Intuitive Development, Part 2A: Getting It Back After Pushing It Aside

I have known a few people who, for one reason or another, are intuitive but chose to not honor their intuitive gifts. It was a natural talent that they chose to ignore. 

There are a few reasons why I could understand someone going this route. A person might not believe in the gift, or it goes against what they believe spiritually. Many people also walk away from it out of blind fear. They're afraid of what they see, and as someone who briefly did that as a newbie astrologer and tarot reader, I totally understand. Finally, they might feel guilty about knowing, or might feel responsible for what they see, especially if it's not something positive. 

If you find yourself in this situation, it's important to understand why you walked away. 

Was it an event or a series of events that caused you to question it? How does being intuitive make you feel? It's a part of who you are but you might be struggling with the idea of being intuitive.

Were you ridiculed for it? Sometimes people who share their gifts with others aren't ready for the response. People can be nasty, even when you're trying to help. And as an intuitive, it's easy for people to write you off as "crazy" or "new age" because their logic believes that what you're doing isn't possible. 

Maybe you were wrong once or twice and thought, "Well, it's not perfect so I just don't have a gift." You may have discouraged yourself from continuing to develop.

Finally, a small group of people believes that you can't possibly know because that knowledge is forbidden to us ordinary mortals. When I hear this argument I just sort of chuckle. It's an easy way to write off the anger and fear that talking to others might bring out in themselves, though.

Everyone is different, and your reasons for walking away from your intuition will be yours and yours alone. But bringing it back starts with trying to figure out the reasons behind your original decision to leave it behind. 

 

Intuitive Development, Part 2: Getting it Back

A lot of people talk about wanting to become more intuitive, but I'm meeting more and more people who were intuitive who aren't anymore, sometimes by choice and sometimes because they feel like they lost it somewhere along the way.

Let me start by saying I don't think your intuition can ever be lost. It's a gift you have, but like so many others, it's "use it or lose it." I've found it with my French; I studied it for so many years and lived there, but it's rusty. It takes me a little more time to say what I want to say, and sometimes it takes a little more focus than it used to as I try to comprehend others. But the ability is still there. When I went back to France, it took me a few days, but I was very comfortable. 

With intuition, it's the same idea. Once you start focusing on it, you'll find that more of it comes back. And I believe the universe knows when you're listening and it responds accordingly. The more you're paying attention, the more open you are to the messages, the more you'll receive. 

And by "focusing on it," what I mean is honoring your intuition by believing it, expecting it will come, accepting the messages you receive, and acting on them. 

Intuitive Development, Part 1: Four Tips to Begin

So a lot of folks have been asking me about how to develop their intuitive skills. This often happens in the context of tarot readings, but when people hear about what I do they want to know how they can help themselves tune into their own intuitive selves. It sounds complicated, but it’s really not difficult to start helping yourself. 

1) Believe in your ability 

Lots of folks think they know what’s going to happen. And likely you do! But you doubt yourself. You start to say things like “I’m sure I’m wrong,” or “I never listen to my intuition!” Stop the negative talk in your own head surrounding your gifts. 

2) Don’t let being wrong sway you 

If you’re waiting to know everything that’s going to happen with absolute accuracy, I’m sorry to say that you’re going to be waiting a long time. But if you start listening to those whispers, you’ll be surprised at what you hear and how often you are correct. 

3) Practice and patience go hand in hand

Like any other skill, intuitive development takes time and practice. Patience is vital as you move through the process, and the more time you devote to honing the skill the better it will be. Know, however, that you won't always see the progress you're making right away. 

4) Celebrate and honor small wins

The universe doesn't give big pronouncements like you see in many movies about intuitive gifts. It starts with small things, like knowing that you were going to bump into your boss at the same place less than a minute later going through the same door, only this time on opposite sides. Having it happen was annoying, but I was thrilled that I knew it was going to happen!

Tarot Tuesday: Do My Tarot Cards Dislike Me?

Yes, I know. You're reading the title and thinking, "Wait...what? How can an inanimate object dislike someone?"

This is an interesting phenomenon I've seen with tarot practitioners. From time to time I'll hear one of them say, "Oh I've tried the [insert deck here] and it really doesn't like me so I stopped using it."

This is patently ridiculous. The cards are a tool, and they're used to connect with the intuitive self. They have no opinion about the reader.

The reason I find it sad and funny is that it could be the reader's way of trying to blame the deck for what could be their own intuitive shortcomings. For the most part, however, I think it's an overly dramatic way of saying the following simple statement: "I didn't connect with the images on that particular deck."

Not connecting with a deck is normal. Some images you're going to prefer, and others you won't. For example, I have a Thoth deck, but I don't use it much because I don't really connect with the imagery. That's my personal preference, but I don't think the Thoth deck is somehow upset with me. 

The cards are a tool. In the hands of an intuitive person who connects with them, they help interpret intuitive messages. But they don't dislike you! 

You'll just have to trust me on this one, folks.

Astrology by Tara's Full Moon Forecast--Full Moon in Cancer, January 1, 2018

Full Moon

January 1, 2018

9:24pm, Washington DC

Greetings, Sky Watchers, and Happy New Year!

We start out the very first day of this calendar year with a super Full Moon. Super Moons indicate that the Moon is in perigee, closer in orbit as it travels around the Earth. Visually, this makes the moon appear larger in size. Astronomically, the distance is closer to Earth; therefore, it could be argued that the gravitational pull of the Moon and Earth are stronger. With the earth receiving more energy, we receive more energy from this Full Moon.

A Full Moon is an opposition between the Sun and Moon, and is the apex point of lunar energy expressed during the cycle. An opposition is considered to be a hard aspect that requires purposeful adjustment to counteract and balance the opposed energies at work.

The Ascendant of this full Moon chart is in Virgo, the feminine mutable Earth sign, ruled by Mercury. The Midheaven is in Gemini, also a Mercury-ruled sign. With Mercury ruling what are arguably the two most important chart angles, he will play a large role in the synthesis of the entire chart.

Pisces and Sagittarius are on the IC and Descendant. Mutable signs on naturally cardinal (angular) house cusps can indicate an uncertain approach to accomplishing. So there will be a variety of options available to deal with the energy that presents itself in the important arenas of our life.

Mercury, the chart ruler, is located in the fourth house of home, family, and land. It trines both the north node in Leo and Uranus in Aries as well, indicating some surprising and passionately spoken words to move forward in life.

Mercury is also inconjunct to the Moon, the planet of emotion. This means that an adjustment between the energy of the two planets will be required. The Moon is in her home sign of Cancer, so she will be firing on all cylinders. Mercury struggles in blunt, tactless Sagittarius, and may misbehave. And although Mercury will no longer be retrograde during this Full Moon, it won’t be up to full speed yet and may not function as it normally would. The burden is on us to make sure that we are clearly communicating how we feel in a manner suitable for each situation we face.

This chart also boasts stellium of power around the Sun in Capricorn. Three planets are within the beams of the Sun: Pluto, Venus, and Saturn. The Sun also gets an extra boost by being in the fifth house, his natural dominion. The Sun has come home to play and celebrate everything that makes him happy. However, will his traveling companions allow him that freedom? Capricorn on the fifth house cusp gives Saturn rulership here. With Saturn’s ingress into Saturn at the 1 Capricorn, in a cardinal sign, and under the Sun’s beams, he is still a part of the powerful stellium even given a larger orb. So the fun and games may not come so easily. Sun and Saturn in Capricorn at the time of the Full Moon will draw our attention to our responsibilities to our outward life, like our careers.

Pluto, the great transformer, represents the shadow self that calls for release. His energy conjunct the Sun acts like a power surge, giving us the desire to finally make changes. Pluto often represents a trinity, as in Greco-Roman myth; he shares who he loves. Pluto is asking you to share a bit of yourself or to choose what’s most important for your journey.

Venus, the gilded lady of love and beauty, cozies up to the Sun, bringing the idealized version of peace and love. Venus wants the perfected image of love; however, in Capricorn she knows how intense it can be and that it involves risk. A risk she will only take if she knows that it is true.

The combination of the Sun, Venus, and Pluto being so close to each other in essence could be beneficial to crossing a threshold at least. Pluto will bare the soul to the core and break you down, but Venus will build you up in a kind manner.

Lastly, we’ve got old man Saturn standing guard at the gate, watching to reel in any of his playful renters of his sign. Saturn calls the shots in Capricorn, and he will throw his weight around if he feels it’s justified.

The most obvious aspect of this chart is the kite formation, which is indicative of destiny or fate at work. The stellium around the Sun acts as the focal point. This speaks volumes, since the Sun represents the physical body our vitality. To me, this says “You are the focus”, “Make 2018 about what you want”, and “Find your happiness”.  To Capricorn, finding it may take longer than expected, but in the end, it’s going to be worth it.

While the Sun stellium is the focus of the kite, then we look to the Moon for the release. This is where we let go. The Moon is all about our emotions and our soul. This is a excellent time to really look at how we feel about people. So don’t worry so much about a New Year’s resolution as much as building a new life for a happier healthier you.

I look forward to talking to you again soon as we forge ahead into 2018 and the first eclipse of the year.

Brightest Blessings,

Tara