During this annular eclipse, the Sun and Moon will be conjoined 1 degree away from the North Node of destiny in Gemini. This energy is perfect for clarifying your life purpose.

The Eclipse will trigger opportunities to break old habits and become intentional about where you are going in life. This New Moon Solar Eclipse occurs just three days after Mercury goes retrograde in Cancer and three days before Venus stations direct in Gemini. With 5 planets now in retrograde, it is a perfect time for deep introspection and to review and release past goals that no longer resonate. It’s time to double down on what you want by implementing new plans for the future.

Thought of the Day – Focus on the present moment every time you remember to or every time when you discover that you are lost in the world of thought. There’s more going on in the present than you think. If you believe you are missing out on something if you aren’t constantly running a dialogue in your head, you are actually missing out on what is right in front of you. Inspiration comes through the quiet moments, so be still and listen. Act as though something miraculous is about to happen and you don’t want to miss it. That is the way to be in the present moment, the only thing that really exists.

Have a special new moon and solar eclipse day.

“We all shine on…like the moon and the stars and the sun…we all shine on…come on and on and on…” 
― john lennon

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Summer Solstice – June 20, 2020

Perspective is a personal thing, but beauty is universal

“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” 
― Andy Warhol

“Time is a created thing. To say ‘I don’t have time,’ is like saying, ‘I don’t want to.” 
― Lao Tzu

The Sun moves into Cancer today, and we tend to be self-protective under this influence. Attention turns to families, homes, and anything that makes us feel safe and secure. Taking care of our loved ones and pet projects becomes important, and emotions run deep. We are more susceptible to the influence of the Moon while the Sun is in Cancer.

Mercury is also in Cancer until August 4, and our thoughts are coloured by our emotions, making it more challenging to be objective. The overall energy of the month is a heightened focus on emotions. Be careful about taking things too personally and understand that sometimes people say things a little more harshly than they mean. Everyone is going through a lot of stuff right now, so be more forgiving than usual.

Longest Day, Shortest Day – Today is the solstice, and it marks the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest one in the Southern Hemisphere. Summer in one, and winter in the other. It’s a time to remember how important the skies were to ancient civilizations, something we don’t pay much attention to in the modern world. 5,000 years ago, people placed huge stones in a circle on a broad plain in what’s now England at Stonehenge and aligned them with the June solstice sunrise. Around the same time Stonehenge was being constructed in England, two great pyramids and then the Sphinx were built on Egyptian sands. If you stood at the Sphinx on the summer solstice and gazed toward the two pyramids, you’d see the sun set exactly between them.

Is That You? – From MIT News comes an article about a repeating radio signal that researchers have detected coming from thousands of light years away from an unknown source. It’s a 16-day pattern that has been recorded consistently now for over 500 days, and it has researchers puzzled. It will be interesting to watch what happens in our neighbourhood over the years, although it’s difficult to imagine that anyone from far away would want to contact us for anything. We probably wouldn’t have much to offer, and we don’t really play nicely with others.

Thought of the Day – Enjoy the day. Summer solstice comes once in every 365 (or 366) days and it is a wonderful opportunity to look around and see how things are going in your own home. It’s been easy this year to get caught up in everything external, and the internal can get ignored. Look within and see exactly how you are doing. Then act accordingly. Have a great day full of self-care.

“It’s being here now that’s important. There’s no past and there’s no future. Time is a very misleading thing. All there is ever, is the now. We can gain experience from the past, but we can’t relive it; and we can hope for the future, but we don’t know if there is one.” 
― George Harrison

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Rough Seas – The Daily, June 19, 2020

Miracles are everywhere, it just depends on what you see

“I believe in everything until it’s disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it’s in your mind. Who’s to say that dreams and nightmares aren’t as real as the here and now?” 
― John Lennon

“All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.” 
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

We need to believe in something. When you lose faith in everything, it’s helpful to remember how intricate and perfect life is. So many things have to go right in this grand symphony that is the universe for us to even be here that it is difficult not to believe in miracles. And if miracles exist, then they exist for all.

Is it worse to believe in something that you don’t understand or not to believe in it for the same reason?

Lines of Communication – The week is heating up with another planet now retrograde, bringing the total up to five. From Axtromatrix.org: “Mercury retrograde inspires one to review, reread, repeat, rethink, and revamp. In the sign Cancer,  a retrograde Mercury delves into the past and recalls it over and over, continuously returning to the family home and hearth. It may be difficult for people to let go of old and painful memories and forgive even childhood enemies because unpleasant events and unkind words are often relived. ” Just something to think about.

Juneteenth – On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War was over and slavery in the United States was abolished. It was two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had been issued, but apparently news traveled slowly to Texas. Or wealthy slave-owners just didn’t want to hear it. Perhaps Mercury was retrograde at that time too.

Eat Healthy – In an unsurprising study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, researchers found that healthy eating patterns can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. “In this cohort study of individuals from the Nurses’ Health Study, Nurses’ Health Study II, and Health Professionals Follow-up Study (165 794 women and 43 339 men) with up to 32 years of follow-up, greater adherence to various healthy eating patterns was associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease. The associations between dietary scores and risk of cardiovascular disease were consistent across different subgroups.” So, eat the rainbow of fruits and vegetables. It’s an easy thing to do.

Thought of the Day – Patience is a virtue. Working diligently towards a goal has to come with satisfaction in the daily toil, and not just an eye to its completion. If you aren’t enjoying the process, you might not be engaged in the right endeavour. Each day should be a delight and settling for less is a choice. Live today like it could be your last. Enjoy all that you see and learn today.

“None of us knows what might happen even the next minute, yet still we go forward. Because we trust. Because we have Faith.” 
― Paulo Coelho

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Expectation and Realization – The Daily, June 18, 2020

Sometimes you can’t see clouds no matter how much you want to

“Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.” 
― Alexander Pope

“Life’s under no obligation to give us what we expect.” 
― Margaret Mitchell

It’s not easy being empathic. Often it’s a challenge to separate your own feelings from those of the people around you and the world at large. Aches and pains come that don’t belong to you, and there are periods of time when you feel that you are spiralling out of control through no fault of your own.

It is especially challenging now. There is a need for optimism and clear guidance in the world right now, and love of course. Lots of love. But it seems difficult not to predict more doom and gloom and challenges and heartbreak and destruction. Whatever is to come for the rest of this tumultuous year, it will be what is needed. It doesn’t feel at all like it will be something we expected, or necessarily wanted though.

The World as We See It – Always remember that we see the world through physical senses that are unique to each species and that aren’t portraying what is really out there, just an interpretation of it. In this interesting study, researchers found that hummingbirds have the ability to see colours much differently than we do. Using ingenious methods of testing, they found this: “The experiments revealed that hummingbirds can see a variety of nonspectral colors, including purple, ultraviolet+green, ultraviolet+red and ultraviolet+yellow. For example, hummingbirds readily distinguished ultraviolet+green from pure ultraviolet or pure green, and they discriminated between two different mixtures of ultraviolet+red light — one redder, one less so.” For more, read about it on ScienceDaily.

On This Day – Things could have turned out much differently for Canada if the Americans had been successful against the British in the war of 1812 that began on June 18. They unsuccessfully tried to take over control of the northern neighbour on a three-point front, and the British eventually burned down the White House. Turbulent times existed then, and collectively we haven’t been able to get past the incessant need to control territory.

The aliens must think we are crazy. They are likely correct.

Thought of the Day – Appreciate the beauty of things close to home. Watch nature as she continues about her business in a glorious and soundless way, offering up miracles at every turn. It really is a beautiful world in spite of what people think of it. Have a reflective day.

“My expectations were reduced to zero when I was 21. Everything since then has been a bonus.”
― Stephen W. Hawking

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Return to the Basics – The Daily, June 17, 2020

Just a black swan swimming around, enjoying a typical day in paradise

“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” 
― Paulo Coelho

“I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity.” 
― Edgar Allan Poe

Check in with yourself. Are you sleeping well, exercising regularly and eating healthy foods? When there is so much turmoil around, it can be easy to forget to pay attention to the basics that keep you healthy and give your body and mind a chance to maintain balance. If you feel anxious all of the time, that is a sign that you need to notice what is going on in your immediate surroundings. Worrying about things that are out of your control can take a very real toll on the body and on the brain. Rein it in and see what is directly under your influence. Start there and take care of yourself today.

Where Were You When…? – It was 26 years ago today that O.J. Simpson caught the attention of the world as he rode in a white Ford Bronco that led police on a slow-speed chase on I-45 in Los Angeles. Most of us can recall exactly where we were when it happened. It’s funny how events like that can freeze a moment of your life into a concrete memory. Other monumental events like the death of Princess Diana, the news of Michael Jackson’s tragic demise, and the day Ronald Reagan was shot are easy to recall, as though they happened just yesterday. The mind is a strange and wondrous thing.

Masked Misinformation – Studies are now popping up about the importance of wearing masks. A study by a team of researchers led by a Texas A&M University professor has found that not wearing a face mask dramatically increases a person’s chances of being infected by the COVID-19 virus. From the study: “Our analysis reveals that the difference with and without mandated face covering represents the determinant in shaping the trends of the pandemic. This protective measure significantly reduces the number of infections. Other mitigation measures, such as social distancing implemented in the United States, are insufficient by themselves in protecting the public.”

So wear one. It’s really not a big deal.

Thought of the Day – Considering that there is so much misinformation out there, while it is important to stay informed and to be aware of what is going on, obsessing over the news right now is not a good way to improve your outlook on life. Temper the need to know things with the need to find moments of peacefulness. Go for a walk and appreciate how nature continues on, completely oblivious to the latest problems of humanity. It’s a nice way to unwind for an hour.

Have a special day.

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.” 
― Albert Einstein

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Going Backwards – The Daily, June 16, 2020

Be like water now and try to flow. Resistance is futile

“Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.” 
― Mahatma Gandhi

“Learn from the mistakes of others. You can never live long enough to make them all yourself.” 
― Groucho Marx

Hold onto your hats, because things aren’t calming down anytime soon by the looks of it. There will come a day when everything will settle into whatever it has become, but until then we need to remain flexible and accepting, not getting too upset about the issues that keep cropping up. There is really no other option. You either deal with it or you don’t. Not dealing with it doesn’t make it any easier.

Another few days and it will be a new moon, summer solstice, a solar eclipse, and then Venus will end her retrograde motion. The next ten days could be some of the most interesting of the entire year, and nothing about this year has been dull. Let’s see how it goes.

It’s All History Eventually – On June 16, 1858, newly nominated senatorial candidate Abraham Lincoln warned that America was becoming a “house divided”, with the north opposing the widespread use of slaves in the south. A lot has changed since then, and yet it feels like there is so much further to travel. Things can change in an instant, or they can linger for centuries. Love and respect for all shouldn’t need to wait for anything.

Thought of the Day – Sometimes you just need to take that leap of faith and do what you have always wanted to do. Maybe you don’t even want to wait until the right time, because you might never get the opportunity again. Besides, will there ever be a right time? There is no time like now, and there is nothing holding you back but you. If it is important to you, then just begin. The details will work out along the way.

Have a creative, wonderful day.

“If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.” 
― Confucius

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Getting it Right – The Daily, June 15, 2020

Experience all of the beauty that exists all around. Appreciate what is good and wonderful

“The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.” 
― Isaac Asimov

“Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you’ll be criticized anyway.” 
― Eleanor Roosevelt

Whenever there are moments of great change, there come moments where we can go forward by quantum leaps or regress to what was familiar and comfortable. Wanting things to get back to normal when normal obviously wasn’t working doesn’t make sense. It’s time to take a leap of faith and think that whatever waits once we land, it can’t be worse than how things were.

This applies both on a societal level and a personal one. By all indications, the rest of 2020 is likely to be as challenging as the first half was. There is no better time than now to throw out all of the old in your life and get ready for a rebirth into something brand new. Deep down it is what the soul is yearning for, so honour the urge to reinvent yourself. The sky is the limit to what you can accomplish when you make a decision to do something and then put your heart into it.

Venus – Another ten days of Venus retrograde, which occurs once every eighteen months for about 40-43 days. Still not a good time for large purchases or major financial undertakings, and relationships can be challenging so just go with the flow. So much is happening astrologically this year that by taking a few precautions and being aware of what’s going on, it might be easier to traverse through the chaos more peacefully. Don’t set things up to be more difficult than they need to be.

Thought of the Day – Enjoy the outdoors as the days continue to shine with increasing hours of daylight. It will be a powerful summer solstice this year as there is a solar eclipse a few hours later as well. Each day brings something special to learn or experience, so open yourself up to new possibilities. Death comes soon enough. Be alive while you are still living.

Have a wonderful day.

“All we demanded was our right to twinkle.” 
― Marilyn Monroe

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Kindness – The Daily, June 14, 2020

All visitors are welcome, especially the avian ones

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” 
― Aristotle

“Who in the world am I? Ah, that’s the great puzzle.” 
― Lewis Carroll 

It’s amazing the kinds of things that researchers and scientists study. From Science Daily: “A new study takes a closer look at the benefits of volunteering to the health and well-being of volunteers, both validating and refuting findings from previous research. The results verify that adults over 50 who volunteer for at least 100 hours a year (about two hours per week) have a substantially reduced risk of mortality and developing physical limitations, higher levels of subsequent physical activity, and improved sense of well-being later on.”

In other words, doing good for others does good for yourself. Who would have imagined.

Lessons from the Past – Eighty years ago today, Germany invaded Paris. Canadian troops were in western France, offering hope to Parisians that help was coming. American President Franklin Roosevelt was offering material aid, but the Americans were still hesitant to send in troops as they knew that Hitler would see that as a declaration of war. Eighty years doesn’t really seem that long ago, and the atrocities that were committed during that time are inconceivable now. Let’s hope they stay in the past, and that the injustices that still exist are exposed to the light and finally healed.

Thought of the Day – Be kind, both to yourself and others. Start with yourself first though. If you aren’t feeling love inside, it is almost impossible to genuinely give it to others. You are a wonderful being that deserves happiness and a life well-lived. Enjoy every opportunity to offer kindness that presents itself today.

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.” 
― Plato

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Learning and Slowing Down – The Daily, June 13, 2020

Party of one

“The reason I talk to myself is because I’m the only one whose answers I accept.” 
― George Carlin

“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” 
― Mark Twain

There is so much information out there that it can be overwhelming to process. You read something and then moments later read something that completely contradicts the first thing. What are we supposed to do? Believe everything, nothing, or something in between?

Relying on common sense and researching more than one source for important information is probably a good start, but it doesn’t end there. If it has something to do with safeguarding your health, then you owe it to yourself to find out as much as you can and then make decisions to the best of your ability.

Just remember, nothing will ever be perfect. We all make mistakes, and the important thing is to learn from them. Do a little better today than you did yesterday. Do the things you know your should, and don’t do the ones you know you shouldn’t. Pay attention to how you feel, all of the little aches and pains that foretell of something that might turn into a problem. Be aware, but not paranoid. This is a challenging world to navigate, and these indeed are challenging times. Do the best you can and continue to live your life.

Going With the Flow – Do you ever wonder why sometimes your plans unfold easily, and other times nothing seems to go right? Try planning with the moon phases and see if that helps. Today, the moon moves to its last quarter phase. This isn’t the best time to begin a major project, as the decreasing light of the moon symbolizes the descent into unconsciousness. Instead, finish up the details of what was conceived at the last new moon.

Thought of the Day – Go with the flow. Tell yourself good stories, not bad ones. Dwell in the positive, and release the negative. The day will unfold exactly as it is supposed to, regardless of your opinion of it. Accept and release struggle, because that opens you up to new possibilities. Enjoy all that comes into your life today.

“Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” 
― Roald Dahl