Having trouble sleeping?? On Indie Spirit Radio this week, we discuss the Solstice energy, the final eclipse on July 1 and taking responsibility for your own happiness – boundaries! We are also discussing the chaos of events around the world and how that shows up in your own life. Join us Weds, 11 am EST for the last Indie Spirit Show before Summer Break!

All around us, people are being revealed. Secrets exposed. Before you start getting too high and mighty – stop, we all have secrets. They offer an illusion of power or control, but that’s just an illusion. It’s exhausting to hide the facts, to keep up the charade.  Today we are going to focus on authenticity.  Living in your true life. For it is upon this firm foundation that the life you have always dreams of can be built. Join us on Indie Spirit, Weds, 11 am EST on Blogtalkradio.com.

The New Moon Tuesday in Taurus welcomed the beginning of May with strong, grounding energy.  Now is the chance to ground some of the new ideas/opportunities that arose in April into your life.  Maybe you have suddenly been drawn to eating new foods or getting into a new work-out routine.  What new people have you met?  Has anyone come back into your life suddenly?  Do you have some new ideas about expanding your horizons?  What has clicked?

This is the time to integrate a few of those new ‘seeds’ into your reality.  How can you support this? By honoring your body and mind, self-care, sleep, laughter and spiritual nourishment found in music, a walk in nature, yoga, meditation, the arts, whole foods…Wherever you find spiritual sustenance, take it.

On 5/11/11 we have another large energy day.  Each month this year we have one of these 11/11 days that magnifies the energy of expansion and new beginnings.  Fives are about change and movement, this 5/11/11 can go either way.  The energy of our highest self bumps up against any negative old patterns of yesterday.  (Do you need to be rescued? Are you angry?)

The good news ~ this is an opportunity to transcend how you have always done things and CHOOSE your response.  Hint: how have you reacted to change in the past? How would you like it to look now?  Who do you want to be?   Focus on who you choose to be and be compassionate with the growing pains of getting there.

At this moment, we are in the thick of it – both good and bad.  New obstacles and unresolved past issues have been arising.  Problems with computers, phones, conversations and flashes of anger have been flaring up.  We are half way through mercury retrograde.  Yeah!

Although this retrograde period may be trying, there is still time to finally resolve some old issues.  If you are struggling, look inside ~ are you making things harder than they need to be?  Are you self-sabotaging? (Mercury retrograde again…) What old beliefs no longer serve your present life?  What needs to be shifted in your thinking?

Here’s a hint to resolution – focus on what you DO want.  Instead of thinking about the things your don’t like/want, focus on what you do want – love, joy, success, beauty, peace…Try making a vision board.  This can help you discover any unconscious desires and integrate a new way of being into your present life.

Wednesday, the 13^th is a great day energetically.  Mercury, Jupiter and the Sun all meet in Aries! This means things can get bigger – quick.  Job proposals, past contracts, declared feelings, reviews, old friends/lovers, a script, books, ventures…all expand today.  Be careful – you just might get what you asked for!

Fair warning – Mars, the red, warrior planet is now home in Aries.  This adds to the already heightened tensions, as a myriad of other planets are already hanging out in passionate Aries.  Expect flashes of anger to explode – be it on the international stage or in your own private discussions.  Although you can’t stop the larger conflicts, you can respond more gently to the challenges in your own life.  Be aware of these tense energies and remember to pause before reacting.  This is your life; you CAN choose your response.

These are exciting times to be sure, best to respond with plenty of laughter, compassion and flexibility!

On Wednesday, 3/30 Mercury went retrograde until 4/23. Yes, unison groans are welcome…and as usual, opportunities for healing past hurts present in the most unlikely of ways.  Expect friends and lovers from days gone by to contact you.  If an old friend/boss does contact you about a job – pay attention, this could be the job you’ve been waiting for!

Mercury governs communication and travel as well, so be aware of dropped phone calls, travel delays and computer crashes. If possible avoid signing contacts or making large purchases.  If you do need to sign paperwork, read the fine print three times at least!

There is a New Moon on April 3.  This is a very big energy day – the same kind of rigid tension as on 3/11 when the earthquake hit Japan last month.  Hence, be aware of your environment.  This not only speaks to your geographic location but your emotional life as well.  As we discussed on Indie Spirit yesterday, earthquakes and tsunamis come in all different shapes and sizes…

Remember, with all these planets clustered in Aries – the issues and obstacles that come your way this month are all about you.  It’s not about what your partner, boss or friends are doing, it’s just about you.  Are YOU happy?  It’s up to YOU to make the shift.  Gratefully with this new moon you have the ability to set in motion significant inner healing and physical well being.  You can finally find a diet/fitness programs that work for you.  You can get to the bottom of health issues.  You can heal old wounds.

Spring is here.  Time to clear away the old, dead leaves that clog the corners of your life.  Yes, a dark, cold storm can still come calling, but warmer days are on the rise…

Be well.

Are you doing all the ‘right’ things, yet still disappointments are coming your way?  You may be wondering ~ when is enough, enough?  Join us Thursday on Indie Spirit @ 11 am EST as we explore these patterns and discover solutions through Meditation, the Energy/Moon Report, much laughter and some fantastic Indie Music.

I love Christmas music. From the trite to the spiritual hymns, it all makes me happy. Below are suggestions to add some new tunes to your own musical library…and even what to skip…

Saddest Song – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Judy Garland. Her voice just aches, so good.

Coolest Song – I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm, Dean Martin. Hip and unbelievably cool. I want to be fireside with Dean…

Most Fun – Donde esta Santa Claus? Guster. Mamasita, where is Santa Claus? Love it.

Most Feel Good – Winter Wonderland, Rosemary Clooney. Happy, happy music.

Best Drummer Boy – Do you Hear What I Hear? Martin Sexton. Sweet and strong. His voice and arrangement will you singing all day…

Best Jingle Bells – Sammy Davis Jr. Obviously.

Best Swing – I Believe, Frank Sinatra. Me and Frank – we believe in wishing wells and Santa Claus…

Naughty in the Best Sense of the Word – Maybe Next Year, Meiko. Breathy and delicious.

Best Surprise – Just Like Christmas, Low. Bittersweet, just like Christmas…

Best New Song – Winter Song, Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson. Haunting and gorgeous. December never felt so long…

Most Disappointing CD – Harry for the Holidays, Harry Connick, Jr. For all practical purposes this should work, but it doesn’t. He sounds phony and over-produced. Skip it.

Worst Song – White Christmas, Katy Perry. Screeching and off-key. Can’t believe it made its way onto a CD…

Best Instrumental CD – Celtic Christmas ’06. Penny whistles and hymns = lovely background music.

Best Get in the Spirit Song – It’s Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas, Bing Crosby. Enough said.

Happy Listening!

Are you getting anxious for another Holiday with the family? Can you feel yourself beginning to brace for those awkward questions posed by Aunt Judy? Or is it falling into old patterns that has you squirming?…This year can be different. Join us Thurs @ 11am on Indie Spirit for solutions, laughter, a Thanksgiving meditation and fantastic indie music…Come, join the Thanksgiving. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/indieonair

Yes, it’s stick season again – frigid temperatures, no snow, no green grass, only dead brown for miles and miles with barren trees appearing like upright sticks on the horizon. Warm sunshine has moved South. It’s dreary and the damp days may begin to seep into your emotions. Maybe you are a little more irritable, have a nagging cold or even just feeling a little blue…These are a few suggestions I’ve used in my own life and offered to clients to bring a little sunshine back.
1. Buy fresh flowers. Put them wherever you can see many times a day. The room will immediately brighten and you will feel just a little bit lighter inside.

2. Get a birdfeeder and watch life spring back. Within 24 hours of hanging the feeder – you will have birds aplenty. It gives you something else to look at besides the blur of sticks and brown that your backyard has become. We have a family of cardinals that have just moved in to the bushes. Now, instead of seeing a barren, lifeless space out my window, I see red birds flitting, juncos twittering and woodpeckers diving for breakfast while I sip my tea.
3. Read a book or go to a movie about someplace warm you would like to visit. You can fall into a different world – soaking up the fresh berries and brilliant colors to your heart’s content. These images can become postcards in your mind to revisit for their warmth as you shiver in your cold car on the way to work, usually in the dark.

4. Plant indoor bulbs like paperwhites. I know you did this is in first grade, but you will love it again. It is something akin to watching a miracle unfold right before your eyes. Just grab a glass vase, put some rocks or marbles in the bottom, fill with water to just cover the rocks and place the bulbs on top so just the bottoms are in the water. Now wait. Each day the bulbs will grow more, first a mass of unbelievable roots, then bright green shoots and ultimately fragrant white, blooms. It is a wonderful reminder of how much goes on in the unseen foundation or earth of our lives, holding us up, helping us to bloom.
5. Get back into your community. Winter can be very isolating. I personally struggle with not becoming a hermit. Not because I don’t want to see anyone – but because it is so cold out there! But get out there anyway. Go to church, meet friends for lunch, go to a party or throw a party yourself, anything to reconnect with people.
6. Take a class or workshop. Try out something new and that appeals to your “fun” self. You will meet new people and maybe even discover a new skill you never new you had before.
7. Plan a vacation. This is my all-time favorite distraction from cold weather and brown – beaches and umbrella drinks. Go to Tripadvisor.com and begin dreaming, planning and manifesting. Pick a place and visualize yourself there on vacation. Feel the water, the sand between your toes, the sun caressing your cheeks…The more you do this, somehow things begin to fall into place…money shows up, time frees up and you are on the beach. Think it into being.
I hope these suggestions help you as much as they have helped me and my clients. Are there any tips you have discovered? Please let me know as I am always interested.

Dating can be an exercise in torture, but it doesn’t have to be! Join us Thurs on Indie Spirit @ 11 am EST as we discuss the Do’s and Don’ts of Dating.  Expect simple tips, meditation, great music and much laughter as Classic & Kelly reveal what guys/gals are really thinking…Indie Spirit Show on Blogtalk Radio.