Mercury, the planet of communication, turns retrograde in Virgo from August 20 to September 12.
Three or four times a year, Mercury appears to move backwards in the sky for approximately three weeks. This is an optical illusion since no planet actually moves backwards or even slows down in their orbits around the Sun. However, it appears to move backwards from our perspective on planet Earth, since the planet may be orbiting at a different speed than the Earth's orbit around the Sun.
Mercury retrograde periods introduce a certain level of confusion for us earthlings. As the planet of communication, Mercury rules speech, our listening abilities, negotiations, buying, selling, travel formal contracts and documents amongst other things -- all of which are affected when Mercury seems to slow down. Mercury rules how we perceive and interpret information and how we in turn act and react to that information as we interact with others.
The Leo Sun also opposes Neptune on August 20, which can have a lackluster, low energy, and marginally disappointing influence leading to muddled thinking and lack of motivation as we start this retrograde period. However, Neptune can be healing and very spiritual, and this can be an excellent time to chill out. August 20 can also have the thrill and flavor of romance about it and definitely a time to make your feelings known since we have a delightfully passionate and enthusiastic meeting of Venus and Mars in an exactly aligned conjunction in Libra.
Mercury retrograde periods affect each one of us differently depending on the placement of this planet in our individual birth charts. The effect on Gemini and Virgo signs, ruled by Mercury, will be stronger, but for other signs it is a time of trivial irritations. Being forced to slow down and develop patience can, however, be a blessing in disguise. It gives us all time to stop, go inward and reflect. Mercury retrograde periods can be times of heightened awareness and creativity, and an excellent time for out of the box thinking, which can sometimes lead to startling revelations.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Eating Healthfully- A Long Term Vision
http://satorination.com/Eating-Healthfully--A-Long-Term-Vision
‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.’ ~Lao Tzu
The quote by Lao Tzu above rings true for nutrition as well.
It is a shame that so many people are obsessed with fad diets in order to quickly shed pounds and reach their desired weight. And yes extreme dieting of any form does work in the short terms but only for the weight to rebound back on and the body to regain its original weight or the weight it is comfortable at.
I see people fighting their bodies all too often dieting one week then bingeing on junk the next. This is fighting the bodies natural homeostasis in every sense, one week it is getting less than it would like and releasing stress hormones to cope and the next week the body is being overburdened with processed or overly sweet foods in order to compensate for the previous starvation again putting stress on the body as it tries to cope with the overflow of food and chemicals.
Others chronically under eat.
Sadly this process takes its toll on your body and while it could handle it in your teens and younger years as we age the damage goes deeper and effects our metabolism leaving us on a gradual path to more and more weight gain.
Contrast this with the people you know who eat practically whatever they want and stay lean and healthy — what is their secret? It is quite simply that they have never fought their bodies, never made themselves feel deprived or starved, their metabolisms never got damaged and this allows for good levels of energy and a stable healthy body weight.
This is not something out of reach but rather something that we can all achieve by having a healthy relationship with food. Some readers may already have this and hopefully this article will help you stay that way! This is not to say we should eat anything we like as certain foods can damage your body and should be avoided when you can, but I do not preach a diet of deprivation rather a way to eat wholesome foods which your body has evolved to deal with.
The first step is to stop seeing food as something special or magical and this can be achieved by feeding yourself well on a consistent basis starting with 3 solid meals per day. How many people do you know who skip breakfast have a mid morning cappuccino, graze for lunch then eat fatty meats, fried foods and sugary desserts for dinner.
The truth is when we eat healthy, wholesome meals 3 times a day our bodies reach a level of nourishment they may have not seen in years, cravings disappear and food stops being so special it becomes something we enjoy and look forward to but not something to live for. You will naturally eat less at meal times, you will feel fuller quicker without any effort, that ferocious appetite will disappear and you will eat more mindfully. It is just a result of your body being well fed and nourished rather then having to force any portion control …
The next step is to add live foods to your diet, especially if you tend to eat mainly cooked or white foods. Rather than depriving yourself of the foods you like introduce more healthful foods alongside them. I am talking about making a big salad with your meals:
Chopped Lettuce
Tomatoes
Carrots
Zucchini
Celery
A nice dressing of sea salt, pepper, lemon and olive oil
Have this at the start of every meal you have a chance, you may not like it at first and it maybe an effort to get down but this will soon change. You will develop a taste for fresh raw foods and you will continue to nourish your body. Try and do this for at least onemeal per day.
Conclusions
This is not about ramping up your “metabolism†by eating regularly but rather feeding your body adequately allowing health to fall into place. Once you start nourishing your body good things will start to happen. Your energy will increase, cravings for sugar and stimulants like coffee will disappear and your appetite will regulate. You will start to crave healthy and natural foods …
Eating Healthfully should always be a long term vision, never look for quick fixes when it comes to health – Consistency is key . Building a good relationship with food will leave you with more time and drive to do the things you love.
‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.’ ~Lao Tzu
The quote by Lao Tzu above rings true for nutrition as well.
It is a shame that so many people are obsessed with fad diets in order to quickly shed pounds and reach their desired weight. And yes extreme dieting of any form does work in the short terms but only for the weight to rebound back on and the body to regain its original weight or the weight it is comfortable at.
I see people fighting their bodies all too often dieting one week then bingeing on junk the next. This is fighting the bodies natural homeostasis in every sense, one week it is getting less than it would like and releasing stress hormones to cope and the next week the body is being overburdened with processed or overly sweet foods in order to compensate for the previous starvation again putting stress on the body as it tries to cope with the overflow of food and chemicals.
Others chronically under eat.
Sadly this process takes its toll on your body and while it could handle it in your teens and younger years as we age the damage goes deeper and effects our metabolism leaving us on a gradual path to more and more weight gain.
Contrast this with the people you know who eat practically whatever they want and stay lean and healthy — what is their secret? It is quite simply that they have never fought their bodies, never made themselves feel deprived or starved, their metabolisms never got damaged and this allows for good levels of energy and a stable healthy body weight.
This is not something out of reach but rather something that we can all achieve by having a healthy relationship with food. Some readers may already have this and hopefully this article will help you stay that way! This is not to say we should eat anything we like as certain foods can damage your body and should be avoided when you can, but I do not preach a diet of deprivation rather a way to eat wholesome foods which your body has evolved to deal with.
The first step is to stop seeing food as something special or magical and this can be achieved by feeding yourself well on a consistent basis starting with 3 solid meals per day. How many people do you know who skip breakfast have a mid morning cappuccino, graze for lunch then eat fatty meats, fried foods and sugary desserts for dinner.
The truth is when we eat healthy, wholesome meals 3 times a day our bodies reach a level of nourishment they may have not seen in years, cravings disappear and food stops being so special it becomes something we enjoy and look forward to but not something to live for. You will naturally eat less at meal times, you will feel fuller quicker without any effort, that ferocious appetite will disappear and you will eat more mindfully. It is just a result of your body being well fed and nourished rather then having to force any portion control …
The next step is to add live foods to your diet, especially if you tend to eat mainly cooked or white foods. Rather than depriving yourself of the foods you like introduce more healthful foods alongside them. I am talking about making a big salad with your meals:
Chopped Lettuce
Tomatoes
Carrots
Zucchini
Celery
A nice dressing of sea salt, pepper, lemon and olive oil
Have this at the start of every meal you have a chance, you may not like it at first and it maybe an effort to get down but this will soon change. You will develop a taste for fresh raw foods and you will continue to nourish your body. Try and do this for at least onemeal per day.
Conclusions
This is not about ramping up your “metabolism†by eating regularly but rather feeding your body adequately allowing health to fall into place. Once you start nourishing your body good things will start to happen. Your energy will increase, cravings for sugar and stimulants like coffee will disappear and your appetite will regulate. You will start to crave healthy and natural foods …
Eating Healthfully should always be a long term vision, never look for quick fixes when it comes to health – Consistency is key . Building a good relationship with food will leave you with more time and drive to do the things you love.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Clean-Slate A guide to starting over
http://satorination.com/Clean-Slate-A-guide-to-starting-over-a-simplicity
When we think about simplifying, we usually think about subtraction. Getting rid of excess stuff. Clearing away obligations. Deleting old emails.
We simplify by paring away the layers of something until we find the core. Too many books on the shelf? Give them away, one by one, until you’re left with a manageable number of the volumes you really enjoy.
But decluttering this way is hard. For example:
Do you really want to pull dozens of books off the shelf one by one, trying to decide whether to keep or sell each one?
Do you have the time to go through hundreds of backlogged emails, choosing which to save and which to delete?
And there’s another obstacle. When you’re forced to choose to keep or discard something, uncertainty rears its ugly head.
“Can you really afford to throw this away?†it whispers. “Are you sure you won’t need it eventually? Sure, you’re on a simplification kick now – but will you regret it later?â€
Playing the willpower game with uncertainty gets exhausting.
Simplifying Backwards is Easier
If you’re having trouble deciding when to hold on to something and when to let it go, try doing things backward. Learn to add responsibly instead of subtracting.
I call it the clean-slate approach to simplifying. Here’s how it works, in three steps.
Step one: Take all the clutter you’re facing, useful or not, and put it away. All of it. Put the pile of clothes in a box; put the old emails in a hidden folder. Now you have a “clean slate†to work with, but you don’t have to throw anything away. Yet.
Step two: Go about your business as usual. As you discover a genuine need for something (genuine being the operative word), take it out of storage with a clear conscience. No more agonizing over what to keep. Life will show exactly which things you actually need, and which things you only thought you needed.
Step three: When you’re ready, sell, donate, or throw away the stuff in storage. It’s easier now, since you’ve had weeks or months to overcome your attachment to it.
And here’s a bonus: if you develop the discipline to only put stuff back in your life when you absolutely, positively need it, you’ll find it easier to keep from buying, collecting, or accumulating unnecessary stuff in the first place.
4 Ways to Simplify with the Clean Slate Method
How can you put this method to use? Here are a few ideas:
1. Clean Out Your Email: If you’re staring hopelessly at an inbox full of read and unread messages, email drafs, and spam, consider declaring email bankruptcy.
If you use Gmail, the archive feature lets you easily move all the mail out of your inbox and into a separate folder. Instant inbox zero. If you use a desktop mail client like Outlook, you can export your mail data to a separate folder, then clear out your active inbox.
Worried about missing obligations to friends or customers? Send an email to your important contacts explaining your email bankruptcy and asking them to remind you of anything vitally important.
And now? Go about your business. If you need an old email, move it from your archive folder into another, active folder. Simple.
Don’t stress, don’t agonize – just go with the flow.
2. Pare Down Your Library: Clear off your bookshelves and put all the books in a box. Now you have empty shelves to work with.
If you discover you need a book to read or reference, pull it out of the box and put it back on the shelf. Books that you need and love will naturally come back into your life; books that were just nice to look at or think about reading will stay out of your way. This also works well with DVDs, CDs, or cassette tapes, if you have them.
Eventually, you may feel ready to donate or sell that box of old books entirely.
3. Reformat Your Computer: The easiest way to do this is with a secondary hard drive or USB flash drive. Take all your files and programs and copy them to your secondary drive. Then reformat (wipe) your primary hard drive and reinstall your operating system of choice.
Going forward, only allow yourself to download a file or install a program if life shows you a genuine need for it. Try to avoid overlaps: do you really need that fancy word processor – or is the simple text editor you already have enough?
On the other hand, when you do find a genuine need for a new program, you can install it without feeling guilty.
4. Simplify Your Closet: Take all your clothes and put them aside. Most items can go in a box or a drawer. If you’re worried about your nicer garments, just push them to one side of the bar or use a placeholder hanger to divide your “storage†section from your “useful†section.
You may also want to commit to a regular laundry schedule – waiting three or four weeks to do laundry is a sure way to fall right back into a cluttered closet.
After a while, you’ll develop a cycle or routine of clothing that shows you exactly which clothes you actually need, and which clothes are just closet eye candy.
Setting a Purge Deadline
To really make the clean slate method work for you, it’s helpful to set a purge deadline. This deadline is how long you allow yourself to keep all your old stuff in storage before you get rid of it for good.
When you set the deadline is up to you. You might decide to eliminate anything you haven’t found a need for within 60 days, or 90 days, or a month. Whatever your number is, it’s a good idea to commit to it in
advance, so there’s no second-guessing yourself later on.
The clean-slate method is just one way to simplify your life and your stuff, but it’s worked very well for me. If you find it difficult to simplify the “normal†way, give it a try. You might be pleasantly surprised.
When we think about simplifying, we usually think about subtraction. Getting rid of excess stuff. Clearing away obligations. Deleting old emails.
We simplify by paring away the layers of something until we find the core. Too many books on the shelf? Give them away, one by one, until you’re left with a manageable number of the volumes you really enjoy.
But decluttering this way is hard. For example:
Do you really want to pull dozens of books off the shelf one by one, trying to decide whether to keep or sell each one?
Do you have the time to go through hundreds of backlogged emails, choosing which to save and which to delete?
And there’s another obstacle. When you’re forced to choose to keep or discard something, uncertainty rears its ugly head.
“Can you really afford to throw this away?†it whispers. “Are you sure you won’t need it eventually? Sure, you’re on a simplification kick now – but will you regret it later?â€
Playing the willpower game with uncertainty gets exhausting.
Simplifying Backwards is Easier
If you’re having trouble deciding when to hold on to something and when to let it go, try doing things backward. Learn to add responsibly instead of subtracting.
I call it the clean-slate approach to simplifying. Here’s how it works, in three steps.
Step one: Take all the clutter you’re facing, useful or not, and put it away. All of it. Put the pile of clothes in a box; put the old emails in a hidden folder. Now you have a “clean slate†to work with, but you don’t have to throw anything away. Yet.
Step two: Go about your business as usual. As you discover a genuine need for something (genuine being the operative word), take it out of storage with a clear conscience. No more agonizing over what to keep. Life will show exactly which things you actually need, and which things you only thought you needed.
Step three: When you’re ready, sell, donate, or throw away the stuff in storage. It’s easier now, since you’ve had weeks or months to overcome your attachment to it.
And here’s a bonus: if you develop the discipline to only put stuff back in your life when you absolutely, positively need it, you’ll find it easier to keep from buying, collecting, or accumulating unnecessary stuff in the first place.
4 Ways to Simplify with the Clean Slate Method
How can you put this method to use? Here are a few ideas:
1. Clean Out Your Email: If you’re staring hopelessly at an inbox full of read and unread messages, email drafs, and spam, consider declaring email bankruptcy.
If you use Gmail, the archive feature lets you easily move all the mail out of your inbox and into a separate folder. Instant inbox zero. If you use a desktop mail client like Outlook, you can export your mail data to a separate folder, then clear out your active inbox.
Worried about missing obligations to friends or customers? Send an email to your important contacts explaining your email bankruptcy and asking them to remind you of anything vitally important.
And now? Go about your business. If you need an old email, move it from your archive folder into another, active folder. Simple.
Don’t stress, don’t agonize – just go with the flow.
2. Pare Down Your Library: Clear off your bookshelves and put all the books in a box. Now you have empty shelves to work with.
If you discover you need a book to read or reference, pull it out of the box and put it back on the shelf. Books that you need and love will naturally come back into your life; books that were just nice to look at or think about reading will stay out of your way. This also works well with DVDs, CDs, or cassette tapes, if you have them.
Eventually, you may feel ready to donate or sell that box of old books entirely.
3. Reformat Your Computer: The easiest way to do this is with a secondary hard drive or USB flash drive. Take all your files and programs and copy them to your secondary drive. Then reformat (wipe) your primary hard drive and reinstall your operating system of choice.
Going forward, only allow yourself to download a file or install a program if life shows you a genuine need for it. Try to avoid overlaps: do you really need that fancy word processor – or is the simple text editor you already have enough?
On the other hand, when you do find a genuine need for a new program, you can install it without feeling guilty.
4. Simplify Your Closet: Take all your clothes and put them aside. Most items can go in a box or a drawer. If you’re worried about your nicer garments, just push them to one side of the bar or use a placeholder hanger to divide your “storage†section from your “useful†section.
You may also want to commit to a regular laundry schedule – waiting three or four weeks to do laundry is a sure way to fall right back into a cluttered closet.
After a while, you’ll develop a cycle or routine of clothing that shows you exactly which clothes you actually need, and which clothes are just closet eye candy.
Setting a Purge Deadline
To really make the clean slate method work for you, it’s helpful to set a purge deadline. This deadline is how long you allow yourself to keep all your old stuff in storage before you get rid of it for good.
When you set the deadline is up to you. You might decide to eliminate anything you haven’t found a need for within 60 days, or 90 days, or a month. Whatever your number is, it’s a good idea to commit to it in
advance, so there’s no second-guessing yourself later on.
The clean-slate method is just one way to simplify your life and your stuff, but it’s worked very well for me. If you find it difficult to simplify the “normal†way, give it a try. You might be pleasantly surprised.
Weekly Horoscopes - Aug. 9th - 15th 2010
Join http://SatoriNation.com today for your free weekly horoscopes!
ARIES ~ Whatever you're holding on to, time to loosen that grip and let it go. Get a clear, sober look at how and what the situation truly is. Be brave enough to take the necessary action, ideally one that fosters personal growth and expands your horizons.
TAURUS ~ The week may start out a little intense. Perhaps there are those giving ultimatums or maybe it's you that's had it and are forcing for a change to happen. No matter which it is, it's a good thing to have family, biological or otherwise, to lean on.
GEMINI ~ You're starting see some things through a different perspective. You're not quite sure what to make of it though. Keep your mind open and eyes peeled. The undeniable truth will reveal itself and unravel before your eyes.
CANCER ~ It's been a while since you've felt a dash of hope. It's also a little confusing that you sense this optimism is not in vain; yet your world as you experience it now doesn't much reflect the excitement you have inside. Have faith that your heart knows something the mind isn't aware of yet.
LEO ~ Perhaps you're seeing everything more clearly than ever. It may be disconcerting because what you've been clued in to is not pleasant or not at all what you hoped for. But maybe, it's something you've known all along and was not quite ready to “see†it.
VIRGO ~ That single candle lit inside a dark room is akin to what may be happening within your subconscious as the week begins. Whatever has been hiding, now comes to light. Whatever you've been holding back, now demands freedom from your grasp. This is a good thing. But it does require you to give up some control.
LIBRA ~ Reality bites. The upside, however, is that once you know the irrevocable truth about something or someone, you can't help but want to do something about it. Sometimes, things have be broken down in order to be rebuilt or replaced altogether. Welcome a renewal in your life.
SCORPIO ~ What we value in life changes over time. What we hope to achieve or acquire also goes through some changes. Yet sometimes we cling on to ideals, relationships, precepts that no longer support that which we work toward. Time to decide what and where to put your focus and energy on.
SAGITTARIUS ~ Friendships may be changing. Roles shifting. Some may even show their true colors as surprisingly unappealing. Don't let it bring you down. Change, after all, is the one constant thing in life. Perhaps it's time to expand your horizons, meet new people, foster new friendships.
CAPRICORN ~ You may have to give up something in order get something you want. Is what you want worth whatever you have to sacrifice for it? Is what you have to give up really a sacrifice? Maybe you don't need it anymore. Whatever it is, avoid making decisions based on fear.
AQUARIUS ~ There's a renewal for you within your significant relationships -- intimate or business or some other committed partnership. It may be time for make do of promises, whether yours or another's. Or time to eliminate what's been weighing you and/or your relationships down.
PISCES ~ How much of what you do for others keep you from taking care of business within your personal life? There is a way to be of service without being used or abused. Your health may also be a focus this week. Time to adopt a healthier lifestyle, maybe?
ARIES ~ Whatever you're holding on to, time to loosen that grip and let it go. Get a clear, sober look at how and what the situation truly is. Be brave enough to take the necessary action, ideally one that fosters personal growth and expands your horizons.
TAURUS ~ The week may start out a little intense. Perhaps there are those giving ultimatums or maybe it's you that's had it and are forcing for a change to happen. No matter which it is, it's a good thing to have family, biological or otherwise, to lean on.
GEMINI ~ You're starting see some things through a different perspective. You're not quite sure what to make of it though. Keep your mind open and eyes peeled. The undeniable truth will reveal itself and unravel before your eyes.
CANCER ~ It's been a while since you've felt a dash of hope. It's also a little confusing that you sense this optimism is not in vain; yet your world as you experience it now doesn't much reflect the excitement you have inside. Have faith that your heart knows something the mind isn't aware of yet.
LEO ~ Perhaps you're seeing everything more clearly than ever. It may be disconcerting because what you've been clued in to is not pleasant or not at all what you hoped for. But maybe, it's something you've known all along and was not quite ready to “see†it.
VIRGO ~ That single candle lit inside a dark room is akin to what may be happening within your subconscious as the week begins. Whatever has been hiding, now comes to light. Whatever you've been holding back, now demands freedom from your grasp. This is a good thing. But it does require you to give up some control.
LIBRA ~ Reality bites. The upside, however, is that once you know the irrevocable truth about something or someone, you can't help but want to do something about it. Sometimes, things have be broken down in order to be rebuilt or replaced altogether. Welcome a renewal in your life.
SCORPIO ~ What we value in life changes over time. What we hope to achieve or acquire also goes through some changes. Yet sometimes we cling on to ideals, relationships, precepts that no longer support that which we work toward. Time to decide what and where to put your focus and energy on.
SAGITTARIUS ~ Friendships may be changing. Roles shifting. Some may even show their true colors as surprisingly unappealing. Don't let it bring you down. Change, after all, is the one constant thing in life. Perhaps it's time to expand your horizons, meet new people, foster new friendships.
CAPRICORN ~ You may have to give up something in order get something you want. Is what you want worth whatever you have to sacrifice for it? Is what you have to give up really a sacrifice? Maybe you don't need it anymore. Whatever it is, avoid making decisions based on fear.
AQUARIUS ~ There's a renewal for you within your significant relationships -- intimate or business or some other committed partnership. It may be time for make do of promises, whether yours or another's. Or time to eliminate what's been weighing you and/or your relationships down.
PISCES ~ How much of what you do for others keep you from taking care of business within your personal life? There is a way to be of service without being used or abused. Your health may also be a focus this week. Time to adopt a healthier lifestyle, maybe?
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