Completion of things from the past frees you of that which is no longer part of your life. Take this opportunity to release as much as possible that you don’t need anymore. Check your belief systems, the people you hang out with, the “stuff” you accumulate. What is important to take with you into the new cycle of your life that fully engages next month, and what is holding you back to old ways and means that are inappropriate to who you have and are becoming? It’s a great month for letting God guide the show. Gratitude begets more for which to be grateful, so practice saying “Thank You!” and meaning it!

Step out in your own unique way. Speak up or stand up for something you believe in. Make connections with others who may become valuable allies in your future. It’s a time for networking and making significant connections…i.e., planting seeds for future yields. Your character is tested and the strength of your convictions is on the line. You either move from a center of enlightened leadership and wisdom speaking or from the defensive stance of a young warrior who is intent on “making” something happen. Choose to listen before acting, and remember that even though it seems as though you are on this journey alone, everything is interconnected. Remember that as you rush headlong into the next adventure!!

Check your connections. Which are strong, supportive and enhancing, and which are weak, demeaning, and draining? Choose wisely. This goes for people, thoughts, food – everything that you see as outside of yourself or separate from yourself. Make choices that improve your life, not cheat you of it. Develop a stronger level of faith and prayer or meditation life to bolster your inner vision. Something may come through like a light bulb being turned on, and conversely, you may spend moments wandering in the seeming dark because everything feels as though it has turned off. Never mind. Just keep your focus on the tiny pinpoint of light that is present in the recesses of your mind and know that in spite of appearances, all is well, and in Divine Partnership there is nothing to fear!

Life requires that you be flexible and adaptable now. Things may seem chaotic or be in flux. It is a changeable time, so have secondary plans in case the originals don’t work out. Travel or others coming to visit you unexpectedly can be part of the month. Situations may cause upheaval or require that you flow with the moment. Your mind may feel conflicted – too many ideas. Focus is helpful, and as you make an effort to achieve completion of projects, you have a lot of energy for getting things done, making this month a worthwhile and satisfying time. Otherwise, you may feel as though you are dabbling in many different directions with nothing to show for the effort. It’s a moveable feast this month. Just make sure you don’t get indigestion.

Family and responsibilities are in focus now. Others need your love and attention. Health issues can crop up requiring action on your part. When you do what you do with compassion and a sense of gratitude for being able to give, you will receive the return of that effort in kind. However, if you feel duty bound and obligated, resenting responsibilities that you don’t want, you may be embroiled in professional or personal situations that are tense and untenable. Therefore, be honest with yourself about what you can and cannot do. Delegate to others where possible, and take on responsibilities that you cannot avoid with a loving heart and gratitude for the ability to do so.

You are beginning a new cycle that will allow you to open new doors, make new connections, and define your ideas and inspiration in a way that may significantly alter your life view or the way you move forward in the future. Bring steadfast determination and willingness to be open to new opportunities. Last year was the completion of a nine year cycle for you, and during that time, you reviewed what works and what doesn't work in your life. It's time now to re-invent yourself in ways that are more appropriate to who and what you have become. This is a new season - and it requires planting the seeds for your future. Think things through. Don't act on impulse, but recognize what potential you have and where you want to make your mark. Right use of Will is important. The more stubborn and impatient you are, the more chance there is to embark on a path that is not optimum, so take your time, listen to advice, and then pay attention to your own higher guidance for confirmation. This year is all about a new adventure, and you can write the script for how you want to see it unfold.

2008 is all about partnerships and the quality of your connection to everything in your life. That means your connection to your thoughts, your body, people in your life, attitudes about others - and it requires discernment and determination to choose only that which supports and nourishes you at the deepest level. You may find yourself feeling overwhelmed by other people's wants. This points to your need to create an invisible boundary surrounding yourself that others do not penetrate. With thoughts, if you find yourself in a state of depression, it is important to shift the frequency that you are focusing upon. Surround yourself with positive guidance, and pay attention to the subtle clues life presents. Are you eating things that nurture your body, or are you depleting your reserves through wrong choices? This year is often about subtlety. Things aren't necessarily in your face, but call upon you to interpret what is going on beneath the surface, or sense the undercurrents in interactions with others. Inner guidance is seeking you, and in this you also need discernment. The voice you pay attention to needs to be inclusive and loving, not exclusive and exploitive, so your task is to differentiate between the voice of the ego, and the voice of Spirit. As you move through this year gathering the clues, it can be a wonderful opportunity for impressions that you translate into something that adds more meaning to your own life and the lives of others.

Create, Create, and Create! Take the gifts that are innately yours and find outlets that allow you to express yourself in positive ways. You can inspire, motivate, persuade, and do all the other things that bring something wonderful to birth. Emotions are part of this mix, and when you allow yourself to be victimized by other people's criticism or issues, you lose the spark that is yours for this year. The idea here is that you can be loving and supportive, but you are not to take on the issues that another person has to contend with. This means parents and children. Recognize how you can be most helpful where it is called for without compromising the spark of magic and possibility that is touching you this year. It is a wonderful time to get in touch with your own inner child, be more playful and light hearted, and to find things that bring you joy. See the world through eyes that believe anything is possible, and you will draw to yourself the things that make that reality. Beauty is important, so surround yourself with things that make you smile, and be the sunshine that causes others to be glad you are part of their lives. It really can be a year where the ability to look at the absurdities of life through a lens of humor transmutes difficulties into possibilities!

2008 is a great time to structure or restructure things in your life that require more attention. You have the wherewithal now to focus on what needs to be accomplished, and your view is practical. It's time to make order out of chaos, and to strengthen foundations in all areas of living. By keeping your eye on the prize, and deferring frivolity in the moment, you will come to the conclusion of the year with a strong sense of pride and accomplishment. Otherwise, you may find yourself trying to sidestep what needs to be done and having to take care of bigger issues later. Be methodical, follow a blueprint, and be willing to take risks needed to move you into a larger arena. By believing more in what you have to offer, you can make headway that overcomes inertia or feelings of not being good enough. You are enough, and your efforts can bring the achievement you seek. Fear is based on not knowing outcomes, but when you push a little harder and do not give up in the face of obstacles, you will make breakthroughs that allow for the transformation of your life and others.

Full speed ahead! However, watch for curves in the road, and be discerning about where you are going and with whom. There may be those who are full of promises and talk a good story, but be aware that you may come up against someone this year whose intentions are less than honorable. Insist on seeing references, pay attention to track records, and be wary if you are flattered into overlooking warning signs or signing something without fully reading what you are agreeing to. This year is about exploring options and expanding your vision and territory. It is also about communication, information, and travel. There are many choices, and opportunities to take multiple paths. Just make sure you are realistic about how long things take, and choose things that bring results to fruition, because if you just allow the year to be a wild ride, you will become critical and appear flaky - and that's not the intent of this otherwise grand opportunity to widen horizons. Beyond the warnings, open your arms and embrace possibility. This can be life changing!

The more gratitude you can find in your heart this year, the more you will have to be grateful for. 2008 provides an unusual mixture of duty and joy. The key is your attitude. As you see all obligations as blessings, they become so. As you feel resentful and unappreciated, you will draw more of that to yourself. The focus is either on the letter of the law or the spirit of the law. Are you getting back exactly what you put out, or are others not giving you the respect you think you are due? Truth is, you will receive exactly what you perceive, so if you adopt an attitude of giving and doing because your heart is full of gladness that you can do for others, you will be overwhelmed by gratitude... even if it's only your own. Your opportunities to express love are endless. Some of what appears unlovable is most in need of love. So, recognize your gifts, give because you can, and realize that your efforts become an agent for healing and wellbeing of many. What an opportunity!

You can achieve new levels of understanding this year about yourself, your special areas of interest, and your spiritual life. It's a wonderful time to put attention on things that bring greater perspective and knowledge. Look beyond the surface and find the clues that will tie loose ends together. This can be a year of deep connections, with someone coming into your life who is very special, or someone from the past returning to complete unfinished business. All connections take on greater meaning, and require that you determine what has value in your life and what is merely superficial. In the seventh year, the opportunity to deepen your spiritual understanding is marked, so be sure that you do those things that bring you closer to the inner wellspring of truth. In addition, take care of health concerns. Listen to your body, and do those things that nourish and honor yourself. Time spent in solitude is restorative, and there is great healing through connection to nature in her many forms. Appreciate quiet and beauty, and do those things that replenish your soul. You will be glad you did!

You may feel that you are "on call" this year. You are in a sense. Life is a system of energy, and you are asked to stand in the center of your life and bring things into flowing balance and harmony. Where are you off in one area of focus at the expense of everything else in your life, and where have you forgotten to take time to smell the flowers, or to manage and coordinate things in such a way that you are on top of what needs doing? Life is not asking for perfection, but it is requiring that you take a practical, no-nonsense approach to what is needed, and then take the steps to bring things into balance. Too much stress? Make time for massage, listen to music, sit in a hot tub. The idea throughout the year is that you may be called upon to be responsible... to direct and manage things. But you are also asked to orchestrate your life in such a way that it becomes a symphony rather than cacophony. This is a grand opportunity, and you are up to the challenge. The rewards can be great, but before they come, action steps are required. So, roll up your sleeves, embrace the opportunity, and grab the baton. Conduct away, and feel the empowerment that comes as a result!

© Kathleen Jacoby, 2008