Butterfly Journal: Self-Reflection (Entry #3)

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Julianne Victoria
ocean_dreams

Ocean of Dreams by Josephine Wall

This Butterfly Journal post is in         conjunction with Blue Butterflies and Me’s 11 Day Clearing from September 11 to the Equinox on September 22. Be sure to check out yesterday’s post at The Heartsongs Blog, and tomorrow’s post at Me, My Magnificent Self.

In Entry #2 I talked about clearing out the “clutter” of “what if’s” of the past, which led to an analysis of a dream series I’ve been having. Clearing out these “what if’s”, especially those hidden deep in the unconscious, opens the way for the new. In Entry #1 I also mentioned my awareness of “what if’s” about the future, as I occasionally wonder if my writing isn’t good, or worry that I may not be successful as a writer. Though I know I need to focus on visualizing how I wish to manifest my dreams, and as I continue to send out queries and produce more, have the confidence that others will like my work, I am still human and these worries once in a while creep into my mind.

We all have worries and concerns about the future. That is normal. But, it is when we let these thoughts dominate, take over, or we cling to them, that we loose both perspective and self-awareness. There are many tools or practices that can help us keep our minds and worries in check. Just 10-15 minutes a day of any of the following can help clear our silly minds of worry so we can create the space for emotional healing, creativity, and growth:

  • Practice meditation: Still and calm the mind or clear it of thoughts by just observing what thoughts arise, and letting them pass. Focusing on an object, such as a lotus flower, or on the breath, can help still the flurry of thoughts.
  • Breathe! Especially when feeling stressed, stopping to focus on the breath can help clear out some of the stress and anxiety. Any Pranayama practice will do, or just deep focused breathing to exhale out any negative thoughts and feelings.
  • Physical exertion can clear out a worrying mind by burning those thoughts away. Go for a brisk walk, run, swim… Exercise can be a great form of moving meditation!
  • Pray or chant: Connecting to the Divine, whether that’s God, a goddess, Angels, Spirit Guides, your Higher Self, or the Eternal Consciousness can help clear out the fogginess of worry so we can see our lives from a clearer perspective. Saying a daily prayer, one that resonates with you or one that you wrote yourself, or singing hymns or chanting mantras connects us to the Divine.
  • Affirmations: Write down and say affirmations for what you wish to accomplish in the present, and what you wish to accomplish in the future as a result of your actions in the present. We create the future today, so create it with positive thoughts and with the confidence that you deserve that which you are working towards.
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Animal Spirits: The Spider

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Julianne Victoria

This morning as I was checking my blogs a tiny                                                                   white spider crawled across my computerimages-3 screen. She hung around for a while criss-crossing the screen and checking out the modern ‘net. Though I am not fond of spiders, I don’t mind them, well, as long as they don’t jump or crawl on me. When I see one, I negotiate this point, and they seem happy with our compromises. 🙂

I was re-reading my Butterfly Journal posts (#1 and #2) and reflecting on how I have been re-creating my life and my home when the little white spider appeared. Spiders are the master weavers of their homes and their lives. Sometimes a silly human will walk through their intricate webs that they’ve worked meticulously and patiently on and unknowingly, or sometimes knowingly, destroy them. Sometimes, the spiders decide they need to pack up and leave to find a better location to build a new home. Sometimes they stay in the same area and repair or rebuild over and over again. It felt like my little white spider was giving me a (or eight) thumbs-up, encouraging me to keep working diligently to weave the web that is my new life.

Spiders have eight legs and eight eyes (usually). Eight is the number and symbol of infinity, the cycles of time, of death and rebirth, and of destruction and creation. It also represents repetition, momentum and movement forward, continuation, and the continuum. Though often viewed as creepy and scary, spiders seem to be content with the workings of life and nature, and hold within them an understanding of eternal wisdom.

images-4The spider’s delicate webs with their spiral patterns are both beautiful and difficult to see. They create the illusion that there’s nothing there, sealing the fate for whatever insect becomes their next meal. The Moirai, also called the Fates or Parcae, in Ancient Greek and Roman mythology were weavers who determined the fate of every human’s life. Clotho spun the thread, Lachesis determined the length of the thread, and Atropos not only cut the thread, but chose how the end, death, would come. Humans were lost in the illusion that their lives were in their own hands, but it was actually these weaver-goddesses who set their fate.

Overall, the spider’s symbolism and meaning is profound:

  • Weaving of life, fate, and destiny
  • Understanding the patterns of illusion
  • Seeing through illusions
  • Death, birth, and rebirth
  • The illusion of time
  • Infinity and Eternal Interconnectedness
  • Creativity and Craftiness
  • Change and Progress

May we all be the masters of our own weaving to create beautiful and interwoven lives!

Life isn’t about finding yourself; life is about creating yourself.

– George Bernard Shaw

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Sing From Your Heart

Posted on September 15, 2013 by Julianne Victoria

’twas written on the taganahata_chakra_by_zinka_d

of the Yogi Tea bag

as my day was to start:

“Sing from your heart!”

four simple words

that need to be heard

by you and me

to truly be

in the heart and above

is the divine known as love

the music of the spheres

all vibrations far and near

have been One from the start

so sing from your heart!

~ AUM

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Butterfly Journal: Self-Reflection (Entry #2)

Posted on September 13, 2013 by Julianne Victoria
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Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.
– Carl Jung

This Butterfly Journal post is in conjunction with Blue Butterflies and Me’s 11 Day Clearing from September 11 to the Equinox on September 22. Be sure to check out yesterday’s post by Linda at Lite Being Chronicles.

In Entry #1, I mentioned the biggest piece of “clutter” that needed clearing was the “what if’s” of the past. Though happy with the decision to completely change my life, my mind often wanders back to my old home, wondering and imagining what life there would still be like. Upon further self-reflection, I see that this isn’t hanging onto the past, but more like pondering what a different, maybe even parallel (reality/universe?), path that my life could be on. I know that clairvoyantly I am able to visualize possible future outcomes, and I have wondered if this is sort of what I am doing when I think about what life would be like today if I were in my old home. Am I truly viewing a parallel “me”? Whether I am or not, letting my mind and vision drift to that curiosity or reality, hinders the creation of the new life I living here and now. Clearing out these “what if’s” opens the way for the new.

Over a year ago, when I first moved, these thoughts were very common, especially when I’d ask myself if I’d made a mistake. My answer was always no though the transition was not easy. And even though it was my decision, I still had to grieve all that no longer was. Over the past year, the “what if’s” have become less and less. By last Spring, they only appeared occasionally, but then I began to have a series of interesting dreams. I do feel these dreams are how my unconscious is working at clearing out the “what if’s” tucked away deep, deep inside. Here are my Dream Journal entries for these dreams:

Dream #1, 4-28-13:

I went back to my old house just to check it out. Kuruk (my pup) and Zoe (my cat) were with me. I knocked and rang the bell, but no one was there, so I used the key I had (I do not have one in real life). They were still moving stuff in and putting the house together. I saw the woman and she had a new baby. I told her I just stopped by. That’s all.

Dream #2, 5-7-13:

I went to my old house to finish packing up (though I knew in my dream I had moved away a while ago). The woman had blonde hair this time and everything was very white and bright, and washed in light. She was cooking. The couple had removed the built-in cabinet in the dining room and asked if I wanted it. I said no. I put my air mattress in the living room since I would need to stay over-night. Simba (my pup who has passed but is an animal spirit guide for me) was with me. 

Dream #3, 6-11-13:

I was back at my old house and had returned to finish cleaning up. There was stuff stacked under the front door mat. My mail, I think. I had entered the house through the back though, and then went to the front door and saw this. (In my dream journal I also note here that in the first two dreams I also entered through the back door. In the first one I had rung the bell but then entered through the back.) I saw neighbors from across the street wave. That was all.

Dream #4, 7-20-13:

I returned to my old house because my neighbors wanted me there. I wasn’t in the house though. Then I am walking down the street towards the coffeeshop. It was warm and humid. I wondered why I went back. I didn’t want to. Others wanted it.

Dream #5, 9-9-13:

I went to my old house and let myself in (front door) with a key. The owners asked me to let them know next time before I just come over. My pups were with me. I was only in the living room.

Besides clearing things out from deep in my unconscious, I feel the dreams are allowing me to travel back and retrieve any energy I’ve left behind. I just now realized that I need to travel back in a dream and leave the “key” there in order to finish cleaning and clearing that stage of my life. Anyone else’s intuitive insights and impressions are appreciated!

Life, what is it but a dream? – Lewis Carroll

Check out tomorrow’s 11 Day Clearing post at Karen Kubicko.

If you are interested in embarking on your own journey of transformation, you can purchase Butterfly Journal for under $10 from Create Space, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble.

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Butterfly Journal 1st Month: Self-Reflection (Entry #1)

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Julianne Victoria
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Seeing ourselves as we truly are, clears the way for growth.

As I go through Butterfly Journal: Monthly Contemplations for Spiritual Metamorphosis, I will post the prompt for each month with the first posted entry for that given month (the journal may be begun at any time of the year). Since I am beginning this month, my first month is September. This is the prompt for the first month:

The start of the new year or a new growth cycle is a time of new beginnings, but before we can make resolutions and new starts, we have to spend some time self-reflecting. In order to self-reflect, we need to ground ourselves in the here and now and take a good look at ourselves: who we have been, who we are, and who we wish to become. For some of us this may mean resolving past issues and conflicts, either within ourselves or with others. This will also clear the way and make space for healing and new growth to take place.

For the first month, contemplate on the ways in which you wish to better yourself – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. And then ask yourself: “why?” The “why’s” will show you where there is clutter in your life that can be cleaned out to create the space for growth, and where you already have clarity and growth taking place. 

I’ve written out several ways in which I wish to better myself, but here I will discuss what I feel is the most significant piece of “clutter” in my life. First a little background information…

A little over a year ago I decided to completely transform my life. I had had a successful healing practice for twelve years and had had a home, including a little “farm” with veggies, fruit, herbs, and chickens, for almost ten years. However in March 2012 I suddenly knew that my time where I was was done. I could sense it building to this for a while, and I had this overwhelming feeling that I had to leave if I wanted life to move forward. I closed up my practice, sold my home, and moved back to my home town. Frightening? Yes, especially since I made no money on the house, had very little to live off of, and no source of income. But, I could live with family, and most of all live somewhere where the sun shines. Though scary, I was also happy to leave for various reasons, and excited to start a new life, focusing on writing.

Over the past year I’ve rested, taken a few months sabbatical, gained a lot of writing experience, and become more and more productive with writing. The clutter that I am still dealing with is the “what if’s” of both the past and the future. Though I don’t want to go back, nor do I regret my huge life changing decision, I do sometimes miss having my own home and wonder what life would be like if I still lived there. Much of this has cleared, but I know there is still some clearing needed. Part of healing and processing does take time, but based on some dreams I’ve been having (I’ll talk about these in another post), it is clearing out more and more. I know energetically these “what if’s” block the creation of the new, so my focus here is to not let my mind wander into the past, or steer it back towards the present when it does.

As for the “what if’s” about the future, it is wondering, “what if I’m not a good writer, or not successful, or can’t make a living writing.” To clear out these “what if’s” when they pop up, I need to instead visualize how I wish to manifest my dreams, and as I continue to send out queries and produce more, have the confidence that others will like my work.

If you are interested in embarking on your own journey of transformation, you can purchase Butterfly Journal for under $10 from Create Space, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble.

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Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Julianne Victoria

According to the Hebrew Lunar Calendar, today’s                                                                 New Moon marks the civil Jewish Newimages Year. This day of both lunar (month) and solar (year) new beginnings is said to correspond to the 6th day of creation according to the Book of Genesis in the Torah and in the Old Testament Bible. The 6th day of creation, was the day God made man, and so Rosh Hashanah can also be viewed as the birthday celebration of man. To celebrate symbolic sweet foods, such as honey and apples, are eaten to usher in a sweet New Year.

Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement. It occurs on the 10th day after Rosh Hashanah. It is said that God prescribes each persons destiny for the coming year based upon what each person does during the ten day period from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur. During this time, we are asked to review our lives and our behaviors, seek forgiveness for our wrong-doings, and confess any sins. This act of reconciliation between God and man sets the course for the year to come.

We could say that the preparations for the Day of Atonement are an opportunity for us to cleanse our souls, and to reconcile or seek union (yoga) with our Divine Source. One tradition is to visit a moving body of water, such as the ocean, a river, or stream, to pray, self-evaluate, ask forgiveness, and then to cast our sins or wrong-doings into the water to both purify our souls and to assist the process of letting go of the past and any mental clinging. During the last 24-25 hours of this period there is usually fasting and intense prayer – a cleansing of the body and the mind.

Whatever our backgrounds and religious and spiritual beliefs, setting aside a day, a week, or even longer to dedicate to cleansing our bodies, minds, and souls can help us to clean out any old clutter that we cling to, or even clutter that we don’t even know is stashed away in some forgotten corner of our bodies, minds, or souls. Each day and any day we can choose to be our New Year, our day of new beginnings, and set our intentions in thought or on paper (prescribe) for our lives. May we all celebrate life with sweetness, set positive intentions for the year to come, and work towards self-awareness and purification of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of ourselves.

Happy New Year and New Beginnings!

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New Moon, New Beginnings

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Julianne Victoria
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The Moon conjoined Jupiter in Cancer (Western Astrology)/Gemini (Astronomically and Vedic Astrology)  a couple of days ago. Jupiter is straight above the Moon. Click to enlarge.

My break from the blogosphere and time for rest is coming to an end. The New Moon in Virgo (in Tropical/Western Astrology, Leo in Sidereal/Vedic Astrology) occurs this coming Wednesday evening or Thursday morning depending on where on the planet you are. New Moons symbolize new beginnings, a time for fresh starts, rebirths, and even new perspectives on old goals, wishes, and dreams. It is a time for us to express gratitude for the past and to set our intentions for the next phase in our lives. As the moon begins to grow, or wax, we too can grow, especially our emotional, intuitive, and unconscious selves, and work towards manifesting our dreams.

Beginning this month of September as part of my own new growth phase, I am going to begin working through my book, Butterfly Journal, Monthly Contemplations for Spiritual Metamorphosis, and will post some of my entries, if not all, here on Through the Peacock’s Eyes. If you are not familiar with it, Butterfly Journal is an interactive journal I created to guide and assist others through both personal and spiritual growth. If you’d like to join me on this journey, you can purchase Butterfly Journal from Amazon, or Barnes & Noble. Though it is a monthly journal, it can be begun at any time of the year.

Here is the Introduction to Butterfly Journal:

Butterflies are one of Nature’s most beautiful and amazing creatures. They flutter about like free spirits, but only after having gone through a long metamorphic process of growth and change. They are the only known living being capable of changing its DNA entirely during its metamorphosis from caterpillar, or larva, to the adult butterfly. That is, they go through a total transformation. You could even call it a rebirth.

Spiritual transformation, like the physical metamorphosis of the butterfly, is a very difficult and often painful process. Transformation requires growth and change, and so for our souls to fly free, we must embrace the growing pains. Many of us fear change. Change is scary because the outcome is usually unknown, but it is only by stepping into this darkness, like a caterpillar inside the cocoon, that we can in time grow, change, and emerge to fly into the light. Living, healing, and growing physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually require change and transformation.

To be reborn like the beautiful butterfly emerging from its burial shroud-like cocoon, our souls need to break free from the illusions of the ego and free ourselves from attachment to the physical body and the material world. When we break free of this mental cocoon, we can spread our beautiful wings and fly free.

The Ancient Greeks’ word for butterfly was ψυχη, psyche. They equated these free spirits with life, breath, and the soul itself. Across Shamanistic cultures the butterfly represents:

  • Growth
  • Change
  • Transformation
  • Reincarnation
  • Courage to make change
  • Mental clarity
  • Freedom of the Soul from the Ego

These small delicate creatures have inspired people across the globe to face their own challenges and obstacles and to have the faith and courage to take on the growing pains of spiritually transforming from the inside out. May the butterfly be an inspiration for personal and spiritual growth for all!

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The Waning Moon, A Time to Rest

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Julianne Victoria

The phase of the Moon from the Full Moon to                                                                         the New Moon is called the waning cycle.images This time of the monthly cycle, especially for those who have a strong Moon and/or Cancer sign in their birth charts, is good for resting, having quiet time, contemplating, surrendering and letting go of the things that we cling to that no longer serve any purpose, removing obstacles in our lives, and for healing.

The Moon is connected to mother, and the waning cycle is a time for us to nurture ourselves and prepare or incubate ourselves and creative potential for the next growth cycle. The Moon is also connected to the subconscious realm, intuition, and dreams. During this darkening time of the Moon, we have the opportunity to delve deep within, exploring and learning from the depths of our souls, so that we can bring new awareness to light and into our conscious world.

Rest and be thankful.  – William Wordsworth

This Full Moon in Aquarius is also a Blue Moon, and so I am going to take this rare occurrence as an opportunity to rest, contemplate, and delve deeper within to nurture, heal, release, grow, and learn more about what is deep within. Rest is an activity in itself, and so I am going to take a break from the blogosphere for this waning moon cycle, so that I can return anew, refreshed, and ready to shine even brighter!

Happy Blue Moon everyone! Namaste _/l\_

Activity and rest are two vital aspects of life. To find a balance in them is a skill in itself. Wisdom is knowing when to have rest, when to have activity, and how much of each to have. Finding them in each other – activity in rest and rest in activity – is the ultimate freedom.

– Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

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Thank You Alaska!

Posted on August 8, 2013 by Julianne Victoria

My rescue pup, Kuruk, has completed his book telling the story of his rescue, to raise money for animal rescue and animal rights. Please help support his cause! Thank you and Namaste _/l\_

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Animal Spirits: The Snail

Posted on August 3, 2013 by Julianne Victoria

One day sometime back in mid-February I noticed a                                                           snail hanging out on my window. Snail-WA_edit02This may not seem odd at first, since snails climb all over things, but my window is about 25-30 feet above the ground and there is no foliage anywhere near it. Why would a little snail about the circumference of a dime climb so high and stop on a smooth food-less sheet of glass? I figured it would climb back down soon once it got hungry, however that was not the case. This little determined snail had a message for me, but it would take some time before I would fully understand it.

Months went by. Blustery wind storms beat at the snail, but he held on tight, protected by his spiraling shell. I’d talk to him, telling him he really should climb down and eat and drink, but he would not budge. Due to the design of the windows, I couldn’t reach him and help him down. All I could do was wait patiently as time went on.

And then one day in July, the 18th to be exact, he was gone. I had been catching up on my Western Astrology studies when I noticed this, and I knew that that day the planet Saturn turned direct (after a retrograde period). Curious, I looked up so see when Saturn began his retrograde period, and sure enough it was February 19th, right about the time the snail appeared. Like snails, Saturn is one of the slow moving planets. He is the old wise man, the Hermit, and the teacher of teachers. His lesson plans, however, are not easy, as he likes to teach by throwing obstacles and hurdles in our way. His lessons require us to develop patience, endurance, acceptance, and deep understanding. He also represents conscience, moral values, stability, and solid foundations and structures.

I had had a feeling that the snail was telling me that I was going to go through a period where things were going to go slower than I had hoped, and that I would just have to accept that and be patient. The awareness of the astrological connection to his appearance was an affirmation of that. But during that same phase of life, by taking things in stride but still moving forward, I ended up overcoming obstacles, expanding upon my writing foundations, and greatly progressing with my writing. And my little snail guru was right there with me through it all!

Symbolism of the Snail:

  • Patience and Endurance
  • Ability to use slow movement to one’s advantage
  • Importance of keeping oneself mobile
  • Being grounded
  • Importance in leaving a trail
  • Self-protection and defense through retreat
  • Awareness and Observation
  • Consciousness
  • Expansion (Spiral Shell: Expanding Consciousness/Cosmic Consciousness/Universe)
  • Connection to the Moon and lunar cycles (hiding in shell/New Moon and exposed/Full Moon), and hence Dreams
  • Time, Cycles, Phases, and Progress
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