REST...To Be Your Best

NOTE: this message applies to any and every day of the week!

This seemed like a good time to pop in and remind you of this underrated and not-talked-about-enough principle of Alignment. In a world that has this backwards, glorifying the packed schedule and busy life, teaching that working yourself to death is noble and the only way to success, we wonder why so many people experience increasing amounts of anxiety, overwhelm, stress and depression. It doesn't have to be this way, folks.

In fact, if you start playing around with this, listening to those prompts that your body, spirit and oftentimes the whole damn Universe itself is giving you - in the form of feeling an illness coming on, seeing the words "slow down" all over the place, feeling tired or introspective, or the stress and overwhelm themselves - you will begin to notice a trend where upon giving yourself that space and time to rest, you notice that you are in the flow more. You're more productive. You have more energy, focus, drive and motivation. Ease. Abundance. Joy. Peace. Doesn't that sound wonderful?

You can't get to those things by pushing, forcing, fighting, insisting, straining. It's called living in a state of resistance, where you are only drawing more of the same to yourself. And that's not fun nor is it sustainable. 

So I invite you to listen to yourself today, this week, especially now, during this time of year where we feel ourselves wanting to rest more, hibernate, and be still and quiet. Ask your body, heart, mind and Soul what they need. Journal about it, meditate on it, or just notice the signs and symptoms, and then do something radical: listen to and honor them, and then watch what happens next. 

It is not unusual for me to have a day full of the grandest intentions of productivity and flow, only to immediately recognize it is a day of resting and tending to my own energy. I have come to recognize these days as the most productive of all, because not only do I know there's a ton going on behind the scenes on my behalf (thank you, Cosmic Team and Universe!), my energy is being reorganized and restored to support me better, and usually the very next day I am kicking ass far better than I would have on the day I originally intended. 

Through my years of experience, observation, and guiding my clients through this part of the Alignment process, I am certain that this is how it works. All of life is rooted in energy, and we have not been taught how to recognize the natural ebb and flow, much less work with it. But there's no better time to start than now, so don't just take my word for it, try for yourself! Simply notice the next time you can tell it's time to rest and tend to your own energy better, make the proper adjustments to do so (i.e. say no to an obligation, take the day off, give yourself a day in bed Netflix binging, etc.), and note what happens next.

And do let me know your experience, I can't get enough of hearing this stuff. Hit the comment button and share away!

What To Do When Life Feels Big and Intense

Every now and then I write a post like this...

And it usually coincides with some big cosmic occurrences in the skies, such as eclipses and planets going retrograde, which, incidentally, is a thing right now. But I won't go into those details here - I see astrology as an influence, a catalyst for the inevitable ebb and flow and expansion of the Universe and the whole "spiritual being having a human experience" thing.

Instead of going too deeply into those details, I want to share the important stuff I would have you know about the energies right now, in case you, like many others, are finding yourself saying things like "wtf is going on right now?" :) The stuff that will help you move through it from the bigger-picture perspective and use it all for the purpose in which it's intended.

The nuts and bolts of it are:

• We're stepping into Eclipse season (new moon eclipse on July 2nd, full moon eclipse on July 16th), which is known to amplify certain things in your life to create doors opening and closing. Eclipses shine the light on things that were previously not too visible to us, for the purposes of ushering certain parts of our lives (wondering which part for you? Ask yourself what is the loudest right now.) forward; consider this a turning point in that area, and it can be an aspect that's visible for all to see or more of an internal shift that maybe only you notices.

• Mercury goes retrograde on July 7th and we're in the "shadow period" of it right now, which means you may already be noticing things around technology, communication, scheduling, etc. going a bit awry. Don't worry, this isn't just a middle finger from the Universe that has no rhyme or reason - there's a purpose. (read on)

• Lots of other planets doing lots of other things that I don't quite understand or ever remember the terminology enough to articulate, but they are all influencing the shifts that are happening in your life in some way. Oh, and we just had the solstice, and we're coming up on the official halfway point of the calendar year, so there's some significance there as well.

In general, this is a time of big shift for everyone, both individually and collectively.

What you can do with all of this awareness that can help you move through your big shift more gracefully and easily is:

• Slow down before the Universe forces you to in some way that you probably won't prefer. Create some space in your calendar, try not to overbook.

• Prioritize self-care. No really, don't just talk about it and nod your head in agreement - do it. Naps, being out in nature, focusing on your daily spiritual practice, eating well, getting enough sleep, connecting with people who uplift you, massages, bubble baths, Netflix binging - whatever floats your boat! But do it with consistency throughout the month, not just once or twice. And if you're especially tired lately or in the days to come, don't make yourself wrong for it - sleep. There's a ton of energy moving in, through and around us lately, and if you're sensitive to energy you are probably feeling it. It's all good. The extra sleep helps with integration and release.

• Say no to anything that feels like an obligation or doesn't bring you joy, and pay attention to when you no longer feel like doing things that were previously a yes for you. The energy during these times can shift quickly and with it, your moods. Let it all be okay.

• Recognize that you're not the only one being impacted by these energies, so practice kindness, empathy and compassion while you also stick to your boundaries and tend to your own energy. In other words, don't take on other people's stuff, allow them to have their own experience. We're all divinely supported in this.

• Hit the pause button - a lot, as many times as you need to, and especially when you notice yourself getting triggered by someone or something. Create space to be with what comes up in a healthy way, such as journaling, venting (but only once, don't continue to beat that drum or you won't get out of that energy you don't want to be in in the first place), crying, napping, meditating on it or engaging in physical movement to let that energy move through you. Do your best to consciously respond, rather than react.

• Play, relax, laugh, focus on joy and gratitude, and engage in things that bring you pleasure as much as humanly possible! Prioritize fun! This doesn't have to be a serious, heavy time; in fact, intentionally prioritizing play, pleasure and fun can make this season of shift feel like a breeze!

I hope shining the light on and naming what's going on collectively is useful to you, and I encourage you to implement some of the suggestions above. If you need any direct help with it during this time, please reach out to me, even if it's just to ask a question about all of this. And feel free to share in your experience by hitting the reply button, I'd love to hear!

How do you stay positive all the time? Well, you don't.

People who know me always describe me as being a positive person, and in my line of work it kind of goes with the territory. I’ve often been asked what my secret is, how do I stay so positive and optimistic? Well, there are many ways to be positive, but here’s the big one: Rather than attempting to be positive ALL the freakin' time, I put the focus more so on recovering to a higher, more positive and aligned state when I’ve had a human moment. And, perhaps more importantly, I allow myself to BE human. 

In other words, when the wind blew my open car door causing it to hit me in the side of my head this morning while getting my daughter, Hazel, out of the car (because Mother Nature decided to drop a ridiculous snow storm on us Here in MN despite it looking and feeling like actual spring for the last several weeks) I cursed like a sailor (yes, in front of my kid 🤷🏻‍♀️).

As the icy wind continued to whip me in the face and Hazel dropped her stuff in the snow drifts no less than 117 times between the car and the front door to daycare, you could say I was abundantly annoyed, especially when I stepped in a bunch of melted snow on the floor and got my socks all wet (isn’t that the worst?!). 

But that’s a normal, human experience, and who wouldn’t be annoyed, right?

So I don’t fight myself on stuff like that. Instead, as soon as I have the opportunity to I shift my focus to feeling better, by focusing on better things. I work my way back up to that more Aligned, centered, calm and optimistic state of being. This morning that looked like listing positive aspects and gratitudes out loud in the car on the way home. And it worked, I felt so much better by the time I started working. 

Bottom line is, rather than trying to force positivity from yourself all the time, especially when it doesn’t feel authentic to, try putting the focus on recovering to your higher self more quickly and more consistently. This is one way you can avoid the whole “woke up on the wrong side of the bed” syndrome where you let one or two bad experiences ruin your whole day. And this is how you embrace your humanity while knowing full-well you are first and foremost a spiritual, vibrational being, just having a human experience. By the way, I wrote a whole chapter on this topic in my book, "Awake and Aligned: How to Navigate the Human Experience as a Spiritual Being." You might want to check it out. :)

Mercury goes direct today, woo hoo! But now what?

Whew, this was a potent one, wasn't it? I'm guessing most of you are at least aware of this astrological phenomenon that is one of the only ones to have a somewhat uniformly effect on us all, but if not, here's a great article to sum it up for you.

I used to say, "Don't know what Mercury Retrograde is? Great! Carry on!" when coming across someone who wasn't yet aware of it, previously perceiving it as a big pain in the ass and wishing I, myself, could enjoy the "ignorance is bliss" route. Yet over the years of moving through it with conscious awareness and deepening my understanding of its purpose, I now encourage people to read up on it so they can use it to their advantage. Although I wouldn't say I look forward to the 3 times per year Mercury Retrograde occurs, for about 3 weeks at a time each time, I can say that my experiences of each is filled with much more grace and ease than before, and I no longer dread it happening. Plus, I always feel grateful after they end because some pretty decent shifts have occurred as a result.  

So this one in Pisces is over - now what? Well, it's integration time! This is the time to get your conscious mind up to speed with the energetic, internal shifts that have occurred, making them even more useful in your life going forward. A great way to do so is to acknowledge out loud or on paper what happened for you. Here are some questions to help you out with that:
 

• What did you become aware of during this time?

• What was strengthened within you?

• What did you let go of?

• What or who showed up from your past that deepened your clarity?

• Did you take the cues to slow down or did you plow forward anyway, and what did you notice in either case?

• How did your intuition, psychic gifts or superpowers grow? Any new ones? (*This question pertains to this particular Mercury Retrograde period in Pisces, as Pisces is a deeply psychic sign.)

Put simply, how did this energy serve you and how do you intend to carry it forward?

 I'd love to hear some of your experiences and answers to these questions, if you feel like sharing and being witnessed. And feel free to share the ridiculous experiences, too, as Mercury Retrograde tends to force us to slow down in really loud ways sometimes. For example, at the start of the retrograde period my phone stopped registering voicemails right away, sometimes taking days for one to show up! Annoying, yes, but it kept me off the phone and allowed me to be more fully present, slow and intentional. I fully expect my phone to work properly again shortly. :) Hit the comment button and share with me what happened for you!

The Gift of Spiritual Alignment

When Nova asked me to write up something about alignment and spirituality my mind went a little bizerk.. How do I find one thing to talk about when there is so much? After some time of processing and thinking, perhaps a little over-thinking, I decided to talk about the gift that alignment and spirituality has brought to my life.

I truly believe there is no greater gift that we can give ourselves, our family, and the world other than the gift of alignment. I see it as the most important work a person can engage in, a game changer of epic proportions. I want to take this opportunity to discuss what alignment means to me, how I’ve personalized something so powerful and how you can do the same.

Put simply, acting in alignment means coming from a place of love. That is the simplest and most profound way I can explain it to my clients. When we practice the art of alignment we are truly practicing coming from love in all areas of our life. This also happens to be what spirituality means to me. Spirituality is an awareness that guides us closer to loving ourselves and others in deeper, more profound ways. That’s it. It’s requires a trusting in something, call it whatever you wish, that when you choose to love, no matter how difficult the circumstances may be, you will be rewarded by your chosen. This happens because when you are acting in alignment with love you are showing up with Higher Self leading the way and that is what our human experience is all about. It is about learning how to blend your human self with your spiritual self, or higher self, that self that is rooted in love. Tell me something better than the feeling of love…. I’ll wait.

I feel the need to clarify that a life in alignment is not a life free of challenge. Quite the opposite, actually. A life of alignment is more like a life grounded in the ability to see the purpose, the opportunity, the gift in all the contrast and challenges that inevitably come with this human experience. It’s a life path that allows us to feel the feels and then to recover back to our authentic state of being, an energy of love, more quickly and with more ease. Strengthening your faith in the belief that life is always working in your favor can sometimes draw more contrast to you—as if you’re being “tested.” You’re not. You’re being given opportunities to walk your talk, to validate the statement, the proof is in the puddin’ (your own life being the pudding). I say this not to evoke fear but rather to somewhat kindly address that this work requires effort, dedication, and consistency. It’s not all rainbows and butterflies, and from my experience can feel like straight hell at times. However, once you begin to recognize the patterns, the flows of life, you begin to relax and trust the natural balance of life that exists with you and for you.

And so, alignment is the most precious ability because it transforms us, empowers us, and gifts us with good feeling feelings more often than not. We all crave to feel love more than we do and yet we stumble not because there is something wrong with us but rather because when we are out of alignment we lack the clarity to see from this higher place. Usually, all we need is someone who sees us through the lens of our Higher Self when we’ve lost sight. The depth of gratitude I feel for being a guide, a way-shower if you will, is difficult to articulate in words. This work resonates with my soul and calls forth the most authentic being I can possibly be. Please know I take this work seriously and with a sense of light-heartedness. I honor your path and encourage you to align with love through the most challenging of times. I am always holding your hand and honoring your own unique journey. I look forward to raising the vibration within you and of this planet. I look forward to seeing you remember to allow love to take the lead, once again.

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Written by guest contributor Annie Kuensting.

Annie is the owner and operator of Beacon Empowerment Strategies, A Master Educator, NLP Practitioner, Mindfulness Coach, workshop facilitator, and Pranic healer. She has also been trained by Nova in the Spiritual Alignment Method, due to her intense passion and talent for creating rapid, lasting positive change in her client's lives by aligning them with Who They Really Are.

To contact Annie for a complimentary consultation, visit www.beaconempowerment.net.

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P.S. Want even more guidance, tips and inspiration on all things Alignment and Energy? Click HERE to request approval to join my Facebook Spiritual Alignment Community Group! It's a very intimate, active community and a great way to connect with like-minded people!