Astrology: Tis the Time for New Year's Resolutions

With Saturn and Venus in Retrograde, this year is an exellent time for New Year's Resolutions!

If you can't think of any resolutions, maybe you should take up meditation, Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates... maybe you should start an exercise regime to strengthen your muscles.

This year I'm planning on losing weight, getting fitter, and learning more about my illnesses to beat it - so I can do person-to-person readings again. I'm really getting into the planning stage.

Make sure that when you make your resolutions, plan them out on paper, decorate it, and hang it up somewhere visible.. utilizing Saturn's Retrograde for planning and serious analyzing, and Venus's creativity and artistic flare to start your creative juices flowing. Use that creativity and analyzing to create the perfect plan to head towards a better you! Down to Earth Saturn will make sure that your planning is done thoroughly and perfectly, and Venus will make sure that you don't go overboard with it. You can also plan to make a current relationship better, as the Venus retrograde is open to couples amelioration.

New Discount Open to Everyone

**This promotion is on hold for now!! I will reinstate it later on, at which time I will repost this article**

This is a symbiotic promotion, helping you and also helping me. This will be a permanent detailed outline of how it works, and I will put a direct link to it on the main page in the "promotions" section of the menubar.

Introduction
As you may most likely know, I'm ill with various illnessess, the most omipresent of which is FMS(click there for more info on FMS). Sometimes I can be late in finishing readings, replying to emails, etc. I am disabled from doing person-to-person readings more than a couple of times a year (if I'm lucky) as my pain and fatigue grow quickly. Email readings are easier, as I can take many breaks, and there's no problem in me rescheduling when I can do it, or taking a painkiller or a nap when things get too tough. I know that many of you really want me to return back to person-to-person readings, and I want that as well, as it was the highlight of my weeks and days. I really want to get to the point where I can do readings once a week again, and you can help me with that and get a great discount out of it for email readings!

What is the Discount?
Basically, instead of paying me with money, you pay me with things from a health wishlist here instead of paying me with money. Each item on the wishlist has a price including shipping and handling if required, where you can get it, and then surrounded by asterisks, what the special offer is. For example, buying a book of 22$ may get you a reading that's 35$ or 45$ or even 55$ or more. (depending on the product).


Specifics:

Title of Discount: "Health Discount"

Time Limit: None until otherwise specified. Offer BEGINS January 10th, 2006.

How to Get the Discount: Browse the Wishlist, find the item you want, click on the "claim" box so that no one else can get it, and then email me telling me which item you're getting, and the questions you wish to ask - you can also ask for a general reading, and I will do the reading according to the amount. Then I will give you my address, and upon getting the item, I will send you your reading!

Another bonus to this kind of reading is that you can use your credit/debit cards to purchase the item, so that you don't have to send me a cheque, money order, or cash. Some people prefer to use debit or credit cards, so this is a perfect solution for those folks. You can also find these USED on Amazon, Ebay, or Chapters, cheaper than my marked price, saving even more money. However, they must be intact, and in legible/usable condition.

What Kind of Items will be on the Wishlist?

• Books on various health topics to aid in my search for balance, better health, more energy, coping techniques, etc. I am building a library to aid me in my hopes for a cure.
  
• Healthcare electronics
  
• Health related videos and games (for exercise and education)
• Magazine Subscriptions to health related items

Questions you might ask:

If I find the item somewhere other than your suggested location, for less money, can I get it from there? Yes, absolutely, I encourage it. As long as it is in good condition, that is - as long as I can still use it. As I mentioned before, you can get it used on websites like Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, Chapters.ca, and Ebay.ca or .com. If you know someone who has the product, friends of family, and they want to give it to you - it's like getting the reading for free. I encourage this too! It's all part of the discount project - wherever you can legally find it in good condition, the amount of the discount on the wishlist will remain the same. So if you get a 30$ product that has my reading amount of 40$, and you find the item for 5$... well the reading will still be a 40$ reading! That's the beauty of this idea.

What if there is a problem shipping the item? We will try again! If you're in a hurry, I would suggest using the normal payment method (cash, cheque, money order) - but usually shipping isn't a problem. If you'd like, in specific cases (if I know you) - you can simply drop it off at my house. Or you can hand deliver it to my PO Box in Orleans, foregoing shipping costs but still getting the same amount for the reading.

Why don't you just buy these items yourself? Some of these items are online only and I don't have a credit card. Other items are at stores, and I rarely am well enough to go shopping for too long, and searching for a product in a store can drain me. Recently I went to Boxing Day sales, and I am more ill because of it. It is safer for me to take it easy and exercise at home where, if I faint, I can be in a safe familiar place, near painkillers and other medication. Until I'm at least a little better. I also can't go shopping alone, as I have a tendency to get very ill without so much as a 5 minute notice - so I must work around others' schedules and patience!!!

Any further questions can be directed to me via email, I welcome any questions so I can add to this post and keep everyone in the know.

!Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Oh I have so many great things I want to share with you in the new year, but now is the time to wish you a

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

I was going to send everyone cards, but I'm afraid that'd kill my wrists and I wouldn't be able to share all sorts of awesome stuff in the weeks to come ;)
Look out for the new Newsletter in your inbox, or if you're not subscribed - it's free and easy, and I don't spam you! It's on the right hand side, scroll down a bit until you see the light blue box that says "join the mailing list". It'll inform you of updates, promotions, and other fun.
I'm also going to streamline the site, to make it more easily to navigate through, as I try to also teach myself some HTML!

Look out for PROMOTIONS to come back in January! I have some great things lined up for the new year..

You're all in my heart this warm glittering season, peace and joy!
Yours sincerely,
Emilie Lucy.

Venus Retrograde Dec 23 - Feb 1

Here's a heads up for the Venus Retrograde, coming up on the 23rd, up until the 1st of February (roughly). As with most retrogrades, the effects of this retrograde have already been felt a little bit, so if any of this sounds familiar, you know why ;)

Venus retrograde isn't as common as the other planets, and we're lucky!

Relationships, especially love relationship - but including business partnerships and other close important relationships - will be at the forefront. It'll be on your mind during this time: relationships.

Single folks will ponder their single status, they'll start to think more seriously about where their love-lives are going, and where they have already gone. You may think of old flames, and old flames will also have a MUCH higher likelyhood of contacting you, or you might just bump into them. Basically, old flames will come back to haunt you. (I've had that experience recently). Even folks who are in relationships may be contacted, see, or hear about their exes, which may cause some problems in their relationships. During this time it'll also be easier to make a love connection, as singles are much more lonely during this time - and on the "hunt".

Folks in relationships/who are married, may find that there is a lot to think about in terms of their relationship. It's a time where people evaluate their relationship, what they want out of it in the future, and what needs to be done to make it better. This may either cause problems in relationships (fighting out the frustrations), or, in the case of communicative and emotionally secure couples - it can bring them closer together.

This time can also cause break-ups. If the communication isn't strong enough, and with Saturn in Retrograde, people trim the fat in their lives:if they see the relationship as superfluous or stale, they'll more than likely want to get to something better for them. We've all been in this retrograde several times, and it's normal for groups of non-singles to find more than half of their non-singles become single. It's all part of the "finding the right person" process, and as painful as this retro can be, it's necessary.

This retrograde does all these things because it rearranges our priorities, especially during the Saturn Retrograde, and holiday season. This time will cause everyone to think about what their hearts really desire, what they want physically out of a mate, what they want emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. We'll take stock of what we've been through, and try to come to terms with the painful stuff, even though that means reliving some of it. Cherish this time, as it's an important part of finding your true match, or a true match - depending on your beliefs.

What if I'm Married/in a Relationship and my significant other wishes to break up?
Here are a few tips, just in case your mate is overwhelmed by the analyzing that takes place during this retrograde season.

• Don't pester your mate during this time! They'll take any unecessary negativity as a "con" on their pros and cons list of the relationship.
• Remind your mate about the good times you've shared
• Take out old photos of those good times, maybe frame one
• If they invite you to a holiday gathering you wouldn't otherwise go to - give it a shot! Do it!
• Don't remind your mate of past relationships.

Most importantly of all, remember that if there is a breakup, this is all happening for a reason. If the relationship you're meant to be in has a brief break up period - it'll only strengthen it in the long run.

(I'd write more if I wasn't so pooped...lol)

Spinal Flow: Exercise

Here's another quick exercise to mellow out, calm down, and bring peace to your jumbled thoughts.

• Sit straight, making a conscious effort to keep your spine (especially your neck) tall and straight, like a board and put your hands on your lap.
• Your calf and thighs should be perpendicular - no putting them up on a coffee table or tucking them under your chair!
• Make sure your feet are firmly planted on the ground, flat. (you might have to adjust your chair if you have one like mine, your knees shouldn't be too high off the seat, nor should your feet have trouble reaching the ground.
  
• Breathe in slowly through your nose, feeling the cool air running through your nostrils and down the back of your throat, into your lungs. (Optional)Picture that air is a mellow white light, softly glowing.
• Each time you inhale, sit straighter, each time you exhale, relax your shoulders but not your neck..
• (Optional)Each time you do this, picture the soft mellow white light flowing from your lungs into your spine, up and down your spine like water does on a beach.
• (Optional)Breathe out, the flow goes down, breathe in, the flow goes up.

As you do this exercise, observe how the air you intake is assimilated into your body. This is a skill you'll pick up gradually, especially in Yoga and QiGong and Tai Chi. The more you observe, the more you'll notice.

I will post another exercise to build on this one soon :) Let me know what you experience, feel free to share!

Working on the Newsletter...

I'm so busy these days (well compared to normal people it's not busy, but I'm disabled so it's darned busy for me.. hehe) - but I can't wait to get the newsletter out and finally tell everyone on my list about this weblog. I can't wait to see what they think, and I really hope they like it. I love my patrons, and I think about them all the time. I like getting emails from them, telling me how they're doing, and I love delivering messages to them from their deceased loved ones (oh and I love their happiness when they get that message!!). After Christmas I'm going to start doing promotions again, as I know everyone likes them, and it'll give me a chance to have another thing to do when I'm feeling somewhat not-horrible.. lol. Of course I'm rarely on time, but I always get things done in the end, if they're not too physically or mentally taxing.. but then I always make up for it.
Things I plan to blog about in the future (and feel free to comment):

1. More meditation stuff, all about the Chakras, Zazen, Qigong, and more.
2. How to get intouch with your psychic senses (my experiences and tips, as well as research)
   
3. How to increase your receptivity to the deceased.
4. How to tell a good Tarot Reader from a bad one
5. How to know when it's not time to get a reading
6. Astrological Events
7. My personal weird experiences as a reader
8. How to learn to read your own Cards.
9. Astrological profiles of signs
10. Featured astrological charts and readings

And more.. I won't list them all, I'm pooped!
See you soon!
Em.

Meditation as a Revival Technique #1 in the Chakra Series - Root Chakra

I'm afraid I don't hold the secrets to resurrection.. but I what I mean by revival is simple. After a hard day at work, or a hard day generally, meditation can breath life into fatigue - even a short session. How?

Well sometimes fatigue is based on stress, not on physical exhaustion. For example, and we all do this at one time or another: you're hard at work, multitasking, doing about 5 things at the same time, and you're doing really well. You're burning through your work and achieving a lot. But your brain starts to get tired of so much mental clutter!! It wants to relax! Another example: your family demands a whole list of things for you to do at the end of the day... you've already done so much - and your mind thought you were done for the day, so it's all geared down for less activity. You start to do that list of things, but your mind just doesn't work properly.. it's like it's just turned off. It will be able to do your tasks, but with less efficiency, more spelling mistakes (figuratively or literally), and it'll rebel against you. You know what I'm talking about.

So how can meditation curb this?

Sometimes your brain needs to be reset, like a computer - rebooted. Or, on a nice Earth-based side - it needs to be grounded - connected to the Earth and centered. That's a big buzz word in meditation: Centered. To find your center, to plunge your root chakra into the center of the Earth, to focus the mind and quiet it..

How do you Center yourself?

There are a couple of ways, my preferred way is to use the Root Chakra - Muladhara Chakra in Sanskrit. Let's get to know it a little bit before we begin!
This red, four petal flower is very important to the Chakra system, and the best one to work on in the beginning. It's an Earth element, which connects us to the ground, the Earth, our Center. Symbolically it's pictured as a square, which is used in several meditation techniques to come. Being the most primitive of Chakras, this controls scent, instincts, biological imperatives, and regulates the entire body's support systems - including your bones, spine, and blood filtration. To name a few.
Imbalances can show up in many ways, least of which is fatigue, and even if you don't believe in Chakras (which is ok!!) - the technique can still work.

Also, before this meditation, it's important that you have a meditation space, somewhere picked out for meditation. In my introduction to meditation, a brief article about meditation - click here to read it I say a bit more about meditation space. In future I'll post about it some more. Anyways, go to your meditation place for this, and we'll begin!

Okay, so that was the little bit you needed to know before we begin.

The Meditation - I

1. Sit in a comfortable chair, or lay down on your stomach.
2. Breath in through your nose a count of 4 gently raising your shoulders every few inhalations, and out slowly through your nose to a count of 6.
3. Close your eyes and visualize yourself in a red box, one large enough for your comfort level (if you're claustrophobic, I suggest a red cube-shaped room)
4. Visualize the walls glowing this red
5. Visualize and even more vibrant warm red soil as the floor, with red and brown roots moving and attaching themselves to you.
   
6. Imagine that the base of your spine, at your tailbone, out from you blooms a four petal red flower, which rotates as it blooms.
7. Visualize that this bloom is fed by the roots, and the negative and fatigued energy is being absorbed into the soil to become fertile again. This may be a slow process, take your time, just visualize this and breathe, until you find a perfect balance and rhythm.
   

Meditation #2

1. This is simple, fast, and effective. Breathe in 4 seconds, breathe out slowly 6 seconds.
2. Chant "OM" (aka AUM) or "Lang" as if you are calling to your Chakra to awaken it.
3. While you chant, 4 seconds breathing in, 4 seconds chanting out, visualize the Chakra (image above left) becoming more vibrant, flowing, glowing, and activating.
   

Try these two, see which one works better for you, and see how you feel after. How long should you practice? That's up to you, up to your schedule and how long personally you feel you should. Everyone's different.

Mercury Retrograde Ended

I'm a little late in posting this, but the Mercury Retrograde that's been clogging up communications and misderecting universal signs everywhere has ended - it ended on Saturday night.

What's next in Retrogrades? I mean we're already in a Mars and Saturn Retrograde (not to mention the minor retrogrades), what else is there to look out for?

Mars ends its retrograde on the 10th of December, but Venus goes retro on the 24th until February 3rd. So what does this mean for you?

Well (very basically) Mars being normal again breathes a sigh of relief for those aggressive types - people with impulse control issues, people with fatigue issues, and also people who are accident prone! Anyone in those categories won't be in the "red zone" for much longer, and everyone can relax just a bit more. Everyone has a bit more control... but what was good about the Mars retro? Well if you have a personalized Mars, strong in your chart, then you've probably realized that now is the time to manage your Mars issues. For example, I've realized that a good anger management book might be an investment ;)

As for Venus? Well I'll post about that next, but right now I must take a rest break!