Careful What You Wish For

S Club 7's 'Reach for the stars' was playing in the background as I was strolling down the soft drinks aisle at my local supermarket. The song took me right back to my days in Japan. I remember the song was still in the charts at the time and I had a secret wish to use that song to choreograph a dance with the English Club members to perform during their School Festival. Unfortunately, the tradition was for them to make posters on foreign matters and create an exhibition in the school lobby.

I wished then that I could be given an opportunity to choregraph a dance. I've never done that before but thought it would be a fun challenge. Three years past and still the wish wasn't granted. Perhaps it's not a meant to be.....

Last year, I was told that I was to enter my class of 28 children in a local Dance Festival. At the time, I had forgotten all about my wish to choreograph a dance. In fact, I was stressing out - I'm not a dancer! I can't do this! Luckily, after some initial advice from a colleague, I was able to have enough confidence to take the project to a successful completion.

This year, I was again given another opportunity to choregraph several dances, but unlike last time, I volunteered for the job. I finally recognised that it was the opportunity I had been praying for 7 years ago. I didn't notice it last year because it wasn't in the form I had asked for, even though the outcome was highly positive. Sometimes, when we pray, we have our own picture of how we want that wish to come true. I find it helpful to just pray for happiness now and let the universe take care of the finer details. It is tempting to tell the universe exactly how you want something to happen, however, that may not necessarily be for the highest good for all concerned.

Cosmic guidance

Looking at my chart, my natal Mars is being opposed by my transiting Saturn and progressing Ascendant. Lately, I have been experiencing a fair amount of frustration and anger arising from being challenged by external agencies. However, Mars in my chart also symbolises my passion to stand up for my own beliefs and to motivate myself to a goal which holds personal meaning. In recent weeks, I have found that my sense of self-worth had been under the spotlight and that I have felt the stifling and restrictive nature of societal structures on my spiritual well-being.

Fortunately, I can detect hope and harmony in my chart. The harsh and intense lessons I was forced to endure turned out to be a positive experience. For example, in last week's post, I mentioned that my workplace was expecting inspectors. I am glad to say that the outcome was far better than intially anticipated. On a more personal level, I have also gained my astrology certificate after a whole year of ploughing through papers and an exam.

Spiritually, the last couple of weeks have confirmed that positive affirmations do work - but so do negative self-fulfilling prophecies. Therefore, it is very important to monitor your thoughts and avoid negative thinking.

Image taken from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/03/050309142833.htm

Uranus retrograde

At last, Mercury is in direct motion again this week. However, it is now Uranus' turn to go retrograde (backwards). My first shattering event, since this movement, is that school inspectors will be paying my school a visit next week. Those of you in the teaching profession would empathise with me. Roll on Thursday afternoon......

Acknowledge your Mr G

Over dinner last night, a friend of mine urged me to check out an Australian comedy called 'Summer Heights High'. She said that there is a character called Mr G who reminds her of a mutual acquaintance of ours. So I spent this morning indulging myself in clips of Mr G on You Tube. My friend was right about the resemblance! As I was doubling over with laughter, I realised that every time when I go to a new place of work, study or residence, there is always a 'Mr G' character in my vicinity - not just as a background influence, but as a prominent fixture in my life - to the point of annoyance in some cases.

Through my astrological studies, I have learnt that oppositions in birth charts signify parts of our personality which we disown and so would end up projecting onto another person around us. Therefore, these 'Mr G's around me are technically reflecting my own Mr G tendency!

I have always considered myself to be quiet, shy and humble and have been told so many times. However, through discussions with trusted friends lately, I come to discover a different aspect of myself. They have recounted incidents where I was displaying assertive behaviours (which I have no recollection of at all! Hence reinforcing the fact that I am refusing to owe that part of me, and so would often end up attracting people with that trait as a way of mirroring it back to me). Perhaps I need to acknowlegde my assertive, bold and even egotistical sides and see if these Mr Gs would then cease to irritate me...

Image taken from http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,22639775-5007183,00.html

Following your gut instincts

Three years ago, while visiting the gift shop in York Minster, I came across a selection of cards with motivational messages on them. Even though I was fairly content with my life at the time, I was particularly drawn to the one with the title 'Don't Quit'.

Since then, it has been a source of comfort during my moments of despair.

Law of Attraction

'Ask And It Is Given' is one of Esther and Jerry Hicks' bestsellers on attracting abundance. With so many new age books promoting positive thinking, it is hard to make a choice from the minefield out there. I have mentioned Louise Hay many times previously. Her basic teachings on self-acceptance have resonated very well with me since the first time I picked up her 'You Can Heal Your Life'. I particularly find her affirmations very uplifting to read.

Recently, I came across Esther and Jerry Hicks - a husband and wife team, disseminating their thoughts on increasing abundance. Their teachings differ from Louise Hay in that Esther channels messages from Abraham - a collective of non-physical entities imparting wisdom through her while Jerry scribes.

I also recommend John Randolph Price's 'The Abundance Book' which includes a 40-day prosperity plan. I like the way he emphasises the fact that money is not evil, it is only perceived to be so because of erroneous human thinking. Money is merely an exchange of energy. For the longest time, I've been struggling with the fact that people who are not working as hard as me are earning a lot more. I was brought up with the belief that hard work equates abundance. It is refreshing to read John Randolph Price's idea that it is our consciousness on abundance that is bringing prosperity to us, and not just sheer hard work. It is important to congratulate on those people who are richer than you - they are attracting abundance through their own consciousness, so don't be resentful. I feel the current Mercury retrograde is finally helping me to absorb this significant teaching into my psyche.

What are you grateful for today?

Positive thinking is easier said than done. I've learnt that during moments of negativity, it helps to focus on all the things that I do have - i.e. don't focus on your lack. Be grateful that you have a roof over your head, you have enough to eat, you live in a relatively safe country (think about people in war-zones) and you have your friends and family. What are you grateful for today?

Image taken from Doreen Virtue's Magical Unicorns Oracle Card Deck.