Brandon West, Contributor
Waking Times

The most important aspect and benefit of a spiritual practice aside from how it shifts and raises our energy and level of consciousness is its influence and seamless integration into every other aspect of our lives.I believe there is some confusion about spirituality and what a spiritual practice really is. It is not an isolated thing which we do sometimes alone in our rooms, but which has no effect on the rest of our lives. Nor is it based on faith or belief, but rather experiencing directly a new, powerful, and unlimited aspect to ourselves.

What Is A Spiritual Practice?

A spiritual practice is something which brings us into direct contact with the unlimited aspect of our being, and to the truly mystical and dreamlike nature of reality. It is an awakening to the magical nature of ourselves and this unfathomable reality we exist in against all logic and reason. And through this experience we also discover within us true power, unlimited creativity, boundless love, and perpetual inspiration, passion, and enthusiasm all of which we can apply to every thing we do and to all aspects of our lives.

This zodiacal month begins with an incredible Sun-Moon conjunction, along with Neptune in dominion and Venus, Mars, and Chiron all in the Pisces sign! Mars quickly moves to Aries after the Sun’s ingress, but Neptune’s visions, diffuse and watery inspiration, and nebulous idealism set the tone for this month.

What a busy time this has been for my developing astrological practice…I’m currently writing a weekly horoscope that can potentially reach a million people (although the actual number reached is much smaller), my Facebook page is approaching 5000 likes, readings are becoming more regular, and my various ideas for articles are also picking up steam (keep your fingers crossed for me regarding my latest submission!). I have also recently been added as an agent with Cosmic Intelligence Agency. Agent 0720 reporting for duty! C*I*A is awesome and its Facebook page has great articles and posts about astrology.

As we found out in Spirit Science 4 and in the Human History movie: we are moving as a consciousness from a head focused species into a heart centered awareness.  We want to take some time to explore what that means, what it looks like, and how we are naturally shifting from expressing from our heads alone to our hearts as we love and nurture ourselves and the world around us.

What is the I?

Self, Ego, Mind, Separation, Solo, Lone Wolf,  Me mentality

This is the part of us that is pridefully independent.  Even when we need help we struggle to ask for it.  There is a sense of separation, independence and lack of general connections with others, or acknowledgment of  our own emotions.  As you can see in this state we are not only feeling separate from others but we are feeling separate from ourselves.

What does that look like?

Overly Analytical, logical without regard to emotion or flow, compromising, assuming, telling yourself negative stories, Critical, Limiting

We lead a life of love together, you and I. Our purpose is to love, mainly to give love, yet what love is is not always understood nor grasped. The love I speak of is beyond grasp. In one sense, everything is love, from flirtation to fighting, from romance to death. All love has something to it. Unrequited love has some worth to it. First love or last love and death of love offer something. There is some worth or fun in love, short-lived or one-sided. This is love in the world.

The love I speak of is something else. Nothing makes a difference to it. It encircles regardless of anything. It upholds itself regardless of anything. The love I speak of is like the love I radiate, and radiate to you. Love is a form of grace.

The love of which I speak doesn’t have to be merited. No one has to be beautiful in order to have it. It is love that transcends. It is dependent upon nothing but itself. It is nothing you have to think about. It is like breathing. It does not have to be achieved. It is like your aura. It is simply there without any urging or expectation. I am the original Source of Love, and you are My Reflection of Love.

It is your birthright to enjoy this vast love, the receiving and the giving of it, one not dependent upon the other. There is no measuring or balancing the scales of love. There are no prerequisites for love.

Please like my page at http://www.facebook.com/triplewaterastrology!

The community-oriented, idealistic Neptune clashes with the individualistic and competitive Mars this week, with both in their home signs. The subtle, but strong link between Jupiter’s expansion and Pluto’s transformative properties also have influence this week (think optimistic perspectives, transformative growth, expanding power). Saturn remains in Jupiter’s sign – and he is going to start retrograding back towards the Scorpio sign within a month – but for now, Saturn acts as a kind of “referee” between the hot, angry Mars in Aries and the pervasive, watery Neptune in Pisces. Mercury direct again in Aquarius, his tutor’s sign, seems to have a good vibe. Being social and using technology to communicate and solve problems is a useful counterpoise to the energies still heavily focused on the spiritual, transcending Pisces sign.

What might this week portend for you? Consider your Sun sign and rising sign/ascendant as well.

Dear Ones, ride whatever energies are presenting to you with complete acceptance of their perfection and purpose. If you are feeling energized, use that as an opportunity to take action, as the energies are supporting movement. If you are feeling tired, realize it is time for rest and integration. Your body is always very aware of what the energies are for, at any given time. As you start to harness and work with whatever energy is available to you in each Now moment, you will become so much more efficient and feel so much more supported. You will begin navigating your life with far greater grace and ease than ever before. ~Archangel Gabriel

HJ: Given enough time, unhappiness will naturally transform into joy, but for most of us, we’d like to speed that process up as much as possible.  Enter Sangeeta Bhagwat with a whole list of highly transformative and effective tools and techniques for shifting your emotional state.  But best of all, these processes don’t merely mask the underlying cause of the unhappiness — the actually work to heal it so a natural, organic joy surfaces instead.

- Truth

16 Effective Ways To Dissolve Unhappiness

By Sangeeta Bhagwat | Serene Reflection

Perhaps a deep rooted joy and peace does not lie in the pursuit of happiness, but in addressing the contributors to one’s perception of unhappiness.