October 2010: Stasis

The energy of October, therefore, can be used as a period of rest.

While
restful to some, to many of you this feeling of non-moving
anticipation will be uncomfortable. If you are accustomed to making
things happen by using your personal energy to create what comes next,
then you could feel as if you are butting your head up against a brick
wall this month. What is important to remember this month is much the
same as in September — sitting and staying with a feeling reveals much
about what is underneath the feeling and what your typical patterns of
response are. To that end, October provides an especially rich set of
opportunities for self-introspection, and getting to know you Who You
Are on the deepest level possible.

If you are one who experiences
this feeling of uncomfortable non-moving anticipation, you can learn
to change the feeling into one of rest if you like. The feeling of rest
is attained when you become less attached to doing. In addition to
learning to allow yourself to sit and stay with the feelings of
discomfort, this is an excellent time to practice mindfulness in many
ways.

Here are some ideas to get your synapses firing and to
re-pattern your brain so as to allow resting in the present moment more
often: 

1. Left-brain, right-brain activities. Try
brushing your teeth with the non-dominant hand. Pay attention to the
sensations — physical, mental, or emotional — that arise for you. Write
a letter to someone (yourself or someone you know), alternating
between your dominant hand and your non-dominant hand. Again, pay
attention to how this feels. Does the flow of energy (words) change
depending on which hand you are using?

2. The pause that refreshes.
During the course of your day, stop a few times and do nothing but pay
attention, without judgment, to the sounds around you for one minute.
Another time, focus solely on visual input: colors, shapes, shadow,
again without judgment.

3. Body check-in. Once a
day or so, stop what you are doing and focus on your body for a minute
or two. Start at the top of your head and move slowly downward,
scanning your body and noticing anything that you feel (examples:
tension in your back, the texture of the carpet under your feet, the
slight breeze of a fan), again without judgment.

What if things
just seem to flow for you this month? Congratulations! But don’t worry:
you are just as busy as everyone else. For those of you who feel flow
and rest this month, you are still internalizing all that has
transpired over the past several months since the June Equinox. You may
find that while on a personal front (spiritual, occupational,
physical) you feel restful, your relationships are challenged. This is
in part because you are inculcating internal change, and others around
you will find this challenging on many levels. This is a month of
endings for many, especially in terms of relationships, and it is not
especially conducive to beginning new relationships either (Venus turns
retrograde on the 8th). Pay attention to the challenges that arise;
they are magnified this month and observing them can shed insight on
your lifelong patterns.

Other trends this month

Personal

Interestingly,
this is a good time to begin a program of increased health, whether it
is based on diet, exercise, or other personal practices that are
focused on the body. Pay attention to your sense of inner vitality this
month and explore the changes that take place for you.

Relationships

Family-of-origin
relationships again come to the forefront this month as you begin to
explore deep-seated patterns that have long been within you. Do not be
surprised if you are again exploring issues you thought you had once
laid to rest. Try not to be discouraged if you feel more of the same;
what you are exploring this month is a deeper layer than in the past.

Communities

Expect
some dissension among local communities this month, as people are more
concerned with what is going on for them on a personal level than the
community as a whole. Try not to take things personally if
acquaintances seem distant or even surly. On the local political level,
expect more conflict than usual as people’s opinions are coming to the
surface in a less self-edited manner.

Global Politics

Change
here occurs slowly, often more slowly than seems easily apparent. With
all the personal introspection occurring this month, what appears on a
wider basis is slower-moving and less noticeable. But overall, this
month is a preparation for more apparent changes to come.

Earth Changes

Hurricanes
and other wind-related events are common this month, as the surface of
the planet reacts to deeper, more internal changes.

Global Spiritual Changes

Reports
of UFO contacts and sightings increase this month as the “veil”
between reality sets continues to thin. Seemingly opposing spiritual
groups become increasingly polarized, setting the stage for eventual
conflict of some sort to occur next year.

A practice for everyone

This
is a good month to determine what small physical things — actual
objects, routines, or practices — bring you comfort on a physical,
sensual level. This could be a fragrance that brings you pleasure, a
special blanket or pillow, cozy socks, or music that gives you a
peaceful gentle feeling. Keep these things on hand and refer to them
often this month to help you through these energies and on into the What
Comes Next of your life.

Copyright (C) 2006 – 2009 by Karen Murphy. All rights reserved. 
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