Spirited Woman Blogger Team

Guest Blogger - Sheri Horn Hasan - Mercury Retrograde Review

I invited Karmic Evolutionary Astrologer, Sheri Horn Hasan, to do a series on Mercury Retrograde - but from a positive perspective. This is her third and final post in her guest blogger series.

If you’re a Spirited Woman who’s had difficulty over the past two and a half weeks with your computer, cell phone, television (or other technological/electronic equipment)—not to mention issues around travel delays, missing tickets, or scheduling snafus—rest assured that your troubles will soon abate.

I myself traveled cross-country last week and upon arrival at my destination (after six hours on an airplane), discovered my computer had crashed. You can’t get much more Mercury retrograde than that!

However, there is an end in sight…

On Monday, January 25, Mercury the messenger god will begin to appear to stop moving in the sky—this is called a “station”—and slowly appear to pick up speed once again over the next week or so.

Unreturned phone calls, unanswered emails, and Facebook messages that you’d begun to assume never reached their destination will slowly but surely be returned, answered, and received. In short, communication will resume its pre-Mercury retrograde pace.

Now that the first Mercury retrograde period of 2016 is almost over, it pays to take a look again at how during this time you may have experienced the subtle exchange of information between your conscious brain and subconscious.

As I mentioned last week, this current Mercury retrograde cycle is occurring in the sign of Capricorn--representative of the type of concrete tangible manifestation that’s connected with our ego’s definition of “success.”

You may want to look back at this period—when all is said and done—and conduct a Mercury retrograde review. In this way you may begin to attempt to discover where tangible concrete progress toward discerning whether your ego’s definition of “success” is in alignment with what your soul needs to be truly happy and fulfilled.

As our world begins to slowly return to normal, let us start to connect the dots of Mercury retrogrades’ true purpose: to allow the integration of our conscious thoughts and desires with that of our deeply rooted unconscious needs.

Your attitude toward your finances and material possessions may be ripe for scrutiny now. Any changes necessary to shore up your sense of security—be it financial or spiritual—should be contemplated during Mercury’s retrograde cycle through an earth sign.

Becoming aware of the connection between the deeper value of the Spirited Woman’s resources--in both their physical form of material goods and money, and in the more spiritual and esoteric guise of soul growth—is strongly recommended.

Guest Blogger - Sheri Horn Hasan - The Benefits Of Mercury Retrograde

Sheri Horn Hasan, an expert in Karmic Evolution Astrology to do a three-part series on Mercury in Retrograde - but from a positive perspective. This is Sheri’s first post. - See more at: http://www.thespiritedwoman.com/go_blog_blog_blog/#sthash.BFuKtV7m.dpuf

Sheri Horn Hasan, an expert in Karmic Evolution Astrology to do a three-part series on Mercury in Retrograde - but from a positive perspective. This is Sheri’s first post. - See more at: http://www.thespiritedwoman.com/go_blog_blog_blog/#sthash.BFuKtV7m.dpuf

I invited Sheri Horn Hasan, an expert in Karmic Evolution Astrology to do a three-part series on Mercury in Retrograde - but from a positive perspective. This is Sheri’s second post.

Last week’s blog centered on how Mercury retrograde periods are quiet, barely noticed opportunities for the Spirited Woman to incorporate her innate, inherent, intuitive wisdom from her subconscious into her conscious brain, and vice versa.

This week let’s look at Mercury’s primary function and how all spirited women may benefit from Mercury retrograde periods!

The ancients regularly watched the planets in the sky and noticed how activity occurring on earth mirrored planetary interactions in the heavens. Way before the invention of telescopes and other technological devices this cause and effect became clear to them time after time.

Mercury is the messenger of the gods. His movement in the heavens foretells times when archetypal themes related to communication, learning, and how the mind processes information, occur. Mercury represents the twins Castor & Pollux and so is also directly related to siblings, early childhood learning, local commerce, and transportation.

Often during his retrograde periods - this one has been in effect from January 5 and will last until January 25 - we find ourselves reviewing rather than moving forward boldly into new plans, be these plans personal or business-oriented.

Watch for the themes mentioned above to become prominent now in one way or another as they seem to have been placed temporarily on hold causing us each various degrees of frustration…

Tuning In To The Rhythm Of Mercury Retrograde

As the Spirited Woman is being called to listen to her soul’s internal intuitive wisdom, and her psyche is busy becoming wiser, she doesn’t have the space in her brain to concentrate on moving forward - yet.

“The use of this cycle alerts us to the unconscious rhythms of reflection, and attunes us to our inner clock by dint of knowing when concentration and introspection are most needed,” writes psychological astrologer Erin Sullivan in her book “Retrograde Planets.”

“When to consider and reconsider ideas, projects, relationships, and lifestyle according to one’s own unique timing is the greater purpose of Mercury retrograde,” Sullivan concludes.

All Mercury retrograde periods for 2016 will be in earth signs. Earth signs are always about manifesting on the physical plane, and their general purpose - at least in part - is to ensure not only that we survive but that we feel safe and secure in our environment, our relationships, our careers, etc.

The current retrograde period is in the sign of the sea goat: Capricorn.

What Makes a Spirited Woman?

For now, this will be Pamela Hale's final post for Spirited Woman. I know she will come back on occasion. She is a most talented writer, blogger and friend. I will miss reading her precious words that have helped so many of us thrive and grow.

I've been blogging for Spirited Woman since the spring of 2013, and have posted well over 100 blogs now, so I've spent some time thinking about what it takes to be a spirited woman. Of course Nancy Mills would know more about this than I, since she thought of the whole thing, and has gathered this tribe together to celebrate, collaborate, learn from each other, and serve others. But I have a few thoughts to offer.

As usual, one of my thoughts comes from my own photograph. This one was taken in the garden of the Self Realization Fellowship in Encinitas, CA - holy ground, for sure. And the plants know it. Who couldn't grow in a beautiful way surrounded by the sacred energy that has been cultivated there longer than these flowers? So one element that grows a Spirited Woman is sacred ground.

We weren't all born into sacred ground. Some of us had rough beginnings and a challenging trail to navigate. So we have to learn to create our own sacred ground. How do we go about that?

As a shamanic practitioner, I'm used to doing ritual and ceremony to create sacred space. But you don't have to be a shaman. Just light a candle. Say a prayer. Ask the invisible beings that surround us to support you. Clean out dense or unhealthy energies with sage, or just with your intention, or your arm making a sweeping motion. There is no recipe needed. You have the power already. Create the energy in your surroundings that will help you flourish and grow.

Just the act of doing that says that you're willing to take responsibility for how you live, and for how your surroundings support your choices. That decision is full of spirit, and acting on it makes you full of spirit.

Spirit is, after all, the life force. The invisible magic that makes flesh come alive, that makes flowers bloom, that motivates birds to sing, that turns the earth, that both breaks and mends every heart. So you are already a Spirited Woman.

I think one of the magical things about Nancy's venture is that just by naming ourselves spirited women helps us be just that.

Another aspect to being a Spirited Woman is finding sisters to support you, to play with you, to give you reflection on your life, and to encourage you the way only women can do for each other. Having a tribe, a sisterhood, a community helps us keep meaning in our lives. And meaning can help us survive anything. Sisters can help us survive anything.

You may have a sisterhood of friends. My own community of women friends is one of my life's greatest treasures. It's taken a long time to build, and now that I'm getting older, I treasure it as never before. Maybe your sisterhood is only one true friend, or a handful. It's rare to have more than that, if you are looking for real intimacy. So if you have this in your life, be grateful. You are already wealthy.

If you're still growing or seeking a sisterhood, then this online community might be a way for you to find like-minded women who can become your friends. And if you already have a community, TheSpiritedWoman.com is a way to grow it, to expand it beyond the dreams our mothers or grandmothers had. You could end up with friends and sisters all over the world.

And so, Nancy, I am grateful to you for forming this community, and for welcoming my contributions to it. I've decided to take a rest from my regular blogging, so that I can get my writing out into the world in a more organized creative format; books of some sort will hopefully begin appearing soon. In the meantime, I will remain a part of this community, with gratitude for my readers, my sisters, my colleagues and unseen, spirited friends. Bloom on!

Pamela Hale, http://www.ThroughADifferentLens.com
Click here to read more of Pam's posts.

Guest Blogger - Sheri Horn Hasan - The Deeper Meaning Mercury Of Retrograde

It appears that a multitude of spirited women are interested in astrology. The stars seem to fascinate us. From sun signs to rising signs we are hooked. And often times, when a Mercury in Retrograde period comes up, which we are in now - we panic just a bit - because we have read so many negative things about it. I invited Sheri Horn Hasan, an expert in Karmic Evolution Astrology to do a three-part series on Mercury in Retrograde - but from a positive perspective. This is Sheri’s first post.

I turned to the study of astrology (a subject about which I'd always been curious) when I was diagnosed with a chronic, incurable, potentially-debilitating autoimmune disease nearly 16 years ago - to help me make sense of my world. I'd love to share with spirited women everywhere how the power of understanding the energies of the universe may lead us toward greater self-acceptance, self-love, empowerment, and true soul growth.

When I began my journey toward greater self-awareness, the first step became the realization that life is always a matter of choice and that my future lies in my hands and no one else's. Now a professional astrologer and past life regression facilitator (in addition to my work as a professional writing coach & editor), I believe the universe is benign, always works in our best interest, and provides us with continual and consistent opportunities to grow in consciousness each and every moment of each and every day.

While our egos may not always get what they want, we may rest assured the universe will always provide the spirited woman's soul with what it needs.

So when Mercury retrograde periods happen, as they do 3-4 times per year, instead of quaking in my boots, I began to go deep about how this time is better spent recognizing it as an opportunity for me--and all spirited women--to become wiser.

Many people think of these periods--when the planet Mercury appears to stop in its tracks in the sky and move backward for approximately 21 days—as times when communication between humans on Earth gets all screwed up.

Indeed, often we do miss appointments, lose our cell phones, forget our plane tickets, suffer the agonizing indignity of not having our phone calls or emails returned—for weeks!—and generally miss the small print on just about everything, from major contracts to minor purchases.

Never heard of it? Then let me give it to you straight: Mercury retrograde periods—which will occur four times in 2016—are meant to help, not harm, us.

We are, in fact, in a Mercury retrograde period right now--one that began on January 5. This period will last until January 25 when Mercury appears to stand still and then begin to move forward slowly, gradually picking up speed as he goes.

The good news?

The Power of Being Still

Rituals have long been habits of comfort and peace, and one of my most sacred is actually the prayers during my church service. The 1928 Book of Common Prayer was first penned in 1549 around the time of William Shakespeare, so the language is quite beautiful in its own right. Editing throughout the years has kept the elegance while adding a deep spiritual perspective. The prayers are also translated into the native Lakota and Cherokee languages, along with Vietnamese and Spanish.

Recently during this beloved time of prayers at the service, I struggled with the peacefulness that usually accompanies this meditative ritual. In the row ahead of us a young child was fidgeting – and I don’t mean being restless. We’re talking climbing over her parents, jumping off the pew and pulling books out of the shelving. Since it was less than a foot away from my bowed head, I found it very difficult to concentrate and find my “Zen.”

My brain’s reaction was very interesting – I immediately went into a self-righteous and judgmental mindset. The little girl appeared to be around four years old so I understand the difficulty of her remaining quiet. Yet the parents did not send her to the children’s service, which is specifically designed so that young minds and bodies stay engaged – nor did they attempt to curb her activity. I found myself becoming angry at their lack of concern and attention, which of course defeats the entire purpose of meditative prayer.

My judgmental brain declared that these parents should do more to teach their child to be “still” in this particular setting. Long after the service was over, I continued to be annoyed – and then it happened again the following week! To make matters worse, we arrive early to sit in a specific part of the church. This particular family always arrives late and somehow manages to repeatedly sit in front of us.

So while stewing over this lack of action by the parents to teach their child how to behave and be still, Spirit intervened. It suddenly occurred to me that this repeated scenario in my most sacred place and ritual was actually an opportunity for me to be still. I was reminded of Psalm 46:10 which declares, “Be still and know that I am…”

Think about that statement for a minute – in this hectic world with our task-driven lives, the ability to be still and reflect is powerful. It allows us to reconnect to our Spirit and highest purpose. The knowledge of “I am” calls us to go beyond our present circumstance. While I depend on the ritual of meditative prayer, perhaps this young child is Spirit’s way of urging me to develop my own art of stillness and be able to summon that skill beyond a service or setting.

Where can you welcome more “stillness” in your life? Are you feeling overwhelmed by your responsibilities and tasks? Do others take more energy than they return? Are you wondering if your life path is following the best course? Take a few moments to “Be still and know that I am.” Find the power of being still as you reconnect to Spirit and allow Spirit to guide your thoughts and actions.

Allison Blankenship, http://www.allisonspeaks.com,  http://www.UpsideTheBook.com
Click here to read more of Allison's posts.

2016 - A New Horizon

When I was in the midst of a divorce many years ago, a musician friend wrote a song called "A New Horizon," which makes me think of the hope we feel when a new year begins. The thought of just walking up that little hill and seeing a new landscape stretched out to the horizon, dotted with new possibilities...that's food for a hungry heart.

Of course the truth is we always have a new horizon available, even when we think we're lost or trapped. But since it's natural for our perception to narrow, we can get claustrophobic and think there is no space to move in whatever situation plagues us at the moment.

There's one danger I think is endemic to the New Year's resolution theories: that is that fantasy that when we climb that hill and look out at the new horizon, life will be problem free. After over 70 years on the planet, I'm pretty convinced that problem-free living is simply not part of the human experiment.

So if the new horizon doesn't promise us nirvana, what would be a reasonable hope for 2016? For me it's all about my perception, my vision.

When I remember to look past appearances, past the temporary situation that seems to hem me in, I remember that my life is not one dimensional. There are many forces at work all the time, and the unseen ones are more powerful than the tangible ones. So my hope lies in seeing past my own hand to the bright sky above and the warm earth below. Then I feel a sense of being greeted every day and held by the One more powerful than I.

When that awareness dawns on me, I feel a sense of spaciousness. Perhaps I could step out farther than the obstacle that seems to be in my way. Perhaps I could even dance through this apparently difficult landscape, or spread surprising wings and seemingly fly to a level only my heart knows is true.

Where, spirited woman, would you like more space in your life this next year? What new horizon beckons you to explore it? And how could you shift your perception just a bit so that you could see it past the other things that crowd your days and your mind?

I wish you a 2016 full of danceable space, flyable skies, full of the promise that allows you to see beauty, feel harmony and know love.

"The soul, like the moon, is now, and always new again. " Lalla, 14th century woman mystic

Pamela Hale, http://www.ThroughADifferentLens.com
Click here to read more of Pam's posts.