Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins 🏆

This Mercury Retrograde/eclipse is bringing up a lot of old stories for everyone. This morning as I was sharing one of my limiting stories (it has to do with love relationships), my friend Heide, a well-respected relationship expert, told me she has been sharing stories with her group of friends weekly.

“I love the one about “other people’s lives are so much happier than mine” or “the aging story”, she laughed.

It kind of feels like binge watching Netflix…once you get started you keep watching more and more even if you don’t like the characters or story line. And boy can we get sucked into the emotions of limitations and fear.

The bottom line is we all have the power to change the stories we tell ourselves. Stories can stop or motivate us. They can change our behavior and change the action steps we take (or don’t take).

This eclipse season is urging us to notice our stories and see which ones are serving us and supporting us to move forward. And like my friend Heide, having a sense of humor is key.

Let us remember the Native American parable:

A Cherokee grandfather is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”

He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Until next time,
Barbara

6 Tips for Surviving and Thriving During Mercury in Retrograde ✨

Right now we are amidst Mercury Retrograde which started on May 10 and will last until June 2nd. This is a powerful time to STOP and do an edit of your life.

Yes, it can be disruptive. Yes, communication can be challenging. Yes, technical glitches can happen. However, if you are prepared this can also be a powerful time of healing and building muscles of flexibility. Nothing stays the same and we all require skills to navigate change.

Here are some tips for surviving and thriving during Mercury in retrograde:

1. Ground and Center: do a grounding meditation daily and spend time outdoors. Try my Four Element Morning Meditation and/or Chakra Balancing Meditation.

2. Listen more than you speak. There is a likelihood that communication can be more challenging, and you don’t want to be guilty of “foot in mouth disease”, so especially watch being too frank or blunt. It is better to be diplomatic.

3. Because there can be technical mishaps, back up everything and double check all written communication.

4. Use this time for journaling, brainstorming, and preparing for the future. However, this is not a time to sign contracts or start new projects.

5. Review your personal and professional skills. Where and how can you improve them?

6. Have a tarot reading. Since working with tarot and other oracles over the past 25 years, I have discovered that as you gain clarity on where you are and what forces are around you, it opens space to be able to make better choices that will empower you to move forward (for the month of May I am offering a special gift to you of 20% savings on Readings)

Until next time,
Barbara

How to Connect & Improve Your Well-Being During Isolation

One of the themes that came up during all three of the Vision Workshops that I have led in the past few weeks was the long term harsh reality of Covid Isolation and the longing for real community and connection.

When you isolate, it is easier to spin out with fear and anxiety. Having another viewpoint (from a conscious person or group) can open you up to new possibilities and help you deal with your current reality. That is why I love doing group work.

Remember the word communication comes from the root word “to make common”. It is all about connection.

Here are some ways that you can practice really connecting.

1. Connect to yourself daily. Place your hand over your heart, take a few deep breaths and ask, what would you have me do today?”

2. Connect to the Earth and the elements. Go outside every day, if possible, even for a few moments. Feel your feet on the earth, open to the wind, the sun, and the water.

3. Make eye contact. It is harder to know what anyone is thinking or feeling any more since we are all wearing a mask, but you can look someone in the eyes and smile with your eyes. This says,
“I see you!”

4. Learn to be curious and listen to understand rather than immediately reacting and becoming judgmental when someone shares an idea that you do not agree with. Even if it is just 10% curious and the other 90% is saying, this is bullsh*t! It can make a big difference.

5. Write the names of people you care about on small slips of paper. Place the strips of paper in a bowl and each day, pick one person to reach out to.

6. Connect in person (if possible) to at least one person a week. Go for a walk, visit a museum, have a beverage or meal together. There are many ways you can stay safe and still be with others.

7. Connect to Source/Spirit/God/Goddess. Meditate, attend a spiritual circle, go to Church or Temple, read an uplifting book, watch a spiritual teacher on IGLive or YouTube.

Work with Barbara:

As we move into this Mercury Direct Period, the Universe is giving us a push to move forward. This is the perfect time to get extra help in deepening your intuition, dealing with shadow issues, and creating action steps to manifest your Vision.

Book an intuitive tarot reading >> for clarity

Book a ritual >> to clear out the old and invite in the new

Book a coaching package >> to deepen your connection to your intuitive wisdom and give you consistent support to develop practical spiritual tools

Bring a Vision workshop to your organization >> These are tailored for your group. 1 hour motivational session, ½ day or full day interactive workshop.

Until next time,
Barbara