What’s Your Sign? Your Mind-Body-Soul Holiday Horoscopes

My life has been, and continues to be, made up of tiny moments of tapping into the magic and mystery of what, why, and how we are here walking around on our planet, and the incredible miracles that we are. The fact that our very body is composed of the same stuff as stars, touches me so deeply and boggles my mind at the same time.  What force, what unfathomable mystery could have been responsible for the very miracle of our existence?  What are the secrets of the universe? How is our planet floating in that universe? Why do we love? Why does pain and suffering exist? How do we heal? Where do we go when we die?

I do love that these questions will remain largely unanswered in our lifetime. I can’t help it, I like a good mystery. Perhaps we will know everything in the afterlife, perhaps not. What I have come to know and been humbled to witness myself, is that great healing can occur in each of our lives. Whatever path we have chosen – traditional medicine, diet, exercise, religion, a spiritual teacher, a priest, a shaman, a psychologist, astrologer, faith healer, acupuncturist – I consider all of these modalities helpers on our path to self-discovery. Here we can find tools that we can utilize to discover our inner healer leading us to the extraordinary wonder of self-realization.

One tool among many I have used over the years to awaken my inner knowing is basic western astrology. I am fascinated with the idea that at the moment of birth, from the very spot we are birthed, all of the planets are in a configuration juxtaposed to us and this perfect alignment has never existed before. Every person on our planet is unique and has a purpose, and each person walks a different path. What a cast of characters we are, with all of our complexities, histories, stories, and gifts. Astrology, I have found, is a useful tool in unveiling the gifts and propensities each person comes into this life with. All of those planets poised in the heavens at the moment of our birth, I believe, continue to have an influence throughout one’s life.

Reading a horoscope in the paper is entertainment. Having a full chart interpreted by an astrologer is a complex and in-depth way to glimpse who we are on a deeper soul level. I have been so fortunate to have studied with some amazing teachers and each has offered me a different and wonderful perspective on this esoteric art. Even so, I have only just scratched the surface. This month I was asked to write a column on mind body spirit with an emphasis on astrology. So for your entertainment… your sign and the holidays!

Aries

Oh fiery Aries how we all love your holiday spirit and envy your childlike innocence! You have been on-the-go all year and the holidays will be no different. Invitations, parties, family affairs, and demands at work will have you flitting about at a furious pace. Go ahead, be glamorous and wear red, but you might be better off in peaceful pastels to give your nervous system a break. When standing at the buffet table reach first for the veggies, avocados, and hummus, feeding the Yin side of your personality. Meat, sugar, and alcohol feed the Yang and can make you more aggressive than you like. This is lethal for the adrenals. Keep a spritzer of lavender by your bed and spray your pillow before sleep to encourage dreams of sugar plum fairies.

Taurus

No one throws a more luxurious or beautiful party for the holidays than a Taurus. Ruled by the planet Venus, the Goddess of Love, you can’t miss. But this year your holiday party could be the most elegant yet. Bring nature inside and decorate with the smells, textures and sights from the woodlands and forests.  Silver accents, bright candlelight, and pine aromas will elevate everyone’s mood. Keep the fare light, healthy, and fragrant. Champagne served with a hint of pomegranate… please and thank you! Men go ahead and wear a suit with a stunning silk tie, (yes, really!) and women, a silver silk dress, tight or flowing, however you feel moved by the Venusian Goddess. A spritz of citrus or lemongrass will keep your mood and body light. Enjoy!

Gemini

You, no doubt will be on everyone’s invite list this holiday season! Why? Because Gemini is famous for being the life of the party!   This year however you have been unusually subdued. You have been more reflective and serious. But guess what? It is time to come out of your shell!  Throw a coming out party, or make a grand entrance to one, and do what you do best, entertain! Almost every conversation you have will leave your “listener” enlivened and inspired. Be mindful of the influence you have on all of those around you. This holiday season there is a likely chance of making a new connection that will be extremely important to you and may last a lifetime. With that said, don your holiday best, get a killer manicure (men too) because you will be using your hands to accentuate all the grand ideas you have when communicating what is in your heart! Frankincense and Sandalwood will be your go-to scents as they are a reminder of all that is sacred in your life.

Cancer

Entertain in your home this holiday season and create the most natural, delicious, and healthy spread that you possibly can.   Scan your healthy cookbooks and go naturally decadent and strut about feeling light and “on your game.” Organic wines and spirits? You bet! Your guests will be delighted and relieved as they have been overindulging in not so healthy options everywhere else. Yours will be the party everyone remembers this year and emulates next year. Cancerians are a water sign so may I suggest flowing blues and greens with a touch of bling for the ladies attire and a cancer man wearing a blue/green flannel shirt and jeans will be … oh so irresistible!

Leo

Go ahead and buy that cruelty-free faux fur and wear it atop any outfit – accentuate your signature lioness mane! You have been nose to the grindstone all year and now it is time to shine! And shining is what you do so well! Leos are like the sun appearing on a cloudy day, they give the rest of us so much hope! Don’t forget to nurture yourself this holiday season and keep your healthy rituals in place. Yoga, meditation, and massage? Yes, all three will smooth the rough edges and keep you purrring! There is no one in the zodiac who has worked as hard as you this year and no one who can party as grandly. Leo, this holiday season I challenge you. Be the designated driver for at least half of the parties you attend. Alcohol and sweets in excess will leave you dull and less vital. Be the hero and stay on top of your pedestal, I mean game…

Virgo

Resist temptation to help organize and remain behind to clean up every party to which you are invited. It is okay to attend a party and just enjoy!  This holiday season will find the Virgo women more beautiful than usual and the same will be true for the Virgo men. It will feel as though you have a permanent mistletoe hovering above your head. Take advantage of this edge, a gift from the heavens, and flirt up a storm. Your powers of observation and intuition will be heightened and you will enchant nearly every person you encounter. Virgo men will benefit from a fresh splash of rosemary and pine. For the women, rose is considered the most feminine and beautiful of all scents, why not mist a tiny bit into your hair and slide through every gathering leaving the air of feminine innocence in your wake?

Libra

Want to warm up by a cozy fire and sip hot apple cider with the perfect friend? Find a Libra! Ruled by Venus, Libras can bring the warmth of the holidays to the cackles of any bah humbug heart. Want to sidle up to someone at a party and be filled with hope and humor? Yep, find a Libra! The planets and stars are shining down on Libra this holiday season with peace and balance. In fact, so much so that even Librans will be mystified. Librans – go ahead and enjoy this holiday season, kick back, treat yourself to a massage, you deserve it. Reach for healthy snacks and lots of pure water, this will help you keep your healthy glow. You will be extremely approachable and charismatic so be ready to be the go-to person for anyone with the blues. Set your boundaries, keep in motion, and spice it up with a little cinnamon and sweet orange oil on your wrists!

Scorpio

Shed the deep, dark, and mysterious nature you are so famous for and enjoy the season of lights! Speaking of lights, string them everywhere you see a dark or ignored corner. Burn an inordinate number of soy candles and invite all of your intimate friends to celebrate and shed their woes of the past year. You are in the driver’s seat to assist all in your presence to enjoy the moment and open their hearts to the spirit of the holidays. Make no mistake, no one will be as popular or as uplifting as you this holiday season! You are on the move. Your mantra for the next few months is ‘transformation.” It will feel as if you hopped on a bus touring on a magical journey that will take you to new places of self discovery. Deep purple will be your color and dare I say, dab the tiniest bit of patchouli on your wrists – irresistible!

Sagittarius

If anyone in the zodiac is in need of a vacation it is Sagittarius! Whether you travel to distant lands or if you stay at home on the couch, rest and relaxation are your mantras this holiday season. Reach for healthy foods, vitamins, nutrients and lots of pure water. Replace a few hard-driving gym sessions with more gentle forms of exercise. Plan time to lie on a hammock on the beach or visit your local spa a few times to de-stress from a very busy and stressful year. Visit a cafe you have never been, expose yourself to new and exotic locations. Meditate, dream, and seek out philosophers like yourself, to spend long hours contemplating with. It is time to get out of the maddening little details in life and remember the bigger picture – the magic and mystery of this marvelous existence. Bon voyage!

Capricorn

A home full of friends and family will have a feeling of magic this holiday season that will be hard to find anywhere. Consider these celebrations a blessing for the entire year. For that is how long the feeling will last. The recipes you are inspired to prepare for the holidays will turn out to be family heirlooms and remembered for years to come. Make plenty of room in your home for sleepovers as no one will want to step out into the cold after they have felt the warmth of your presence and gracious hospitality. When you accept that invite out on the town, the dress code is everything white and soft to the touch. Velvets, silks, and cashmere coupled with essence of jasmine, lily, or gardenia will be festive and bright. Men you will stand out in a crisp white shirt with the tiniest hint of neroli on your wrists. Capricorns can tend to be a bit apprehensive at times, wanting everything to be just right, but this holiday season will turn out to be the one you have dreamed of and will no doubt be the one you think of for years to come.

Aquarius

Take a step back and view the world and your life from a larger perspective. Don’t bog yourself down with every detail. Too much time in this state of mind can keep an Aquarian distracted from their life’s true purpose. Donate your time this season to those less fortunate and you will be personally gifted with a heart full of gratitude and love. Share your vision of a better world, using the power of your perfectly crafted words and your lofty ideals and bring magic to all those you encounter this holiday season.   Everything is an adventure to an Aquarian, from vacations to distant lands to sledding down snowy hills in your neighborhood! There are people in your life who will benefit from your sense of adventure and your worldly perspective. Life is good, there is magic afoot, share it!

Pisces

Astrology columns usually have Pisces last in the order. There is a reason for that. Pisces are the old souls of the zodiac. They are the wisdom keepers, the psychics, the intuitives, the sensitives. There is almost no one more sensitive than someone born under the sign of Pisces. Some astrologers say that a Pisces is so highly sensitive because they have had lifetimes of being/experiencing every other sign in the zodiac. This gives them a huge capacity for empathy. They can feel the rhythms of the oceans, the phases of the moon, and of course they are in tune with the emotional state of every person in their life. This holiday season, find your child within and go have some fun! Go ice skating, sledding, see a Disney movie, go skipping on a beach, build a snowman, rent a cabin with a snow mobile, take a midnight sleigh ride, and sing carols door-to-door. Do what you did or perhaps were never able to do as a child! I urge you to forget about the woes of the world for just one minute, and play. Be joyous and light and allow the spirit of the holidays to fill your heart back up with hope and joy. Oh, and one more thing…go ahead and sit on Santa’s lap, I dare you!