Ghanshyam Singh Birla

Uranus Retrograde in Pisces: Expect the Unexpected

Call it the cosmic boomerang effect. At the end of June the planet Uranus left the sign of Pisces and entered Aries, but this past Saturday (October 8th) Uranus left Aries and returned directly to Pisces. What’s up with that, you ask? If Uranus orbits the sun, shouldn’t it visit the other 11 signs of the Zodiac before returning to Pisces? Have the laws of physics suddenly been suspended?

The short answer is no—the laws of physics remain intact, but Uranus has gone into retrograde. Astrologically speaking, that means Uranus has stopped in its tracks, shifted its gears from forward to reverse, and started backing up.

Impossible, you say! Well, it is and it isn’t. Of course planets don’t actually stop on a dime and change direction. But due to an optical illusion caused by the position of the Earth in relation to

Uranus, this appears to be the case. In fact, with the exception of the Sun and Moon, all planets go in to retrograde (some more often than others) from time to time, and from our vantage point on Earth they seem to move backwards.

Uranus retrograde can be earthshakingly powerful and impact not only the course of our lives, but also the course of history. Uranus is the planet of rebellion, invention and technological discoveries that brew slowly but arrive at lightening speed and with a colossal bang, often ushering in irreversible change. The kind of change that follows realizations as momentous as the world is round and not flat, that the Earth revolves around the Sun, that the atom can be split, that we can walk on the moon, defeat apartheid, eliminate small pox, cure polio or talk to anyone, at any time, anywhere on the planet using a tiny portable phone with a cheap long-distance plan. It is for this reason that Uranus is referred to as “The Great Awakener”—it is renowned for overturning the status quo and sweeping away anything that has outlived its usefulness.

When Uranus is direct—moving in the normal, forward direction—anything and everything is possible. When it is in retrograde, well, everything and anything is possible—only more so. Governments could rise or just as easily fall, wars could break out or peace could descend on the Middle East. The only thing that is certain is whatever change does occur will likely be as dramatic as it is unexpected.

But the impact of Uranus retrograde is not weighed solely on a global scale—it can be, and often is, experienced at a profoundly individual level, knocking us out of our comfort zones and prompting life-altering change. We may wake up one morning with the sudden awareness that we are working in the wrong profession, married to the wrong person, remained silent when we should have spoken out, or played it safe and settled for second best rather than taking the road less traveled. While this can be extremely unsettling, it presents a golden opportunity for us to make course corrections to our chosen path. Uranus retrograde is an ideal time to make a searching and fearless inventory of ourselves, to re-evaluate our values, priorities, decisions and lifestyles, and to shed any negativity that is holding us back, causing us pain or blocking us from attaining lasting happiness.

The fact that Uranus is retrograding in Pisces also affords us the opportunity to widen our hearts and deepen the spiritual and humanitarian aspects of our nature. Pisces, a water sign charged with nurturing yin energy, is ruled by benevolent and expansive Jupiter, which symbolizes and encourages justice, fair play, optimism, magnanimity, devotion and an expansive world view.

Uranus will continue to retrograde in Pisces until the very end of the year—plenty of time for us to reflect upon where we want to be in life, and to ensure that whatever changes “The Great Awakener” may bring will be changes we are prepared for, changes we can use to shape a better future and a better world.

You would like help to ensure this powerful Uranus retrograde works in your favor? Call us at 866-428-3799, or book a consultation by clicking here. We are here to help.

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Guylaine Vallée
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Finding Inner Peace, One Line at a Time

Is your past limiting your future? Are you trapped in repeated, destructive patterns of behavior? Looking for love in all the wrong places? Check out Elizabeth’s story.

Ever since she was in high school, Elizabeth didn’t feel good about herself unless she was in a romantic relationship. Raised in a stable, well-to-do family, she left home as a teenager to live with her boyfriend. The relationship was unhealthy and turbulent, but she stayed because she felt incomplete on her own.

After several years, she fled that relationship and jumped into marriage with a co-worker, hoping it would bring her the fulfillment she craved. But that relationship was also turbulent, and after the birth of her children, it soured as well. Her next relationship was a common-law romance with another co-worker, but again . . . it ended painfully and abruptly.

Elizabeth was stuck in a destructive pattern she didn’t know how to break. Despite the fact that she had raised three children by herself and, by that time, had started up and was running her own successful business, her self-esteem plummeted when she was without a man in her life. Like many women, she had been conditioned to believe that her purpose and identity hinged on the romantic relationships in her life, not on her own attributes or accomplishments.

Elizabeth tried to avoid her pain by throwing herself into her work and the demands of being a single mom, but she was haunted by loneliness, unhappiness, low self-esteem, and the memories of her failed relationships. The fear of being alone drove her to more poor romantic choices, romances that began quickly and ended poorly because she consistently and recklessly chose men who were not right for her.

When she came to see me she was desperate for change, believing palmistry would make her sadness disappear and magically bring love, happiness and personal fulfillment into her life.

“Elizabeth, Vedic palmistry isn’t magic—it’s an ancient science that has been helping people learn about themselves and improve their lives for more than 5,000 years,” I told her. “But, if you give it a little time, the results will feel like magic—your life will be transformed.”

Her first set of handprints revealed a highly confusing pattern of criss-crossing minor lines traversing her entire palm, obstructing her major lines like wild weeds in a garden. This told me her life was dictated by external circumstances over which she had little or no control. She was so preoccupied with and distracted by the demands of daily living and her quest for a suitor, she had no time to look within herself. She was not accessing her subconscious or drawing upon the internal strength and resources within her heart and mind, which are represented by the major lines of heart and head in her hand. The over-abundance of minor lines reflected Elizabeth’s chronically agitated state of mind.

“This hectic network of lines symbolizes the confused interaction of your desires, concerns, memories, thoughts, regrets and relationships,” I told her. “All these minor lines are short-circuiting your ability to perceive yourself or the world clearly. You depend on external relationships to bring you happiness—that is why happiness has eluded you. True happiness comes from within. You need to regain control of your mind and your life if you want to be fulfilled.

“You can’t change the past,” I continued, “but you can change your present and your future and attract positive people into your life by changing your expectations of relationships.”

“But how do I do that?” she asked.

“By changing one line at a time,” I said. “We need to clean up your hand and get rid of some of these minor lines. You need a healthy balance of major and minor lines to have a healthy and balanced life.”

I explained that the lines of our hands change when we change our attitude and outlook on life, which is why palmistry is such an excellent tool for self-development. It allows us to focus on the areas of our life most in need of work, and as we strive to improve those aspects of our lives, it lets us monitor our progress by tracking the changing lines of our palm.

“It won’t happen overnight,” I cautioned her. “Your habits, self-doubts and negative mindset have developed over many years, it will take time to undo them. But as the great Himalayan yogi Babaji said, `Banat, Banat, Ban Jai’—by doing, doing, it is done.”

In Elizabeth’s case, what she needed to “do” first was calm her mind and connect with her inner serenity. We began with a series of breathing exercises and a daily meditation routine.

We met once a month to discuss the positive changes in her life and take fresh handprints to see if the lines in her hands changed to match up with her life changes. They always did, and she always left my office feeling encouraged and determined to continue on her new path.

As she felt better about herself, she was no longer driven by the need to jump from relationship to relationship seeking validity. She was released from the patterns of past behaviour and preoccupations that had taken control of her life and held her captive for so long.

In her “after” handprints, we can see the busy network of interference lines subsiding, reflecting her more peaceful, confident, and focused approach to life.

Elizabeth experienced a major life transformation with the help of Vedic palmistry, and she did it by changing one line at a time.

In my personal coaching sessions, I help clients to improve any aspect of their personal or professional life that is causing them difficulty—from building self-confidence, to developing charisma t o finding love.

For information about our palmistry programs, or to arrange an appointment with me, either in person, by phone or by Skype, call us at 866.428.3799 or click here to book an appointment. We’re here to help.

 

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Ghanshyam Singh Birla

The Great Escape: Mars has moved from Scorpio to Sagittarius

Mars is free at last. After eight intense months—much of which was spent in a heated battle with restrictive Saturn—Mars orbited out of Scorpio in mid-September toward a new-found freedom in the less turbulent cosmic atmosphere of Sagittarius.

Mars normally does very well in its home sign of Scorpio. But during most of the year it was forced to share Scorpio with Saturn—which, like Mars, is a malefic planet. By nature, Mars and Saturn are polar opposites. Mars, the warrior, is combative and driven by dynamic action and unfettered forward movement; Saturn insists on reasoned reflection, introspection and plodding discipline. When two malefic planets of such opposite natures come together the resulting tension, friction and explosive display of fireworks can disrupt our lives and our world. This was certainly evident in the social turmoil we witnessed—terrorist attacks, mass murders and political mudslinging—in the months leading up to and following the August 24th Mars-Saturn conjunction in Scorpio.

Now that Mars is in Sagittarius with Saturn slowly disappearing in its rearview mirror, we can all breathe a little a bit easier—things are likely to be more peaceful on that front, allowing many areas of our lives to open up again.

Sagittarius is ruled by the expansive, beneficent planet Jupiter, and Mars is good friends with Jupiter. That friendship allows Mars to adopt, defend and assert many of Jupiter’s virtues—tolerance, noble ambition, positive thinking, personal dignity, spiritual development and the promotion of constructive humanitarian pursuits. No longer preoccupied with battling Saturn’s controlling and limiting influence, Mars can now take a wider world view and champion righteous causes . . . it can become the noble, protective warrior instead of the bloody and ferocious combat-ready soldier.

Mars’ fiery temperament also resonates perfectly with Sagittarius, which is a fire sign. The heat created by this combination will ignite within us a renewed passion and optimism for life, as well as an enthusiasm to move forward in our personal endeavors while helping others to do the same.

In fact, we may become so enthusiastic about performing good deeds and supporting causes during Mars’ sojourn in Sagittarius that we must be cautious not to become impatient, self-righteous, or lose our tempers if others fail to share our eagerness, gusto or ideals. We must also be careful to maintain our equilibrium and not get carried away while pursuing our goals. Sagittarius can instill in us so much fervor that we can easily overestimate our own strength and end up overexerting ourselves, exhausting our energies and becoming discouraged when we are unable to accomplish as much as we would have liked.

So, as long as we don’t bite off more than we can chew and conduct ourselves with discernment, the next weeks promise to be a positive and productive period—and a welcome change from the stressful and difficult months we’ve endured since Mars began its prolonged encounter with Saturn in Scorpio this past February.

If you would like help benefiting from the energy of Mars in Sagittarius, give us a call at 866-428-3799, or click here to book a consultation. We are here to help.

We’d love your input on this story, please feel free to leave us your comments.

 

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Johanne Riopel

Navaratri: A Celebration of Divine Motherhood

 Navaratri - October 1st thru October 10th

Navaratri, one of the most sacred and joyous festivals in the Hindu world, begins this Saturday and continues for the next nine nights and ten days.

Navaratri symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and is observed through fasting, prayer, worshipful offerings and communal song and dance. It is a celebration of the power, fertility, strength, beauty, purity, courage and wisdom of the Divine Mother—the feminine aspect of God embodied in the supreme goddess, Durga.

Durga’s name translates from the Sanskrit as the “invincible one” and “remover of all miseries”. According to Hindu Mythology, Durga bravely slew the demon Mahishasura, who was terrorizing the universe with all manner of wickedness: violence, selfishness, and arrogance. Her heroic action freed us to peacefully pursue happiness, success and a higher awareness free of the bonds of ego. Durga epitomizes sacrifice, salvation and the countless other noble attributes of motherhood, which are represented by the many different avatar goddesses (or Devis) through which she appears. The word Nava-ratri itself means "nine nights”, and each night of the festival is dedicated to honouring a goddess presenting a different facet of Mother Durga.

And, as Durga is also considered the unified representation of the Tridevi—the trinity of the goddesses Parvati, Lakshmi and Saraswati—the blessing of each of these goddesses are invoked individually for three nights during Navaratri. The first three nights are dedicated to Parvati, who instills in us the indomitable strength of her divine love and devotion. The next three nights are devoted to Laskshmi, the goddess of spiritual and material prosperity, who bestows inexhaustible wealth upon her devotees. The final three nights of the festival belong to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and arts, who leads us to wisdom and higher consciousness.

Mother Durga is often referred to as Devi Shakti, the manifestation of the divine female energy through which the universe was created and is sustained, an energy that defies the cycle of birth and death, that defies time itself—the cosmic energy that animates the universal life force and illuminates every soul with eternal consciousness.

Weather we celebrate Navaratri or not, this nine-night period is a goddess-given opportunity to reflect upon the beauty, strength and sacrifice symbolized by motherhood; to remember our own mothers and thank them for all they have given us and helped us to achieve.

 

 

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Guylaine Vallée
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Freedom of Expression: The Power of The Mercury Line

The ability to freely express ourselves is a defining aspect of human happiness. Do you want to feel the happiness and satisfaction we derive from expressing ourselves freely? We can help you—check out Blake’s story.

Blake was an extraordinarily good cars salesman. Everyone agreed, he was the Wayne Gretzky of automobile sales. Even when he was in high school and working part-time at his dad’s used car lot, Blake consistently out-sold his older, fulltime colleagues.

By the time he’d enrolled in university to study psychology, Blake had earned enough money to buy his own home and two of the late model Porches he was so talented at selling. During his first year of study he continued to sell cars at a luxury car dealership, which allowed him to marry the beautiful young daughter of the owner. No one doubted that he was going to be a huge success.

But when I met Blake shortly after his 26th birthday, he was a broken man—emotionally shattered and physically exhausted. He’d dropped out of school during his final year and went through a bitter divorce, in which he lost his house, cars and all his savings.

“I couldn’t do it anymore, Guylaine. Everyone thought I was Mr. Super Salesman because I knew a lot about cars. . . but that wasn’t true. I knew about people, that’s why I wanted to study psychology: I knew what people wanted, and I knew what they thought they wanted—so it was easy to sell them expensive cars, even when they clearly couldn’t afford it. But it made me miserable—I wanted to help people, not take advantage of them or put them into impossible debt. But I couldn’t tell them take the bus, or go buy an inexpensive used car from my dad. My boss, my wife, my friends and my colleagues relied on me to make money. I was never able to tell them that wasn’t what I wanted to do. So I walked away from it all. It cost me everything I had and I still can’t explain what went wrong. My life is over, I’m a loser.”

After taking Blake’s handprints, I understood why he had kept silent about his feelings for so many years. There was no indication whatsoever of a Mercury line in his hand, which is evident in his “before” handprint. He had solid head and heart lines, representing a keen mind and generous heart, but they were stifled and suffocated without the support of Mercury, or any other minor line.

In classical mythology, wing-footed Mercury was the messenger of the gods—his job was to make sure the immortals were able to readily communicate with each other. In the hand, the line of Mercury also represents communication—it reflects our ability to convey our needs, desires, dreams and ideas, and the happiness and satisfaction we derive from expressing ourselves freely.

A strong Mercury line tells us that we understand who we are and are comfortable within ourselves and in the world. Mercury enables us to explore the depths of our subconscious mind, develop our unique gifts and talents, and share them with the world.

Blake didn’t know who he was, although he was aware of who he wasn’t. He felt trapped, and had become so frustrated with his inability to express himself that, in an act of desperation, he had chosen to simply disappear from his life.

During a series of counseling sessions—during which I recommended daily meditation and breathing exercises—I convinced Blake that by changing his thoughts and outlook on life he could change the lines in his hand . . . he could leave his anguish and heartache behind, learn to express himself, and create a happy and fulfilling future.

After several months of coaching, I noticed the beginning of a Mercury line in Blake’s right palm—it signaled an awakening of his inner self, an awareness of who he was and what he was meant to do in life. Within a year Blake had developed a strong Mercury line, which is seen in his “after” handprint, indicating that he’d found the self-confidence and inner contentment needed to express himself effortlessly. He also developed a healthy Sun line, reflecting his new-found conviction, and a growing magnetism that quickly drew an amazing number of positive people and circumstances into his life.

Soon Blake returned to school and completed his psychology degree, he remarried, had two children, became a college lecturer and opened a private counselling practice with his new wife. Most importantly, he was happy.

The ability to freely express ourselves is a defining aspect of human happiness; without it, we are in danger of retreating into our own misery and develop a medley of physical and psychological illnesses. When we learn to communicate our dreams, ambitions and individuality, we can soar towards joy with the speed and ease of winged-Mercury.

You would like to develop you own Mercury line? Give me a call at 866-428-3799, or book a consultation by clicking here.

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Johanne Riopel

Pitru Paksha: Remembering with Love

In Vedic culture, the next few days mark the end of Pitru Paksha, a special period set aside to express love and gratitude to our cherished family members who have passed away.

This year’s Pitru Paksha began with the September 16th full moon lunar eclipse and concludes on the evening of the new moon September 30th.  Hundreds of millions of people in India and around the world pay homage to ancestors and departed loved ones during Pitru Paksha by performing spiritual rituals such as fire ceremonies, reciting specific mantras and prayers and preparing special meals.

Regardless of your religious affiliations or beliefs, this is an auspicious time to remember and reflect upon the spirit of loved ones who have physically left this world. Hold them in your thoughts and prayers and send them all the loving energy you feel for them in your heart.

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Ghanshyam Singh Birla

The Stars Divide: What Happened to Brangelina?

Did the planets play a role in wreaking havoc on the relationship of Hollywood’s most famous, glamorous, and philanthropic couple? There are definite indications that they did.

The timing of last week’s split between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie coincided with two of the most emotionally turbulent astrological periods of the year—the effects of the full moon lunar eclipse of September 16th were well underway and Mercury retrograde was at full force when the marriage was tested.

In a post we ran last month, we advised that during the eclipse season from August 18th to September 16th, including a Mercury retrograde beginning August 30th, emotions can run high, rational thought can be derailed and interpersonal communications break down, and that the best course of action is to remain calm, meditate and avoid making any major life decisions—like filing for divorce—until the retrograde cycle was complete. The days leading up to, during, and immediately following the full moon lunar eclipse of September 16th are especially regarded by many as a highly cautionary period during which our judgment may be poor. Just one of these cosmic events could spell trouble in a relationship—especially one that’s already strained—but both occurring simultaneously could push a fragile union over the edge. On top of all that, Mars was in the challenging 29th degree, which is especially agitating for anyone with a strong Mars influence in their chart, as is the case with Brad.

According to news reports, Jolie filed for divorce just hours before the lunar eclipse; her decision was instigated by an uncharacteristic (but very Mercury retrograde-like) lapse in rational behaviour by Pitt, who allegedly went on an abusive rant directed at his wife and their children during a flight to Los Angeles.

It would be a karmic tragedy indeed if planetary influences drove this magnetic and magnanimous couple apart, given the good they have done in the world through their joint humanitarian works, their significant efforts to foster world peace, and their inspiring resolve to create a loving and harmonious blended family in an era of rising racial tensions and discord.

But the forces that drew them together 12 years ago—Brad’s powerful Mars and Angelina’s ethereal Moon—that transformed them into the universally recognizable unit of Brangelina, and finally compelled them to officially tie the marriage knot in 2014, may turn out to be the same forces that are now tearing them asunder.

Angelina’s Vedic natal chart reveals a staggering degree of charisma, creativity, beauty, ingenuity and a passion to shine brilliantly—as seen in her Venus, ruler of the 4th and 11th houses, being placed in the 1st house of Cancer. The placement of Venus in the 1st house, however, threatens her feelings of stability. This suggests that she is likely to go to extremes to protect her sense of security or ward off any perceived danger to the security of those she loves, particularly her children. Any challenge she does face—be it from Brad or elsewhere—will make her all the more formidable, given the fire of Scorpio in her 5th house that relates to her creativity, passion and love. The greater the challenge, the stronger and more resolute she becomes.

Her concern for the wellbeing of her children (several of whom are adopted from poorer nations), and her love for humanity in general, are expressed through her Jupiter in Pisces in her 9th house, aspecting an exalted Cancer in the 1st house of personality.

The mount of Jupiter in her hand is also very pronounced, with several Rings of Solomon depicting her staunch dignity, innate wisdom, resoluteness, unshakably survival instinct, and a driving need to exert her personality. The real hurdle Angelina faces is the placement of Rahu in Scorpio in the 5th house, which makes difficult aspects to her Moon in the 9th house, Sun in the 11th house and her Cancer ascendant. Rahu can be an instigator of separation—it can eclipse her positive Jovian qualities, including the love she feels for Brad, pushing her toward feelings of wrath instead of reason or appeasement. She has displayed this trait in the past toward her father, actor Jon Voight, who left Jolie and her mother when Angelina was very young, presenting a major threat to her sense of stability at an early age. She came to resent her dad, eventually broke off all contact with him, and for many years remained bitterly estranged.

Brad’s natal chart, although quite different from Angelina’s, bears striking similarities to his wife’s. Like Angelina, Brad has Jupiter in its home sign of Pisces, which denotes a great personality charged with multiple Jovian qualities, including optimism, civility, decency, ambition and a natural inclination to nurture positive causes. However, Brad is strongly driven by Mars, the warrior planet, which rules his communication, self-expression and desire. Mars is the ruler of his 1st house, the house that determines how we portray ourselves to the world, and it is sitting in the 2nd house of fiery Sagittarius.

Brad’s hand also reflects this powerful Mars influence, which is evident in his incredibly prominent Mars galaxy, and in the Mars-dominated features of his face—particularly his eyes, forehead and cheekbones.

The overwhelming presence of Mars in his personality instills Brad with a conviction that he can weather any storm, be it scandal, stress, fame, opposition or addictions, without breaking a sweat and wearing a smile. Mars exudes the warrior aura of, “this is my life to lead and enjoy as I see fit, don’t dare tell me how to live it!” But Mars is also the protective soldier, and that determined spirit to courageously care for and protect the causes and people he loves is outstandingly profound in Brad.

The electric interaction of their strong, individualistic and compassionate personalities is what has made Brad and Angelina such a powerful, effective and dynamic couple. It would be a shame if they part on acrimonious terms, and potentially devastating for their children, whom they have so lovingly nurtured together.

Despite what the tabloids suggest, from an astrological perspective there is reason to hold out hope that, with the appropriate guidance, they can repair any damage done and reconcile. Angelina’s strong Jovian characteristics provide her with an expansive view and an open heart; Brad’s deep-rooted Mars strength suggests great potential to rekindle the spirit of love. With forgiveness, respect and a mutual understanding of each other’s vulnerabilities, they can overcome their differences—for the sake of their marriage, their children, and the good they bring to world when they work together as a team.

Experiencing your own relationship problems or marital discord? Our individual and couples counselling can make a difference.

Call us at 866-428-3799, or click here to book a consultation. We are here to help.

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Ghanshyam Singh Birla
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Find the Strength to Live and the Courage to Love… in your hands.

It takes courage to love, and energy and strength to overcome the challenges, hardships and obstacles we so often encounter in our life and careers.

A few years ago Monika sashayed into my office two hours late for her appointment, dismissing her tardiness with a dramatic flick of her wrists.

“I’m running behind schedule today,” she said. “I overslept this morning; I couldn’t find anything to wear . . . and then my taxi didn’t show up on time. You know how it is. But none of that is important—what’s important is that I’m here now and I need help with my career—I need your help to become famous!”

She sat down across from me with an exhausted sigh: “I’m a good actress, Ghanshyam, but I want to be a star—a movie star. It’s so hard getting to the top, though. There is so much competition . . . and so many lines to memorize. Last week I stayed up all night trying to learn my lines, so of course I slept in the next morning. And because I arrived late at the studio, they gave my part to another actress. Do you think you can help me improve my memory so it’s easier for me to memorize my scripts?”

Monika’s lateness for our appointment left little time for an important first consultation. But even a quick glance at her handprints revealed the source of one of her major difficulties.

find-strength-live-courage-love-hands-print“You have a serious problem in your Mars Galaxy—it’s disrupting your entire hand, and I suspect it’s disrupting your entire life.”

I explained that the hand consists of 10 connected mounts which reflect our emotional, psychological and spiritual well-being. For example, the Mount of Luna, or Moon, represents our mind and imagination. The Mount of Saturn represents our logic and discipline. If our Saturn is depleted, or weak, our imagination can run out of control, getting us into all sorts of trouble.  In Monika’s case, her Mars—which consists of two mounts, Mars negative and Mars positive, forming the Mars Galaxy—was seriously depleted, especially her Mars Negative.

“The Mount of Mars derives its name from the planet Mars, the warrior planet,” I continued. “It represents our energy, our emotional and physical strength and our courage to deal with life. We can sometimes get by without a balanced Mars for several years by robbing energy from other mounts, but this is unhealthy and unproductive and, in the long run, unmaintainable. We will eventually find we are completely drained—physically, mentally and emotionally—and end up without a true purpose. We become like a motorboat without a motor, drifting down the river of life. Even if we know where we want to go, we will not have the energy or fortitude to get there.

“You have a healthy Mount of Venus,” I told her, “which shows your passion and desire to express yourself creatively . . . but you need the strong, reliable support of Mars energy if you hope to do that successfully. Honestly, right now your Mars Negative is so depleted that I am surprised you have the physical energy to clean your apartment, let alone the mental energy or focus to earn a living in a profession as demanding as acting. This may explain your difficulty learning lines and being on time for appointments and auditions. But the good news is you can strengthen your Mars, and improve your memory by . . .”

“Excuse me, Ghanshyam,” Monika cut me off. “It’s true I am late a lot, and a bit untidy and disorganized. But I don’t need to worry about being messy or earning a living. My parents help me with rent, and they send their maid to clean my apartment and cook once a week. That might sound strange, considering I’m 30 years old, but I think they are extra-protective of me because I was adopted. As a matter of fact, I’m in the process of re-connecting with my birth father right now. I’ve always dreamed of having my real dad in my life.”

I wasn’t surprised that Monika had ready excuses to explain away her bad habits—those with a depleted Mars often draw upon (and diminish) their Saturn logic to justify their behavior. But I was concerned by everything else she’d disclosed.

“Monika, as I was about to say before—we can strengthen your Mars Galaxy by giving you small tasks to complete each day—arriving for appointments on time, cleaning up after yourself, cooking your own meals. Accomplishing small, daily goals will build up the stamina and discipline needed to take on greater tasks—like memorizing movie scripts. Regular exercise, proper rest and meditation will also help you. But having someone else pay your rent, cook for you and clean up your mess will undermine these efforts.

“And as for re-connecting with your birth-father . . . the universe is giving you this opportunity to develop a healthy and balanced Mars Galaxy. Any loving or intense personal relationship requires emotional strength and the courage of commitment—qualities you’ll need to develop if you want this new relationship with your dad to be both happy and long-lasting.”

Monika looked dubious, but said she would consider my advice. We arranged a follow up consultation for the next month, but she failed to show up. A few weeks later she phoned to reschedule, saying she’d been so distracted trying to get to auditions that our consultation had slipped her mind.

“But I did meet up with my birth father,” she added.

“Oh really, how did it go?” I asked

“It’s been a disaster, Ghanshyam. “He’s a wonderful man and he explained why he and my birth mother gave me up for adoption—they were only 15 when they had me. But now he wants to call me once a week to check on me and take me out for dinner once a month—it’s too much attention for me to handle; it takes up too much of my time and is too much effort. I told him it’s best if we don’t see each other again.”

Monika missed her re-scheduled appointment as well, and I never heard from her again. I regret that she didn’t take my advice on strengthening her Mars Galaxy before reconnecting with her dad. She missed out on the opportunity to form a loving bond with someone important to her.

It takes courage to love, and energy and strength to overcome the challenges, hardships and obstacles we so often encounter in our life and careers. These qualities emanate from our Mars Galaxy, so it’s in our best interest to make sure our Mars is healthy and balanced.

You would like to increase your focus, energy and stamina by developing your Mars, give us a call at 866-428-3799, or click here to book a consultation. We are here to help.

Did you find Monika’s story helpful? Leave your thoughts by commenting on our blog at the bottom of this page.

 

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Ghanshyam Singh Birla

Cosmic Relief: Moving from Mercury Retrograde to Mercury Direct

If your world has been turned upside down over the past few weeks, get ready to breathe a sigh of relief—Mercury retrograde is almost over! Mercury has been retrograde since August 30th and will, at long last, go direct this Thursday, September 22nd.

Mercury retrograde generally occurs several times a year when the planet Mercury moves between the Sun and the Earth and, due to an optical illusion, appears to reverse its orbit and travel backwards. Even those who don’t believe in astrology pay attention when Mercury is retrograding because the strange, highly disruptive occurrences that take place during this turbulent planetary period are too many and too frequent to ignore.

What can go wrong during Mercury retrograde? Well . . .  just about anything and everything—and for good reason. Mercury rules every form of human and mechanical communication, including our thoughts and how we express them. When Mercury is retrograde you may have noticed that your thinking becomes muddled—you are unable to say what you want or you say something you wish you hadn’t. During retrograde, emails have a habit of disappearing, brand new computers crash, flights get canceled, trains run late, taxis pass you by, rent cheques get lost in the mail, keys disappear, smart phones become dumb, job offers are rescinded, misunderstandings abound and petty arguments can turn nasty among the most loving family members and between the very best of friends.

This is why astrologers advise clients to avoid signing contracts, making big life decisions, making major investments or starting new projects during Mercury retrograde—the pervasive aura of misunderstanding and confusion can undermine any or all of these undertakings. This well-founded advice applies doubly during the current Mercury retrograde period as it coincides with last Friday’s Lunar full-moon eclipse—the after effects of which we are still feeling.

Some speculate that Mercury, which is thought to have the densest iron-core of any planet in the solar system, causes so much chaos in our lives because it is, in essence, a huge magnet floating though space. The theory is that because it is at its closest proximity to Earth during retrograde, Mercury’s magnetic force interacts with and disrupts our own planet’s magnetic field, as well as all electromagnetic machinery operating within that field. This includes the human brain, which recent scientific study strongly suggests is subconsciously and intimately linked to Earth’s magnetic currents.

Regardless of the cause, Mercury retrograde challenges us mentally and emotionally, and our responses to those challenges can teach us a lot about ourselves and show us the lessons we need to learn to better cope with life when things don’t go as we hoped or expected.

So when Mercury goes direct on Thursday, we should not only celebrate the end of Mercury retrograde, but reflect upon the obstacles and experiences we’ve struggled with over the past few weeks. Mercury direct may take several days before it snaps things back into place, giving us the opportunity and perspective to calmly examine our thoughts and behavior during the past retrograde.

This reflection can lead to a greater wisdom and help us develop the tolerance and patience to succeed in future endeavours. It will also prepare us to deal with the next three-week-long Mercury retrograde beginning on December 19th, ensuring we will have a Merry Christmas, but not a Hectic New Year.

You would like to understand how Mercury is affecting you and your chart, give us a call at 866-428-3799, or click here to book a consultation. We’re here to help.

Do you have a Mercury retrograde story? We'd love to hear it! Feel free to comment on our blog.

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Ghanshyam Singh Birla
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Leanna: The Power and Perils of The Subconscious Mind

Leanna had everything to live for and, at 55 years old, felt that her life was just beginning. She’d successfully raised four kids as a single mom, earned a psychology degree at night while working fulltime, and was in a loving relationship with a wonderful man. In a few week’s time she planned to retire from her government job and launch a new career as a psychologist—she’d never been happier.

Then tragedy struck: During a routine doctor’s appointment she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She was distraught and didn’t know where to turn. A relative of hers gave her my number and she called requesting an emergency appointment.

Leanna walked into my office in tears, shaking her head in bewilderment.

“I don’t understand what went wrong—I’ve never smoked, I eat healthy food, exercise regularly and there’s no history of cancer in my family,” she said. “Why did this happen? What can I do?”

I looked at her handprints and was struck by the long and beautifully-rounded life line in her dominant hand—the hand we write with that reflects our conscious self, present circumstances and outlook on life. This perfectly shaped line indicated that Leanna was anticipating, and looking forward to a long, full and happy life.

leanna-power-perils-subconscious-mind-print

But the life line in her non-dominant hand—reflecting our subconscious self, our past, our buried desires, emotions and regrets—was short, fragile and tasseled at the termination of the line, denoting a major loss of motivation and a lack of vision for the future.

In Vedic Palmistry the study of both hands gives us a complete picture of the state of our subconscious and conscious mind—the yin and yang, the female and male, or the “feeling” and “reasoning” aspects of our being. The contrast between Leanna’s two life lines made me suspect someone or something had deeply impacted her in the past. This had created deep-rooted, negative feelings that she had not dealt with, had subconsciously attached herself to, and had been unwittingly nourishing for many years.

When I asked Leanna about this, she explained that 30 years earlier her then-husband—whom she’d loved and trusted—left her for one of her best friends. The betrayal devastated Leanna; it made her bitter and for a period of time even zapped her will to live. But for the sake of her children she eventually chose to ignore her pain, anger and hurt feelings and get on with her life.

I saw this reflected in the short life line of Leanna’s non-dominant hand—instead of dealing with the pain and resentment of that betrayal three decades ago, she had pushed her negative feelings “into storage” in her subconscious mind, where they took root.

The non-dominant hand is like the hidden root system of a plant, while the dominant hand can be compared to the visible stem, leaves, and flowers. Our subconscious roots reflect our deepest beliefs and feelings—and the subconscious eventually pushes those rooted-emotions and thoughts to the surface of our existence.  If we have planted the bitter seeds of a thorn bush in our past, we cannot expect to enjoy the taste of a delicious apple in our present or future—even if we desperately want that apple; we reap what we sow.

Metaphysicist Neville Goddard writes about this in his book, Feeling Is the Secret: “The subconscious receives ideas through our feelings and gives them form. If you dwell on difficulties, barriers or delay, the subconscious by its very non-selective nature, accepts the feeling of difficulties and obstacles as you request and proceeds to produce them in your outer world.”

It was clear to me that Leanna had been so powerfully impacted by her husband’s betrayal that she had subconsciously lost her inspiration to live a long and happy life—despite the fact that she consciously desired to do just that.

I explained this to Leanna, emphasizing the perils of subconsciously harboring negative feelings and emotions. “Life is precious and we can’t afford to let anything rob us of our motivation,” I said. “As the great sage Sri Yukteswar wrote, `wrath springs from thwarted desire’. It is extremely difficult for any of us to move forward if our hope and belief are entangled in the despair of our past. If we hold onto grief, hurt, resentment or disappointment we only end up hurting ourselves. We must let go completely of past wounds and focus on creating joy within ourselves and in the lives of those around us.”

I used the example of Nelson Mandela who, after serving 27 years in jail, pursued a path of forgiveness to move beyond the anger and atrocities he and so many others experienced during apartheid. Mandela said, “I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind I’d still be in prison.” He exemplified this by inviting his former prison guard to his inauguration as president.

Is there hope for Leanna as she fights a fatal disease? A resounding yes! This is a pivotal and crucial time in her life during which she can reprogram her mind and create new grooves in her brain that can change her present reality. Neuroscientists were once convinced that our thought patterns were fixed and immutable. However, technological advancements in magnetic-brain imaging have proven that we are capable of re-wiring our brain throughout our lifetime—from the moment we are born to the moment we draw our final breath. But, as Neville Goddard tells us, to successfully create a new, positive reality, our thoughts must be soundly supported by deep, positive feelings. One of the surest ways to achieve this is through meditation, positive affirmations and focused, peaceful self-reflection—all of which Leanna is faithfully practicing.

As Leanna reinforces her subconscious with positive thoughts and feelings, she will see an extension of the life line in her non-dominant hand, which will match up with her resolve to live a happy life that is expressed in the beautiful life line of her dominant hand. As she creates new, positive grooves in the thinking patterns of her brain, the negative grooves in her non-dominant hand will disappear.

In time, and with perspective, Leanna will even be grateful for her past difficulties and realize that the painful betrayal she experienced presented her with the opportunity to create wonderful changes in her life—a realization already reflected in the wisdom signs on her mount of Jupiter—in her Ring of Solomon and in her Star and Square. In the end, the suffering she endured helped her develop a huge and generous heart, enabled her to attract an even greater love into her life and gave her a new passion for self-awareness. Despite her battle with cancer, Leanna is filled with gratitude; she wants her story to be shared so that others can learn from her experience and she is looking toward the future with hope.

You want to learn more about the power of your subconscious mind: Give us a call at 866-428-3799, or click here to book a consultation.  we’re here to help.

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