Astrology and nature can provide us with wisdom and remedies for the strains of the modern fast paced world.
“If you aren’t doing something you are lazy. Your value and self-worth are based on what you do in the world. Being busy is being productive.”
Sound familiar? These statements are powerful beliefs that are woven deeply into everyday living in most modern societies. They can be powerful motivators for us to feel accomplishment, self- worth, and pride. However, if one takes a step back and looks at them with a broader lens, they can also see how these statements can also be limiting beliefs. What happens when we buy into these beliefs and sacrifice rest and relaxation for productivity?
We can lose our health, our personal power, and our relationships to others, as well as ourselves. When I sink into these beliefs I begin to over-work and forget to relax. I then start to ignore my needs, and the needs of others around me. At first these sacrifices seem harmless and necessary, but overtime I become cranky, burned out, and doubtful of what I am doing with my life and energy. Not to mention it is harder for others to be around me. If I go too long without resting, my health suffers, and I become fatigued and withdraw from the world. Really, this is my body’s way of communicating to me that I need rest.
When I get into these patterns of overdoing, I use my relationship to nature and the stars to get deeper life wisdom from them. Here is some wisdom from both to remind us all that rest is a part of everything’s existence and that we all benefit if we stop and do nothing once and awhile.
Resting Like a Bee- A Message from Mother Nature
It is currently the end of summer, and fall is fast approaching in the northern hemisphere; a time full of buzzing energy in preparation for the cold winter to come. Squirrels are feverishly gathering acorns, birds are beginning to migrate, days are cooler and shorter. It seems like everything is moving fast, yet when I went out into my wild garden a few weeks ago I witnessed something I once ignored about nature and resting. On that unusually cool August day I saw a bee resting in the sun on a flower for an extended period of time. The first thing that ran through my mind was “I always see bees busy harvesting nectar and pollen with swift and methodical precision, and always moving with a purpose. Do they really rest besides sleep?” The answer is obviously yes! In that moment I felt blessed to witness one of nature’s busiest and most productive wonders practicing the powerfully healing art of resting.
The bee taught me that resting is an investment in the self. Rest lets you restore and reinvest in yourself so you can create, play, and produce. By giving yourself space to be still and quiet you allow new inspirations to come in and be heard. A drained battery does not light a flashlight and a drained person does not thrive. Be like the bee and sit in the sun and enjoy not being busy.
Retrograde Planets- Energy Directed Inward for Reflection
Right now, six planets are retrograde! What does that mean? In short astrology terms, it means that the planets appear to be moving backwards in the night sky and that they are retracing the steps they just took. When planets go retrograde, we experience their effects on us more internally. Direct planets move forward through the astrological zodiac wheel. When they are moving direct, we often experience their forward motion more through the external world experiences. A good example of retrograde energy is during Mercury retrograde. We may feel like we are reassessing some of our thought patterns and where we put our mental energy, instead of putting ideas out into the world via spoken word or written text during Mercury’s direct phase. For me, I also feel like it tells us to stop and look at how we can recreate and reengage or mental energies more effectively. Look at what you are feeding your mind. Is it more like junk food, or is it organic, heirloom vegetables?
Here are ways you can harness the power of retrograde planets for rest.
Mercury Retrograde: Quiet your mind and your mouth. Cut out as much technology as you can at this time and enjoy silence. Also, cut out junk information, or at least cut back. Doing any of the previous suggestions can really benefit the nervous and hormonal systems of the body, leading to greater rest and repair of the body, mind and spirit.
Venus Retrograde: Love yourself and see the beauty in you! This is a great time to work on self-love. All love begins with the ability to love ourselves first. From there we can share our love generously. Also, review any relationships you are in that are one-sided. Are you giving all your love and getting little to none in return, or are you the one not giving love back? You may need to heal the relationship or let it go. True self love and healthy relationships help one be more at ease and full of more energy.
Mars Retrograde: Slow down! Moving through life in fast forward does not always mean you are making good progress. You also might miss the beautiful scenery along your journey through life. Slowing down lets your body rest and helps you savor more of life in the moment.
Jupiter Retrograde: Quantity is not always quality. Jupiter retrograde season is a good time to assess what or where we have grown and expanded while Jupiter was direct. Look in your life and where you may have excess but yet lack quality at this time. Do not be afraid to cut back the excess and leave only what is quality for you to be joyous and rested. This will help you feel lighter and more satisfied. Seeking the next thing can be fun but also draining. During Jupiter retrograde you may find everything you were looking for has been inside you the whole time.
Saturn Retrograde: On a good day Saturn is stabilizing, yet on a bad day it is restrictive and cold. When Saturn is retrograde you can work on how you can stabilize your inner world. Do you need to cut back socializing? Do you spend time alone to recharge? Do you need to eliminate one of your many responsibilities? This is the time to go in and let go of responsibilities that are not yours and work on your inner foundation. With a solid foundation you can move through the world with confidence and authority and have more energy to focus on your real responsibilities and what you want to build.
Uranus Retrograde: What needs change in your inner world? Is it your habits, beliefs, thoughts? Uranus Retrograde can really help us clean house of anything that is outdated and no longer supports our growth. Change instigates growth, leading us into possibilities we may never have dreamed of. Uranus retrograde shows us what needs changing. During the retrograde, rest and consider what needs to be changed. When it turns direct make the change!
Neptune Retrograde: What dreams do you have that may need to be revisited and revised? Is the dream inspiring you currently and driving you on or deluding your way? This is a great time to get real with yourself and re-envision what you want and need in your life. You may experience your new vision in the dreams you are having while you are resting. That means it is extra important to get good sleep during this time so you can let that new vision come to you.
Pluto Retrograde: Pluto is all about power. What does it mean to stand in your power? It means you know that you can only be the master of yourself and nobody else. When you accept that you cannot control or manipulate others, or need others to make you feel powerful, you will know true power. Pluto retrograde is a good time to dig up and get rid of anything that diminishes your true power. This could range from past wounds, to how you may subconsciously be trying to control others. It could also be an unhealthy codependent relationship. It may not always be something easy to face but it is worth processing it. (When dealing with any trauma please make sure you are supported by a health care professional.) By letting go of heavy energies we feel lighter and more present in the moment. We also create space for more healthy things in our life.
As you can see, nature and the sky have so much knowledge for us, we just have to be open to receiving it!
©2022 Written by Jennifer Helmer Eureka Astrology and Healing
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