New Moon ~ A time to set positive intentions

Dropping out-dated habits and successfully replacing them with new and positive intentions and actions is best done every New Moon. Setting intentions at a new moon begins a dialogue between yourself and your higher self, Sun and Moon, Spirit and Soul, Ying and Yang, positive and negative, expansion.

Take a moment and sit down, maybe with a candle burning and a crystal in your hand. Ponder and ask yourself some relevant questions related to issues associated with Aquarius. Give yourself a bit of time to listen, focus your thoughts, ideas and meditations on positive change and take notes.

Here are some examples:

How can I:

• make a positive contribution to the world? (Blue Celestite)
• meet people who share my interests? (Chalcedony)
• work in a job where I can put my inventiveness and ingenuity is good use? (Aquamarine)

The patterns, positive or negative, are set by the first quarter moon and continue to develop throughout the build-up phase. A positive attitude towards overcoming obstacles (restrictions from the past) will affect an expansive and constructive period of growth. Reassess the situation, identify necessary changes and integrate your experiences as required.

Last year was the Year of the Rabbit. But 2012 welcomes a more commanding beast — the Dragon.

Who is the Dragon?

The Dragon is a symbol of good fortune and intense power in Eastern culture. In Chinese tradition, the Dragon is regarded as a divine beast.

According to Sung dynasty manuscripts, the Dragon is described as having the “head of an ox or donkey, eyes of a shrimp, horns of a deer, body of a serpent covered with fish scales, and a feet of a phoenix,” and it usually clutches a pearl, meant to symbolize its supernatural powers.

The Year of the Dragon is one of the most revered years of the Chinese New Year calendar, and those born under the sign are regarded as innovative, passionate people who are colorful, confident and fearless.

The Dragon is sometimes called a “karmic sign.” The Dragon is larger than life and its appearance means that big things are to come. The Year of the Dragon is a flowing river, not a stagnant lake, so things happen quickly earlier in the year. The Dragon marks progression, perseverance and auspiciousness. It may also bring about unpredictable events.

Elements

The five Chinese elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. The Dragon is made of Earth, Water and Wood. It is said that the Chinese New Year 2012 will primarily be a water year. This could mean riches and abundance or it could mean natural disaster.

Dragons and the 5 elements

Metal Dragons – Years 1940 and 2000

Metal strengthens this already strong sign. Metal Dragons are more determined and they’ll fight for what they believe in. They enjoy the company of those who feel mighty enough to challenge their beliefs. They’re true leaders and usually find plenty of others willing to follow.

Water Dragons – Years 1952 and 2012

Water calms the Dragon’s fire. Water Dragons are able to see things from other points of view. They don’t have the need to always be right. Their decisions, if well-researched, are usually better since they allow other’s to become involved.

Wood Dragons – 1904 and 1964

Wood Dragons also are willing to entertain the opinions of others. Their artistic side is strong, and Wood Dragons enjoy being creative and innovative. They get along with others, but will always be the dominating force.

Fire Dragons – 1916 and 1976

A Fire Dragon’s emotions can flare instantly. Fire Dragons put themselves on pedestals, and because they react quickly and recklessly, they sometimes make wrong decisions. Fire Dragons need to slow down and keep their tempers in check as that’s when they’re best.

Earth Dragons – Years 1928 and 1988

More rooted in the ground, Earth Dragons make better decisions because they act more rationally. Earth Dragons are level-headed and able to control their behaviors. They’re more supportive of others, but they prefer being admired by others.

Sunshine has been a healing treatment dating back to ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt, in addition to other countries and cultures. For instance, in Greece and Rome, physicians would send patients to a “soleria” for exposure to healing sun rays. Hippocrates, the Grecian “Father of Medicine” prescribed “heliotherapy” (healing with sunshine) in his writings and for his patients. And in the 1800s, doctors treated tuberculosis with sun exposure, because of the sun’s ability to kill bacteria associated with this disease and its related infections.

Many ancient civilizations literally worshipped the Sun. Those in Aztec, Mayn, Egyptian, Celtic, Persian, Greek, Roman and other cultrures prayed to sun gods for help and healings. Solar ceramonies praised the sun for its life-giving force. The early Christian (especially Catholic) churches called this pagan worship a sin and began strongly discouraging its practice. Yet the references to sun worship are still evident, especially on Sunday of each week.

The love part of the healing equation comes from prayer and calling upon Heaven’s help. Angels, as pure, egoless beings, brings both light and love into any situation. When Angelic invocation and intervention is combined with additional sources of light, it opens the door to profound healings.

An Italian adage says: Dove il sole non entra il dottore, which means, “When the sun doesn’t enter, the doctor does. “

Statistically , more people die of diseases associated with sunlight deprivation than do people with skin cancer. As with everything, moderation is important when it comes to sun exposure – - it certainly isn’t wise to get sunburned, yet it’s also unwise to avoid the sun completely.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects millions. During Winter months, people with SAD experience depression, become lethargic, sleep excessively, crave carbohydrates, gain weight, lose interest in doing things with other people, often feel guilty and feel a lack of excitement about life in general. Symptoms improve when SAD suffers are exposed to full-sprectrum lighting.

Sunlight increases mental and physical performance. Sunlight has been shown to lower blood pressure, increase the bloody supply to organs and muscles, increase oxygen supply in body tissue and increase glyogen (stored energy) in the muscles and liver.

Sunlight has general Wellness Benefits. In addition to increasing our Vitamin D supply, sunlight has an insulin-like effect that is beneficial for diabectics. Exercising outside in the sun lowers the lactic-acid count, which can reduce muscular pain from a workout. Sunshine exposure also lowers serum cholesterol and seems to increase our tolerance of stress because it lowers our resting heart, blood pressure and resspiratory rates.

Biologically we’re meant to be exposed to sunlight for health and happiness. Our hemoglobin pigments (red blood cells) are virtually identical to the chlorophyll in plants. Chlorophyll absorbs sunlight and converts it into energy and food for the plant’s growth and health. In a similar way, our body benefits from sunlight exposure.

SO, enjoying a moderate  amount of sunshine in the morning or late afternoon (when UV levels aren’t as strong), appears to be important for our health.

Exposing ourselves to sunrises and sunsets connects us to the natural earth rhythms, which helps us have better timing and puts us in the synchronistic flow of life. Ideally, we should witness the sunrises and sunsets outdoors without sunglasses so our bodies can absorb the light fully. However, even watching the sun rise and set through a window is better than not seeing it all.

We are Spirits upon a Beautiful Planet that has physically based light sources ~~ the Sun, Moon and the Stars. They support and heal us. Light is a tool available to everyone, FREE of Charge. When coupled with LOVE the possibilities are endless ….

I first got into making my own aromatherapy based products after venturing in and out of many Health Food Stores and not finding what I wanted so I would buy a variety of different oils and base products and mix to create my own blend.

I would also write down the ingredients I found in many so called ‘natural’ or ‘aromatherapy’ products and research them to find out what was actually in the product – this is when I realised people were not getting what they bargained for. I found many of the products contained chemicals and alcohols that dry out the skin or cause skin rashes.

This is when I decided to do something about it & create my own. It started just for me, then for family and friends but I kept getting orders for more so Avalon Essences was created.

All of my products are derived from plants, antioxidants, herbs, fragranced oils and essential oils for their therapeutic values; and do not contain harmful ingredients.

Avalon Essences is Australian owned and operated. My unique aromatherapy products are hand-made fresh in small batches without harmful chemicals, animal derivatives, harsh detergents or petroleum by-products.

I am always creating and adding new exciting products to my range.

MARS has now moved into AQUARIUS for just over a month.

I always love this time of year, because our humanitarian instincts are revved, and our community spirit is high – something which many parts of the world, currently under water, needs right now.

On an individual basis, Mars in Aquarius prods, pokes and pushes us to be US and me to be ME – the Individual, the Eccentric, the Unique – because we’re all One Of A Kind.

I Accept my Uniqueness. There is no competition and no comparison, for we are all different and meant to be that way. I am Special and Wonderful. I Love Myself xx

In around 5 days we’ll all get the chance to find out, when the Sun joins Mars there, prodding us to rediscover our individuality .. but when it comes to being “unique” “eccentric” “rebellious” “individual”, how would you rate yourself on a scale of 1-10, 1 being not at all, and 10 being ab-so-luuuuuutely!!??

I rejoice in my sexuality and in my own body. My body is perfect for me in this lifetime. I embrace my myself with Love and Compassion

The negativity and difficulties that have weighed upon my mind have lessened and will continue to lessen each day that goes by.

My pain and fear are gone.

I am strong in mind, body, heart, and soul.  I  have the strength and endurance to make it through this troublesome time in my life. I release all negative thoughts and sever all negative ties I may have with others, all bonds that prevent me from evolving, healing, and growing in a positive manner.

As I heal, I will become more and more loving and patient with myself.

The love I feel comes from inside of me and will increase to encompass others with its purity of light and intention.

As I love, I will be loved.

As I give, I will receive.

I see myself totally healthy and happy.  I picture myself enjoying the things I love, the activities that keep me happy, and spending time with people I love.  My heart is on the mend…love is flowing freely through me.

Though the date Friday 13 is generally perceived as unlucky, (not to me I was born on Friday 13 …..) this alignment of two planets brings passion, love and maybe even a little extra $$

• The Moon is 3.5 days old and is in waxing crescent lunation cycle
• Both Moon and Venus are in Virgo constellation; they had company in the form of Mars and Saturn which are also located in the same constellation
• Venus had a conjunction previously with Saturn on 8 August and proposes to meet with Mars on 19 August. Hence, the present getting together of Moon and Venus comes almost in the middle of the two episodes
• Both Venus and Moon are below the pathway of the Sun called as ecliptical path
• During August Venus is very bright and is seen as an evening planet
• Just north of Venus is the brilliant star Zaniah
• The name of the star Zaniah in Arabic means an angle, which can be interpreted as a turning for better
• Positioned on the left arm of the Virgin, the star Zaniah symbolizes amusement and enjoyment of life and its pleasures, Chinese treated the star as a maintainer of Law
• Both Venus and the Moon are positioned on the left wing that hovers over the left arm of the Virgin

Enjoy the Magik of Friday 13 and embrace the Passion of Mother Moon and Venus xxx