Soul-Centered Retrogrades

 

Happy almost Fall! 

We are in the midst of Mercury in Retrograde (MIR), August 30th - September 22nd.   Mercury is the planet of communication, technology, intellect and awareness. Mercury goes into retrograde three times per year and always visits in the same element throughout the year.  In 2016, our earth signs of Capricorn, Taurus and Virgo are hosting.  Although many tend to emphasize the negative aspects of MIR such as delays, miscommunication, and technical difficulties.  However, I wish to accentuate the opportunities of our mercurial friend. MIR helps you notice patterns so you can make more conscious and empowered choices to respect yourself and others, as well as notice where you have grown. Since Mercury is in the earth signs, we must learn to integrate the lessons or ground them within our soul.

These considerations might help get the most out of this time.

1.  What patterns are showing up during MIR in your relationships, work, and family life that are asking for evolution or nurturing? Are you taking responsibility for your actions?  What is being revealed that needs to transform or do you need to notice you are responding in a more soul-centered manner?

2.  Where are you having communication challenges?  Are you in integrity?  Have you communicated exactly how you feel and made efforts to best the situation or are you gossiping and creating more resistance?  How can you be more clear and respectful?  Are you listening from your heart?

3. Since mercury is in earth signs, you may be getting information about your physical self.  How are you talking to yourself and your body?  The relationship with your mind and body is best when you are centered in your soul.  You are a miracle.  Reinforce that truth by loving all of your soul's landscape.

3.  What technical issues are you having?  Mercury will allow us to witness where we delay taking care of our needs.  What requires nurturing and time investment?

4.  Are you cancelling or running late for appointments? MIR often means cancellations and rescheduling.  How flexible can you be yourself and others?

It is a great time to revisit open issues.  You will find extra grace and love when you nurture open issues during MIR.  Since you co-create your experience, see this month as a gift to help empower your life, so it is rooted in your soul.

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Christmas Kisses From Granny

Jenn is a elementary school teacher and a brilliant one.  Her childlike playfulness matches her classrooms’ essence perfectly.  She teaches from such a compassionate and wildly imaginative manner, that I sometimes wish she had been my teacher.

We met years ago in energy medicine school.  When it came my turn to introduce myself to the group and I mentioned I worked as a medium, Jenn inhaled suddenly and froze, staring wide eyed at me, as if her very life was threatened.  Overtime, our similarities far outweighed the contrast, and we became great pals.  I was surprised years ago when she first reached out to me for an appointment.  Again, that resistance was palpable, yet I had to admire her willingness to dance with her discomfort.  She follows her heart, even if her head seems to object.  We have learned much from each other; one of God’s sweet gifts in my life.

Jenn came for a session two weeks ago.  I was surprised when we immediately connected to the other side.  Immediately present was her maternal grandmother. Granny started with a kiss on Jenn’s left cheek.  She had a bold personality; she brought chocolate chip cookies, Birthday wishes for Jenn’s Mom, and sparkly celebration cards with small denominations of money. She was aware the family had been sifting through her personal treasures.  She talked about shared TV dinners and chicken pot pies while watching Lawrence Welk.  Since her husband had died before her, she had become very independent, and celebrated that very quality in Jenn.  As I blended more with Granny's memories, I became Jenn as an infant boldly walking and exploring in diapers all accessible surfaces.  I could feel Jenn’s bold personality had always been evident.  Granny started thanking Jenn for taking care of her daughter, Jenn’s Mom.  Granny seemed to know Jenn had spent years working on her relationship with her.  She recognized her daughter was very stubborn and childlike in manner, but not a natural Mother, which Jenn mourned.  Granny thanked Jenn for choosing to accept their relationship and transcend it with forgiveness.  She recognized that Jenn became such a great shepherd for her students largely due to the void created by her Mom.

Jenn’s eyes rested on a cherished gift on my desk; a nest.  “Is that chocolate?” her childlike nature discovering a treasure I had forgotten about resting next to the blue and speckled real eggs. “Yes, it is called a Baci.  It is an Italian kiss.  It is a hazelnut dipped in dark chocolate. Each one has a fortune wrapped around it in a couple of different languages”. “Huh, Mom and Grammy went to Italy together In 1959” Jenn remarked popping the candy in her mouth.   She unwrapped the fortune, reading it in each language.  I smiled thinking how much I adore Jenn and her ability to just explore each moment with such fun.  Thank God she works with our kids.

Jenn got rather quiet when she read the fortune in English.  "An affectionate word from a friend can cure sadness."  The fortune was clearly inspired by Granny.        

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After a moment, Jenn shared a story.  “Granny lived at Leisure world in Seal Beach.  I was a wild child; busy, active, strong, sort of unbound.  One time, I was at her house and she held out a nest made of cotton with a real dove’s egg inside.  She asked me to hold it gently and she put the egg into my hands.  In my joy and wonder, I was so excited that I crushed it.  I was so little.  It went all over my yellow pajama dress. Granny was upset because of the mess.  I was upset because I cracked the egg.

This was a core story for me.  It inspired one of the fifteen art pieces that evolved into an art show I did in 2012.

 It’s as if I have lived with a silver sash of melancholy across my heart and down my left side related to generations of loss on the maternal side of my family. To consider living without that weight and burden is a turning point for me."

Granny had started and finished with a kiss.  It was clear she knew Jenn had held this story and it was time to let it go.  It never ceases to amaze me how much the Spirit world wishes to help us live within the present.  So many things in our life seem unnoticed, but the Spirit world is witness to the beauty of our becoming.

As you step into this Holiday season, center your awareness in each passing moment.  What has happened probably deeply inspired great beauty in you.  May you be abundantly blessed!!

Dancing with Resistance

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I was on the East coast most of July.  This trip I decided to see what if felt like to trust this world as much as I do the Spirit world.  After all, my work is all about having no idea what is going to happen and free falling into the unknown.

I decided to challenge myself to say “yes” when I wanted to say “no”, let myself be uncomfortable, and reach out to the other two leggers and see what happened.  

The man I sit next to on the plane to NY graduated from my college with the same major, knows people I know and is joining the faculty.  We have everything in common and it is equally synchronistic, as I have requested an impromptu reunion with some dear college pals at the end of this trip who I have not seen since graduation. 

I travel to a seminar.  I meet two ladies who become my sista’s and we are joined at the hip for the duration.  When one finds out I am going to be in Manhattan staying in a hotel, she insists I stay at her family’s home near NYU.  Normally, this would be a gesture I would deeply appreciate, but would immediately decline. “Yes, that would be great” falls out of my mouth before I can hesitate.  When I arrive in Manhattan at my new pal’s home, I am floored.  It is ON Washington Square.  It is stunning, with vaulted ceilings, chic design, and through the open windows floats the clarinet standards from the square.  A synchronistic hour of songs waft into the open windows; clearly a Heavenly playlist.

Upstate New York:  A great friend invites me to her wedding reception.  I am deeply honored by the invitation and immediately say, “Yes”.  She picks my up from the seminar and drives me an hour north to her home instead of my offer to take the train.  She arranges for me to stay at her neighbor’s home instead of my planned AirB&B. All of this feels incredibly uncomfortable, but I keep saying, “Yes”.  I am dropped off at the neighbors, who treat me like family from the moment we say “hello.” I share in the intimate wedding reception.   I return across the field to the neighbors.  I start to ascend the stairs to my room, when the husband calls out my name.  He is moving a lamp out onto a freshly constructed deck, “I need more light.  Come join us Austyn,” he explains untangling its cord.  He is a kid in a candy shop about the Birthday present he is giving to his wife.  Before I can resist, I am sitting next to him outside. He shifts in his chair, standing up, sitting down, all the while his Birthday bride is story telling and very slowly opening his beautifully wrapped gift.  A child on Christmas morning, I can feel how important this is to him.  The present: a painting of the place in France where he proposed.  Mind you, this is a couple whose child just graduated college.  I feel blessed to witness such a thoughtful and loving moment, celebrating what is clearly a decision he is happy he made years ago.  The next day, the new Bride with oodles of house guests, drives me again to the train station, instead of my Uber plan. 

New Jersey.  My “Cute As Buttons” entrepreneur, who I met years ago at a children’s clothing tradeshow, kept saying, “If you are ever in New Jersey…” She picks me up at the train station.  Even her husband is initially questioning his wife’s sanity about having someone they barely know stay with them.  Once in the car, she and I pick up like we never stopped.  She takes me to her Tae Kwon Do class. We eat pizza across from The Stone Pony where Springsteen and many others began. My black belt friend shares her new Belmar storefront.  We are successful businesswomen now, which was our shared dream years ago. We celebrate each other’s accomplishments. Our time together cements a life-long friendship.

Long Island.  My LI hostess offers to drive hours to pick me up in New Jersey to bring me back to her home instead of my offer to take the train.   We metaphysically bond, talk about the future of Mediumship and how blessed we are to know many of its leaders.  The time we chat in the car sets up a great and holistic weekend filled with Spirited moments, good food and a Harry Potter marathon.

Brooklyn:  A client who has been asking me to come and meet her tribe hosts me.  Her brownstone walk up is meticulous and a visual masterpiece, as her photo editing history and instagram followers (nji) confirm.  She makes me Shepherd’s pie, includes me in gal pal gatherings, and with the trust of a child, opens her world to me.  We share similar love of food, travel, and an unbridled passion to lead and create.  We notice how we feel our lives are truly just beginning. 

Finally, back to Manhattan and Washington Square for more clients, the reunion, and an impromptu visit with my amazing niece.  My college pals and I ease into memories and moments shared that equally inspired and sweetly remain.  I am so proud of each of their endeavors: a Tony nominated producer, a Sesame Street cast member and now director, an advocate for Children with terminal illnesses, and a song writer who is on the cusp massive success.  We talk of how fortunate we are to know what we love and live our dreams.

My last night in NY, I am on the phone with my husband.  He asks me if my trip has felt successful.  Normally, I would talk about my work, clients, and more about work.  I begin to speak and an unexpected and evident lump in my throat inhibits my response. “Are you still there, Hello?” he says.   A long beat.  “I am.  It was successful beyond what I could have ever imagined, because I let go and trusted, I let so much love in and it felt so nice.”  Our lives are what we make of them.  Try letting go, dance with your resistance, you might just discover you will be just fine, if not substantially better.

Friends

We can be as rich as we wish.  The Spirit world helps me find the true value in my life, so each month I will focus on a new topic to help bring their wisdom to our world.  This month the topic is friends, and I have come up with a few ways to nurture and honor this very important part of our lives.  Below are some suggestions for you to treasure this value in your life.

Unconditional Love:  Pick one friend in your life who is challenging.  Try to focus less on how they make you feel and more upon what do they need?  This simple shift can allow you to understand that these pals are often our greatest teachers.

Accountability: Where is the unfinished business in your friendship world? One person forgive? Someone you need to apologize to?  This is the number one topic f conversation from our loved ones in Spirit.  This moment right now is our lives, so choose be have a clean slate with everyone, including yourself. 

Gratitude: Shower the people you love with love. Find one friend or more and just let them know their value in your life.  Try to do something out of the ordinary, not texts or emails.  Here are some suggestions:  write letter and send it through snail mail, buy them flowers, sing or send them a song, give them a small gift certificate or coffee card, buy them a plant that grows to represent that they have LASTING value in your life. 

Nurturing: Is there a story you always tell about how someone in your past touched your life?  Find that person.  Call, write, facebook, find that past schoolmate, workmate, teacher, mentor, classmate, fellow traveler and let them know they made a difference in your life.  Celebrate someone else by letting them know they are important, wouldn't it be nice if someone did that for you? 

Expansion:  Spend a little time thinking about who you would like to have as a friend.  What qualities do you really need from a friend that you may or may not be receiving.  Are you a good friend to yourself?  Start a new friendship.  Say hello to that person you see all the time.  Risk it.  Connect.  It might just make their day.  ;-)

Here is hoping these suggestions help to increase your sense of support and love.
Have a great day.
;-)
 

Spiritual Play Dates

I love communicating with the Spirit world.  It is a passion unlike any other I have known.  I marvel at how the other side can use the memories and symbols of my experience to help me understand and then communicate on behalf of a loved one in Spirit.  It is truly magical and amazes me every time.
Spirit will use signs and symbols to let someone know that they maintain a constant connection.  They miss us as much as we miss them and equally know when we are in need of love or encouragement.  I have been challenging the Spirit world to come up with more unusual or specific evidential signs and have been getting some very good results. 
I recently spent some time with a friend of the family who had lost her husband.  Her grief was substantial, almost to the point where she seemed a diminished version of herself.  Unaware of my work,  I suggested that she might ask for signs that her husband was around.  I mentioned this, because he was with me as I was chatting with her.  I always defer to the Spirit, as they know their loved one best.  He did not want to unnerve her with my profession, so this was really his suggestion to ease her into the idea that he was around her.  He showed me a butterfly.  I agreed, but mentally asked him to make it really unique, so she could not rationalize the visual away.  He showed me a blue butterfly.  Never having really seen one in person, I appreciated his sense of adventure.
After this "woo woo" conversation, my friend suggested getting some fresh air and taking her dog for a late afternoon San Francisco stroll.  We began walking down the street and the following banner waved up and down the street:

Not only was it all over the street we were on, but more importantly, it was on most streets in San Francisco!  It was as if he was saying "Wherever you are, I'll be with you."  The immediacy of the answered request was enough to illicit that look I witness with so many when they realized their prayers are really answered and maybe it's not so "woo woo" afterall.
Our visit was Saturday.

What was unique about this experience was I became the recipient as well.  The next few days for me were equally magical.

At a street fair the next day...

The ceiling of a hotel later that week...

All in all, we are always connected to and with our loved ones.  Talk to them.  Initiate the conversation.
Here is a simple way to connect with your loved ones.  Find a place and space that is quiet and makes you feel safe and loved.  Close your eyes and imagine the object that you want your Spiritual family to manifest.  Try to focus on details.  If you are not visual, then use whatever sense you have to create it.  After you have the object energetically created, imagine your loved ones standing on the other side of the object.  Mentally give them the challenge to manifest the object in as many forms as possible.  It is FUN for everyone.  Now the homework is your attention.  If you request a red hummingbird, then do not just look out your window.  Look everywhere: magazines, billboards, license plates, emails, Internet advertisements, TV commercials and movies...  If you think you get a kick out of miracles, imagine their joy when we actually invite them to energetically play in our lives and more importantly, notice.
Please let me know what happens.  ;-)
Have a great day.
Love and Light,
Austyn

Austyn Wells

Spiritual Medium, GC-C
818.839.1123

austyn@austynwells.com

austynwells.com

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Buzz Words

 

A few minutes into my meditation, I am met by a bee.  She just flies right in, hoovers in front of my inner eye and stares.  Being polite, I stare back.  Moments pass.  Nothing.  I decide to engage, so I communicate the thought “Hello!”  Nothing.  Bee poker face.  We continue the "don’t blink" contest.  More moments.  I try again, “Why are you here?”  She continues starring, as only an insect with hair on her eyes can do.  My mind is racing with questions and curiosities, my heart pulsing, almost as if I am also holding myself in the air.  That thought bridges me to my visitor.  She is holding one position.  She is flapping her wings over 11,000 times her second and is absolutely still.  She is stunning.  Once I really start taking her in, we are off.  And I we are flying!!  Fast, to the point where the world is blurred.  I am following.  She is focused, intent upon her destination. 

I have always wanted to fly.  I dream about it often.  This is SO cool.  Suddenly,  I  know where we are going!!  We are headed to the hive.  I imagine what that will be like.  I feel like a kid in the back seat of a long car ride asking every five seconds “Are we there yet?”   

With this thought, she spins around.  Now she is flying backwards AND starring at me.  Clearly my mental chatter is a rock concert in her Zen garden.  I am grasshopper to a bee.  I breathe. Smile.  She is good.

With that thought, we arrive at the sweetest of homes.  The hive is breathtaking.  The combs are like Chagall windows dripping hues of golden light.  It is sacred and Holy, and yet buzzing with activity.  All action focused upon a common goal.  These intention specialists leave no one behind. My heart is filled with the power of efficiency and purpose.  There it is, the unity in Community. 

With that thought, I am back in my world, but a little different.  A little wiser.  My mind, calm. I relax into the moment.  Thank you Honey Bee for the opportunity to drink in your Divine, to witness the beauty of togetherness, to reconnect and just bee.

Get Lost

 

One long ago summer, my Dad gifted my best friend and I with a trip to Disneyland. In true Dad fashion, we did it right. We stayed at the Disneyland hotel, got up at the “crap” of dawn, his phrase, and every day we were among the first people in the park. I lost all track of time. Our three days lasted forever, yet it all seemed like a dream and certainly, one of the great memories of my childhood.

When my 7^th grade teacher asked us to write a paper based on our favorite American Hero, I passed right through Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Hank Aaron, Thomas Edison, to the obvious choice: Walt Disney. After all, he brought families together, revolutionized animation, made some great sweatshirts, and helped advance animatronics. He was an unusual adult; someone filled with hope, fun, and adventure, who was obviously very healthfully connected to his inner kid.

We all need a Magic Kingdom, time set aside to play and be childlike. I call it Soul time; it’s when we “lose time”. Time is not lost necessarily, just not as confining as our watches and cellphones dictate. We experience this when listening to music, watching films, reading books, anytime we free fall into a passion, which is why it is so important to take time for play.

Disney said “I do not make films primarily for children. I make them for the child in all of us, whether he be six or sixty. Call the child innocence. The worst of us is not without innocence, although buried deeply it might be. In my work, I try to reach and speak to that innocence, showing it the fun and joy of living; showing it that laughter is healthy; showing it that the human species, although happily ridiculous sometimes, is still reaching for the stars."

When was the last time you reached for Stars? Why not take some time to recharge that magical inner child within. Forgotten how? Here are some suggestions:

~ Spend time with Nature. Whether you go for a walk, visit an Aquarium, buy some flowers, climb a nearby mountain or hang out at a Dog park, there is something restoring and rejuvenating in fresh air, color and a new perspective. Live on instinct and notice what happens. Our ancestors love to give us signs when we are more accessible, as they have as much of our undivided attention in Nature as they can get.

~ Do something unusual and out of your ordinary. Bowling is generally a great idea. Few people I know are really good bowlers, so it seems to even the playing field. Other ideas: take a Zumba class, make a brand new recipe, do something unexpected for someone you love, call an old friend, try a new restaurant, public event, a jazz club, do everything opposite for an hour, I think you get the idea.

~ Create a “Ta Da” Sheet. Celebrate what is working in your life. Remember the bottled paint and the white paste that some of us ate because we didn’t know any better? You can use crayons, pencils, markers, glue, sparkles, magazine cut-outs, pictures, objects around the house. Celebrate you, what you are proud of, who you love, what IS working in your life. No one needs to see it, just you.

~ Take a situation in your life you really want to happen and write your desires in a “once upon a time” version. For the parts you are unclear about, pull Tarot or Oracle cards to enhance the story. Dream big. This is your life, anything can happen, make it a Hero’s story.

~ Pick a time in your life and go back. Go through old photos, a year book, a wedding album, remind yourself of all that happened at that time in your life. You can either put the items in an album or just spend some time remembering. If you want, give some of the photos and items a special place where you can remind yourself of who you have been.

Most of all, get lost. Forget about the crazy “to do lists”. There will always be more to do and not enough time. Go out in the world. Shop, hang out at a coffee shop, bookstore, a movie, go vision something you wish to create, look at new cars, furniture, take a class, go to a gadget geek store and learn something new.

Hopefully, these ideas will be inspirational and fun. Dive into that pure part, that self that always knows the right thing to do. Most of all, make it fun.

By the way, that paper in 7^th grade, I got an “F”. Guess I should have suggested my teacher “get lost”.

;-)