This Month: Astrological Trends * Meditation * Whiskey Honey Elk Steak with Ranch Style Beans
January 2015 Astrological Trends
The New Year opens with a full moon in Cancer on January 4th. This full moon forms a grand cross with the lunar nodes on the Aries-Libra line and the Uranus (Aries) – Pluto (Capricorn) square. A grand cross occurs when two or more sets of oppositions yield 4 or more planets at 90 degrees to one another. What is means is there will be enough spiritual tension that breakthroughs (higher consciousness) or breakdowns (lesser consciousness) will occur around this time frame.
Since it is a cardinal grand cross, triggered by the full moon, whatever has been building will result in something new for us all. This is likely to bring a wave of emotion around family, nurturing, parenting, control, primacy, security, and deeply unconscious issues. At least that is how we will experience it. With Uranus and Pluto in the mix, many unexpected themes may come into play. Insights may come through in a flash, whole structures may need to be rebuilt, karma may come into focus… It may touch us so deeply, that we can be prepared to break open, as the saying goes, because that is how the light gets in.
Since this aspect touches the nodes, our very life’s purpose is affected. This is the theme of January: be willing to go with what we learn. Grow and change accordingly. All our skills and spiritual tools will likely be needed to aid us.
It is possible that you will want to finish much more than you are able, or want to go places you will not be able to go. Relax and know that all is emanating from a divine plan. We can only go as fast a spirit will allow. There is a larger plan at work, and spirit’s timing will get us there better than our imagination.
On January 20, the Aquarius new Moon the day before Mercury turns retrograde offers us the chance to reflect on our authenticity. The end of January can be a time to synthesize what we have learned about ourselves and the world. The Mercury retrograde period is always a great time to be inward and meditative, and this one lasts into mid-February. This Mercury retrograde occurs entirely within Aquarius, so it is a great time for metaphysical and new-age practices—or to get your network or computer up and running again! Fix things, repair things, set the world straight, and explore your most authentic identity.
Take January to truly be yourself in the world! Also, take some time to honor those who are kind and unique and honest.
Meditation
Relaxing during the time of a new year can be challenging. There are resolutions and projects. There are so many activities and people to keep us busy. It can be a whirlwind of energy. Remembering to take time out to balance and breathe is so vital to keeping ourselves healthy and happy.
Sometimes, I allow myself mini-meditation days. I don’t hold to any standard during busy times. I can take only ten to fifteen minutes on these days of deep breathing. Instead of the long meditations and deep support from other practitioners that I am used to, sometimes I have periods where I only meditate a little, but at least I do keep my mind connected to the inner world each day for a little while so that I stay fairly balanced during the busier season.
Loving oneself and being connected to spirit/god/one’s guides is priority one. Those of us who are sensitive can get very out of tune when not warmed by the glow of spiritual energy streaming through our hearts each and every day.
Be well in 2015!
Nourishment for the Body and Soul
Whiskey Honey Elk Steak with Ranch Style Beans
Elk is a lean red meat that can be prepared with a marinade for 2-24 hours. You can pair it with a bean dish for a hearty winter meal to warm up any evening or afternoon. It’s fun to make your own ranch-style beans and bypass the canned variety—it’s sort of like realizing that people used to make their own ketchup and peanut butter before huge corporations came along and turned these things into canned commodities… I am sure you can come up with a recipe that even far surpasses this one to suit your taste. You could add onions, bacon, beef, or any number of things to a ranch-style bean recipe!
Yield: 2 full meals with leftover beans
Ingredients:
2 8-oz. Elk New York Strip Steaks
Marinade:
3 oz. Whiskey (Jack Daniels)
3 oz. Honey
2 tsp ground black peppercorns
Beans: (You could substitute any New World beans you like—for example, use all pinto beans.)
2 tsp Butter
Leftover Steak Marinade
1/3 cup Honey
2 TBSP Apple Cider Vinegar
1 15 oz. can Kidney Beans
1 15 oz. can Great Northern White Beans
1 15 oz. can Pinto Beans
1 15 oz. can chopped Plum Tomatoes
3 oz. chopped Olives (optional)
4 Cherry Peppers, diced
2 shakes Cayenne Pepper (approximately ¼ tsp)
Directions:
Whisk marinade ingredients together in an airtight dish and cover steaks in liquid. Set in refrigerator, turning every once in a while during the marinade period. Marinade from 2-24 hours.
About 30 minutes before you are ready to grill or broil the steaks, take them out of the refrigerator and set them aside on your grill or on a separate plate. You’ll cook the steak minutes before eating, but in the meantime, you will prepare the beans with the leftover marinade.
Start your grill or pre-heat your broiler.
On your stovetop, melt butter in the bottom of a pot. Add the leftover marinade, vinegar, additional honey, and tomatoes. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Then add the rinsed beans, olives, and cherry peppers. Finally, add the 2 dashes of cayenne pepper. Bring the entire pot to a boil and then lower to medium low heat to reduce the liquid as much as you prefer. When the beans look good to you, remove from the heat and set aside.
Place your steaks on the grill or broiler for 5 minutes on each side. It’s important to make sure you’re not overcooking elk. The internal temperature should be 140 degrees.
Serve the elk on a plate and the beans in a bowl and enjoy!
Nourishing Recommendations
You can learn so much about Tarot from Susyn Blair-Hunt, my wonderful mentor, in her book, Tarot Prediction & Divination, Unveiling 3 Layers of Meaning.
(Llewellyn also publishes the best selection of Tarot decks that I’ve discovered.)
Homeopathy and Core Synchronism have changed my life. First, I was immediately able to breathe after experiencing asthma-like symptoms for years. Many other improvements followed. Elizabeth Battarbee is available via Skype everywhere and in-person in Louisiana!
Elizabeth Battarbee of Flourish, Doctor of Homeopathy
Elise Hensley, LISW, an amazing healer, offers unique psychotherapy services in the Albuquerque and Los Lunas areas at an unparalleled level. EMDR helps with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and anxiety of all types. Neurofeedback is a therapy that helps reconnect and enhance your brainpower in all sort of ways to maximize your mental functioning in this complex world of ours. Elise is one of only a few people trained in Neurofeedback in our area. She is someone who is a skilled and amazing mentor. Better yet, your insurance may cover your sessions.
Thank you for enjoying this month’s newsletter! You can contact me anytime via email: domikajama@gmail.com for consultations. Visit at Intuitivemoon.com.
Be well!
Blessings,
Dominique