Llewellyn Publications's Blog, page 23

Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Jo Graham, author of The Great Wheel and the new Winter.

The octaves of the Wheel of the Year are the map of our life. Just like the world, we pass through eight seasons, only instead of each being 5-7 weeks long, each is about 13 years long. Like the Wheel of the Year, each season of the Wheel of Life has its own flavor, tasks, and rewards.

Spring Equinox to Beltane: Beginning—Birth to Age 13

We are born with the spring. Each child, like each sprouting seed, is filled with potential, reaching upward toward the sun. Better! Stronger! Faster than last time! The need is to grow and stretch.

Beltane to Midsummer: Becoming—Age 13 to 26

Now is the time for passion and trial, for the intense emotions of the teen years and the passage of fire that is young adulthood. Who are you and what do you want? Can you become a responsible person, able to care for yourself and contribute to the world?

Midsummer to Lammas: Responsibility—Age 26 to 39

It matters what you do. Practice time is over. Now you’re the person who needs to act, to be the person who gets it done. This octave is about taking responsibility for others now that you have taken responsibility for yourself.

Lammas to Fall Equinox: Maturity—Age 39 to 52

You are beginning to reap life’s harvests, but the work is correspondingly heavy, even perhaps overwhelming. You are the middle, the thing upon which all else rests. And yet now is the time when you begin to see the rewards, whether that is professional or personal success.

Fall Equinox to Samhain: Power—Age 52 to 65

You’re the boss, the mentor, the leader. You’re the one who makes the big decisions and carries the big responsibilities. It finally is up to you. What will you do? How will you wield your power well?

Samhain to Midwinter: Wisdom—Age 65 to 78

Now is the time to step back, to become the elder and advise those who act rather than taking action yourself. Now is the time to become the wizard or the crone, dispensers of knowledge, and to toast to a life well lived.

Midwinter to Imbolc: Death—Age 78-91

Winter has come, and it’s time to let go. Most people will pass during this period, a season like any other when the time has come to go on. Who will mourn you and what will your legacy be?

Imbolc to Spring Equinox: The Need to Be

A century or so has passed since your birth, and wherever you are, what dream you wait in, you feel a stirring like the sun on the earth above reaching down to deeply buried seeds. You need to be again. Somewhere, another body is waiting for you.

Spring Equinox: A baby opens their eyes, and you begin the wheel again.

Read more about the Wheel of Life and explore it through meditations, journaling, and exercises in my book, The Great Wheel.

Our thanks to Jo for her guest post! For more from Jo Graham, read her article “Things We Know About Our Current Season of Crisis.”

Tarot Inspired Life by Jaymi Elford

These days, most readers don’t so much focus on narrow meanings for each card as they do on methodology. In Tarot Inspired Life, Elford discusses four ways to approach interpreting a card. Each method may bring something different to the forefront. Used in combination, they can create a well-rounded reading and fulfilling experience for both the reader and the querent.

Have fun trying the methods described in this excerpt:

Four Ways to Read a Card

You’ve unlocked kernels of meaning from within each tarot card, so now it’s time to dive a bit deeper and learn how to apply those meanings in readings. Synthesizing all the parts of the card into something meaningful is the next step in learning the language of tarot.

As I see it, there are four ways to read a card: symbolic, experience, storytelling, and psychic. Each way has its purposes, strengths, and weaknesses. Use these techniques as a template to uncover your own personal style. If one or many of these styles don’t tickle your fancy, that’s okay. Each reader develops their strengths.

Symbolic Readings

A symbolic reading focuses on the meanings and connections from the symbols in the images. Remember, everything on a card is a symbol used to answer a client’s question. Look at what stands out to you, describe them in terms of how they relate to the question at hand. Refer to your symbol, number, and color dictionaries to create deeper references.

For example:

Auburn has a new boyfriend; she wants to know if he’s the one. The cards get shuffled and out comes the Lovers. Scanning the card reveals a lot of red and purple colors. We talk about the colors, how red is a color of love, and how it can be a warning sign. But the purple on the card suggests a spiritual connection. The number of the card, six, connects this card to the heart chakra, and is in the middle of a cycle. We talk about how the relationship is going, and she tells me it’s going a bit faster than she wants. We discuss ways to slow the relationship down so Auburn can accurately tell if he’s the one for her. She leaves with homework on how to communicate with this partner.

How would you read the Lovers in a new relationship reading? It’s okay to come up with ideas and a path different from mine. Remember, there is no wrong way to read a card.

Experience Readings

Everyone on this planet lives a unique life. Our personalities, youth, schooling, and relationships give us a distinctive eye on life and a long list of experiences. When you read tarot, you are allowed to draw upon these experiences to act as a guide or allegory for yourself or clients on how to act next.

Sometimes when I read for others, I’ll tell clients what the cards mean by using an illustrated example from my own life. It’s relatable and shows my clients how their issues can also affect others. Not only do they know where others have been, they also receive wisdom gained from another who has gone through a similar experience. Of course, it’s up to them to decide what to do with the information; sometimes nothing trumps experience.

Storytelling Readings

Tarot tells a tale. Each and every card has one. In a reading, the answer becomes the story, spilled across several cards. Take a deep breath and look for the story the cards suggest. Let the images become scenes that inspire you, the storyteller, to speak. Start with “once upon a time …” and let the people or creatures on the card talk. Describe an event. What is going on? Be creative, figure out what happened before or after the card came into being. What might happen if the image on the card does come true?

Telling a story is a great way to read the cards, especially if you feel blocked or aren’t sure what the cards are saying to you. The storytelling technique is also useful if you’re not sure what the card means in the position of the spread. When you are faced with one of these situations, just take a deep breath, close your eyes, and allow the story to unfold naturally.

Psychic Readings

The final method is psychic readings. We are born with various intuitive gifts. You know those hunches or flashes of weird insight you get? These are psychic gifts at work. Whether you believe these messages are God tapping into your mind, a spirit guide watching over you, or coincidence, these insights can be invaluable during a reading.

I once had a client who inquired about her health. Tarot is a wonderful tool, and while you can gain insight into all aspects of your life, I don’t see the cards as a replacement for the advice of trained professionals. I am not licensed to practice medicine, psychology, or law. I always let clients know tarot is not a replacement for a diagnosis and ask them to visit their qualified professionals first. Those professionals spent years learning and being tested in their areas of study, and no matter how psychic we can be, I firmly believe we as tarot readers are not qualified (or in some cases, certified) to provide guidance on such matters. Of course as I say this,there is a growing body of doctors, psychologists, and lawyers who have an interest in tarot. Some may even integrate the cards into their professional practices, but this is rare—not the norm. If you think of yourself as a psychic and offer readings of this type, be aware of the laws regarding answering health, financial, or legal questions. Arm yourself with your local laws and protect yourself.

Thankfully in my client’s case, she had already seen a doctor and was looking for advice on how to deal with her situation. I shuffled the cards, flipped them over, and got the High Priestess. I must have had “the look” on my face because my client reassured me how she wanted to know. What came out of my mouth astonished us both. I asked her if she had ovarian cancer. She nodded, and her husband gripped her shoulder. She asked me how I knew, and all I could say was that it came to me. Looking back, I can see the logic trail for the answer. The High Priestess is deeply connected to the feminine, and my mind made the connection to the reproductive system. However, I do believe my insight was guided by something other than experience, and that’s the power of psychic intuition at work.

 

Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Michael Smith, author of Base-12 Numerology: Discover Your Life Path Through Nature’s Most Powerful Number.

I’m the author of Base-12 Numerology: Discover Your Life Path Through Nature’s Most Powerful Number. This poem uses the metaphor of a voyage at sea to explain the base-12 numerology cycle, perhaps a comforting message for how adrift we all feel lately.

0: The voyage of Numerology begins at the zero of potential

Where any forecast is possible from clear to torrential.

Thus how hopeful or fearful your departure to sea

Is how fair or foul the weather likely will be.

1:Upon leaving safe port you embody the one,

Of new beginnings and independence, a most solitary run.

Like a single sailed vessel’s strong oaken mast,

Resilient and tall must one stand fast.

2: The two of duality is the test you next face,

Of choosing the best course of both direction and pace.

On dawn to dusk vigil should red skies appear

For sailor’s insight of what conditions draw near.

3: From the contrast of two springs the catalyst of three.

Are you victim or victor, helpless or free?

So when facing the unexpected and blown far off course

Be not defeated but empowered by its influential force.

4: From the chaos of three you seek the stability of four,

Taking shelter below deck as the tempest seas roar.

Hoping this too shall pass and calm waters return,

Praying for safe passage—port, starboard, bow, stern.

5: Eventually restless for change you yearn for the five

For when exploring the unknown you feel most alive.

Bravely chasing the horizon with no land in sight,

Guided only by sun of the day and stars of the night.

6: The crew’s hearts beat together at the six of love,

Discovering strength from within, each other and above.

Working faithfully as one and relying on each role,

A ship is its crew and its crew is its soul.

7: Enlightened by love we seek the truth of the seven,

Of discernment and learning here on earth as in heaven.

From Captain to Chief mate and Boatswain to Deck,

Knowledge isn’t rank but what is earned through respect.

8: The knowing seven enables the manifestation of eight,

Applying competence and skill to build and create

A bountiful voyage and abundance for all

Where sharing means everything, greed nothing at all.

9: Through perseverance we arrive at the completion of nine

Reaching shore at long last, the end of the line.

Saluting both crew and vessel with gratitude and grace,

Our true achievement the trials and tribulations we faced.

10: Reflecting on our voyage now done is the ten of awareness,

Of seeing with greater clarity, perspective and fairness.

Realizing the journey itself is what broadened our view,

The destination a mere illusion to help keep heading true.

11:Finally, the ten’s pensive gaze catches the eleven’s illumination,

Where truth shines through brightly in sudden revelation.

Seeing our own reflection back in breaking waves which unfold

Is how the sea’s lessons are fathomed and her stories retold.

0: Docked at the zero of potential you chart a journey anew,

A little more weathered, wiser and enlightened too.

Assembling your well rested, eager and capable crew,

First aboard is the Captain and the Captain is you.

To learn more about deciphering the numbers that show up in your life, look up my book: Base-12 Numerology: Discover Your Life Path Through Nature’s Most Powerful Number.

Our Thanks to Michael for his guest post! For more from Michael Smith, read his article, “How Base-12 Numerology Unlocks the Universal Wisdom of Twelve.”

Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Melissa Tipton, author of Living Reiki and the new Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Reiki.

3 Powerful Ways to Ignite Your Intuition with Reiki.”

Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Jilly Shipway, author of Yoga Through the Year and the forthcoming Yoga by the Stars (December 2020, and available for pre-order in May!).

During the uncertainty of the current COVID-19 crisis, many of us are looking for ways to support our spiritual and mental health, alongside safeguarding our physical wellbeing. Walking Meditation is one of the best ways I know to relieve stress and calm an anxious mind. It’s ideally suited for those times when you want to meditate but don’t want to spend more time sitting still. It’s also a way of getting some gentle exercise. Many people find it’s a way of freeing up their ideas and of magically finding creative solutions to difficult problems.

At times of uncertainty, when we feel insecure, our overactive mind unrelentingly turns problems over and over, trying to resolve them, and our energy tends to get stuck in our head. This heady energy makes us disassociate from our body, making us feel stuck and disconnected from the flow of life. Walking Meditation is the perfect antidote to this as it brings our awareness back down from the head, into our body, and to the feet, and in doing so grounds us. Once we feel grounded, we regain clarity, we’re more able to cope with challenges, and life is flowing again.

The beauty of Walking Meditation is that it can be done anywhere, anytime, and it’s very simple to learn. It can be done indoors or outdoors. If you are quarantined at home it can be done around the house, or in the garden, if you have one.

How to Do Walking Meditation

First, decide where you are going to walk. If you are walking outside be aware of hazards and keep yourself safe. If you are at home make sure you have a clear space to walk in, either back and forth, or in a circle, as suits you. If you wish you can set a timer for between 3 and 10 minutes. Here are three simple steps to get you started:

Walk naturally but slow the pace down so that you can observe what it feels like to be someone walking. Notice any bodily sensations associated with the act of walking. Be particularly aware of your feet and feel the support of the earth beneath you.
As you walk be aware of the natural flow of your breath.
If your mind is overactive, then give it a focus by silently saying “lifting” each time you lift your foot, and “placing” each time your foot touches the ground. Whenever your mind wanders off just gently bring it back to repeating “lifting” and “placing” and observing yourself walking.

At the end of the meditation take a moment to observe how you are feeling now. Resolve to take this more spacious open awareness into the next thing that you do today.

Our thanks to Jilly for her guest post! For more from Jilly Shipway, read her article, “7 Ways to Create a Balanced Life with Yoga and Seasonal Awareness.”

During this unsettled time, most of us are isolated at home—more than likely bored and looking for new sources of entertainment, but also looking for hope, health, and protection for not only our selves and our loved ones but also for the world.

Coloring is a very mindful activity, one that both calms and puts our intentions to paper. We have two coloring spell books that are designed to help you manifest your intentions through the power of coloring, and we wanted to share a coloring spell from each as free digital downloads.

Color and Conjure , by Natalie Zaman and Wendy Martin, lets you discover the magic of coloring with intention. More than a coloring book and more than a collection of spells, Color and Conjure is all about manifesting your desires with magic and creativity. Combining simple spells with enchanting symbolic imagery, this innovative book provides 50 spells with colorable images for love, money, protection, health, and much more.



With Color a Magick Spell , by Estelle Daniels and Helga Hedgewalker, color your way to magical success! This beautiful collection is more than a coloring book…it’s also a spellbook of powerful magick. Inside, you’ll find colorable picture spells for love, confidence, inspiration, luck, strength, and more. Each spell is thoughtfully composed with powerful symbols that help you focus while spellcasting. These lovely and powerful images make magick fun!

We can all use hope as we face this unprecedented pandemic. Download the Hope Coloring Spell from Color a Magick Spell here.

Anxiety, fear, and other emotions are at an all-time high right now. Use the Ride the Wave Coloring Spell from Color and Conjure to help you ground, center, and cleanse. download the coloring spell page here.

And feel free to share your images with us once complete, if you feel so inclined!

Be safe, be well, and be the light that you want to see in the world, especially now.

We are facing an unprecedented global crisis, one that finds many of us sheltering in place or quarantined within our houses. As the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), along with our local, state, and federal governments, provide an increasingly long list of things we can’t do, many of us are wondering—what is left that we can do?

While many of us are brainstorming ways to keep our children occupied at home (and there are several websites with some great ideas for home-based education or other non-screen-time activities—check out Twin Cities Mom Collective for 50 at-home activities for kids to get started), and with most public gathering places shuttered for the time being, we thought we’d share a list of things that we can do—many of which can have a huge impact on those around us. (Please do follow CDC and WHO guidelines for all personal contact, including self-quarantining, hand washing, and social distancing when implementing any of these or other ideas.)

Donate Blood. Blood is always needed; every 2 seconds, someone in the US needs blood. Even in the best of times the blood supply is always in need of replenishing. Only 38% of the American population are eligible donors, and of those eligible, less than 10% do indeed donate annually. During this time of global crisis, the blood supply is shorter than ever, as the majority of blood drives are hosted by community centers like schools, churches, and restaurants—most of which are now closed. Are you feeling healthy and well, and pass the new COVID-19 guidelines for donors? Consider getting out of the house and donating blood. Lives do indeed depend on it. Plus, there are cookies and snacks when you’re done! Visit the Red Cross’s blood donation website or the website of your local blood bank to schedule a donation, or for information on how to make a non-blood contribution.
Donate Food. Even back in 2017, an estimated 12.3 percent of American households were food insecure, meaning that at some point during the year they faced difficulty providing food for all family members. Many families (even those not considered “food insecure,”) have routinely depended on the lunches and other meals that K-12 schools provided. With these schools closed and children at home, many families are faced with providing an additional daily meal to additional mouths when even providing the prior amount of food was challenging. Many hundreds of thousands (if not more) of Americans are now facing reduced hours or layoffs, putting their once-steady income in question. Because of this, our food banks will be taxed in the coming weeks. Hop in your car (or take a stroll in some fresh air) and head to your local food bank with a donation. Not comfortable making personal contact? Consider providing a monetary donation. However you decide to help, your community thanks you! Visit Feeding America or the website of your local food bank to find out how you can help.
Write Letters—By Hand. No matter to whom you choose to send a letter, there is a long list of recipients who would love to receive a personal, heartfelt message—including but not limited to our service men and women, especially those overseas; those currently in nursing homes and unable to have visitors; incarcerated individuals, many of whom may not have regular contact with their family; or children battling acute or chronic diseases, as (even prior to our current pandemic) they are often not able to have physical, in-person visits due to their treatments or compromised immune systems. Pull out your best pens, practice your calligraphy, and make someone’s day!
Share Viral Content—The Good Kind. Our news cycle and social media feeds are bombarding us with information about the coronavirus and COVID-19, often with misinformation. Even the factual information can leave us feeling emotional and anxious. Consider asking your friends or followers to share heart-warming photos or videos from their feeds and phones. Let’s infuse our current news-cycle-filled feeds with posts of goodness to lighten our hearts and minds. Who doesn’t love a compilation of canines or a feed full of felines? Plus, getting our friends and followers involved helps to fend off feelings of isolation during this time.
Learn Something New. Now is the perfect time to invest in our minds! Whether you’ve always wanted to master second (or third or fourth) language, are curious about a new spiritual path, or looking to expand your DIY skills, discover ebooks, books, articles, apps, and other online resources (many of which are free) to keep your mind occupied.

Above all, let’s remember that we are all in this together—locally, nationally, and globally. Taking care of ourselves and our communities, we can work to end this pandemic. Be safe, be well, and be the light you want to see in the world around you.

We are facing an unprecedented global crisis, one that finds many of us sheltering in place or quarantined within our houses. As the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), along with our local, state, and federal governments, provide an increasingly long list of things we can’t do, many of us are wondering—what is left that we can do?

While many of us are brainstorming ways to keep our children occupied at home (and there are several websites with some great ideas for home-based education or other non-screen-time activities—check out Twin Cities Mom Collective for 50 at-home activities for kids to get started), and with most public gathering places shuttered for the time being, we thought we’d share a list of things that we can do—many of which can have a huge impact on those around us. (Please do follow CDC and WHO guidelines for all personal contact, including self-quarantining, hand washing, and social distancing when implementing any of these or other ideas.)

Donate Blood. Blood is always needed; every 2 seconds, someone in the US needs blood. Even in the best of times the blood supply is always in need of replenishing. Only 38% of the American population are eligible donors, and of those eligible, less than 10% do indeed donate annually. During this time of global crisis, the blood supply is shorter than ever, as the majority of blood drives are hosted by community centers like schools, churches, and restaurants—most of which are now closed. Are you feeling healthy and well, and pass the new COVID-19 guidelines for donors? Consider getting out of the house and donating blood. Lives do indeed depend on it. Plus, there are cookies and snacks when you’re done! Visit the Red Cross’s blood donation website or the website of your local blood bank to schedule a donation, or for information on how to make a non-blood contribution.
Donate Food. Even back in 2017, an estimated 12.3 percent of American households were food insecure, meaning that at some point during the year they faced difficulty providing food for all family members. Many families (even those not considered “food insecure,”) have routinely depended on the lunches and other meals that K-12 schools provided. With these schools closed and children at home, many families are faced with providing an additional daily meal to additional mouths when even providing the prior amount of food was challenging. Many hundreds of thousands (if not more) of Americans are now facing reduced hours or layoffs, putting their once-steady income in question. Because of this, our food banks will be taxed in the coming weeks. Hop in your car (or take a stroll in some fresh air) and head to your local food bank with a donation. Not comfortable making personal contact? Consider providing a monetary donation. However you decide to help, your community thanks you! Visit Feeding America or the website of your local food bank to find out how you can help.
Write Letters—By Hand. No matter to whom you choose to send a letter, there is a long list of recipients who would love to receive a personal, heartfelt message—including but not limited to our service men and women, especially those overseas; those currently in nursing homes and unable to have visitors; incarcerated individuals, many of whom may not have regular contact with their family; or children battling acute or chronic diseases, as (even prior to our current pandemic) they are often not able to have physical, in-person visits due to their treatments or compromised immune systems. Pull out your best pens, practice your calligraphy, and make someone’s day!
Share Viral Content—The Good Kind. Our news cycle and social media feeds are bombarding us with information about the coronavirus and COVID-19, often with misinformation. Even the factual information can leave us feeling emotional and anxious. Consider asking your friends or followers to share heart-warming photos or videos from their feeds and phones. Let’s infuse our current news-cycle-filled feeds with posts of goodness to lighten our hearts and minds. Who doesn’t love a compilation of canines or a feed full of felines? Plus, getting our friends and followers involved helps to fend off feelings of isolation during this time.
Learn Something New. Now is the perfect time to invest in our minds! Whether you’ve always wanted to master second (or third or fourth) language, are curious about a new spiritual path, or looking to expand your DIY skills, discover ebooks, books, articles, apps, and other online resources (many of which are free) to keep your mind occupied.

Above all, let’s remember that we are all in this together—locally, nationally, and globally. Taking care of ourselves and our communities, we can work to end this pandemic. Be safe, be well, and be the light you want to see in the world around you.

Tarot Beyond the Basics by Anthony Louis

 

We humans have been known, at times, to take ourselves just a little seriously. We can take our tarot seriously, too. Which we should, of course. But tarot is about balance and there are times when tarot gives us something we don’t expect. Please enjoy this excerpt from Louis’ Tarot Beyond the Basics.

Tarot Sarcasm

Not only can tarot cards potentially represent the opposite of their accepted meanings, but at times the tarot even seems to employ sarcasm. For example, one day my wife phoned to say that a restaurant near her office was offering for take-out one of my favorite dishes, stuffed peppers. Because this establishment generally has excellent food, she planned to bring some peppers home for dinner. I was pleasantly surprised but skeptical because in my experience, good stuffed peppers are extremely hard to find.

I happened to have a tarot deck at the office and for the fun of it drew a single card while pondering the question, “Will I enjoy the stuffed peppers tonight?” What to my wonderng eyes should appear but the Three of Swords with all three swords pointing diabolically downward! Not exactly Santa Claus. What could this card have to do with stuffed peppers? Would I be disappointed with their quality? Would I need a sword to cut into them? Would the peppers make me sick, cause indigestion or even the need for surgery? The image on the Waite-Smith card shows three swords piercing a bright red heart suspended amidst rain and storm clouds. Would the peppers be colored red like the heart? I concluded that the tarot was most likely saying I would be somehow disappointed. The Three of Swords looks quite dramatic, as if to imply I would end up heartbroken. Etteilla delineates this card as “separation.”

At the end of the day, I drove home anticipating delicious red stuffed peppers for dinner. Shortly thereafter my wife arrived and informed me that when she went to buy the take- out, the attendant told her there was a mistake on the menu and no stuffed peppers were available. Rats! As the card had warned me, I felt disappointed although not exactly heartbroken. The Three of Swords, after all, does indicate separation from something or someone you love. I did feel, however, that the tarot was having a laugh at my expense. Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer. There I was suffering separation anxiety from my beloved stuffed peppers, and red ones at that. And to make matters worse, I was the victim of tarot sarcasm!

Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Glenn Mitchell, author of the new Discover the Aspect Pattern in Your Birth Chart.

Most of my clients have read at least one book on astrology. They also follow astrology topics on social media. Both have reinforced the notion that “this is good” and “this is bad.” The terms “benefic” and “malefic” are used.

I resist this sort of astrology. I reject the determinism behind such thinking. The idea that this chart feature is “good” and that that one is “bad” comes from astrology’s past. Some astrologers today use astrology to scare people. If all squares are “bad,” then the wise client will want periodic sessions to identify when challenging times are approaching.

I refuse to use astrology to scare people. Take any chart feature you desire. and it’s likely that many thousands of people worldwide share it. Not all of them suffer ill consequences. Not everyone with Mars conjunct the Ascendant in Aries is confrontational, impulsive, or even competitive. Many are, in my experience. But, many is not all.

I don’t do readings; I do consultations. Readings presume that the astrology must manifest. They fit the client to the chart. Consultations assume that context matters. A five-year-old girl in rural Afghanistan does not have the same educational and vocational expectations as one growing up in the United States. Not everything in the chart will reflect behavior or attitudes. I do start with the idea that a strong Mars is likely to result in confrontations, impulsive behavior, and/or excessive competition. I ask. When the client affirms those behaviors and feelings, we discuss what triggers those feelings and how to alter their reactions so that they don’t disrupt important relationships. If the client instead tells me that they are always placid and peaceful, I accept that and move along to other chart features. I fit the chart to the person, not the other way around.

Many of my clients blame the planets for what happens to them. If they get fired, it must be there in their chart somewhere. Some transit or progression or solar arc points to them getting fired. Sometimes, when they cannot find the reason in their charts, they become disillusioned with astrology.

It’s my point of view that the planets do not do things to us. If I get fired, it’s because I screwed up. Or, my boss screwed up. I don’t look for the explanation in my horoscope.

The horoscope is a wonderful tool for self-knowledge. I have a strong Mars in my chart. In my youth, my combativeness and rashness got me into a lot of trouble. The study of my chart helped me understand that I should expect such impulses. Reflecting upon my chart, however, taught me that I didn’t have to give free reign to those impulses. Further, I could change my thinking so that I did feel those impulses. We have free will. We can choose which impulses to indulge and which to resist, if we’re going to live a happy life.

When you see astrological negativity in a book or on social media, my advice is that you forget it. All of us will have challenges. Believing that the planets have control over your life is astrology from centuries ago.

Our thanks to Glenn for his guest post! For more from Glenn Mitchell, read his article “Unaspected Planets in Astrology.”